# Properties

Properties allow you to read and write State Machine variables from anywhere in Game Creator 2's visual scripting system.

## Get Properties

Read values from State Machine or Runner variables. Available in any Game Creator 2 property field.

| Type               | Asset | Runner | Description                             |
| ------------------ | :---: | :----: | --------------------------------------- |
| **Animation Clip** |   ✓   |    ✓   | Get an animation clip reference         |
| **Audio Clip**     |   ✓   |    ✓   | Get an audio clip reference             |
| **Bool**           |   ✓   |    ✓   | Get a boolean (true/false) value        |
| **Color**          |   ✓   |    ✓   | Get a color value (RGBA)                |
| **Decimal**        |   ✓   |    ✓   | Get a decimal number value              |
| **Direction**      |   ✓   |    ✓   | Get a direction vector                  |
| **GameObject**     |   ✓   |    ✓   | Get a GameObject reference              |
| **Material**       |   ✓   |    ✓   | Get a material reference                |
| **Position**       |   ✓   |    ✓   | Get a world position (Vector3)          |
| **Rotation**       |   ✓   |    ✓   | Get a rotation value (Quaternion/Euler) |
| **Scale**          |   ✓   |    ✓   | Get a scale vector                      |
| **Sprite**         |   ✓   |    ✓   | Get a sprite reference                  |
| **String**         |   ✓   |    ✓   | Get a text string value                 |
| **Texture**        |   ✓   |    ✓   | Get a texture reference                 |

## Set Properties

Write values to State Machine or Runner variables. Available in Game Creator 2 Set property actions.

| Type               | Asset | Runner | Description                                |
| ------------------ | :---: | :----: | ------------------------------------------ |
| **Animation Clip** |   ✓   |    ✓   | Set an animation clip reference            |
| **Bool**           |   ✓   |    ✓   | Set a boolean (true/false) value           |
| **Color**          |   ✓   |    ✓   | Set a color value (RGBA)                   |
| **Float**          |   ✓   |    ✓   | Set a floating-point number                |
| **GameObject**     |   ✓   |    ✓   | Set a GameObject reference                 |
| **Material**       |   ✓   |    ✓   | Set a material reference                   |
| **Sprite**         |   ✓   |    ✓   | Set a sprite reference                     |
| **String**         |   ✓   |    ✓   | Set a text string value                    |
| **Texture**        |   ✓   |    ✓   | Set a texture reference                    |
| **Vector3**        |   ✓   |    ✓   | Set a 3D vector (position/direction/scale) |

## How to Use Properties

1. In any Game Creator 2 action that accepts a property value, click the property dropdown
2. Navigate to **Variables → State Machine** or **Variables → State Machine Runner**
3. Select the variable you want to read or write
4. For Runner properties, also specify the target GameObject

## Usage Examples

### Reading a Variable

```
Action: Set Text
└─ Text: [Property] Variables → State Machine Runner Variable
    ├─ Variable: "PlayerName"
    └─ Runner: Self
```

### Writing a Variable

```
Action: Change Material Color
└─ Color: [Property] Variables → State Machine Variable
    └─ Variable: "HighlightColor"
```

## Asset vs Runner Properties

| Use Case                                         | Use Asset | Use Runner |
| ------------------------------------------------ | :-------: | :--------: |
| Shared state across all instances                |     ✓     |            |
| Per-instance behavior (each enemy has own state) |           |      ✓     |
| Global game state (game mode, settings)          |     ✓     |            |
| Individual character state (health, ammo)        |           |      ✓     |
| Prefab-based objects                             |           |      ✓     |
| Singleton managers                               |     ✓     |            |

{% hint style="info" %}
**Best Practice**: Use **Runner** properties for most gameplay scenarios. Use **Asset** properties only for truly global state that should be shared across all instances.
{% endhint %}

## Special Properties

### GameObject List

In addition to single GameObject properties, State Machine 2 supports **GameObject List** properties for working with collections of objects.

| Property                | Description                                              |
| ----------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Get GameObject List** | Read a list of GameObjects from a State Machine variable |
| **Set GameObject List** | Write a list of GameObjects to a State Machine variable  |

### State Machine Instance

Get a reference to the State Machine Runner's instance GameObject:

| Property         | Description                                                         |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Get Instance** | Returns the GameObject that the State Machine Runner is attached to |

{% hint style="success" %}
Use the Instance property when you need to reference the runner's GameObject from within the state machine logic.
{% endhint %}