Installation and initialization

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Guide

Import GCS from the Asset Store, check the project environment, then use Initialize System to connect the current scene to the Manager, six database types, Bootstrap, and the battle presentation layer

Import GCS and check the supported environment

Use Unity 2021.3 LTS with patch 2021.3.18f1 or later, Unity 2022.3 LTS, or Unity 6. The GCS runtime has no third-party dependencies. The included Demo runs on the Built-in Render Pipeline or URP. HDRP projects can use the core runtime and editor tools, but must adapt the Demo's materials and shaders before reusing it.

After obtaining GCS from the Unity Asset Store, import it in this order:

1. Open Window > Package Manager.
2. Change Packages in the upper-left corner to My Assets, then select Game Card System.
3. Click Download, then click Import when the download finishes.
4. Wait for Unity to finish importing assets and compiling scripts.

For Unity's complete import workflow, see Importing an Asset Store package. After the import finishes, the GCS package is located at:

Assets/TinyGiants/GameCardSystem/

Check the Console for compilation errors before initializing a scene.

Connect the current scene to GCS

Create or open the scene that will host the battle, save it, and keep it active. Open the GCS dashboard from the Unity menu:

Tools > TinyGiants > GCS > Game Card System

In the dashboard above, System Information checks the project environment, while Initialize System adds the required GCS objects to the active scene. Once initialization passes, the Game Card Editor and Game Card Monitor entries also become available.

Check System Information

System Information reads the current Unity version, render pipeline, Editor platform, and scripting backend. Check here first that the version and render pipeline match your project plan.

Initialize the scene objects and databases

When the scene has not been connected to GCS, the initialization card displays a yellow Initialize System button.

Click the button. GCS completes four sets of connections around the current active scene:

Connected content	Initialization result
Manager and startup entry point	Creates or reuses GameCardManager, then adds GameCardEncounterBootstrap to the same GameObject
Six content database types	Registers the preset Card, Deck, Player Unit, Enemy Unit, Status, and Encounter databases
Battle scene root objects	Adds Main Camera, EventSystem, Background, Battle Runtime, and Battle Fx Directors from the scene template
Input and background	Adds 2D raycasting to the main camera and connects the preset encounter background resolver

Once these connections are complete, the button changes to the green System Initialized · Re-initialize state. The status bar also confirms that the Manager, all six database types, and Bootstrap are ready.

Use Re-initialize to restore a missing object or database. GCS reuses the Manager and preserves your custom databases and each database's Active setting.

Confirm that all six database types are active

Select GameCardManager in the Hierarchy. Its Inspector lists the Card, Deck, Player Unit, Enemy Unit, Status, and Encounter database groups in that order. In a newly initialized scene, every group should show 1/1 Active.

Editor selectors and content discovery read the active databases. If a group shows 0/1 Active, enable its database. See Database setup to add or reorder content sources.

Select the encounter for the first run

Once all six content types can be discovered, expand GameCardEncounterBootstrap on the same GameObject. Set Default Encounter to the encounter you want to run. For the first check, select Fenmoss Hollow and keep Auto Start On Play enabled.

Field	Purpose	First check
Default Encounter	Specifies the player, enemies, rules, and rewards created after entering Play Mode	Select Fenmoss Hollow
Auto Start On Play	Controls whether Bootstrap starts the battle automatically when the scene starts	Keep enabled
Events	Invokes a UnityEvent after battle startup, or sends a GES event when GES integration is enabled	Keep the defaults

When the Inspector displays the green Ready — starts on Play status, the content sources, startup entry point, and default encounter are connected.

A fixed battle scene can continue to start automatically through Bootstrap. If a map, level, or save flow needs to select the Encounter dynamically, turn off automatic startup and connect the project flow as described in Starting a battle.

Enter Play Mode for the first check

Keep Default Encounter assigned and Auto Start On Play enabled, then enter Play Mode. The following results should appear in order:

1. GameCardEncounterBootstrap reads Default Encounter.
2. GameCardManager obtains the player, deck, enemies, rules, and rewards referenced by the encounter.
3. Battle Runtime creates the player, enemies, hand, energy, intents, and turn state.
4. The Battle UI displays the board, where the player can select targets, play cards, and end the turn.

At the same time, confirm that the Console contains no GCS errors and that the Hierarchy still contains GameCardManager, Main Camera, EventSystem, Background, Battle Runtime, and Battle Fx Directors. When you return to the GameCardManager Inspector, all six database groups should still be active.

If the first check fails

• If no battle starts, check Default Encounter and Auto Start On Play first.

• If the battle starts but the hand or units are missing, check whether the corresponding databases are Active.

• If the cause is still unclear, use Common symptoms to collect evidence from the Console and Monitor.

Once the scene passes these checks, Project structure explains the directory boundary between the included Demo and production content. Database setup covers how to add, order, and activate custom databases.