Virtual Time is a time management framework for Unity applications, providing developers with the ability to create and manipulate virtual times independently of the system clock.The Virtual Time asset is designed to help developers avoid changing the default Unity timescale, which can sometimes lead to unexpected behavior. Instead, it allows for the creation of virtual times with independent timescales, allowing for greater flexibility in managing time within a Unity application.One of the key use cases for this asset is to enable the UI of a game to work on a separate timescale from the rest. For example, the world might need to be slowed down, while still having the UI be responsive and fast. With Virtual Time, this can be achieved by creating a virtual time specifically for the world, with a slower timescale than the main game time.Another use case is to slow down or speed up specific behaviors within the game, without affecting the rest of the game. For example, a character's movement might need to be slowed down temporarily for dramatic effect, while other game mechanics continue to operate at their normal speed. With Virtual Time, this can be accomplished by creating a virtual time for the character's movement, with a slower timescale than the main game time.Overall, the Virtual Time asset provides a powerful and flexible solution for managing time within a Unity application, enabling developers to create complex time hierarchies and precise control over time behavior. By avoiding changes to the default Unity timescale, the asset helps to minimize unexpected behavior and improve the overall quality of the application.Type: Tool / Code LibraryDescription: Virtual Time is a tool for managing time in Unity. It works in a tree structure with a root Virtual Time representing the default Unity Time. Each Virtual Time is a child of another and affecting any Virtual Time will affect the time of all of its children. The package includes means to manage Time, an example MonoBehaviour script, a custom yield instruction, and a graph editor and visualizer to help build the perfect time architecture.Dependencies: NewtonSoft JSONCompatibility: Unity 2019.4 or laterSupported Platforms: All platforms supported by UnityKey Features:Virtual Time tree structure for managing timeEasy-to-use means for managing timeExample MonoBehaviour script for using Virtual Time in UnityCustom yield instruction for waiting in Virtual TimeGraph editor and visualizer for building Virtual Time architecturesTechnical Details:Virtual Time is implemented as a C# library for Unity.The library uses a tree structure to represent Virtual Time and its hierarchy.The library includes a set of APIs for managing Virtual Time, such as setting the time scale or pausing time.The MonoBehaviour script provided with the package demonstrates how to use Virtual Time in Unity.The custom yield instruction allows coroutines to wait for Virtual Time to progress.The graph editor and visualizer provide an intuitive way to build Virtual Time architectures and visualize their structure.Documentation: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TV65qbvzWJjGhMJrzOzsWCDMMSPTuy4y9Nrd4Wloxt4/edit?usp=sharingOverall, Virtual Time is a comprehensive tool for managing time in Unity, providing a flexible and intuitive way to build and manage Virtual Time architectures.
