Best way to retrieve const data

Question

My game uses big const data which i need to retrieve it to use data used on each level when its needed data security is important

I got two options in my head which one is better?

Note the data is const and it never changes during game and only i can change it on coding for using it on some levels and after build it always same data

1: using return "data"

Something like this which means data stored in script and finding script will expose data

if(level_number < 10)
{
switch level_number

case 1: 
return data_1;
.
.
.
}
if(10<level_number <20)
{
.
.
.
}

2: saving in binary file

Check if the file exist read it and if it isn't then create it during game and use it next time

This one uses binary formatter to save/load data and there is two options for this too

2.1: creating file during game which still have same problem like first solution

2.2: creating file on the editor and load it from plugin folder etc

And second one also have storage usage when first one just a script which returns some const data

I know you cant stop hackers from hacking offline file but i'm also looking better way to save this big const data and retrieve it to use it

Which one is better and if you have better solution i'm happy to hear it

Answer 1

From a security standpoint, as you note, they're basically equivalent (which is to say not secure at all). So it doesn't particular matter on that front.

Generally speaking I'd suggest you keep data (constant or otherwise) distinct from code, because then you don't have to go through the process of rebuilding the game (and in some cases repackaging it also) to change some data.

That implies storing it in a file along with the levels or (in the case where sometimes the same set of data is shared between multiple levels) alongside the levels in separate files.

In your case, however, it sounds like the whole question is a bit irrelevant, since you note that one option related to storing it a file is to

Check if the file exist read it and if it isn't then create it during game and use it next time

which implies you already have the data in memory (otherwise you couldn't create a file with anything meaningful in it). In your case, since your dataset seems very small and simple, it may be more pragmatic at this point to simply keep continuing with the data (a list of strings, as you note in the comments) in code.

Answer 2

When you want to prevent your players from reverse-engineering your game, you are fighting a battle against windmills. You can make them jump through hoops, but you can not prevent it. And if anyone ever finds your level details and secret items through the regular ingame methods, they will just create a wiki and share it with the whole community. You can't keep secrets in the Internet age.

If you want to manage static data in Unity, then you might want to look into ScriptableObjects. ScriptableObjects are a technique which allows you to create custom, data-based assets which you can create and manage in the Unity editor and assign to inspector-exposed fields of your MonoBehaviours. Just like any of the regular Unity assets.