Comparing Vector3's in List

I'm placing game objects in my scene by generating a random position for them (they all have the same position along the y-axis) and I want to compare their x and z coordinates when placing them to ensure that objects aren't being placed on top of each other.

Right now I am storing the GameObjects in a list after generating their positions and also storing their positions in another list for rotations and movements later.

What's the best way to ensure that these objects aren't being placed near each other when I initialize them?

Code (csharp):

1.  
2. for (inti = 0; i < godRaySize; i++) {
3. //Assign random positions
4. startPosition = newVector3(Random.Range (-45.0f, 140.0f) + 2.0f, 15, Random.Range(-60.0f, 60.0f) + 2.0f);
5.  
6. //Storethepositions
7. raysPosition.Add(startPosition);
8.  
9.  
10. //Need a check to ensure that objects don't over lap
11.  
12.  
13. GameObject rays = Instantiate(godRayPrefab, startPosition, transform.rotation * Quaternion.Euler(0, 0, 100)) asGameObject;
14.  
15. rays.transform.parent = transform;
16.  
17. //Populate
18. godRaysList.Add(rays);
19.  
20. }//Endfor
21.  
22.  
23. }

 

For instance, if you want your objects to always be minimum of 40 units away from each other:

Code (CSharp):

1. for(int i=0;i<max;i++)
2. {
3. //...instantiate
4. instantiatedObject.position = new Vector3((i*40.0f),0,0);
5. }

 

isn't that just going to equally space out the objects rather than randomly place them?

 

Yes, I was pointing out how to do it in its most simplest form. Modifying to use random start position based on a minimum offset is trivial if you know this

 

That doesn't seem to produce the results I want.

Right so if you do something like

Code (csharp):

1.  
2. startPosition = newVector3 (Random.Range (-45.0f, 140.0f) + ( i * 10.0f) , 15, Random.Range(-60.0f, 60.0f) + (i * 10.0f));
3.  

However, even with small values, it's spacing my objects out too much. Maybe I'm still missing something.