True Random PRO - Real randomness for Unity

Any idea why this is happening?



Happens when I have the config window open (infinitely) or a few times when I look at a demo.

 

Hi

Did you restart Unity?


Cheers
Stefan

 

Didn't try that. Removed it because it was warning me hundreds of times.

 

Please give it another try.

The problem is that: True Random copies after the installation all Editor UI-icons to "Editor Default Resources" and sometimes Unity simply doesn't trigger the copy-routine. Unfortunately, we didn't found the issue of the problem (which happens infrequently and behaves different on various Unity-versions).

However, hitting "Play" or restarting Unity has always solved the problem you encountered.

 

I will soon. Thanks for the help.

I do have two questions though:

1.
When I first installed the asset I realized that you're using the random.org api. Unfortunate it doesn't seem to be mentioned but with 1 million bits per day allowance it doesn't bother me as much.

However, I noticed it says "Pricing information comes into effect when the free beta ends on 30 April 2019." on top of the pricing page (on random.org). I assume that has to deal with API calls only. Is there a way to add API keys?

2.
Is PRNG unity's random class integrated into this asset or something else?

 

Oh, I found the problem... Somehow, the UI icons didn't end up in the release :-(
Please send me your invoice to get the fixed package.

About your questions:

1. Random.org has a beta that is now running for years as soon as they really deprecate their free tier, we will either support API-keys or roll our own solution.
2. If TR can't reach the Random.org-server or the quota is 0, we use C# System.Random.

 

Heyo, just picked this asset up.
A few questions for you @Stefan-Laubenberger
- I mainly got this asset to replace all of my standard Random.Range calls with True Randomness calls. Is this overkill?
- I read something in an earlier forum post about an active Internet connection being required. Does this mean that the asset will fail if the user is offline?

 

Hi

You could do that, but since TR is asynchronous, you would encounter some delays, which is depending on the use-case not optimal.

Therefore, we recommend the following approach:
At startup of your app, get an integer (or list of integers) with the "GenerateInteger"-method. Then use it as seed-parameter for the "GenerateXYPRNG"-methods.
For more, please see the API.

This is no longer totally true random, but much better than the standard PRNG; another advantage is that you can access the result (=return value) immediately without listening to "onGenerateXYFinished".

I hope this helps you further.


Cheers
Stefan

 

Sorry but this asset smells.
Year later and still didn't mention on main page, that asset requires third party service. And what's more important an internet. So how offline / with no access to internet games suppose to function?

 

The function is clearly outlined in the description - it also states what happens when there is no connection available:


So nothing "smells" here.

 

New asset store kicks me off, from viewing your asset page.
So I rely on information on the forum.

However, since you provided screenshot from asset store, still one information is required, that you rely on third party service(s). Wouldn't be that important to highlight?

 

It's no secret that we use https://www.random.org/ but you're right, I will add it to description in the next update.

Thank you and have a nice day!

 

Nice work, Stefan!

 

Thank you!

 

Thanks for the support @Stefan-Laubenberger . That makes sense. Excited to start using this in our game

 

You're welcome!
If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to ask.

Cheers
Stefan

 

After reading a lot about True Random, it appears it requires an internet connection to function. Does it only need an internet connection at the start, or every time it needs a random number?

 

Hi

TR works without Internet, but then it uses the standard PRNG.
If you have Internet, there are basically two modes:

1. Initalize the PRNG with a real random seed. This can be done once or as often as needed.
2. Get all numbers/strings from the Internet

If there is no longer a connection available, the PRNG is used.

Does that help you further?


Cheers
Stefan

 

We've just updated the demo-version!

Enjoy

 

I'm kinda having problem understanding the working of random integers generation. I basically need it for my LUDO game so I was wondering if there is easier and cleaner way using this to get the random generated vale into an integer variable like Unity's Random:

Code (CSharp):

1. int steps;
2. steps = UnityEngine.Random.Range(1, 7);

Because I just want a single vale out of the generator not a list and then make it equal to steps int variable. Help will be appreciated.
Thanks

 

I managed to do it but it takes too long to generate. Doesn't seem to suit my need for LUDO game

 

Hi

Yes, there is a small delay and we don't recommend using True Random all the time and for all random operations. What we recommend is this: get like 100 real random numbers at the beginning of the game and use it as seed for the PRNG. Then you can change the seed e.g. every minute. Even that makes it much better than the normal PRNG without a real seed.


Cheers
Stefan

 

If I had to point out how the tool might be useful, I would say that it's not its main feature, but what seems to be the sub-features (or shortcuts) it procures. If you understand how Unity generates its random values and how to "manipulate" it, it's relatively simple to counter its "pseudo-random" side.

The one main and only reasonable reason of using an outside (online) service to get a part of the system to generate a "true" random value is only about adding an additional layer of complexity against data manipulation and even that is not much of a defense against anyone who knows what they are doing. (Having the data generated locally can be analyzed locally more easily than having a part of the data generated remotely, but then having the data generated remotely analyzed and reproduced can counter the defense effectiveness.)

For example, mixing both System.Random with UnityEngine.Random together basically render the pseudo-randomness into a 1/(10^7) of the same variance from using only one of them. That's because while both System.Random and UnityEngine.Random uses pseudo-randomness (which is based on the PC's internal clock value as the main seed of the value generated), they both uses a different overlapping sequence. As such, you can get a semi-true randomness with basically 1/(10^7) chance of getting the same value again by using the same code at the exact same time (and frame) in 2 different days which is as much random as the method used by random.org and other similar system.

Here's an example of the code to do this:

Code (CSharp):

1. using UnityEngine;
2. using System;
3. using System.Collections;
4.  
5. public class Randomness : MonoBehaviour
6. {
7.     private Random.State R_StateHolder;
8.     private int ValueHolder_Int = 0;
9.     private float ValueHolder_Float = 0;
10.  
11.     public int GetRandomInt(int min, int max){
12.        ValueHolder_Int = 0;
13.         R_StateHolder = UnityEngine.Random.State;
14.         UnityEngine.Random.State = System.Random.Range(0,99999);
15.        ValueHolder_Int = Mathf.RoundToInt(UnityEngine.Random(min,max));
16.         return ValueHolder_Int;
17.         UnityEngine.Random.State = R_StateHolder;
18.     }
19.    
20.     public float GetRandomFloat(float min, float max){
21.        ValueHolder_Float = 0f;
22.         R_StateHolder = UnityEngine.Random.State;
23.         UnityEngine.Random.State = System.Random.Range(0,99999);
24.         ValueHolder_Float = Mathf.Round(UnityEngine.Random(min,max));
25.         return ValueHolder_Float;
26.         UnityEngine.Random.State = R_StateHolder;
27.     }
28. }

The reason why this would work as a counter to the pseudo-randomness of each individual random method is simple:
The "clock" time set for UnityEngine random value is based on the time when the Unity client is launched while the "clock" time of the System random value is based on the time when the PC was powered up.
Hence, the only way to counter this case of pseudo-randomness would be to have another PC or device to manipulate the "master PC" that runs the game to power it up and launch the Unity client at specific time frame.

It's also possible to use another method such as the Security.Cryptography.
This is an actually "true random" value generator already available inside of Windows. (I haven't tried it on iOS or Android or others yet.)

This is an example of how I would do it:

Code (CSharp):

1. using System;
2. using UnityEngine;
3. using System.Security.Cryptography;
4.  
5. public class Randomness : MonoBehaviour
6. {
7.     private static RNGCryptoServiceProvider rngCsp;
8.  
9.     public void Awake()
10.     {
11.         Debug.Log(GetRandomInt(50,100));
12.         Debug.Log(GetRandomFloat(0.2f, 0.8f));
13.     }
14.  
15.     public static int GetRandomInt(int min, int max)
16.     {
17.         int Result= 0;
18.         rngCsp = new RNGCryptoServiceProvider();
19.         int[] results = new int[0];
20.  
21.         if (min > max)
22.         {
23.             results = new int[min - max];
24.         }
25.         else
26.         {
27.             results = new int[max - min];
28.         }
29.  
30.         byte roll = RollDice((byte)results.Length);
31.         Result = roll + min;
32.  
33.         rngCsp.Dispose();
34.         return Result;
35.     }
36.  
37.     public static float GetRandomFloat(float min, float max)
38.     {
39.         float Result = 0f;
40.         rngCsp = new RNGCryptoServiceProvider();
41.         int[] RandomState = new int[100];
42.         byte CurrentRandomState = RollDice((byte)RandomState.Length);
43.         UnityEngine.Random.State CurrentStateHolder = UnityEngine.Random.state;
44.         UnityEngine.Random.InitState(CurrentRandomState);
45.         Result = UnityEngine.Random.Range(min, max);
46.         UnityEngine.Random.state = CurrentStateHolder;
47.         rngCsp.Dispose();
48.         return Result;
49.     }
50.  
51.     public static byte RollDice(byte numberSides)
52.     {
53.         if (numberSides <= 0)
54.         {
55.             Debug.LogError("Number of size is below 1. It's currently at " + numberSides);
56.             return 0;
57.         }
58.  
59.         byte[] randomNumber = new byte[1];
60.         do
61.         {
62.             rngCsp.GetBytes(randomNumber);
63.         }
64.         while (!IsFairRoll(randomNumber[0], numberSides));
65.         return (byte)((randomNumber[0] % numberSides) + 1);
66.     }
67.  
68.     private static bool IsFairRoll(byte roll, byte numSides)
69.     {
70.         int fullSetsOfValues = Byte.MaxValue / numSides;
71.         return roll < numSides * fullSetsOfValues;
72.     }
73. }
74.  

I made this example based on the Dice Roll code available in the docs on Microsoft .NET website here.

The GetRandomFloat code is different because this method is limited, natively, to integer values, hence to save on the memory usage of the function, I used a small trick of setting Unity's pseudo-random state-based value with an actual random state, hence making it no more pseudo-random. To avoid too much of an impact on the Garbage Collector, I set it with 100 possible true random state values, but it could be reduced to less or raised to more.

Now, what I'm trying to express here is not that this tool in the Asset Store is useless, but more that it offers sub-tools that gives some good and simple tricks to overcome some hassles from handling random values. (Such as getting a unique non-linear sequence of random values within a range.)

 

Hi Max

Thank you for your nice examples!

The main difference is the distribution of pseudo-random vs. true-random. An example, if you get 100 picks of the numbers 1 - 10 with a pseudo-generator, every number will be picked 9-11 times. With "true random" it's possible that you pick 100 times the number 1.
However, I see your point with the two random functions, which will counter it a bit, but it's still not a real random number. A computer is a deterministic machine and can never generate real random numbers - even the mentioned "RNGCrypto".

The main reason for our tool isn't security - it's used where you want realistic numbers, like in your mentioned "DiceRoll".


Cheers
Stefan

 

Code (CSharp):

1. using UnityEngine;
2. using System;
3. using System.Collections;
4.  
5. public class Randomness : MonoBehaviour
6. {
7.     private Random.State R_StateHolder;
8.     private int ValueHolder_Int = 0;
9.     private float ValueHolder_Float = 0;
10.  
11.     public int GetRandomInt(int min, int max){
12.        ValueHolder_Int = 0;
13.         R_StateHolder = UnityEngine.Random.State;
14.         UnityEngine.Random.State = System.Random.Range(0,99999);
15.        ValueHolder_Int = Mathf.RoundToInt(UnityEngine.Random(min,max));
16.         return ValueHolder_Int;
17.         UnityEngine.Random.State = R_StateHolder;
18.     }
19.  
20.     public float GetRandomFloat(float min, float max){
21.        ValueHolder_Float = 0f;
22.         R_StateHolder = UnityEngine.Random.State;
23.         UnityEngine.Random.State = System.Random.Range(0,99999);
24.         ValueHolder_Float = Mathf.Round(UnityEngine.Random(min,max));
25.         return ValueHolder_Float;
26.         UnityEngine.Random.State = R_StateHolder;
27.     }
28. }

[/QUOTE]

Hi, this code does not work at all.

 

Hello,
I am having issues as when I generate a number it is in the form e.g. da537df1-6c9a-4dba-828f-976a52582b82
when I would like to have it in decimal, is there something to fix this?

 

Hi

I apologize, but I don't get the question... What you seem to create is a UID, which is already as random as it gets and TR isn't needed for that.
Can you please explain in more detail what exactly you wanna achieve?


Cheers
Stefan

 

Hi Stefan, I would like to generate a random integer (in decimal) which I can then use as an input for another function

 

Thank you for the details!
You can use True Random like this:

Code (CSharp):

1. using System.Collections.Generic;
2. using UnityEngine;
3. using Crosstales.TrueRandom;
4.  
5. public class SimpleIntegerExample : MonoBehaviour
6. {
7.    #region Variables
8.  
9.    public int Number = 1;
10.    public int Min = -1_000_000_000;
11.    public int Max = 1_000_000_000;
12.  
13.    #endregion
14.  
15.  
16.    #region MonoBehaviour methods
17.  
18.    private void Start()
19.    {
20.       TRManager.Instance.OnGenerateIntegerFinished += onGenerateIntegerFinished;
21.       TRManager.Instance.OnErrorInfo += onError;
22.  
23.       GenerateInt();
24.    }
25.  
26.    private void OnDestroy()
27.    {
28.       if (TRManager.Instance != null)
29.       {
30.          TRManager.Instance.OnGenerateIntegerFinished -= onGenerateIntegerFinished;
31.          TRManager.Instance.OnErrorInfo -= onError;
32.       }
33.    }
34.  
35.    #endregion
36.  
37.  
38.    #region Public methods
39.  
40.    public void GenerateInt()
41.    {
42.       TRManager.Instance.GenerateInteger(Min, Max, Number);
43.    }
44.  
45.    #endregion
46.  
47.  
48.    #region Callbacks
49.  
50.    private void onGenerateIntegerFinished(List<int> results, string id)
51.    {
52.       foreach (int result in results)
53.       {
54.          Debug.Log(result);
55.       }
56.    }
57.  
58.    private void onError(string e)
59.    {
60.       Debug.LogWarning(e);
61.    }
62.  
63.    #endregion
64. }

I hope this helps you further.

Cheers
Stefan

 

Great this works thank you

 

Would I need the True Random Game Object in the scene as well as the code to make it true random?

 

True Random is added automatically to the scene as soon as you use it.

 

Great thank you

 

You're welcome!
If you like our asset and support, please consider leaving a review in the store.

 

We've just released version 2024.1.1 of True Random.
Main changes:

• Support for Unity Cloud Build improved
• Updated to Common 2024.1.1