Save the Factory

Lesson 18 of 18 in Coddy's Roblox Game: Factory Tycoon course.

The last piece: coming back to an empty plot after building a whole factory would hurt. The owner's save also lists what they built, by name, in the order it was built:

data.Built = {}
for _, item in tycoon.Built:GetChildren() do
	table.insert(data.Built, item.Name)
end

When they claim a factory again, every saved item is rebuilt at once (no rise, they have seen it), and its pad goes to BoughtPads. Rebuilding in the saved order unlocks the right pads along the way, because build already does that.

That completes Factory Tycoon. Make it yours: add an item (a model in ServerStorage.TycoonItems and a pad with Item, Label, Price and After), tune the prices in the pads and the settings, and use Save as project to share your factory.

Challenge

Hard

Save the build:

In saveFactory, for the owner, add Built: the names of everything in tycoon.Built, in order.
Give build a second parameter, instant: when true, skip the rise and start a dropper at once.
Write findPad(itemName): the pad whose Item is that name, in tycoon.Buttons or waiting.
When a player claims the factory, load their save; for each name in Built, move that item's pad to bought and build the item instantly.

Press Play, build, Stop, Play and claim again: your factory is back. Then Check.

Try it yourself

local Players = game:GetService("Players")
local ServerStorage = game:GetService("ServerStorage")
local CollectionService = game:GetService("CollectionService")
local TweenService = game:GetService("TweenService")
local Debris = game:GetService("Debris")
local DataStoreService = game:GetService("DataStoreService")
local Settings = require(game.ReplicatedStorage.Settings)

local tycoon = workspace.Tycoon
local items = ServerStorage.TycoonItems
local rebirthPad = ServerStorage.RebirthPad
local factoryStore = DataStoreService:GetDataStore("Factory")
local owner = nil
local headline = "Step on the green pad to claim this factory"
local earned = 0

print("Ore is worth " .. Settings.OreValue .. " Cash")

-- Every player gets Cash and Rebirths on the leaderboard
Players.PlayerAdded:Connect(function(player)
	local leaderstats = Instance.new("Folder")
	leaderstats.Name = "leaderstats"
	leaderstats.Parent = player

	local cash = Instance.new("IntValue")
	cash.Name = "Cash"
	cash.Parent = leaderstats

	local rebirths = Instance.new("IntValue")
	rebirths.Name = "Rebirths"
	rebirths.Parent = leaderstats

	-- what this player had last time
	local ok, saved = pcall(function()
		return factoryStore:GetAsync(player.UserId)
	end)
	if ok and saved then
		cash.Value = saved.Cash or 0
		rebirths.Value = saved.Rebirths or 0
	end
end)

-- The sign above the factory
local gui = Instance.new("SurfaceGui")
gui.Parent = tycoon.Sign

local signLabel = Instance.new("TextLabel")
signLabel.Name = "Status"
signLabel.Size = UDim2.fromScale(1, 1)
signLabel.BackgroundColor3 = Color3.fromRGB(25, 25, 35)
signLabel.TextColor3 = Color3.fromRGB(255, 255, 255)
signLabel.TextScaled = true
signLabel.Text = "Step on the green pad to claim this factory"
signLabel.Parent = gui

local function setSign(text)
	signLabel.Text = text
end

-- Ore: a small part worth Cash, dropped under a dropper
local function dropOre(dropper)
	local ore = Instance.new("Part")
	ore.Name = "Ore"
	ore.Size = Vector3.new(1, 1, 1)
	ore.Color = Color3.fromRGB(150, 150, 160)
	ore.Position = dropper.Position - Vector3.new(0, 2.5, 0)
	ore:SetAttribute("Value", Settings.OreValue)
	if math.random() < Settings.GoldChance then
		ore.Color = Color3.fromRGB(255, 200, 40)
		ore.Material = Enum.Material.Neon
		ore:SetAttribute("Value", Settings.OreValue * 5)
	end
	ore.Parent = workspace
	Debris:AddItem(ore, 20)
end

-- A dropper runs one loop, however often it is started
local function startDropper(dropper)
	if dropper:GetAttribute("Running") then
		return
	end
	dropper:SetAttribute("Running", true)
	task.spawn(function()
		while dropper:IsDescendantOf(workspace) do
			dropOre(dropper)
			task.wait(Settings.DropInterval)
		end
		dropper:SetAttribute("Running", nil)
	end)
end

-- The conveyor carries whatever rests on it
tycoon.Conveyor.AssemblyLinearVelocity = Vector3.new(Settings.BeltSpeed, 0, 0)

-- The collector turns ore into Cash
tycoon.Collector.Touched:Connect(function(hit)
	if hit.Name == "Ore" then
		local value = hit:GetAttribute("Value")
		hit:Destroy()
		if owner then
			value = math.floor(value * (1 + owner.leaderstats.Rebirths.Value * Settings.RebirthBonus))
			owner.leaderstats.Cash.Value += value
			earned += value
		end
	end
end)

-- The upgrader doubles each ore that passes through it, once
items.Upgrader.Touched:Connect(function(hit)
	if hit.Name == "Ore" and not hit:GetAttribute("Upgraded") then
		hit:SetAttribute("Upgraded", true)
		hit:SetAttribute("Value", hit:GetAttribute("Value") * 2)
		hit.Color = Color3.fromRGB(155, 89, 182)
	end
end)

-- Pads that wait for an item to be built first
local waiting = Instance.new("Folder")
waiting.Name = "WaitingPads"
waiting.Parent = ServerStorage

-- Pads already bought, kept for the next rebirth
local bought = Instance.new("Folder")
bought.Name = "BoughtPads"
bought.Parent = ServerStorage

-- A new part rises into place
local function riseIn(part)
	local goal = part.Position
	local transparency = part.Transparency
	part.Position = goal - Vector3.new(0, 8, 0)
	part.Transparency = 1
	TweenService:Create(part, TweenInfo.new(1), { Position = goal, Transparency = transparency }):Play()
end

local function checkComplete()
	if #tycoon.Buttons:GetChildren() == 0 and #waiting:GetChildren() == 0 then
		headline = "Factory complete! Step on the purple pad to rebirth"
		setSign(headline)
		rebirthPad.Parent = tycoon
	end
end

-- Put a bought item in the factory
local function build(item)
	item.Parent = tycoon.Built
	if item:IsA("BasePart") then
		riseIn(item)
	end
	for _, part in item:GetDescendants() do
		if part:IsA("BasePart") then
			riseIn(part)
		end
	end
	if item:HasTag("Dropper") then
		-- start dropping once it is in place
		task.delay(1, startDropper, item)
	end
	for _, pad in waiting:GetChildren() do
		if pad:GetAttribute("After") == item.Name then
			pad.Parent = tycoon.Buttons
		end
	end
	checkComplete()
end

-- Buying: the pad goes away and its item is built
local function buy(pad, player)
	if player ~= owner or pad.Parent ~= tycoon.Buttons then
		return
	end
	local cash = player.leaderstats.Cash
	local price = pad:GetAttribute("Price")
	if cash.Value < price then
		return
	end
	cash.Value -= price
	pad.Parent = bought
	build(items:FindFirstChild(pad:GetAttribute("Item")))
end

for _, pad in tycoon.Buttons:GetChildren() do
	pad.Touched:Connect(function(hit)
		local player = Players:GetPlayerFromCharacter(hit.Parent)
		if player then
			buy(pad, player)
		end
	end)
end

-- A price tag floats over every pad
for _, pad in tycoon.Buttons:GetChildren() do
	local tag = Instance.new("BillboardGui")
	tag.Name = "PriceTag"
	tag.Size = UDim2.fromOffset(160, 40)
	tag.StudsOffset = Vector3.new(0, 3, 0)
	tag.Parent = pad

	local label = Instance.new("TextLabel")
	label.Size = UDim2.fromScale(1, 1)
	label.BackgroundColor3 = Color3.fromRGB(25, 25, 35)
	label.BackgroundTransparency = 0.2
	label.TextColor3 = Color3.fromRGB(255, 255, 255)
	label.TextScaled = true
	label.Text = pad:GetAttribute("Label") .. ": $" .. pad:GetAttribute("Price")
	label.Parent = tag
end

-- Only the first pads show at the start
for _, pad in tycoon.Buttons:GetChildren() do
	if pad:GetAttribute("After") then
		pad.Parent = waiting
	end
end

-- Back to an empty factory: items to storage, pads back where they started
local function resetFactory()
	rebirthPad.Parent = ServerStorage
	for _, item in tycoon.Built:GetChildren() do
		item.Parent = items
	end
	for _, pad in bought:GetChildren() do
		if pad:GetAttribute("After") then
			pad.Parent = waiting
		else
			pad.Parent = tycoon.Buttons
		end
	end
end

rebirthPad.Touched:Connect(function(hit)
	local player = Players:GetPlayerFromCharacter(hit.Parent)
	if player and player == owner and rebirthPad.Parent == tycoon then
		resetFactory()
		player.leaderstats.Rebirths.Value += 1
		player.leaderstats.Cash.Value = 0
		headline = player.Name .. "'s Factory"
		setSign(headline)
	end
end)

-- Saving: Cash and Rebirths
local function saveFactory(player)
	local data = {
		Cash = player.leaderstats.Cash.Value,
		Rebirths = player.leaderstats.Rebirths.Value,
	}
	pcall(function()
		factoryStore:SetAsync(player.UserId, data)
	end)
end

-- When the owner leaves, the factory is saved and free to claim again
Players.PlayerRemoving:Connect(function(player)
	saveFactory(player)
	if player == owner then
		owner = nil
		resetFactory()
		tycoon.ClaimPad.Color = Color3.fromRGB(46, 204, 113)
		tycoon.ClaimPad.Material = Enum.Material.Neon
		headline = "Step on the green pad to claim this factory"
		setSign(headline)
	end
end)

game:BindToClose(function()
	for _, player in Players:GetPlayers() do
		saveFactory(player)
	end
end)

-- The sign shows the owner's income, every 5 seconds
task.spawn(function()
	while true do
		task.wait(5)
		if owner then
			setSign(headline .. "\n$" .. math.floor(earned / 5) .. " a second")
		end
		earned = 0
	end
end)

-- Claiming: the first player to step on the pad owns the factory
local claimPad = tycoon.ClaimPad
claimPad.Touched:Connect(function(hit)
	local player = Players:GetPlayerFromCharacter(hit.Parent)
	if player and not owner then
		owner = player
		claimPad.Color = Color3.fromRGB(120, 120, 120)
		claimPad.Material = Enum.Material.SmoothPlastic
		headline = player.Name .. "'s Factory"
		setSign(headline)
		for _, dropper in CollectionService:GetTagged("Dropper") do
			if dropper:IsDescendantOf(workspace) then
				startDropper(dropper)
			end
		end
	end
end)