//checks whether the associated element in the tutorial is unlocked
    private bool?ElementIsUnlocked()
    {
        SpawnerControl spawnerControl = GetComponent <SpawnerControl>();

        //if this is not an element panel object with a SpawnerControl class attached
        if (spawnerControl == null || spawnerControl.getCurrentElement() == null)
        {
            return(null);
        }
        else
        {
            return(spawnerControl.getCurrentElement().isElementUnlocked());
        }
    }
    //checks whether the associated element in the tutorial is insufficent
    private bool?ElementIsInsufficent(int neededAmount)
    {
        SpawnerControl spawnerControl = GetComponent <SpawnerControl>();

        //if this is not an element panel object with a SpawnerControl class attached
        if (spawnerControl == null || spawnerControl.getCurrentElement() == null)
        {
            return(null);
        }
        else if (spawnerControl.getCurrentElement().GetInventoryCount() < neededAmount)
        {
            return(true);
        }
        else
        {
            return(false);
        }
    }
    //checks whether the hint is unlocked for an element
    private bool?ElementHintIsUnlocked()
    {
        SpawnerControl spawnerControl = GetComponent <SpawnerControl>();

        if (spawnerControl == null)
        {
            return(null);
        }

        return(Utility.PlayerPrefIntToBool(spawnerControl.getCurrentElement().getName() + GlobalVars.HINT_STRING));
    }