GameSettings .cpp & .h

// GameSettings.h
#pragma once

#include "tinyxml2.h"

#include <map>
#include <string>
#include <sstream>

/*
Provides access to the settings of the game. The settings are loaded once
as the game launches, and then every aspect that needs the settings
(read or write) can access one singleton (AGAIN, DONT JUDGE ME) of the settings class.
*/
class GameSettings
{
public:
    static void LoadSettings(std::string settingsFileName);
    static GameSettings* GetSettings();

    template <typename T> T GetValue(std::string settingsName) {}
    template <> int GetValue<int>(std::string settingsName);
    template <> std::string GetValue<std::string>(std::string settingsName);
protected:
private:
    GameSettings(std::string settingsFileName);
    ~GameSettings();

    static GameSettings* m_SettingsInstance;

    tinyxml2::XMLElement* m_SettingsElement;
    tinyxml2::XMLElement* GetXMLElementWithTagName(std::string tagName);
};

// GameSettings.cpp
#include "GameSettings.h"

GameSettings* GameSettings::m_SettingsInstance;

GameSettings::GameSettings(std::string settingsFileName)
{
    tinyxml2::XMLDocument settingsFile;
    settingsFile.LoadFile(settingsFileName.c_str());

    // Gets the settings element.
    m_SettingsElement = settingsFile.FirstChildElement("Settings");
}

GameSettings::~GameSettings()
{
}

/*
Loads the settings file as a singleton.
*/
void GameSettings::LoadSettings(std::string settingsFileName)
{
    m_SettingsInstance = new GameSettings(settingsFileName);
}

/*
Returns the settings singleton.
*/
GameSettings* GameSettings::GetSettings()
{
    return m_SettingsInstance;
}

/*
Returns the xml element with the given tag name.
*/
tinyxml2::XMLElement* GameSettings::GetXMLElementWithTagName(std::string tagName)
{
    // Loops over the elements in the file.
    for (tinyxml2::XMLElement* valueElement = m_SettingsElement->FirstChildElement(); valueElement != NULL; valueElement = valueElement->NextSiblingElement())
    {
        if (strcmp(valueElement->Value(), tagName.c_str()) == 0)
        {
            return valueElement;
        }
    }
    return NULL;
}

/*
Returns an integer value.
*/
template <> int GameSettings::GetValue<int>(std::string settingsName)
{
    tinyxml2::XMLElement* valueElement = GetXMLElementWithTagName(settingsName);
    if (!valueElement)
    {
        throw valueElement;
    }
    std::stringstream strValue;
    strValue << valueElement->GetText();
    int intValue; strValue >> intValue;
    return intValue;
}

/*
Returns a std::string value.
*/
template <> std::string GameSettings::GetValue<std::string>(std::string settingsName)
{
    tinyxml2::XMLElement* valueElement = GetXMLElementWithTagName(settingsName);
    if (!valueElement)
    {
        throw valueElement;
    }
    return std::string(valueElement->GetText());
}