Modbox News

Modbox v2.2022 is now out - which now includes the first release of the Unity SDK for creating new Modbox mods!


Our SDK is different than other Unity SDKs since you can run Modbox using it - and see/edit the C# code of our own mods. It can be used to create new Modbox mods out of Unity prefabs/scenes, or new components/options with C#, or it could be used as a reference to see how the core components work and their C# source.

The SDK is included as a zip file in the Modbox Steam folder. Check out our docs here on how to use it - and we also recorded a quick video going through it


- 'Folders' in Assets screen. Can now organize assets into Folders - by creating a Folder, then dragging and dropping assets under it. Folders can also be uploaded to the Steam Workshop, for easier sharer of a group of assets
- Better Voxels: Better support for large voxel worlds and LOD transitions.

Example of using a folder:



https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2550184033&searchtext=
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2523715728&searchtext=


- Fixed error that happened with climbing VR players when game was Restarted, resulting in their locomotion getting locked in place
- Fixed ammo going back into holder after being taken out first time
- Added 'No Toy Handle Highlight' and 'No Grab Outline' creation settings
- 'ProjectileSpawnedEntity' event to Gun component to get what entity it spawned in a projectile
- 'MoveHeadToPosition' method in PlayerAvatar/EntPlayerAvatarVR to move the avatar based on head position
- 'Open Online Doc Page' option in dropdown in edit window
- Fixed HumanoidnimationLoop not starting again on entity active
- Fixed 'Heal' with health system not adding right amount if lews than start health

Let us know any issues / thoughts on our Discord
thanks!

Update 2.202 is now live!

We've also updated all the docs and added some more pages (on how to build UI, more MBScript options): https://docs.modboxgame.com/

A long with that we wanted to highlight some new player made Creations:

Curse Of The Jewel - Multi level dungeon crawler by Fozzy (VR Only)
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2523186631&searchtext=

Tokay's Towers - Quake2 level remake by ShadowQiller
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2514952099&searchtext=

Block Building - Voxel cube building by David184 (VR Only)
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2513911263&searchtext=

Modbox Blast Ultra - Marble movement with powerups by David184 (PC only)
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2514646887&searchtext=

Crafting System - Showcase of gathering items, using the UI to craft, by David184
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2384442832

Changes:
- Added 'Owner' option when spawning a effect/projectile from MBScript to set the owner (used for tracking where damage came from)
- Fixed using 'MoveTransform' with VR players
- Fixed using HTC Vive Wands and not being able to open radial menu
- Fixed Piston not being in right position when joining midgame. Piston now has a 'Current Height' that can be set
- Fixed MBScript code not loading other clients when loading in a saved asset
- Fixed MBScript dropdown jumping to top on highlighting a submenu
- Fixed errors shown on loading into Suburbia voxel environments

thanks!
- Lee

After months of testing with our Discord players - Modbox 2.2 is now out!
This is a massive update - and brings Modbox's creators tools to the point we've always wanted.

Let us know any feedback on our Discord! Check out our public roadmap for current plans / issues

New Live Creations:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2506315094&searchtext=
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2506328870&searchtext=
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2506332301&searchtext=
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2506272274&searchtext=
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2511342968&searchtext=

[h3]Large new features[/h3]
- World System - This allows for creating larger creations made up of multiple levels. Using scripting, worlds can be switched while playing (with optionally keeping current player avatars). Settings in creations have been split into World / Creation settings, to set options specific for each world
- 12 new mods and thousands of new Entity assets to build with. All with correct physics and scripts (guns/rockets/vehicles/controls)
- VR Physics/Input - Based on community feedback we have done a complete revamp of the VR player physics / input. The player's body is now correctly physical simulated - able to correctly run into objects in the world and push them correctly. Along with this we've updated the movement controls and 'grab' physics - so objects can have weight and require two hands to pick up. A large amount of changes have been made in climbing, movement, and player interaction to allow for our obstacle course creations to be played by both VR and Desktop players.
- Massive performance improvements for loading large worlds quickly
- MBScript - Tons of small changes to make scripting easier to use - along with a Attributes system (setting how variables sync, or what events are local/online), Methods/Return Methods, and general performance improvements (in both playing, and in editing UI)
- Bots: 'Bot Users' can be added to creations and scripted with MBScript, which will spawn like normal connected users. Examples of bots can be seen in CTF Hills and Hovertanks creation.
- Host Switching - When the host of a server leaves, the host will automatically switch to another player. This can be turned off in server settings
- Account System - We add a account system that users can log into - this is used to add some advanced backend features (like AI / speech generation / online storage). Accounts won't be required to play/edit
- Destruction performance pass - for destroying large buildings

[h3]AI + GPT[/h3]
In February we released a video showing some of our new MBScript options - including use of Text to Speech and a GPT3 chatbot:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnuSQvoroJo
All scripting changes are now live, including text to speech - but we are still waiting on getting approval from OpenAI for releasing our GPT3 use to players. We are also still working on our own exciting/weird creations using this tech.


thanks!
- Lee

Hey everyone! The first post release update is now live - v2.103

Before working on large new features/creations we wanted to focus on responding to player feedback post release, making better tutorials and making it easier to start editing, and fixing any issues players were having.

To keep up with development - join our Discord! https://discord.gg/2cNnWjb . All of our code changes are posted, and we respond to any suggestions / help messages whenever we can.

With this update out we are going to focus development on making larger creations including our new upcoming work in AI / voxels / destruction physics. Along with that we are hoping to get our mod SDK out + C# compiler as soon as possible.

New Sandbox Tutorial Creation - to show how to edit and create while playing:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2251026926

Some of the larger changes:

• Imported Assets now sync online! So if you are editing a creation online and import a model/material from your hard drive, the other players will automatically download it and load it. New players that join will also download it. When importing from GooglePoly (and other online sources coming soon), all players will now import at once.
  
• Featured Creations - We split up the creation browsing into 'Alientrap' creations and 'Featured' workshop creations. This was so we can feature more player made creations, and still point new players towards the tutorials / example creations made by us.
  
• VR Stick Locomotion + Smooth Rotation - We added 'Stick Locomotion' option the day after release based on player feedback, with the left stick to move and right stick to rotate. 'Smooth Rotation' is a option set in VR Settings
  
• 'Grip' button used for grabbing on Oculus/WMR VR controllers. With 'Drop Toy on Grab Release' set in VR Settings this will mean your held Toy will drop on letting go off the grip trigger. You can also pick up things with grip rather than trigger
  
• New voxel options: Voxel Offset + Voxel Scale. You can now directly set the 'voxel scale' in voxel environments. The default 'voxel scale' is 0.5m so that cubic voxels line up nicely on the grid. Older creations might have a weird voxel scale + offset set for compatibility
  
• Better text chat window on desktop (with scrollable chat history). Also a 'Chat' option VR to see chat logs + allows VR players to add text chat.
  
• Added Jump button for VR players. Set to same button as 'snap rotate' (but will be used instead of Rotate for stick locomotion). Added 'Show Jump In Radial' option
  

Some changes to make editing easier, for current and new players:

• When going into edit mode on desktop for the fixed time it now shows a prompt if the player wants to use the Desktop Editor (for advanced users, a more traditional Unity-like 3d editor) or use the Radial tools.
  
• VR Tool changes - the most used tools are now shown first (like voxel / delete / edit), with setting options (like 'world options' 'world settings') now after 'more tools'. Also what was called the 'Entity Brush' is now the 'Quick Create' tool
  
• A lot of changes to the Tutorials. Including a new 'Scripting' section with ingame videos to show some of the scripting/Wiring options
  
• Simplified Wiring: defaults to just 'On' for event type (rather than needing to select from OnEvent/OnChange). This allows for selecting any type of variable to add a event to (good for when you don't know the variable options)
  

All the minor changes:

• New Toy Handle graphics, now a more subtle outline that should work with more creation art styles
  
• Fixes for SavedGame system, and loading saved games
  
• Better 'open creation' screen: now just a single 'workshop' option with the 'featured' toggle at the top. Added 'Hide MP Only' 'Hide VR Only' 'Hide Non-VR' filters
  
• Better "Feedback" screen + logs. That can now be used in VR.
  
• Split up VR Settings into a 'VR Locomotion' category
  
• Fixed issues with setting Range values in VR
  
• Now checks any static entities / environment blocking toys before showing them as pickup options on desktop
  
• Fixed MBScript truncating vector values (less than 0.01)
  
• Instructions now shown for importing some asset types
  
• 'Snap to grid' with Selector tool now snaps to angle
  
• 'HideHandsWhenShowingAvatar' now defaults to True (got a lot of complaints about 'double hands' showing)
  
• Core UI mod now always shown at bottom of asset lists
  
• Can no longer join online games where 'indev' doesnt match
  
• Fixed issue where toy Scopes were taking over camera (just winchester in wild west)
  
• 'PostFX in editmode' option
  
• File browser (in VR and on desktop) now defaults to last directory on opening
  
• 'Hide Controller Hints' VR option
  
• Fixed 'Cant pickup Toys that are outside the bounds of the level'
  
• Added 'MusicTrackCrossfadeTo' option to AudioSystem, to easily crossfade to a new track
  

thanks!
- Lee

Modbox 2.0 is now live on Steam! $15 with a 15% launch week sale:
https://store.steampowered.com/app/414120/

See the store page for all that's new - it's a completely different game experience. Thanks to all the Preview testers on our Discord for helping us develop this!

Now that it's out I am looking forward to showing off what it can do - we have a lot of plans for future Modbox creations and feature

Thanks!
- Lee