S&box: Difference between revisions
Gaijinviking (talk | contribs) m (→Links) |
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{{s&box|4}} is | {{s&box|4}} is a platform and game development toolkit developed by [https://facepunch.com/ Facepunch] studio powered by {{source2|4}}. Initially, the development was based on Unreal Engine 4, but as soon as {{hla|4}} came out, Facepunch immediately requested the engine branch of the newly-published game. A few weeks later Valve gave Facepunch access to the terabyte large repository, after which, in 2020, S&box's transition to {{source2|4}} was announced. This is the first (and currently only) time that Source 2 was licensed to third-party developers. | ||
{{ModernNote|S&box is not a game! It is | {{ModernNote|S&box is not just a modding game! It is a complete package including a modified and fully featured {{source2|4}} engine toolkit with C# bindings, and a distribution platform named [https://sw.facepunch.com/ S&Works].}} | ||
<br>__TOC__ | <br>__TOC__ | ||
== User Access == | == User Access == | ||
S&box is currently in closed | S&box is currently in closed developer testing, as of May 5, 2022, the automated queue has been shut down indefinitely due to the termination of the test recruitment in December 2021. | ||
Previously, access was available from the addon developers [https://sbox.facepunch.com/dev/ page], which now takes care of redirecting users to the S&Works home page. | Previously, access was available from the addon developers [https://sbox.facepunch.com/dev/ page], which now takes care of redirecting users to the S&Works home page. | ||
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== Addons == | == Addons == | ||
S&box currently supports 4 types of add-ons: | S&box currently supports 4 types of add-ons: | ||
* '''Games''' - addons that run through the main menu of | * '''Games''' - addons that run through the main menu of S&box | ||
* '''Maps''' - game | * '''Maps''' - Add-ons that typically house maps to be played by a game addon. | ||
* '''Content''' - probably these are future addons for games (the publication is temporarily unavailable) | * '''Content''' - probably these are future addons for games (the publication is temporarily unavailable) | ||
* '''Tools''' - | * '''Tools''' - From additions to existing editors to tools built completely from scratch, these addons are meant to help you improve, automate, or completely integrate your workflow into the engine, without having to build game-based or external toolsets. | ||
{{ModernNote|There are plans for addons (Weapons, NPCs, etc.) for the games, as reported on the [https://wiki.facepunch.com/sbox/ S&box Wiki], but | {{ModernNote|There are plans for addons (Weapons, NPCs, etc.) for the games, as reported on the [https://wiki.facepunch.com/sbox/ S&box Wiki], but is a lesser priority to the API, the base toolset, along with the currently implemented addon types. As such, Garry's Mod-style addons are not currently implemented. It's important to note that Sandbox, (the official Garry's Mod style sandbox add-on for S&box) first introduced a feature called [https://sw.facepunch.com/ S&Works], similar to [https://maurits.tv/data/garrysmod/wiki/wiki.garrysmod.com/index8f6f.html Garry's Mod Toybox]. S&Works, with its own website and support for all (currently available) types of add-ons. It allows you to download models and all their content on the fly, so you can load props from S&Works in real-time without restarting the game.}} | ||
== Maps == | == Maps == | ||
[[File:Sbox-Hammer-6may2022.png|300px|S&box Hammer dated May 6, 2022|thumbnail]] | [[File:Sbox-Hammer-6may2022.png|300px|S&box Hammer dated May 6, 2022|thumbnail]] | ||
Mappers are provided with a modified version of the Source 2 Hammer map editor, with some parts exposed for C# scripting for increased flexibility. | |||
<h5 style="color: rgba(255,255,255,.9); font-weight: 400;">Addon control panel</h5> | <h5 style="color: rgba(255,255,255,.9); font-weight: 400;">Addon control panel</h5> | ||
In the | In the addons menu in the dev tools, you can restrict map selection for your game mode. You can limit it to specific curated maps or maps tagged with supporting the game mode. | ||
<h5 style="color: rgba(255,255,255,.9); font-weight: 400;">Publication</h5> | <h5 style="color: rgba(255,255,255,.9); font-weight: 400;">Publication</h5> | ||
Currently, maps cannot be launched directly from the game, so they have to be released as a separate addon (one for each map). The map is published by clicking on a special button in the | Currently, maps cannot be launched directly from the game, so they have to be released as a separate addon (one for each map). The map is published by clicking on a special button in the addons menu in the developer toolkit. | ||
<h5 style="color: rgba(255,255,255,.9); font-weight: 400;">Characteristics</h5> | <h5 style="color: rgba(255,255,255,.9); font-weight: 400;">Characteristics</h5> | ||
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{{ModernWarning|The nav mesh has not yet been adapted for large spaces, which will cause your OS to freeze if the size of the available territory exceeds 32768 units. In the event of a freeze, the only way out will be an emergency shutdown of the computer. Turn off the navigation mesh in the map compilation window!}} | {{ModernWarning|The nav mesh has not yet been adapted for large spaces, which will cause your OS to freeze if the size of the available territory exceeds 32768 units. In the event of a freeze, the only way out will be an emergency shutdown of the computer. Turn off the navigation mesh in the map compilation window!}} | ||
{{ModernWarning|There are problems | {{ModernWarning|There are problems with Floating point precision. Polygons start behaving incorrectly if you are too far from the zero coordinates (faint defects start after crossing 8 km, and are extremely noticeable after 20 km)}} | ||
== Shaders == | == Shaders == | ||
S&box supports HLSL Shader Model 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0. You can create your own shaders and customize their interface for the material editor. | S&box supports HLSL Shader Model 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0. You can create your own shaders and customize their interface for the material editor. | ||
{{ModernNote|At the moment, S&box does not have any | {{ModernNote|At the moment, S&box does not have any visual scripting or any other form of shader generation, leaving the end-user to write shaders manually in a language similar to HLSL}} | ||
== Sounds == | == Sounds == | ||
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Currently, the sounds are arranged in an extremely primitive way due to the content associated with them cut from the engine. | Currently, the sounds are arranged in an extremely primitive way due to the content associated with them cut from the engine. | ||
An | An analog of Steam Audio using C# is currently being developed. In addition, a convenient sound editor based on graph nodes is being developed. | ||
{{clr}} | {{clr}} | ||
== Programming == | == Programming == | ||
S&box uses C#, which | S&box uses C#, which is significantly more powerful than the Lua scripting language used in Garry's Mod, as it is a fully-fledged scripting language. | ||
Currently, the API | Currently, the C# API and tools are in heavy development. API breaks happen semi-frequently and there are areas of the engine bindings that are underdeveloped. There are also APIs completely missing at this time. These restrictions in many cases make at best engine integration impossible or tedious. At worst it bars you from implementing a feature entirely. | ||
== Gallery == | == Gallery == | ||
Revision as of 22:05, 6 June 2022
S&box is a platform and game development toolkit developed by Facepunch studio powered by 
Source 2. Initially, the development was based on Unreal Engine 4, but as soon as 
Half-Life: Alyx came out, Facepunch immediately requested the engine branch of the newly-published game. A few weeks later Valve gave Facepunch access to the terabyte large repository, after which, in 2020, S&box's transition to Source 2 was announced. This is the first (and currently only) time that Source 2 was licensed to third-party developers.
User Access
S&box is currently in closed developer testing, as of May 5, 2022, the automated queue has been shut down indefinitely due to the termination of the test recruitment in December 2021.
Previously, access was available from the addon developers page, which now takes care of redirecting users to the S&Works home page.
Release Date
An exact release date is unknown, but Facepunch plans to release S&box around 2023, according to a post on the project’s description page: “Our plan is to get to a releasable state over the next 6–12 months, then improve it over 10–20 years.”
The approximate dates for the completion of primary work were first announced by Garry Newman on February 19, 2022, on the official S&box Discord server:
Addons
S&box currently supports 4 types of add-ons:
- Games - addons that run through the main menu of S&box
- Maps - Add-ons that typically house maps to be played by a game addon.
- Content - probably these are future addons for games (the publication is temporarily unavailable)
- Tools - From additions to existing editors to tools built completely from scratch, these addons are meant to help you improve, automate, or completely integrate your workflow into the engine, without having to build game-based or external toolsets.
Maps
Mappers are provided with a modified version of the Source 2 Hammer map editor, with some parts exposed for C# scripting for increased flexibility.
Addon control panel
In the addons menu in the dev tools, you can restrict map selection for your game mode. You can limit it to specific curated maps or maps tagged with supporting the game mode.
Publication
Currently, maps cannot be launched directly from the game, so they have to be released as a separate addon (one for each map). The map is published by clicking on a special button in the addons menu in the developer toolkit.
Characteristics
| Unlimited for models, but 32768 units (624.23 m / 2048 ft) for meshes | |
| The player currently sees approximately 131233.6 units (2.5 km / 8202,1 ft) in front of him |
Shaders
S&box supports HLSL Shader Model 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0. You can create your own shaders and customize their interface for the material editor.
Sounds
Currently, the sounds are arranged in an extremely primitive way due to the content associated with them cut from the engine.
An analog of Steam Audio using C# is currently being developed. In addition, a convenient sound editor based on graph nodes is being developed.
Programming
S&box uses C#, which is significantly more powerful than the Lua scripting language used in Garry's Mod, as it is a fully-fledged scripting language.
Currently, the C# API and tools are in heavy development. API breaks happen semi-frequently and there are areas of the engine bindings that are underdeveloped. There are also APIs completely missing at this time. These restrictions in many cases make at best engine integration impossible or tedious. At worst it bars you from implementing a feature entirely.
Gallery
- Sbox-News-Screenshot-01.jpg
