I won't spend much time on this post, because I'm working on full power on V3.0. Although this was too important to wait and I crunched a great new feature for V2.6:
Now that Hammer++ supports it, XBLAH's Modding Tool has a fully functional Material Hotspot Editor.
Load the material, create the hotspots, save it. Open Hammer++, create your geometry, hit "Fit" and see the magic happens.
Thank you for supporting the development of the tool. Soon I'll have some stuff from V3...
2025-08-02 21:34:45 +0000 UTC
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Dear Patrons,
This update fixes a major issue when trying to create mods for the first time, when installing J.A.C.K. or when trying to install Mapbase. There are also new features and some other fixes.
Here’s what you can expect:
🆕 New Features:
🛠️ Fixes & Improvements:
Mega, a file hosting service, has broken their API. You may notice the error 'Response status code does not indicate success: 402 (Payment Required).' when trying to access some features of the Modding Tool. Because of that, if you haven't already, you won't be able to install:
-JACK
-Mapbase
-Blueprints
-Mod templates
I'm working on a solution to fix that and will announce it when it's fixed.
2025-02-20 14:30:45 +0000 UTC
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Dear Patrons,
This update is huge for GoldSrc modders. The modding tool now has a brand new Material Editor for GoldSrc, a.k.a. WAD Editor / Surface Properties Editor. The guesswork of creating animated textures, liquids, randomly tiled textures and so on is no more! Not just that, but all the settings you need for textures are now in the same UI. It has never been so easy to create new textures for GoldSrc games.
Here’s what you can expect:
🆕 New Features:
Dear Patrons,
This update focuses on minor fixes to improve quality of life of modders.
Here’s what you can expect:
🆕 New Features:
🛠️ Fixes & Improvements:
Fixed not selecting newly created mapbase mod.
Fixed not selecting another mod when one mod is deleted.
Code Editor can now work with different text file encodings.
Dear Patrons,
I've included "workshop templates" for Half-Life 2 and its episodes. Now you can work on your map packs without losing your files inside the game folder. Now there is also an improved background editor, specially for Source games that don't have chapters.
Here’s what you can expect:
🆕 New Features:
Separated Half-Life Source from Half-Life 2 and Episodes.
Added Hammer++ for Portal 2.
Mod templates are now organiz...
2024-11-30 17:51:54 +0000 UTC
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Hey Modders and Level Designers!
Blocktober is here, and we're excited to kick off a special campaign with XBLAH's Modding Tool! This is your chance to showcase your creativity, share your blockouts, and win big!
🌟 How to Participate:
Dear Patrons,
If you are a GoldSrc programmer or even just a GoldSrc modder, I have great news for you. The Modding Tool now has mod templates for Opposing Force and Blue Shift! And not only that, but the source code is now available for Half-Life, Opposing Force and Blue Shift.
Here’s what you can expect:
🆕 New Features:
Dear Patrons,
I'm thrilled to announce the release of XBLAH's Modding Tool v2.5.4! This update brings a host of new features and important fixes to enhance your modding experience. Here’s what you can expect:
🆕 New Features:
VtfSheet resources can now be read.
Added choice to redownload mod templates when they have been updated.
Materials and Detail files can now be opened in the Text Editor.
Material Editor now filte...
2024-09-14 22:08:37 +0000 UTC
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Dear Patrons,
I'm thrilled to announce the release of XBLAH's Modding Tool v2.5.3! This update brings a host of new features and important fixes to enhance your modding experience. Here’s what you can expect:
🆕 New Features:
Added a Open Skybox Dialog.
Details editor now has an improved renderer and lets you edit sprite sheets.
Added support for worldvertextransition.
Added a new renderer to the Material Editor.
2024-09-02 01:24:32 +0000 UTC
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Dear Patrons,
I'm thrilled to announce the release of XBLAH's Modding Tool v2.5.2! This update brings a host of new features and important fixes to enhance your modding experience. Here’s what you can expect:
🆕 New Features:
HDRIs can now be imported into SDR skyboxes.
Main Menu Title for Source games can have its position, color and font style customized.
Added a preview for menu items.
🛠️ Fixes & Improveme...
2024-08-26 02:00:12 +0000 UTC
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Dear Patrons,
I'm thrilled to announce the release of XBLAH's Modding Tool v2.5.1! This update brings a host of new features and important fixes to enhance your modding experience. Here’s what you can expect:
🆕 New Features:
Added a check to see if the tool is installed in a directory with write permissions.
Added basic support for Strata Branch.
Added an improved Localization Editor.
Merged Welcome Tab and Modding...
2024-07-21 22:53:30 +0000 UTC
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Dear Patrons,
I'm thrilled to announce the release of XBLAH's Modding Tool v2.5! This major update brings significant enhancements, including a massive reduction in the tool's base install size from 850MB to 350MB—a reduction of approximately 59%!
Here's what you can expect:
🆕 New Features and Changes:
Dear Patrons,
I'm thrilled to announce the release of XBLAH's Modding Tool v2.4.3! This update brings a host of new features and important fixes to enhance your modding experience. Here’s what you can expect:
🆕 New Features:
2024-06-06 21:36:16 +0000 UTC
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This update comes mostly with fixes to make the tool more stable for upcoming new features. Lambda Engine and Lambda Editor's development are going steady: keep an eye on this project, I'm really excited about it. The Lambda Editor is gonna be integrated into the tool, and will be compatible with both GoldSrc and Source, as well as the Lambda Engine. As for the Lambda Engine, I'll have some really good news about it in the next posts.
In these version, there are the following n...
2024-05-30 14:01:03 +0000 UTC
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2024-05-25 19:48:52 +0000 UTC
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It has come to my attention that some Patrons weren't able to log into the tool lately. I've identified the issue and just submitted a patch. Make sure you have v2.4.1.1 or newer. It should update automatically. If it doesn't, you can download the patch here:
https://github.com/xblah-software/modding-tool/releases/latest
Sorry for the trouble, and happy modding
2024-05-09 01:56:53 +0000 UTC
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Dear Supporters,
I'm thrilled to share an exciting update with you all today! After months of hard work and many iterative improvements, I've laid down a robust roadmap for the initial release of Lambda Engine. This marks a significant milestone in our journey to provide you with a state-of-the-art game engine inspired by the legendary GoldSrc and Source engines, tailored for creating immersive single-player FPS games.
Additionally, I'm also crafting the Lambda Editor, an essentia...
2024-04-29 23:31:19 +0000 UTC
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This update comes mostly with fixes to the Details Editor.
In these version, there are the following new features:
There has also been the following fixes:
This update comes with both a Hammer++ and Mapbase update!
In these version, there are the following new features:
Mapbase v7.2 with Vizzy's Icon Pack
Native Hammer++ support for Left4Dead 2 and Garry's Mod.
Custom games can now be set under 'cfg/Games.cfg'.
There has also been the following fixes:
Fixed not being a...
2024-04-22 05:37:31 +0000 UTC
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This update adds two new experiental feature: Texture Converter and Particle Converter.
https://xblah.dev/xblah-modding-tool/pricing
In these version, there are the following new features:
Added a batch VTF Version Converter
Added a batch PCF Version Converter
The toolbar's refresh button now also updates the games list.
-
2024-04-14 14:38:44 +0000 UTC
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XBLAH's Modding Tool has changed a lot since the beginning. From the alpha and beta versions to V1, supporting more engine branches on each update, evolving from a simple Hammer auto-setup to an almost complete modding IDE with V2. The tool is great, and I use it every time I work with GoldSrc or Source. It's one of the shortcuts in my taskbar. But while you are enjoying V2, I need to start thinking what V3 is gonna be.
If you've tried to move to Unreal or Unity or Godot or any other ga...
2024-04-01 01:54:31 +0000 UTC
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This update adds a new experiental feature: Map Compile Debugger. I'm also testing subscriptions outside Patreon. This will allow me to set up yearly subscriptions for those interested, with a discount.
In these version, there are the following new features:
There has also been the following fixes:
Fixed not properly ...
2024-03-31 05:09:09 +0000 UTC
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This major update has been named Packages Update. As the nickname states, the whole tool's file system has been rewritten from scratch to accommodate changes that happened along the years in development. One major thing you will notice is a new file explorer. It's now part of the Tool's main interface instead of being a separate dialog. It now supports some drag and drop features to and from Windows.
Not to delay this update any further, dragging from Windows and dropping into an existi...
2024-03-10 15:26:10 +0000 UTC
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This update brings a new feature both for GoldSRC and Source modders alike: The WAD to VTF/VMT converter! Select a WAD file, and it will convert the file to VTFs and VMTs, and place them in the correct directory in your mod.
Keep in mind this is feature is still in alpha. What works so far:
- All images are converted to Lightmapped VTFs and the VMTs are generated.
- Blue transparency is converted to alpha transparency.
What still needs to be done:
It has come to my attention that some people weren't able to set up the vcproj registry key using the tool. I've uploaded a patch (v2.2.1) with a fallback method. If anyone still experiences this issue, please, let me know.
2024-01-13 22:06:41 +0000 UTC
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This update gives a useful functionality for programmers! If you have tried to build custom libraries for Source in the 20s, you know the struggling trial and error of setting everything up. Starting with Mapbase, with the click of a button, users can now download and configure the mod's source code for Visual Studio 2019 or Visual Studio 2022. In the next patches, I'll be including source codes to more games. The tool now requires administrator privileges because it needs to...
2024-01-13 13:49:21 +0000 UTC
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These updates bring access of the Advanced Edition to the Russian community. Users can now log into the Advanced Edition using Boosty. Although Patreon is still the faster and preferred method, there is now an alternative for those who don't have access to Patreon.
In these versions, there are the following new features:
- Added support to log-in with a Boosty subscription.
- Moved autoconfigure switch to LevelDesign dashboard.<...
2024-01-11 18:53:13 +0000 UTC
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These updates bring quality of life fixes and a native vtf compiler. This means the tool no longer depends on vtex.exe, so compiling vtfs should now be faster and less error-prone.
In these versions, there are the following new features:
- Editors now have appropriate root directories.
- Added an Entropy Zero mod template.
- LevelDesign tab lists now have icons.
- Added skybox list...
2024-01-08 04:21:37 +0000 UTC
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