If you’ve been holding off on returning, now it is time to say it.

It is safe to return to modbox and start getting those creative juices flowing!

Hope to see you in game soon!

-Abra

Pleeeease keep in mind that there will be bugs. This is not a public release. Here is the original message from Alientrap that will mention some of the big features, but keep in mind there are many unlisted.

Modbox Update 0.7 indev branch
We are still in DEEP development working on the next large update - but have posted on a indev branch incase you wanted to check it out, and give us feedback on some of the features!

This is a very indev version - but we will be updating this indev branch regularly. We will also be updating our public Trello board with the current items we are working on:
https://trello.com/b/mrZrNwx6/modbox-public-bug-tracker

To try this beta - enter the password 'alientrappassword' in the Steam application branch tab, then 'devonly' should be a option.

The Trello board can also be used to comment and let us know any feature requests / issues!

For testing it I would suggest starting a new creation to begin with - there are likely to be issues with loading old creations at the moment.

Main new features to try out:
- Desktop editing
- Visual scripting and new edit interface
- New Group System
- Playmode Editing

Desktop playing will be coming to indev soon (which also will come with support for up to 4 local players).

To try Desktop editing - press the monitor button in the top left corner of the screen with your mouse while editing. Anything you can do in VR, you can do in the desktop editor (we imagine some things like scripting / text input being better on desktop, while 3d creation like level designing better in VR).
To try visual scripting, edit a entity and go into the 'visual scripting' tab. You can also try out visual scripting in the desktop editor.

The new Group system is a very important system we developed for advanced editing. You can now create groups of entities and they will be saved in the creation (go to 'world options->groups' to see the list). Now when you create new versions of that group you can update multiple groups at once. Or create groups inside of groups. If you have experience with Unity's prefab system the 'group' system is basically that (only has support for 'nested groups'...)

To try play mode editing turn on 'Playmode Editor Tools' in the VR Tools world settings in your creation. You will then have access to ALL editing tools while playing.

We will definitely be providing tutorials on desktop editing and visual scripting eventually - but that will have to come later on.

There are also a large amount of new editing features
- Completely new way of connecting entities together. Should be faster, more visible, and allow for moving around large groups of entities
- VR mesh editing (select between face/vertex/edge mode)
- Better entity scaling
- 'Selector tool' to select from a distance
- 'Lock tool' option to lock a window into place
- Automatic culling system (no more 'culler' entity)
- Per surface selection for assigning materials
- Support for HTC Vive trackers (to attach to entities. Feet tracking coming later)
- Shader Editor for imported textures - Can set shader properties on imported textures (like gloss / metallic, etc)

Major indevelopment features still being worked on (so partially done but not live):
- Desktop playing + local players
- LOD terrain + better voxel terrain loading
- Syncing imported content
- Automatic rebuilding of old mods: At the moment when we update Unity versions (this new update is Unity2017.4), a lot of mods break (especially textures). There isn't a way to really solve this other than rebuilding mods. So, this will be done in the future automatically. Modders will upload their mod's source to our servers

Note: While keeping back compability is very important to us - it is likely there will be issues loading old creations. Especially if they made use of wiring - but we'd be happy to hear any problems you encouter there.

A LOT of work over the past 8 months has been on rewriting the core of the game completely for better networking and future compatibility - so while rewriting we might have broken some features or removed something we shouldn't have. If there are missing features / issues you encouter we will absolutely be trying to fix everything before the full update.

Let me know how it goes on Discord, or on our Trello,
Thanks!
- Lee

https://www.roadtovr.com/ar-version-modbox-wants-arm-arsenal-objects-create-useful-fun-ar-apps/

For those who couldn’t make it, don’t worry, the official word is this get together will be happening bi-monthly.

I was initially the first starting the “get together” server when Richard Craig joined. I was on a moving train, in one of the seats comfortably enjoying the ride when the server alerted a joined player, who, well....spawned on the train tracks. It was the moment a avatar zoomed right through the cabin and back out that I confirmed two things. Somebody had joined the server, and I ran him over.

Like any good server host, you have to assume people aren’t used to riding on trains, but waited a few moments later for the dev GN00T to join, as I expected him to be entertained by riding in a non scripted physics(y) train.
Not long after, he joined, and immediately got thrown from the train.
He calmly uttered, this is crazy but just in case maybe we should do something a little less lethal?
I learned later on that he has to get his vr legs.
Next up, now on stable ground, I loaded a eerie sort of Frankensteins lab type level, where immediately a toddler joined, who happened to greatly appreciate the ambiance as well as possessing a desire to role play a zombie. He proceeded to chase me down, growling, with a bow and arrow. I suffered many to the knee, and just about everywhere else. GN00T, shadowqiller, DUKE and BentLent all joined, generally discussing the future update of modbox, while most of use welding a shield as the youngin in the group lived out his dream of being a really great zombie.

Other maps we tried was super rocket ball, where we saw a new face or two before we decided to start a new map and built some really interesting huge dog voxel monster with sort of an enveloping sonic the hedgehog theme.
The dog was quickly nerfed and redesigned, followed by whatever was left in the end after a few skybox environment changes. Luckily pictures were taken.

Another climbing level was made, followed by sort of a creepy night western dusty map with space age flying machines and the toddler chasing me around like road runner :)

Overall we all had a great time despite the occasional server crash we were up and running quick enough.
Had a great time anyway! Hope to see more of you!

I’m posting this because I consider this to be the first youtuber to dedicate a youtube channel to highlighting youtube in a format for entertainment whether that be something interesting, funny or informative.

Without further ado, the VR stylings of Richard Craig.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbhZf4uFQwprfZYUwj4JU_bomJTui7t3V

Subscribe, this guys fun to watch.