Platinum Arts Sandbox - Free 3D Game Maker Forum

OK so every video I find for Sandbox at YouTube is unfortunately for 2.6. For some reason almost none of the controls in 2.8 are the same as in 2.6. It's so bad right now I'm almost tempted to go back a few versions just so I can follow along with the tutorials.

So could we get a comprehensive, printable list of 2.8 commands and shortcuts? For example, in 2.6, apparently you get F2 to get textures, and another button for models. Doesn't seem to work that way in 2.8. Pressing F3 brings up a dialog box where it appears you can access everything, but is this the only way? It would be REALLY helpful to have a PAS 2.6 to PAS 2.8 migration guide, since so many controls and things are different.

For now I'm sticking with 2.8 and I will try to figure it out, then if I manage that I'll try to get some videos up, but having a comprehensive list of shortcuts and controls sure would help! Really this is necessary if we want to get more folks using Sandbox.

Your help would be greatly appreciated!
- DreamBliss

It's the complete lack of a solid documentation that made me stop trying to use this engine for my game. I am not the person to give up easily. I watched all PAS youtube video's, I read the wiki, I read cube.wikispaces.com, read sauerbraten.org docs, etc etc etc. But the simplest things stay unanswered. With a real dev kit and a proper complete manual this engine would be used by A LOT of games. But googling for games running on Cube 2 (PAS uses that too) gives a handful of dead links and very select group of games.

I really invested a lot of time trying to grasp how this Cube monster could be tamed, but every question asked raised even more questions. So a few days ago I found a better free engine, that supports all modern formats, called Unity3D. It has solid docs and a dev kit. I really recommend you check it out.

chaozz wrote:I really invested a lot of time trying to grasp how this Cube monster could be tamed, but every question asked raised even more questions. So a few days ago I found a better free engine, that supports all modern formats, called Unity3D. It has solid docs and a dev kit. I really recommend you check it out.

I can understand your point. Without creating Cube 2 maps before (which has an amazing community), I would have run in a lot of problems, too.
But I can understand Hiratos point of view too, who does not add much documentation for the RPG mode until it joins Beta (since a lot of things may change).

I will create a list of the current shortcuts for you

I came to this engine because I am on a laptop without even shader 2.0 support (very important for most games and game engines) dated between 2004-2006. I came to Sandbox because I can actually run the thing on this system. I am going to get something more powerful. But for now this is what I have. So Unity 3D is out for me. I would probably go with the UDK if I had the horsepower for Unity.

One thing that no GCS I have found to date other than Verse is the ability make caves and tunnels. So that's my other reason for sticking with Sandbox. Since Sandbox is where it's at for me at this moment, I'll just keep bugging the developers for a user manual with complete control listings
- DreamBliss

Sandbox will get new shaders with the new release
Hirato may have said that there will be an option to turn them off, but I'm not sure.

As I wrote I will create such a list for you. Expect it to be published next week.

DreamBliss wrote:For some reason almost none of the controls in 2.8 are the same as in 2.6

Pretty much anything related to 3DGUI (apparently including keybinds) was revamped to be better used by newUI, so yes, there will be differences. I have to point out that few of us here (the obvious exceptions being Hirato who developed the changes and likely Mike who probably told Hirato what to change) have the time to just go through and see what has been changed. I must ask, what are you talking about when you say that controls are different (as in, an example other than the F3 change)?

So chaozz you read a lot of stuff but why not just ask us? Those other programs aren't free and even though they have free versions the licensing is far more strict and they want you to pay money. We don't get paid, we do it in our free time for all of you and it is mainly Hirato and I with some other people helping when they can and there is only so much we can do with the time we have. Obviously you're free to do what you'd like but sometimes the simplest solution to a problem is just to ask ;D

:bright starry eyes:

So this is being implemented? Or perhaps I am blind and it is already there?

If it is being implemented feel your back, because that's my hand three, giving a big 'ol pat. And although you can't see it, I am smiling. Look like the Cheshire cat over here

If it's already in there I know I for one would like to know how to access it...

Hey I know you guys are working hard at this with no pay. But I'm sure just about everyone at these forums, including me, is very appreciative of your hard work! Good job everyone!
- DreamBliss

Mike wrote:So chaozz you read a lot of stuff but why not just ask us? Those other programs aren't free and even though they have free versions the licensing is far more strict and they want you to pay money. We don't get paid, we do it in our free time for all of you and it is mainly Hirato and I with some other people helping when they can and there is only so much we can do with the time we have. Obviously you're free to do what you'd like but sometimes the simplest solution to a problem is just to ask ;D

I HAVE asked, but got very little to no response on this forum on the simplest questions.
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=4040
got 1 reply that didn't help me at all.

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=4030
had a bunch of clear questions, only 1 or 2 got answered partly.

info is just too scarse or scattered. blending of textures for example, or simply adding your own character with a weapon (i am not talking about replacing characters in the current game modes), changing AI/bot stuff.

the total chaos in the packages folder. why not have a textures folder, a models folder and so on. and have a way to add textures or models without making a config file.

why is there not a clear change log for each version, etc etc. why do i want 2.8? what are the plans for 2.9?

i appreciate all the time you put in it, but for me all these things really made starting my game pretty stressful. i already put a lot of time in gathering info, but it just wasn't enough to get the project going. again, i think the lack of games built using this engine is the best witness of what is going on.

i have the deepest respect for everyone working on this project in their spare time. i know what it's like maintaining a big project. i am the creator of www.hackerforever.com and put in years, yet the game is free and nobody will ever know or see how much time i put into that. it's my baby, as this project is yours.

i wish you all the luck, but this is not my project i guess. i'm moving on to unity free.