Introducing Engine Version 3+ – A Major Leap Forward!

In this series of releases, we’ve focused on enhancing stability, refining physics and rendering, and adding powerful new functions to improve your development workflow. Plus, we’re rolling out exciting Editor improvements to give you even more control. We highly recommend updating to the latest version to enjoy smoother performance and a more robust editor:

What’s New in Engine 3.x

Engine Improvements

• Enhanced Item Scaling:
  Mounting Item Scale Correction: We resolved an issue with item scale adjustments during mounting so that objects now appear with correct dimensions.

Improved Entity Rendering:

• Accurate Spawn Positioning:
  Accurate Spawn Positioning: Spawned entities now render at their proper positions instead of defaulting briefly to (0,0,0), creating a smoother visual experience.
  (Contributed by @nickyvanurk)

What’s New in 3.0.0:

Engine Base & Core Improvements

• Mounting Item Scale Correction:
  We resolved an issue with item scale adjustments during mounting so that objects now appear with correct dimensions.
  (Contributed by @moe-moe-pupil – e.g. 3.0.0.69)

• Accurate Spawn Positioning:
  Spawned entities now render at their proper positions instead of briefly defaulting to (0,0,0), ensuring a smoother visual experience.
  (Contributed by @nickyvanurk – e.g. 3.0.0.68)

Enhanced Entity Rendering & Physics

• Prop Confinement:
  Props are now restricted to their designated map boundaries for consistent gameplay behavior.
  (3.0.0.67, contributed by @nickyvanurk)

• Rotation & Physics Adjustments:
  We fixed reversed rotation issues and improved physics body sizing to deliver more realistic interactions.
  (3.0.0.66, contributed by @moe-moe-pupil and @nickyvanurk)

• Latency-Aware & Refined Interpolation:
  Taking client latency into account, entity positions now interpolate more smoothly (3.0.0.65) and transitions between frames are further refined (3.0.0.64).
  (Contributed by @nickyvanurk)

New Engine Actions

• Raycast Action Enhancement:
  A new action captures the starting position of an entity’s raycast, giving you enhanced control over collision events.
  (3.0.0.41, contributed by @nickyvanurk)

• Visual Debugging for Positioning:
  Render lines between positions for improved visual debugging during level design.
  (3.0.0.40, contributed by @nickyvanurk)

What’s New in 3.0.1:

In version 3.0.1, we focused on performance optimizations and laying the groundwork for upcoming features:

• Performance & Stability:
  • Optimized resource management and memory usage for better overall engine stability.
  • Refined physics simulation routines to reduce processing overhead during intensive gameplay.
• Minor API & Interaction Updates:
  • Adjustments to entity attribute handling and collision filtering that pave the way for further engine actions.
  • Improved responsiveness in certain UI interactions, setting a solid base for later updates.

(These improvements have been driven by internal optimizations and feedback from our early adopters.)

What’s New in 3.0.2:

This update introduces a wide array of fixes and enhancements focused on physics, vector actions, and API integration:

Physics & Collision Improvements

• Improved Physics Component Handling:
  • Fixed issues ensuring proper scaling (e.g. missing scaleBody during body creation) and refined collision filtering for sensors.
    (See commits 3.0.2.36–3.0.2.28 by @moe-moe-pupil and @nickyvanurk)

Vector & Rendering Enhancements

• New Vector Actions & Parameters:

  • Added support for vector-based actions (such as adjusting floating text positions and entity attributes) to provide more granular control.
    (3.0.2.48–3.0.2.45, contributed by @nickyvanurk)

• Global Attribute & Floating Number Triggers:

  • Emit global entity attribute change triggers and support floating damage numbers creation to better visualize in-game events.
    (3.0.2.43–3.0.2.42, contributed by @nickyvanurk)

API & Editor Integration

• Enhanced Asset & API Updates:
  • Updated API variables and integrated a new asset library for version 3, alongside improved preview support for non-3D models in the collision editor.
    (3.0.2.55–3.0.2.54, contributed by @pranshu6)

General Bug Fixes & Stability Improvements

• Box2D & Physics Bug Fixes:
  • Prevented adding physics components for clients still using Box2D and updated currentBody sizing before usage.
    (3.0.2.32–3.0.2.27, contributed by @moe-moe-pupil)

What’s New in 3.0.3:

Version 3.0.3 brings enhancements that further polish the engine and its editor integration:

Camera & Animation Enhancements

• Near/Far Camera Settings:
  • Added configurable near/far camera settings to improve scene visualization and correct animation durations.
    (3.0.3.11 & 3.0.3.10, contributed by @nickyvanurk and @Grenagar)

Entity Control & Debugging Tools

• Show/Hide & Activate/Deactivate Entity Actions:
  • Introduced new actions to toggle entity visibility and control active states, enhancing in-game debugging and scene management.
    (3.0.3.9 and 3.0.3.7, contributed by @nickyvanurk)

Editor Integration & Cleanup

• Editor Parameter Enhancements:

  • Improved the display of selected props for certain action parameters and removed unused dependencies (e.g., phaser) for a cleaner codebase.
    (3.0.3.2–3.0.3.1, contributed by @pranshu6 and @nickyvanurk)

• Additional Fixes:

  • Resolved issues with entity z-axis positioning and other minor bugs to ensure reliable operation.
    (3.0.3.6–3.0.3.5, contributed by @nickyvanurk)

Editor Enhancements:

Raycast Collides With Field:
A new field in the editor lets you configure the raycastCollidesWith property using a button group. Easily select which object types (units, items, projectiles, walls, props, sensors) should be considered during raycasting.
(Contributed by @pranshu6 in InputTreeView.js)

Force to Use Max Size in KB for UploadComponent:
The UploadComponent now includes a forceToUseMaxSizeInKB option. When enabled, it forces file uploads (e.g., images) to adhere to a maximum size (such as 2048 KB), ensuring high-resolution assets without manual tweaking.
(Enhanced by @moe-moe-pupil and updated in Settings.js)

Game Container Adjustments:
Minor refinements in the game container improve how settings like raycastCollidesWith are managed, making configuration more robust and user-friendly.
(Changes reflected in Game.js)

Getting Started with 3.0.x:

If you haven’t updated yet, follow these simple steps to upgrade your engine:

1. Visit modd.io.
2. Select the project you’d like to update.
3. Navigate to Editor > Game Settings > Engine tab.
4. Set the “Engine Version” to 3.0.x and save your settings.

Enjoy the improved performance, robust physics, and enhanced editor features in your projects!

Your Feedback Matters:

Your insights are essential to our continuous improvement. Here’s how you can help shape future updates:

• Test the Update: Explore the new functions and improvements, and see how they enhance your workflow.
• Report Issues: Encounter a bug or unexpected behavior? Please report it on our Forums or GitHub so we can address it promptly.
• Share Your Ideas: We welcome your suggestions for future features and improvements—your feedback drives our evolution.

Thank you for your continued support and happy developing!