Description
Book SynopsisCreate mods using the popular game Farming Simulator with Lua, a versatile scripting language that can run on various platforms and applications. This open access book is best suited for programmers who want to learn how to use Lua to write scripts that can enhance and extend the gameplay experience.
You'll start by reviewing the basics of programming in Lua and then move on to advanced topics, such as object-oriented programming, vehicle and placeable specializations, network synchronization, and creating custom user interfaces. With step-by-step instructions and detailed explanations, you'll see how to create scripts that modify game mechanics and add new features to the game.
The practical examples and projects are ideal for providing hands-on experience with Lua scripting. Whether you are a creator looking to take your skills to the next level or a game developer interested in learning a new programming language, Scripting Farming Simulator with Lua is the ultimate guide to mastering Lua scripting.
What You'll Learn
- Understand the fundamentals of programming in LUA
- Implement a basic “Hello-World” mod
- Add a new graphical user interface to your mod
- Use hook scripts to extend base game features
- Publish your mod on the official Farming Simulator ModHub
Who This Book Is For
Creators who want to add new features to Farming Simulator; game developers who want to learn a new programming language for modding purposes, and anyone who wants to expand their knowledge of programming and scripting.
Table of ContentsChapter 0: Introduction
• About Farming Simulator
• What you will learn in this book
• Technical requirements
• Exploring the GDN
o Modding resources
o Video tutorials
o Documentation
o Community Forum
o Downloads
o LUADOC
o YouTube
• Looking at the ModHub
o Financial opportunities of mod creation
• How to attend FarmCon
• Participating in the mod contest
• Summary
Chapter 1: The LUA Programming Language
• Technical requirements
• Learning about data types and creating variables
o Data types
o Setting and manipulating variables
o Numbers
o Booleans
o Strings
o Tables
o Dictionaries
• Conditional statements
• Declaring and using loops
o for loops
o while loops
o repeat loops
• Learning about functions
o Functions in programming
o Recursion
• Classes
• Demonstrating programming style and efficiency
o General programming style rules
• Summary
Chapter 2: Getting Started with the GIANTS Editor
• Technical requirements
• Installing the GIANTS Editor
• The Viewport
o Movement and camera manipulation
o Viewport Options
• The Scenegraph Panel
o Entities and the Parent-Child Hierarchy
• Application menus
o The File menu
o The Edit menu
o The Create menu
o The View menu
o The Scripts menu
o The Window menu
o The Help menu
• The Attributes Panel
• The Toolbar
o Translation mode
o Rotation mode
o Scaling mode
• Terrain Editing
o Terrain sculpt mode
o Terrain detail texture paint mode
• Scripting
o The Console
• Summary
Chapter 3: The GIANTS Debugger IDE
• Technical Requirements
• Installing the GIANTS Debugger
• Application menus
o The File menu
o The Edit menu
o The View menu
o The Debug menu
o The Window menu
o The Help menu
• Creating and debugging scripts
o Using breakpoints
o Using the Locals tab and the Callstack
• Summary
Chapter 4: Making a Diner with a Rotating Sign
• Technical requirements
• Preparing the diner model
• Creating mod scripts
o Creating XML files
o Creating LUA files
• Testing the mod
• Summary
Chapter 5: Rotating Mower Mod
• Technical requirements
• Creating mod scripts
o Creating XML files
o Creating LUA files
• Testing the mod
• Summary
Chapter 6: Speed Trap Trailer Mod
• Technical requirements
• Creating mod scripts
o Creating XML files
o Creating LUA files
• Testing the mod
• Summary
Chapter 7: Mileage Counter HUD Mod
• Technical requirements
• Creating mod scripts
o Creating XML files
o Creating LUA files
• Testing the mod
• Summary
Chapter 8: Multi-Bale Spawner Mod
• Technical requirements
• Creating mod scripts
o Creating XML files
o Creating LUA files
• Testing the mod
• Summary
Chapter 9: Money Cheat Mod
• Technical requirements
• Creating mod scripts
o Creating XML files
o Creating LUA files
• Testing the mod
• Summary
Chapter 10: Publishing on the ModHub
• Technical requirements
• What is the ModHub?
• Creating an account
• ModHub creation guidelines
• Using the TestRunner
• Uploading your first mod
• Getting feedback and updating your mod
• Rewards & Awards
• Summary
Documentation & Appendix
• Debugging
• Position, Orientation, & Size
• Entities
• Entity Relations
• I3D
• Physics
• Network
