Melon Playground is a wacky sandbox physics game that gives players the tools to construct imaginative contraptions and machines. One of the best aspects of Melon Playground is the active modding community, with players creating all kinds of zany custom content. This guide will walk you through the steps to make your own mods for Melon Playground.
Getting Started with the Mod Kit
The first step is to download the Melon Playground Mod Kit. This contains all the assets and documentation you need to start modding.
– Go to the #modding channel on the official Melon Playground Discord
– Download the latest version of the Mod Kit
– Extract the ModKit .zip file to a working folder on your computer
Inside the Mod Kit you’ll find:
– Documentation – Details on using the mod tools and scripting API
– Example Mods – Simple mods to reference for structure
– Templates – Baseline assets and configs to build from
– Scripts – The mod loading code and helper scripts
Reviewing the documentation and examples is highly recommended before jumping into creating your own mod.
Planning Your Mod
Before starting development, think about what you want your mod to achieve. Here are some ideas to spark your creativity:
– Add new interactive parts like ropes, springs, pulleys, etc
– Import custom 3D models to use as constructions
– Create destructible objects like breakable glass
– Design custom environments and landscapes
– Build gameplay scenarios, challenges or minigames
– Craft cutscenes and cinematics
– Develop new gameplay mechanics and behaviors
– Reskin existing parts and objects
Consider how complex you want your mod to be and scope accordingly. It’s better to start small, especially for your first mod.
Creating Custom Assets
Most mods will require making some custom art assets. Here are programs you can use:
– Textures: Paint.NET, GIMP, Photoshop
– 3D Models: Blender, Maya, 3DS Max
– Sounds: Audacity, Pro Tools, Garageband
For 3D models, use the template .blend files in the Mod Kit to match the visual style. Try keeping poly counts low for better performance. You can also edit existing part prefabs if you just want to reskin parts.
Be sure to follow the asset guidelines and structuring conventions detailed in the documentation. This will ensure your custom content integrates smoothly.
Setting Up the Mod Structure
Your mod needs the proper folder structure to be packaged correctly. At minimum, you’ll need:
– manifest.json– Stores mod info like name, author, version
– parts – Folder containing any custom part assets
– scripts – Optional folder for custom C# scripts
You can also add folders for materials, textures, prefabs, etc. Refer to the example mods for proper structuring.
Programming Behaviors and Mechanics
This is where you’ll add the logic and behaviors to bring your mod vision to life. The Mod Kit provides extensive documentation on using the Melon Playground API.
Some things you can do:
– Attach scripts to game objects and parts
– Trigger events on collisions, joints breaking, user input, etc.
– Spawn parts programmatically
– Create UI like health bars, timers, scoring
– Load scenes and switch levels
– Animate parts and build cutscenes
Review the example scripts to see how to hook into the game engine. Start small and iterate quickly for the best results.
Testing and Debugging
Thoroughly test your mod as you build it out. The Mod Kit contains tools to help:
– Hot reloading of mods for quick iteration
– In-game logging and console
– Stats and performance monitors
– Debug drawing for visualizing bounds, joints, etc.
Fix any bugs or issues before releasing your mod publicly. Consider adding variability and randomness to improve replayability.
Publishing and Sharing
Once your mod is complete, package it up using the instructions in the documentation. Then share it with the community!
– Upload to Melon Playground mod sites like ModDB
– Post in the #mods channel on the Melon Playground Discord
– Make video trailers or tutorials to showcase your mod
Seeing your creations come to life and hearing feedback from other players is one of the most rewarding parts of modding. Just remember to credit any assets you didn’t create yourself.
Expanding Your Skills
As you gain more modding experience, you can try tackling larger projects:
– Team up with other modders
– Create expansions and content packs
– Add Steam Workshop support
– Port to other games like Garry’s Mod
– Use your skills to get hired by a game studio
Modding is a great way to build up your programming portfolio and give back to the community.
So get out there, unleash your creativity, and start modding! Bringing your own unique vision to Melon Playground leads to endless possibilities.