Vulkan Kernel Model Hot Loader with Softbody Simulation (Utility / Tool)

Common model formats could be now be hot loaded into Garry's Mod in game as static / character models, making model porting for personal use less necessary. It enables softbody simulation if the model supports and also replaces the rendering API of Garry's Mod to Vulkan-DXVK which by itself allows the game to have higher performance.

Warning! ⚠

An open-source binary module is required for your game client/server to allow gmod to load models in your local computer and implement Vulkan rendering API. This is 64-bit version of Gmod only. The source code and build process is fully public in GitHub action with verifiable SHA256 hash. Please visit the repo for more details.

If any issue appears when using Vulkan version (likely due to limited memory), please delete this file: Drive:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\GarrysMod\bin\win64\d3d9.dll

Download the binary module here: GitHub: SheepyLord/Gmod-Model-Hotloader-with-Vulkan

Introduction

Have you noticed that, unlike most modern Sandbox games, you have to port a model or character into Source Engine format before you can actually use it in Garry's Mod? Well, that is no longer the case. Here we introduce "Vulkan Kernel Model Hot Loader with Softbody Simulation (VKMHL-SS)" to fully address this issue.

This addon writes the model data directly into the runtime game memory and the rendering pipeline in Vulkan / OpenGl, thereby hotloads models into Gmod. The imported model is algorithmically identical to a complied Source engine model, at least at the engine level. This will make the non-multiplayer model porting process obsolete with some performance tradeoff when too many models are in player's view. To optimize this, we ended up re-wiring the rending API of Gmod to Vulkan, this means that native Ray-tracing, DLSS / FSR is now possible and will be implemented as a follow up project.

For static objects, this addon supports: .pmx, .fbx, .obj, .glb and .blend For dynamic characters, this addon supports: MMD formatted .pmx (Polygon Model eXtended for MikuMikuDance) and Standardized .VRM (Virtual Reality Model).

Adding "Imported Models" to the Main Menu alongside the "NPC" Panel

As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live. --- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Faust - AD 1790

Features

- Migrate Gmod rendering API from OpenGL to Vulkan, the performance should significantly improve on very complex scenes while reducing GPU usage by 50%. - Import almost any character model as player model/NPC and ragdolls into Garry's Mod - Models are server-sided and shareable between clients (needs the binary module being installed on both the client and server) - Export your imported models as Garry's Mod addons and release in workshop (Must list this addon as dependency or will be useless) - Save / Load between sessions

How to use

[list=1] [*]Subscribe to this Workshop item. [*]Download the open-source gmod binary module from GitHub: SheepyLord/Gmod-Model-Hotloader-with-Vulkan. [*]Drop and merge the folder with steamapp/GarrysMod [*]Launch Garry's Mod. [*]Press Q and navigate to Imported Models tab. [*]Browse models in your local computer using the import button. [*]Wait for a few seconds for model to import (depend on complexity) [*]Use buttons to place/spawn/use the models you imported. [/list]

Note

- This addon overrides all limits in Source engine when importing, allowing models with up to 1-million vertexes, 32,767 bones, shapekey, material, vertex group and rigidbodies. Your computer is now your limitation. - This addon implements Bullet physics engine with a Vulkan GPU accelerated rigidbody and softbody simulation with plenty of optimization, allowing detailed cloth and hair simulation on character models. - Cloth, hair and body physics simulation is client only and the default Havok physics in Gmod is not altered. - Imported models is moddable and compatible to most vanilla lua entry points and methods. - Exported models will only be usable by users with this addon installed. - Optimized for RTX-Remix, please download OpenGL-Remix package if Remix.

Credits - Vulkan Kernel Model Hot Loader with Softbody Simulation by: SheepyLord

Other Addons 1. (Recommended) Edit materials on imported models Advanced Material Editor (Tools)

2. (Recommended) Play animations on imported character models Character Motion Importer from MikuMikuDance Hello Miku! - Character Dance Animation Pack - Vocaloid (ハーロミク - ボーカロイド) (Dependent)

3. A proven to be working reaction addition to imported character models Enhanced Entity Animation and Expression Response (Utility)

MIT License / SheepyLord