Scripting Farming Simulator with Lua Unlocking the Virtual Fields

Create 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 Luais 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.

Chapter 0: Introduction.- Chapter 1: The LUA Programming Language.- Chapter 2: Getting Started with the GIANTS Editor.- Chapter 3: The GIANTS Debugger IDE.- Chapter 4: Making a Diner with a Rotating Sign.- Chapter 5: Rotating Mower Mod.- Chapter 6: Speed Trap Trailer Mod.- Chapter 7: Mileage Counter HUD Mod.- Chapter 8: Multi-Bale Spawner Mod.- Chapter 9: Money Cheat Mod.- Chapter 10: Publishing on the ModHub.- Documentation & Appendix.

Zander Brumbaugh is a technical author and AI researcher based in Seattle, Washington. His work as an independent developer on the Roblox platform has been played more than 300 million times. He is also a best-selling textbook author, with works on programming and game development. Zander's research focuses on the improvement of language models for real-world settings. He currently attends the University of Washington and is part of the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science and Engineering.

Manuel Leithner is a senior gameplay programmer based in Bamberg, Germany. While working on his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Business Informatics / Information Systems, he started modding for Farming Simulator 2008, the first title of the series. A few years later, he worked as a freelancer for GIANTS Software on several DLCs and major game releases. In 2015, a branch office in Erlangen, Germany was opened and he became the head of the office as a studio manager. Since then, he has also become the lead gameplay programmer and responsible for gameplay across the whole franchise.