Fractal Update Debug Version: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 04:39, 30 June 2024

Background

Debug Files in the v4.12 GOG Release

In the GOG release of the No Man's Sky Fractal update, Hello Games included a debug version of No Man's Sky named XGOG Release_x64.exe, as well as other debug files including NMS.PDB program database, a file that contains detailed information about functions and source code used for debugging. These files were included in the v4.10, v4.12 and v4.13 GOG releases before the releases were all replaced on the GOG repository March 9th 2023 to remove these debug files.

This first gained publicity with Lapig's Native Gyro Mod, released in February 25th 2023 (shortly after the Fractal update February 22nd), where they gave "Credits to Hello Games for shipping a PDB with their GOG update"

Project Fractal 413, an unofficial installer, allows users to download the 4.13 version from Steam and patch it to the GOG version with the debug tools and assets.

GOG Releases with Debug Files

Version	Release Date	Offline Installer	GOGDB Entry	GOGDB File List
Fractal v4.10	2023-02-22	setup_no_mans_sky_4.10_fractal_100408a_(62628).exe	56273133427834718	4a1c4d02b07b907dc0d3fe95b7d6d9ba
Fractal v4.12	2023-03-01	setup_no_mans_sky_4.12_fractal_100867_(62796).exe	56292356269490157	3726f9b7ae9d362dce4d6fae4cbd509c
Fractal v4.13	2023-03-08	setup_no_mans_sky_4.13_fractal_101236_(62965).exe _{Note: setup_no_mans_sky_4.13_fractal_101236_(62993).exe does not contain debug files, where as 62965 shown above does.}	56311408418679332	eeb1f8db95ebf6943198f689b2c05c51

Expiration

Due to what seems to be a limited license for the HAVOK physics engine, the Debug Version is unable to run after September 28 2023. This can be fixed fairly easily by manually setting the system time back to a date before then.

Debug Console and Dialogs

The Debug Version is accessed in the Binaries folder by launching XGOG Release_x64.exe.

The debug console runs in a seperate window to the game, showing various information messages such as files accessed and functions called.

These warning dialogs will also show up containing errors that may have occurred, these can usually be safely ignored.

Debug Tools

After launching XGOG Release_x64.exe and starting the game, pressing the ` Key opens the debug screen. The ` key is typically located below the Esc key on your keyboard.

Once the debug screen is accessed, you can open windows and tabs that can be arranged as you wish.

Freecam

Pressing J enters freecam mode, which allows you to fly freely around the star system.

UI Editor

The Debug version also appears to be used by Hello Games to design User Interface Elements.

To access the UI editor, navigate to the debug menu and locate the UI editing section. From there, open the scene window and select any UI MBIN file to reveal a hierarchy of all the elements contained within it. By selecting an element, you can access its settings in the properties window and make any necessary edits. As you make changes, the design window will display the UI file in real-time.

The main HUD's "curved" effect is applied in game, while the design is actually flat 2D in the editor.

Terrain and Biome Editor

Model Viewer and Customizer

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 ===Background===
 [[File:4.12 debug files.png|300px|thumb|right|Debug Files in the v4.12 GOG Release]]
-In the [https://gog.com GOG] release of the No Man's Sky Fractal update, Hello Games unintentionally included a debug version of No Man's Sky named '''XGOG Release_x64.exe''', as well as other debug files including '''NMS.PDB''' program database, a file that contains detailed information about functions and source code used for debugging. These files were included in the v4.10, v4.12 and v4.13 GOG releases before the releases were all [https://www.gogdb.org/product/1446213994#builds replaced on the GOG repository March 9th 2023] to remove these debug files.
+In the [https://gog.com GOG] release of the No Man's Sky Fractal update, Hello Games included a debug version of No Man's Sky named '''XGOG Release_x64.exe''', as well as other debug files including '''NMS.PDB''' program database, a file that contains detailed information about functions and source code used for debugging. These files were included in the v4.10, v4.12 and v4.13 GOG releases before the releases were all [https://www.gogdb.org/product/1446213994#builds replaced on the GOG repository March 9th 2023] to remove these debug files.
-The leak first gained publicity with Lapig's [https://www.nexusmods.com/nomanssky/mods/2665 Native Gyro Mod], released in February 25th 2023 (shortly after the Fractal update February 22nd), where they gave "Credits to Hello Games for shipping a PDB with their GOG update"
+This first gained publicity with Lapig's [https://www.nexusmods.com/nomanssky/mods/2665 Native Gyro Mod], released in February 25th 2023 (shortly after the Fractal update February 22nd), where they gave "Credits to Hello Games for shipping a PDB with their GOG update"
-There is currently no way to download these files from GOG officially, as they do not have an equivalent of Steam's [[How to Install Old Versions from Steam|DepotDownloader]], however GOG Offline installers for v4.10, v4.12 and v4.13 have been found to exist in the wild that still contain these debug files.
+[https://github.com/NMSCD/Fractal413 Project Fractal 413], an unofficial installer, allows users to download the 4.13 version from Steam and patch it to the GOG version with the debug tools and assets.
 ===GOG Releases with Debug Files===
@@ Line 40: / Line 40: @@
 </table>
-===Debug Version Features===
+===Expiration===
+Due to what seems to be a limited license for the HAVOK physics engine, the Debug Version is unable to run after September 28 2023. This can be fixed fairly easily by manually setting the system time back to a date before then.
+===Debug Console and Dialogs===
 The Debug Version is accessed in the '''Binaries''' folder by launching '''XGOG Release_x64.exe'''.
-====Debug Console and Dialogs====
-[[File:Debug console.png]]
+[[File:Debug console.png|400px]]
 The debug console runs in a seperate window to the game, showing various information messages such as files accessed and functions called.
-[[File:Debug_warnings.png]]
+[[File:Debug_warnings.png|400px]]
 These warning dialogs will also show up containing errors that may have occurred, these can usually be safely ignored.
+===Debug Tools===
+After launching '''XGOG Release_x64.exe''' and starting the game, '''pressing the ` Key opens the debug screen'''. The ` key is typically located below the Esc key on your keyboard.
+Once the debug screen is accessed, you can open windows and tabs that can be arranged as you wish.
+====Freecam====
+Pressing '''J''' enters freecam mode, which allows you to fly freely around the star system.
+{{#evt:
+service=youtube
+|id=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMFjPTzihfM
+}}
 ====UI Editor====
 The Debug version also appears to be used by Hello Games to design User Interface Elements.
-[[File:Debug_ui_edit.png]]
+[[File:Debug_ui_edit.png|800px]]
 To access the UI editor, navigate to the debug menu and locate the UI editing section. From there, open the scene window and select any UI [[MBIN]] file to reveal a hierarchy of all the elements contained within it. By selecting an element, you can access its settings in the properties window and make any necessary edits. As you make changes, the design window will display the UI file in real-time.
-[[File:Debug_ui_edit_2.png]]
+[[File:Debug_ui_edit_2.png|800px]]
 The main HUD's "curved" effect is applied in game, while the design is actually flat 2D in the editor.
+====Terrain and Biome Editor====
+[[File:Debug_terrain_edit.png|800px]]
+[[File:Debug_biome_edit.png|800px]]
+====Model Viewer and Customizer====
+[[File:Debug_model_viewer.png|800px]]
+[[File:Debug_model_customizer.png|800px]]