JACK is a proprietary [[Freeware]] licensed [[Map Editors|Map Editor]] written in LANG. - [Website](https://crystice.com/jack/) (includes free version from 2023) - Source - [Documentation](https://jack.hlfx.ru/pub/VDKManual.pdf) (PDF, old, latest in download) - [Store](https://store.steampowered.com/app/496450/JACK/) (Steam page for a version from 2023) > J.A.C.K. (formerly known as Jackhammer) is a brand new level editor for games with a quake-style BSP architecture. The title stands for “Just another creation kit”, but actually it’s not just another level editor! The aim is to develop a convenient cross-platform tool capable of incorporating the best features of existing editors, such as Valve Hammer Editor, Q3Radiant and others. # Notability Claims to combine the best features of [[Hammer Editor]] and [[Radiant Editor]]. In development for 20+ years. Supports many games. # Philosophy ## Location Claims on LinkedIn to be based out of Toronto Canada, but the original Crystis Softworks AKA Chain Studios was a mod team based out of Russia. - https://chainstudios.hlfx.ru/ - https://jack.hlfx.ru/en/ Likely the reason that there has not been a lot of development is due to Russia's war. This has also affected other developers, some being drafted, jailed for protesting, mental health, or simply unable to maintain international business operations due to sanctions. # Platform Support - Linux - MacOS - Windows ## Engine Support - [[GoldSrc]] - (including [[Half-Life]] and [[Gunman Chronicles]]) - [[id Tech 2]] - (including [[id Tech 2|Quake]], mods, some Quake-based games like [[Hexen II]], and [[id Tech 2|Quake II Engine]] mods) - [[id Tech 3]] - (including [[id Tech 3|Quake III]] mods and [[id Tech 3]] based games like Tremulous) Support for [[Source Engine]] and [[Unreal Engine]] was planned. Uncertain future. # Features ## Volatile Engine A closed source engine, by the same developers. - https://crystice.com/volatile/ > Volatile is the own development of Chain Studios. Unlike many engines, it is not developed as an open platform, does not support many formats of models and textures, not too flexible in the settings. However, a refusal to attempt the immensity leads to the fact that Volatile projects have high chances to be published. ... This is facilitated by the built -in Lua interpreter and modification of mods. \- https://chainstudios.hlfx.ru/index.php?do=v3d Almost certainly, Volatile, like most other game engines, is a fork of [[id Tech 2]] with an improper(?) license. This implies that JACK may itself be a fork of another editor. According to the manual: > Copyright Notice: some parts of the manual were taken from the official Worldcraft 3.x CHM manual; copyright © 1996-2000 Valve LLC, all rights reserved. The appropriate modifications were introduced in some places, to address the differences between Worldcraft/VHE and J.A.C.K. So, JACK is a fork of Worldcraft AKA [[Hammer Editor]]. # Tips # Resources ## Tutorials ```cardlink url: https://youtu.be/X9QXt3LLyb8 title: "Wanna make some maps?" description: "Half-Life maps! Or any GoldSRC game really.After 3 and a half years of making the Half-Life SDK Programming series, I've decided to start a mapping series, c..." host: youtu.be favicon: https://www.youtube.com/s/desktop/606e092f/img/logos/favicon_32x32.png image: https://i.ytimg.com/vi/X9QXt3LLyb8/maxresdefault.jpg ``` # References