Setting Up Xash3D

Xash3D is intended as a replacement for the GoldSource engine, so the original engine binaries are not needed for Xash3D to work. Generally, you need only the following:

• The folder containing the game or mod data. For Half-Life, this is the valve folder; for a mod or derivative game, the folder name is usually the developer name or a variation of the title: for example, gearbox for Opposing Force or Hunger for They Hunger.
• The xash_build*.rar file.
• The xash_extras.rar file.

Installation for Pre-Steam Games and Mods

1. Unpack the contents of the xash_build*.rar file to your Half-Life folder, overwriting any existing files.
2. Extract the valve folder from the xash_extras.rar file to the same folder, overwriting any existing files.

Installing mods on top of this setup is no different from installing on top of the original Half-Life. You simply need to put the mod data folder alongside the valve folder.

Installation for Steam Games and Mods

Xash3D does not work directly with Steam's *.gcf game data archives. To make a Steam-distributed game work with Xash3D, you first need to extract the game data from the *.gcf file using a third-party program, such as GCFScape (link opens a new window).

Half-Life

1. Create a folder for Half-Life.
2. Extract the valve folder from the <steam_installation_folder>\steamapps\half-life.gcf file to your Half-Life folder.
3. Unpack the contents of the xash_build*.rar file to this folder.
4. Extract the valve folder from the xash_extras.rar file to the same folder, overwriting any existing files.

Derivatives and Mods

1. Make sure you have set up Xash3D to run Half-Life, as described above.
2. Locate the *.gcf file for your game or mod in the <steam_installation_folder>\steamapps folder.
3. From this *.gcf file, extract the folder with the game or mod data to your Half-Life folder. For example, for Blue Shift you need to extract the bshift folder from the half-life blue shift.gcf file.

Launching the Game

To launch Half-Life, run the replacement hl.exe program.

To launch a Half-Life mod, do one of the following:

• Run hl.exe, and switch to the mod by selecting Custom game in the main menu.
• Create a shortcut to hl.exe, open the shortcut's properties and add the -game <mod_folder> parameter to the command string in the Target text box; for example, "C:\games\half-life\hl.exe -game gearbox".
• Create a *.bat file that runs hl.exe with the -game <mod_folder> parameter; for example, "C:\games\half-life\hl.exe -game hunger".