Xash3D is the powerful independent open-sourced 3D-engine, aimed for high compatibility with GoldSource engine formats (maps, models, textures, sounds, entities etc.), but with the intention to be an advanced platform for modmaking or game development. Technically it has been built from a scratch, using as totally original ideas, as some ideas from other 3D-engines. Xash3D overcomes obsolete GoldSource engine's limits and provides for you a new quality of gaming experience and modmaking capabilities, as extended map, model, texture & sound formats with higher limits, possibility to implement custom renderers with dynamic lighting and other modern features. Xash3D is the easy-to-use base to play existing Half-Life mods & create something new, impossible with GoldSource. Years of development & testing allowed to make from Xash3D a perfect mix of high compatibility with common GoldSource standards & high openness to creative modmaking ideas.

Post feature Report RSS Running Half-Life under Xash3D: user's manual (English)

Hello, if you are new with how to use Xash3D Engine to run Half-Life and its' mods, this manual is for you. Just follow the instruction and have fun!

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How to get work Half-Life under Xash3D:

step-by-step instruction for anyone.

It is important to understand, that Xash3D is an independent game engine. It's not a mod for Half-Life, so to get Half-Life work with it, you have to make a separate installation of the game. Please follow these steps carefully and you won't confuse with anything.

1. Please install a Half-Life game properly at first. Currently, a full version of Half-Life can be purchased and activated via Steam. If you have a CD with an old WON version of Half-Life, you can use it too. But please remember, that it's recommended to update your WON version of the game with a patch 1.1.1.0 to be prepared for running latest Half-Life mods also, not only Half-Life itself. If you are not sure which version of the WON game you have installed, just launch the game and look at the right lower corner of the game menu screen. There are some numbers with your game version. If it's not a "v46/1.1.1.0", please update your game. But you don't need to update your Steam version of the game with this patch. Any Steam version of the game should be compatible and ready for running latest mods via Xash3D, but be sure to follow this instruction carefully, especially step 6 - some files have to be added/replaced to have all things working properly.

2. Download the latest version of Xash3D Engine. Currently, it's a build 4344 (v0.99). You can get it at the "Files" section. After downloading you will get a Xash3D_build4344_with_extras.zip file on your computer.

3. Now you have to create a separate folder for Xash3D installation. You can create this folder anywhere you want, but please don't choose for this that directory where your Half-Life is installed already (doing so you're going to have a full set of predictable compatibility issues, from different errors to inability to start the game at all). It's better to use simple short path to this folder and give it an appropriate name, something like "D:\Games\Xash3D" (please note, that for better compatibility it's not recommended to have spaces or non-english symbols in folder names). This folder will be your main Xash3D game directory.

4. Locate and open a folder with a basic Half-Life game content. For the WON version of game it can be something like "C:\Sierra\Half-Life\". You will see a "valve" directory inside. For the current Steam version of the game it can be something like "C:\Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\common\Half-Life". You also will be able to find a "valve" directory inside it.

5. Copy the whole "valve" folder with all of its' contents from your Half-Life game folder directly into the main Xash3D game directory (which you created at Step 3). So after that you get something like "D:\Games\Xash3D\valve" with a basic game content. If you are using Steam version of the game as a source, after copying (extracting) of "valve" folder also check inside "valve\sound\common" folder. There are some launch_*.wav files. Copy them to the "valve\media" folder (these sounds are required for Xash3D game menu, but they present in this folder only in WON versions of the game). You may also be interested to check this add-on. Please note, that you can have some old saved games in your "valve\SAVE" folder. It's recommended to delete this folder entirely or clean out any of found save-files, because they can interfere with proper beginning of a new game under Xash3D!

6. Proceed to extracting the contents of Xash3D_build4344_with_extras.zip archive into the main Xash3D game directory. At first, you will get 2 more archives: Xash3D_build4344.7z and Xash3D_extras.7z (there's also Xash3D_build4344_sources.7z, but it's only for developer's needs). 7z files are 7-Zip archives, which can be extracted with 7-Zip program or with any other appropriate archiver. Continue their extracting into the Xash3D directory with overwriting any of existing files (some files in the "valve" folder must be replaced with files from Xash3D_extras.7z, especially dll-files, otherwise you may get critical error and be unable to play the game). Finally, you will get the Xash3D directory with "docs", "source code" and "valve" folders inside, plus files dedicated.exe, hl.exe, Install Notes.txt, menu.dll, readme.txt, vgui.dll and xash.dll.

7. Now you almost ready to run the game. But firstly, create a shortcut for hl.exe (located in the Xash3D directory) and put it onto your desktop (or into the Programs menu, for example). If you want to enable a console in the game, you have to edit a properties of the shortcut (right-click the shortcut and select a "Properties" tab in pop-up menu). Check the "Target" field and add there parameter " -console" (with space, but without quotes) after hl.exe (it should look like "...\hl.exe" -console). Alternatively, you can use " -dev" parameter. Click "OK". There is also dedicated.exe in Xash3D directory, which can be used to start a dedicated server for multiplayer game (if you are interested in this feature).

8. Start your game via the created shortcut. At the first launch, engine will try to detect your current desktop resolution, and use it in a fullscreen mode. If it fails in doing so (your desktop resolution is not supported, or something else), it will use a windowed mode and 800x600 resolution. When the game menu appears, you'll be able to edit your game preferences (video mode, resolution, sound effects, controls etc.) via "Configuration" menu. Please note, that in the "Sound" menu there is "Enable sound interpolation" checkbox. It's unchecked by default, because this is an experimental feature in Xash3D. It can cause some wrong sound effects in certain situations. So enable it "on your own risk", if you really want to try. It's recommended to restart the game after significant changes of configuration (video mode or resolution settings, multiple changes of control keys etc.) to apply and save new settings properly. In case of engine's crash applied settings will not be saved.

9. If you want to play any Half-Life or Xash3D mod, you have to install it or extract its' files into a separate folder inside a main Xash3D directory (same way as for Half-Life's "valve" folder). Follow an instruction that is appended to a mod, but make sure that any mod (with all of its' contents) is placed into an individual folder. Any properly installed mod can be selected and activated via "Custom game" menu. You can also manually create a shortcut to quickly launch a specific mod. Just create a copy of the shortcut for hl.exe and add in the "Target" field parameter " -game FOLDERNAME" (with space, but without quotes) after hl.exe. "FOLDERNAME" here is a name of the folder where that mod is located. For example, to run Opposing Force (when installed) you have to add " -game gearbox" parameter after hl.exe (it should look like "...\hl.exe" -game gearbox). In fact, it's all the same system, which you can use to run any mod with standard Half-Life (no matter, Steam or WON version). Please note, that "FOLDERNAME" should not contain spaces (legit names are like "foldername" or "Folder_Name" or "Folder-name" or "FOLDER.NAME", but not like "Folder Name").

10. Make sure you have read an additional information about Xash3D posibilities and features (which is containing in documents in the "docs" folder, plus in those text files in the main Xash3D directory). Some information is also avaliable here, at ModDB. Please read the details, before you ask about something, that you don't know yet.

ADDITIONAL TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS

If you have problems of any kind, like game doesn't start or some functions don't work properly, at first re-read this manual again and try to understand if you did something wrong on installing. The major problem is that people do not copy game files correctly. If you got an error message like "Couldn't load gfx.wad" this mostly means that some files are missing or copied in a wrong place. So check again that you have "valve" folder with all the basic Half-Life contents in your main game directory (the directory that you manually created and copied there hl.exe, xash.dll, menu.dll and other Xash3D files), make sure that you have in "valve" those files which are mentioned in your error message. If the mentioned file is on its' place, then maybe some game settings are corrupted. So you need to check gameinfo.txt file in the "valve" folder, or in the folder of that mod you're trying to launch. This text file defines the parameters which should be used to start the game or mod (like basedir path for "valve" folder, or gamedir path for the mod's folder, e.g. "gearbox" for Opposing Force; also the important parameters are dllpath, usually "cl_dlls", and gamedll, usually "dlls/hl.dll", they set path & names for game or mod's dlls and must be correct). Gameinfo.txt normally is generating automatically by Xash3D, using the data from liblist.gam file in the same folder, but for some reasons you may have incorrect settings here. If you have any problems and not sure which parameter is corrupted, it's safe to delete this file and allow the game to restore all the settings automatically. Sometimes game refuses to start with correct video settings and you can't set a proper resolution etc. This can be caused by files shipped with a mod you are trying to launch. To fix the problem delete from the mod's directory files opengl.cfg & video.cfg. They also have to be generated automatically for your system by Xash3D, and mod's authors should not include them into mod's files, because they are system-dependent.

Another common issue is an error message like "Host_InitError: can't initialize client.dll". This means that engine can not handle with the client.dll that you have in your mod's folder. There are several reasons to this.
1. That file is linked to the modern Steam interface, so the game won't start until you're trying to use that dll. This also happen with Half-Life's files from Steam too, that's why we need to perform Step 6 of this manual and replace some files, including original client.dll, by the version from Xash3D Extras. Sometimes inexperienced mod's autors copy Half-Life's dlls from Steam and put them with their mod's files, instead of setting proper dlls' parameters for the mod. In case those dlls are original unmodified Half-Life's dlls it's safe to delete client.dll from mod's folder and start the game again. For the mods like Opposing Force, Blue Shift or Team Fortress Classic there are old (WON) versions or recreated copies of their client.dll, which you can copy over Steam files to make them work with Xash3D.
2. That file could be taken from another official Valve's game like original Counter-Strike v1.6 or Condition Zero. Those games has encrypted client.dll which also will work only under Steam version of Half-Life. Such mods are unsupported by Xash3D, because they have modified game code and there is no correct replacement to it. So if you delete client.dll, the game may start, but it will not work properly.
3. Valve released new game SDK, which also links Half-Life's game code to the Steam version of the game. So some new mods have a game code based on this SDK and their client.dll will not work with Xash3D because it's linked to the Steam resouces. Sometimes such mods may just require SDL support. If so, you can try the mod with FWGS version of Xash3D, because it does have SDL support. But, again, you are not guaranteed to get every mod working properly. The only option is to ask mod's developer to release compatibility fix for Xash3D, if it's possible. Mods mostly do not need something specific from Steam files, so it's doable, but depends on mod's author.

The other problem is that sometimes your anti-virus software or system restrictions can prevent the engine from starting the game at all, or from starting it properly. So if you have any uncommon troubles on a game start, make sure your AV or VAC do not restrict the access to the hl.exe or to *.bat or *.cmd files which can be used to start a mod. To prevent problems with Windows settings it's not recommended to install the game into important system folders, like "Program files", for example. It's better to put your game into a separate folder like "Games", and start it from there. Remember that official Xash3D files are open-sourced and do not contain any malware, but some AV engines may treat them as suspicious because of their sophisticated methods used for risks' detection. We can't guarantee that for you regarding any modded files you can get, but original Xash3D files are 100% clean and harmless. So it's safe to add them into AV's trusted files to prevent any launching or network connecting problems.

You can also check users' comments below this article to get additional information before you try to ask your question. Thanks and have a very safe and productive day ;)

P. S. If you've used command line parameter for enabling the console, but it still doesn't work, check "gameinfo.txt" in your current mod's folder for the line secure "1", delete this line (or replace "1" with "0") and save changes. Another similar thing - if Multiplayer button is not active for unknown reason, check "gameinfo.txt" in your current mod's folder for the line gamemode "singleplayer_only", delete this line and save changes. Still, some mods are not intended to have multiplayer, so it's normal for them to have it disabled.

P. P. S. Be sure to check these 2 articles: #1 & #2 about tested mods and useful compatibility tips.

Post comment Comments  (0 - 50 of 187)
Ichiman94
Ichiman94

And I thought this was a basic knowledge that everyone knew, but it's nice for new users who haven't fiddled with modding. This is great!

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~X~
~X~

Basic knowledge these days... Is quite more 'basic' than this )

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Elec3K
Elec3K

i dont understand i did averything it saids,but i still dont understand wat should i do,should i put it to my hl directory or in a folder with a folder that doesnt even know where the system is,WAT SHOULD I DO?!!!!!.

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Qwertyus Author
Qwertyus

I don't understand what's your problem. Most peoples who have read the article and followed these steps clearly understood what they should do.

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Alex-Wolfenstein97
Alex-Wolfenstein97

yeah ... most people , myself included had no problem with getting the game up and running , but what i don't understand is HOW THE **** CAN YOU MAKE IT SO THAT THE TEXTURES FROM HALF-LIFE : GOLD - SINGLEPLAYER WILL ACTUALLY WORK !!!!! For the love of HL and for everything that is good in this world ! ... can someone explicitly tell me how to get these working ??? the docs don't really help as they just give you an ideea of what you have to do , but it's not really clear ! and a few other people have the same problem ... SO HOW THE HELL DO WE FIX THAT / GET IT WORKING ???

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Qwertyus Author
Qwertyus

If anyone else is interested, read the comments below this article: Moddb.com

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Red_Fire_Gaming
Red_Fire_Gaming

i have a problem with xash3D. I can't turn on look spring and look strafe options in configuration\controls\adv controls.

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Qwertyus Author
Qwertyus

They are inactive, if mouse look is enabled.

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nerdenfromsweden
nerdenfromsweden

the console wont work.

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Qwertyus Author
Qwertyus

In a shortcut for hl.exe add -console and make sure there is no "secure 1" line in gameinfo.txt in your mod's folder. Delete this line if it's existing, or set to "secure 0". Also some mods can have console disabled by their developers with specific methods. It's not a fault of engine.

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dooki51
dooki51

Where in the shortcut do I put -console? I don't know where it is and there's no "Object" perimeter.

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LOCKJAWVENOM
LOCKJAWVENOM

If it means anything by now, I finally found out how to do it. After making the shortcut, go into the properties like he said. Go to the "target" box and after the filepath and its quotations, press space once and type "-console" there. "Console" should be all the way at the end and, once again, outside the quotations. Hope this helped if it's not too late lol.

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Qwertyus Author
Qwertyus

By the way, yes, right name of that box in english version of Windows is "Target", so thanks you point this out (I have russian version of Windows where that box named "Object", so I've made a mistake writing the instruction above). Now mistake is fixed.

P. S. A sample of shortcut parameters (for those who still has any doubts).

1. If your path to hl.exe contains names without spaces it will look like this:
D:\Games\Xash3D\hl.exe -console -game gearbox

2. If your path contains spaces, then there will be quotes:
"D:\My Games\Xash3D Engine\hl.exe" -console -game gearbox

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LOCKJAWVENOM
LOCKJAWVENOM

Glad I could help!

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Red_Fire_Gaming
Red_Fire_Gaming

i can't turn on look spring and look strafe options. Also when i create a server it doesn't let me to go to adv options. Reply plzz i can't find any solution

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azunyannyakano
azunyannyakano

they hunger works

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IOviSpot
IOviSpot

Both hl and #hl only launches dedicated server.. i don't see the game.

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Red_Fire_Gaming
Red_Fire_Gaming

why in my xash3D the look spring and look strafe options are disabled and i can't turn them on?

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keanedawg
keanedawg

Following the instructions solely on Github, I was able to run the Xash.exe along with it's menu, but I cannot launch any actual game (if I hit "new game" and then select "easy", nothing happens). Is this what is supposed to happen? I thought I would be able to play Half-Life.

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Qwertyus Author
Qwertyus

Xash.exe is intended to run XashXT (advanced mod for Xash3D), but only if both Xash3D & XashXT are properly installed.

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chrisgregorious
chrisgregorious

Is CS 1.6 working successfully yet? - Half-Life works fine, but CS 1.6 throws out 'xash3d can't initialize client dll' when launching with -console -game cstrike.

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Qwertyus Author
Qwertyus

Only CS 1.3 and earlier versions are supported.

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Mikko-setä
Mikko-setä

Will you add support for CS 1.6?

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Qwertyus Author
Qwertyus

It's not possible to add support for original CS 1.6 because its' client.dll is encrypted and can be loaded only by Steam version of Half-Life. But authors of Xash3D FWGS have managed to recreate client functions of CS 1.6 for Android version of Xash3D, so if they will be interested, they can create the client.dll for Windows version of Xash3D, as I assume. But they probably will not be interested, because they don't want to allow players from PC (with mouse & keyboard in their hands) play on same game servers with Android players (which have to use touch controls and can't compete with those who play with mouse & kb).

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CYKABLYAT!!!
CYKABLYAT!!!

when i run the game it brings up a dedicated server thing how do i get to the actual game?
and i ran hl.exe the one thats in my xash3d folder

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Chrysaliarus
Chrysaliarus

Hey, the menu launches up fine for me. I did everything listed in the installation guide, however when I press on any difficulty setting nothing happens. Any reason behind this? It's probably my fault but I wouldn't mind some assistance.

Edit: Just found the comment that you replied to about this. so sorry about the repeat question. However this is a guide about running half-life with xash3d so i'd think it would be a good idea to include instructions for installing XashXT on this guide as well?

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Qwertyus Author
Qwertyus

XashXT is just a mod, so it should be installed and used as any other mod. Nothing specific, except those things which are already described in the manual's item number 9. The only one difference is that XashXT has its' own launcher (xash.exe), which you can use to run the mod directly without need to use "-game xash" key in your shortcut for xash.exe.

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mzoom
mzoom

Is there any other way i could enable the console? When I put the -console text im told its not valid.

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MafiaGreed
MafiaGreed

If I copy the valve_hd folder, would the hd model pack work?

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Qwertyus Author
Qwertyus

It will work, if you copy all the content inside of valve_hd over the content in valve folder. Otherwise it won't (latest SteamPipe features have not been implemented yet).

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FanProgrammer
FanProgrammer

bad post

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FreezN
FreezN

The .chm help file documentation that comes with this doesn't work. No text displays when I click a page. Is there a separate download for this?

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Qwertyus Author
Qwertyus

It's probably something related to your OS. You can try online documentation:
Xash3d.ru

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Guest
Guest

Thanks for the info its really helping me...

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Knight45
Knight45

A video would be helpful, hopefully someone makes one that isn't about Androids.

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Qwertyus Author
Qwertyus

The process is almost the same - take files, copy them with a right order, enjoy.

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TheLegendaryFox
TheLegendaryFox

The game starts up fine, but for some reason, almost all textures are white, and the menu options are only white squares. Maybe my video card is too old?

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Qwertyus Author
Qwertyus

Look like you missed something while installing the game or mods. Or you haven't Xash3D extras installed. Re-read the manual and do every step properly.

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Joshuaortiz698
Joshuaortiz698

I tried to load the console in my mods but It does not work.

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Qwertyus Author
Qwertyus

Remove the line "secure 1" or set it to "secure 0" in gameinfo.txt of your mod's folder.

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xwjh123
xwjh123

Hi,i met a problem which was described as "unknown sequence xxxxxx,must be specified" while i was testing condition zero deleted scenes with xash3D engine

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Qwertyus Author
Qwertyus

Condition Zero is not supported officially by Xash3D (you should get client.dll error at start of the game). Probably you're trying to play the game without original CZ's client.dll, so there can be errors of any kind.

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aldhifi
aldhifi

Hi, my game menu are changed, but when i play the game, there is no differences(no effect at all) just like regular half life with goldscr, except the resolution setting, what did i miss?

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Qwertyus Author
Qwertyus

There should not be significant differencies if you're playing a common Half-Life mod or Half-Life itself.

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aldhifi
aldhifi

oh sorry my bad, i thought there will be differencies like realistic flashlight (like i saw someone vid on youtube about xash3d). Because i really need real flashlight for playing afraid of monster:DC, i kinda dont like HL flashlight for aom:DC

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coolerfreezeer82
coolerfreezeer82

tfc support?

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Qwertyus Author
Qwertyus

It's supported, but has some minor issues.

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Guest
Guest

Is there a way to disable the fps counter?

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Qwertyus Author
Qwertyus

cl_showfps "0"

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Phoebus2000
Phoebus2000

Hi, this is a niche request I suppose but is it possible to rotate the screen? I have my Android device in portrait mode so would like to run Half-life this way. I've looked at the command line argument options and couldn't see any for this. Thanks.

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Qwertyus Author
Qwertyus

Ask there:
Moddb.com

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