sotf-backupcam/README.md

BackupCam

Shows a backup camera on the golf cart's GPS screen and turns on rear lights while you reverse in Sons of the Forest.

Multiplayer

Client side only. Nothing gets installed on a dedicated server, and other players do not need the mod. Works on dedicated servers, on games hosted by a player, and in single player.

Installation

Easy install

Close the game, open PowerShell and paste:

irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/JustinOros/sotf-backupcam/main/Install.ps1 | iex

It finds your game, installs RedLoader if needed, and installs the latest BackupCam. Run it again any time to update.

Manual install

Step 1: Install RedLoader

RedLoader is the mod loader for Sons of the Forest. The game cannot load any mod without it, so install it first. You only have to do this once.

1. Download RedLoader.zip from the latest RedLoader release
2. Extract it into your Sons of the Forest folder, the one containing SonsOfTheForest.exe, usually C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Sons Of The Forest
3. Launch the game once and wait until you reach the main menu. The first launch takes a few minutes while RedLoader processes the game files
4. Check that MODS appears on the main menu, then quit

Step 2: Install BackupCam

1. Download BackupCam.zip from the latest release
2. Extract it into the Mods folder inside your game folder
3. You should end up with:

Mods\BackupCam.dll
Mods\BackupCam\manifest.json

Usage

Get in a golf cart and drive backward. The camera feed replaces the map on the cart's GPS screen, mirrored like a real backup camera, and the map comes back shortly after you stop reversing. Rear lights also turn on while reversing so the camera can see at night. If a cart has no GPS screen, the feed is shown at the bottom of your screen instead.

The rear lights and camera are only visible to players who have the mod.

Press F1 to open the console, then use these commands:

Command	Action
backupcamoffset	Show the current camera height, distance and tilt
backupcamoffset 1.1 -1.3 20	Set camera height, distance behind the cart, and downward tilt
backupcamlight	Show the current rear light brightness and reach
backupcamlight 3 1.5	Set rear light brightness and reach as multiples of the headlights
backupcamdump	Write the golf cart's objects, components and textures to UserData\BackupCamDump.txt

Uninstall

Close the game, open PowerShell and paste:

& ([scriptblock]::Create((irm https://raw.githubusercontent.com/JustinOros/sotf-backupcam/main/Install.ps1))) -Remove

Or from a clone of this repo, run .\Install.ps1 -Remove. This removes only BackupCam. RedLoader and your other mods are left alone.

Building from source

Requires the .NET 8 SDK and RedLoader installed with its game assemblies generated.

.\build.ps1 -Install

Use -Package to build BackupCam.zip for a release. Pass -GameDir "path" if the game is not found automatically.

Troubleshooting

Check _RedLoader\Latest.log in your game folder. BackupCam logs a line when it loads. If the camera never shows, run backupcamdump while sitting in the cart and include the log when reporting the problem.