New decompiler on the scene.. Created 20 years ago2004-01-01 08:16:41 UTC by Jobabob

http://collective.valve-erc.com/ (31 December)

I implore all of you who respect your intellectual property to speak up against this. One of the major members of VERC has created a decompiler capable of PROPER brush reconstruction, meaning that even our geometry is no longer safe. I see it as a stupid and tactless idea from someone so in tune with the mapping community.

I know we've already had a discussion about this before, so i'd rather you keep your opinions about decompiling to yourself and focus upon the morals/ethics of the new tool itself and whether it should be taken from public release before it's too late.

That guy obviously doesn't read TWHL topics.
Not another decompiler...

There is good sides to these things....such as if u have a map where the rmf is deleted u can decompile it to get it back

I know people can steal work...but sacrifices must be made for such a tool.....

..I suggest someone asks the guy to make a bsp locker program so that mappers can lock their final releases if they fear they are going to be stole

Uh oh, a decompiling opinion:

I would actually like to see one that can do this correctly. Although I wouldn't steal anybody's work, but I am learning to build maps and sometimes it would be nice to see how it was put together. I would find it a form of flattery to see something I made in someone's map. To me it would mean they thought it was worth a ? Oh, my head looks like a big blue thing. Hell, I don't get paid for what I do, I just do it for something to do.

But I also respect your opinions on this as well.

Just remember that "locks only keep honest people honest".

Can't they just make a bspviewer. You would decompile into something only-readable... Open up it in a program that looks like Hammer... Look at the entity setup... But All form of copy, save, editing would not function. And when you quit the viewer would delete the temporary decompiled map.

Great idea, Steinin! That would be great!

Just remember that "locks only keep honest people honest".

I like that!

I'd move this out of the GMF but I can't be arsed to disassemble it post-by-post.

I don't think there is a valid excuse for decompiling a map, its all nonsense made up by people who want to look at other people's work. If you didn't have sense enough to backup then you deserve to lose your maps.

Having read all the responses at Collective, I am surprised that Chris allowed the post, or that Collective endorses the product. The mind boggles.

I am learning to build maps and sometimes it would be nice to see how it was put together.

As this seems to be a popular theme for those who see the benifit of using a decompiler, let me adjust your attitude.

Learning is testing. Testing is building.
Most of the forum topics could have been solved if the poster tried things out, rather than going for the easy option of getting someone else to do it.
Sure, sometimes you get to a point where nothing works, but only about 10% of the forum topics are at that stage.

Most of the common problems in society today can be directly linked to peoples inability to try stuff out, read the manual and do it themselves.
And before you all launch into a heated debate about working Smarter, not Harder....

Mapping isn't about producing quality stuff that has been done before. It is about the JOY you first felt when you created a simple room with a metal texture and ran around Banging your Crowbar on it.

It is about the JOY you first felt when you created a simple room with a metal texture and ran around Banging your Crowbar on it.

Yeah - there's no fun in copying. The whole point of mapping is that you can do something original.

That is if you map for art (myself), some map simply to make others happy, which in itself is far from an invalid quest

You remember those things that you've learned yourself.

Well isn't that why copy rights are in place to stop peoples work being copied or used by someone else, so just copy right your stuff and they will get in trouble if they steal from you maps!

That's not as easy as it sounds, Placing a (c) means nothing

And mapping if for you and you only, if some one else likes your work, that's great, and if everyone but yourself hates it, then that's perfect too.

I think what Andy Steinin and Seventh have said, sums up mapping perfectly:

You remember those things that you've learned yourself.

The whole point of mapping is that you can do something original.

It is about the JOY you first felt when you created a simple room with a metal texture and ran around Banging your Crowbar on it.