Software for Mod making Created 20 years ago2004-08-24 00:34:05 UTC by Griz

I just want to know what the best software is for mod making. I know I'm going to need a C++ compiler/decompiler of sort. All I have is Dev-C++ which seems to be able to run C++ code through a prompt. And I'm also looking at a Microsoft Visual C++.NET Standard Edition 2003 For PC which is about in my price range. And I'm not going to bother getting any modelling software until HL2 comes out because I've already seen some downloadable very easy to use software. And I think I've got everything else. I want to be able to make anything that is capable of doing in a mod so I want to have the right tools in that case. Thanks for input.

you'll need:

Half-Life Model Viewer, or Jeds Model Viewer for the skins,
(check links section)
Latest version of Hammer, 3.5
MilkShape3d for the models

thats pretty much it.

Oh and I'd preferably like the downloadable stuff because thats that much less $. I've got Windows ME so that 1 tutorial on wavelength for hud changes won't work. Otherwise, free computer space is doing good.

they're all downloadable.

what about coding stuff, decompilers

i think you have to pay for the coding stuff.

do you know of any good ones or popularly used.

no, i dont code, you could try googling for it though.

Naaah, if you're getting into hardcore modelling and such, you want more than Milkshape...3dsMAX and Maxon 3D are excellent programs that are much more effective and more stable than MS3D IMO. They are expensive commercially but if you search enough you can often find enormous educational discounts for non-commercial usage, which is fine unless you want to release your mod commercially and charge for it.

You'll also want the HL SDK from the ERC, thats a must for any mod makers, and you want to get things like Kratisto's MDL Decompiler, and the utilities that come with the SDK like StudioMDL and some other programs.

As always, make sure you have the latest ZHLT and you should be good to go.

i found a couple, but i found nice one but i haven't been able to successfully recompile code for single player HUD use.

Tools in the SDK can probably recompile for you.

thanks ill try those coding software out tommorow. I'm just eager to get this mod moving for its first release but not sure if i should wait for HL2. because most of the stuff i need to do now is modelling and im not sure its worth getting all that modelling stuff when HL2 has a easy as hell modelling system.

Ah, you could always go with Softimage|XSI for HL2 modeling. It's the tool VALVe uses....

and it is extremely easy to use

yeah, ive seen that one, that one looked as easy to make a character as typing half-life on a computer.

literally

but doesn't HL2 come out Sept 1?

no, from what i've heard floating around the net the hl2 release date is:

[i][u]DECEMBER 30TH[/i][/u]

Sept. 30th.

oh, maybe i got confused and mistaked december for september.

When it's done

sorry, i was looking at pre-order shipping. It is sept 30. darn. I guess i'll just map for a month. yeah.

Thanks for all of those suggestions and quick responsesFloater and RabidMonkey. I'm finally getting the hang of using the SDK and how it functions.

I got that Softimage|XSI so I could mess around with the modeling before I get started using it with the mod. When I install, it says "PSAPI.DLL linked to missing NTDLL.DLL:NtAllocateVirtualMemory."
If there is anyone familiar with the modeling kit and knows the solution, thanks. I just thought I might not have enough room for it or for running it but I checked and have roughly 13 GB so that shouldn't be the problem. I also checked the computer for the NTDLL and found 3. 1 in my C:WindowsSystem, and the other two are in a C++ program of mine. So i'm not sure if the NTDLL the error is refering to was supposed to be installed with it or is the one already on the computer.

For a good HL toolkit I suggest Slackiller's HLprograms

I think I used that site to lots of the kits but all I need now is MS Visual C++ 6.0. and I got the Softimage|XSI to work on my other computer so I guess I will transfer the material through my network.