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Not to forget about including these .wads with the file if you want others to play the map... even better would be to include them in the .bsp (-wadinclude wadname parameter for csg).
No idea about this... since when does it happen?
Afaik this is stored in the Options dialog. One of those slider bars.
I don't mean you should surround the whole map with a skybox, only create a small skybox 'room' so that that wall becomes visible. Skybrushes are just brushes when it comes down to dividing the map up into rooms, you know.
You can't put multiple brushes into one brush, if that's what you're after. Just use grouping. Multiple brushes aren't a bad thing and using groups they're not too hard to handle either.
Also, there's several group-related buttons in the top button panel, I suggest you try some out. It shouldn't be difficult to find out which one ungroups.
Also, there's several group-related buttons in the top button panel, I suggest you try some out. It shouldn't be difficult to find out which one ungroups.
Use a phys_lengthconstraint to actually tie an object to a point, or to another entity. This will make them behave as if there was a rope between them. You'll have to use keyframe_rope's for the visual part, parenting them to these objects.
True, hydeph. 
Though, if it doesn't involve changing or adding brush-based entities, you can use the -onlyents compile parameter. Updates only the entities.
Though, if it doesn't involve changing or adding brush-based entities, you can use the -onlyents compile parameter. Updates only the entities.
Just extend the skybrushes at this point a bit, to create a sort of skybrush 'room' outside the window, so the wall doesn't touch the void anymore. Voila, visible outside wall.
Looks like a good planning to me.
I use something similar. Except that after playtests, I sometimes go back a few stages to fix up certain spots. In fact I refine things more often, sort of going through stages C - E multiple times. First rough overall lighting, some main prop models, then in a next cycle puttins some smaller details in place and tweaking the lighting, and so on.
What I also do in planning stage is drawing themed sketches, to get a better feeling for the map I'll be creating. This helps planning some important landmarks in the layout and giving the map some sense.
I use something similar. Except that after playtests, I sometimes go back a few stages to fix up certain spots. In fact I refine things more often, sort of going through stages C - E multiple times. First rough overall lighting, some main prop models, then in a next cycle puttins some smaller details in place and tweaking the lighting, and so on.
What I also do in planning stage is drawing themed sketches, to get a better feeling for the map I'll be creating. This helps planning some important landmarks in the layout and giving the map some sense.
Obviously you would need quite some func_physboxes.
But you will also want to use some constraint entities with limited strength - at the explosion power they'll break and fail to keep the boxes tied together.
However you'll do it, it's probably going to be some work. Good luck.
But you will also want to use some constraint entities with limited strength - at the explosion power they'll break and fail to keep the boxes tied together.
However you'll do it, it's probably going to be some work. Good luck.
I'd say, rotate the train 180 degrees in the editor. At least in HL trains had to be oriented towards the right, HL2 doesn't seem to have changed in that habit.
Oh, it's a list of humor? Talk about presentating your fun in a good way... a quick scan through that post would say it was a missing mail to some avion maintenance officer... 
No, you'll need patience...
Uhm... so what's the purpose of this thread?
How much time does it take for you guys to find out it's a design problem, not a compile problem? In real-life, you'd see the outside of that room through that window, but since you haven't placed one in your map and that room is in the potentially visibility set while looking through the room, guess what you'll see through the window...
Running VIS on full does more raytracings as far as I know, so it isn't a magical solution - it's just more precise. You may even get more polygons drawn to screen at some points because the fast VIS missed a few connections...
Running VIS on full does more raytracings as far as I know, so it isn't a magical solution - it's just more precise. You may even get more polygons drawn to screen at some points because the fast VIS missed a few connections...
What exactly is wrong about those textures? I mean, how did you intend them to look like?
Can you post the .qc file, and tell what files are missing? It might be a pathname problem or such.
Neither do I see what the problem is, but you could try passing the map to some friends and see if they get the problem as well - that way, you can at least pinpoint whether it's a problem with the map or something else.
They're models, both in HL (where they were often saved into a single model file as submodels) and in HL2.).
You'd want to use lower values for surfaces with little lighting difference, not specifically only in the 3D skybox - those surfaces are smaller and there's less of them usually so it's not really a significant gain to do this in the 3D skybox imho.
Lightmaps aren't very expensive compared to shaders and more advanced effects anyway... but saving on their resolution can have a significant impact on the maps filesize.
Also, what looks good is testable...
Lightmaps aren't very expensive compared to shaders and more advanced effects anyway... but saving on their resolution can have a significant impact on the maps filesize.
Also, what looks good is testable...
Deleting 4 GB takes some time so you should've noticed that while deleting them... are you really sure of this?
Heh, that Opera side-bar looks usefull. I've got a blog-reader plugin for FF that opens in the side-bar too. Good use of space.
Uhm, about the game... looks like a 10-minutes job for a programmer and I think I'd loose interest even before that. But oh well, that's me...
Uhm, about the game... looks like a 10-minutes job for a programmer and I think I'd loose interest even before that. But oh well, that's me...
It sounds like nonsense, yeah... I mean, you would probably have noticed some slowdown back then, right?
Just weird, dunno what to think of this... I wouldn't like un-asked-for preloads myself...
Just weird, dunno what to think of this... I wouldn't like un-asked-for preloads myself...
Reminds me of what Dr. Glass tried on the Snarkpit - the Mosaic Map. As far as I know the succes rate of such projects is fairly low so sticking with a small motivated team and keeping the map small in terms of time is best, methinks.
I'd say, go with HL. Less entities, but more people who can play. Also, it keeps you more focussed, keeps things smaller so more 'change of survival', hehe.
I wouldn't sign up though, got other things to do (and you know what ;)).
I'd say, go with HL. Less entities, but more people who can play. Also, it keeps you more focussed, keeps things smaller so more 'change of survival', hehe.
I wouldn't sign up though, got other things to do (and you know what ;)).
Read the link I gave you. At the bottom, it describes how to add entities that need to be triggered.
Heh, when it comes down to skinning... I'd rather model...
Looks interesting this, Rimrook. A bit alternative like we're being used to see from you. No bad thing methinks.
Looks interesting this, Rimrook. A bit alternative like we're being used to see from you. No bad thing methinks.
Seek the shb.wad file perhaps?
Nah, there's a texture file that's missing. Make sure that shb.wad file is in the counter-strikecstrike folder.
If you don't use any textures from this .wad file, remove it from the texture list in Hammer before compiling (it's best to do so for any .wad you don't use, as the map will deem any .wads loaded into Hammer as necessary files even if they aren't used).
If you did use this .wad, there's two possibilities: either distribute the .wad file with the map, or include the used textures in the .bsp itself. The latter is obviously the best way (less space used, less files to worry about). This is done by adding a compile parameter to the csg process:
-wadinclude wadname
So in your situation, that would be something like this (in the Hammer Run Map dialog, Expert mode):
Command: $csg_exe
Parameters: $path$file -wadinclude shb
Nah, there's a texture file that's missing. Make sure that shb.wad file is in the counter-strikecstrike folder.
If you don't use any textures from this .wad file, remove it from the texture list in Hammer before compiling (it's best to do so for any .wad you don't use, as the map will deem any .wads loaded into Hammer as necessary files even if they aren't used).
If you did use this .wad, there's two possibilities: either distribute the .wad file with the map, or include the used textures in the .bsp itself. The latter is obviously the best way (less space used, less files to worry about). This is done by adding a compile parameter to the csg process:
-wadinclude wadname
So in your situation, that would be something like this (in the Hammer Run Map dialog, Expert mode):
Command: $csg_exe
Parameters: $path$file -wadinclude shb
Trigger a multi_manager and make it trigger the first door with a delay of 10 seconds, the second door with a delay of 15 sec.
You'll have to use a tool called bspzip, which is already in your SDK bin folder. However, there are more user-friendly versions of this program like WinBSPzip and PakRat available. PakRat has a function that scans the map for files that need to be included (models, materials, sounds...), for example.
Wedge, vertexing, clipping tool... whatever you like. Just use the one you work best with.
I'm with Rimrook here. This is not a vis problem, it's a design problem. In real-life, you would naturally be able to look into that room from that window, or actually, onto the wall that surrounds that room...
But oh well, it has been said above...
But oh well, it has been said above...
I finally got around playing it.
Just astoundishing. Amazing. There's many little things to look for that add to the immense feeling of the Combine structures there. Of course, things could've been better, but just show me a single map that does...
For me, this sort of maps are fantastic. I like the cynical text comments, too. Go Adam.
// And yeah, props are the way to detail nowadays. Learn to go with it, or bite the dust...
Just astoundishing. Amazing. There's many little things to look for that add to the immense feeling of the Combine structures there. Of course, things could've been better, but just show me a single map that does...
For me, this sort of maps are fantastic. I like the cynical text comments, too. Go Adam.
// And yeah, props are the way to detail nowadays. Learn to go with it, or bite the dust...
Hmm, I assume you're taking .vtf's and try to open them with Photoshop?
Well, for starters, .vtf's are Source specific files, so don't expect them to be readable by other paint programs. There are programs that allow you to browse through your .vtf files and export them to other filetypes like .tga, .jpg or .bmp. Try VTF Explorer.
To compile images into useable texture files, use vmtCREATE.
You've got tools for this already in your SDK folders, but those are console programs, that are generally much harder to work with.
Well, for starters, .vtf's are Source specific files, so don't expect them to be readable by other paint programs. There are programs that allow you to browse through your .vtf files and export them to other filetypes like .tga, .jpg or .bmp. Try VTF Explorer.
To compile images into useable texture files, use vmtCREATE.
You've got tools for this already in your SDK folders, but those are console programs, that are generally much harder to work with.
Nope, Wally also can browse through .pak files. Pretty usefull tool.
And was posting the complete content of your sentences.txt really necessary? Man, long threads enough in this forum already...
And was posting the complete content of your sentences.txt really necessary? Man, long threads enough in this forum already...
Does the player ever get at that position? If not, then who cares?
How did you create the sky brushes btw? In what shape are they placed around that map?
How did you create the sky brushes btw? In what shape are they placed around that map?
Well, what do you think is the difference? Sequences aren't sentences - they're meant to make a character play a certain animation, not to make him talk... use a scripted_sentence for that.
You can create Garry's mod mods in LUA simply because Garry's mod has LUA support, but the mod itself is indeed done by modifying the gamecode, which is done in C++.
Bytheway, using scripting languages has advantages, like faster testing and no need for a recompile after every change, but it does run slower and is often more limited (simply to keep the scripting language simple enough for artists to pick it up fast - otherwise they could just as well learn how to program).
So you wouldn't want to use LUA for the all and everything anyway.
Bytheway, using scripting languages has advantages, like faster testing and no need for a recompile after every change, but it does run slower and is often more limited (simply to keep the scripting language simple enough for artists to pick it up fast - otherwise they could just as well learn how to program).
So you wouldn't want to use LUA for the all and everything anyway.
I assume you used a scripted_sentence, not a scripted_sequence as you just said in your post?
Not everyone has the same taste. I really loved that map - finally a HL2 map that was polished and well-executed. To me it really stands out in the crowd.
But meh, gotta work now, so there's little time to play part 2 now. I'll see this evening.
But meh, gotta work now, so there's little time to play part 2 now. I'll see this evening.
Whatever you desire, or think is easiest to pull off. Experiment with it...
Textures with a certain prefix (which I can't remember on top of my head) are chosen randomly from their serie. Usefull for large surfaces, to avoid a repetetive pattern, but not so usefull because the edges between the various textures are so obvious. I'd say, use another texture (one that doesn't have the randomize prefix).
Wooh! Definitely gonna play this one.
Muzzle did it too, once, in reaction to mine. We had quite some fun with that back then. But I feel like hijacking a thread now...
Walkways are probably not the right word then, but I meant to clearify trottoirs with it. See, here's an example of what I mean: clickeh. You see a small piece of trottoir between these roads. Such parts work especially well when you put them under some pillars.
The floor also needs some more marks, some metal railings would be good too at corners, exit signs and such... sprinkler systems and fire extinguishers/fire doors... just jotting down some more inspiration. I believe such items do more good than a few additional pipes (while pipes would do a better job in maintenance area's and the like - each area it's own type of details, sortof).
The floor also needs some more marks, some metal railings would be good too at corners, exit signs and such... sprinkler systems and fire extinguishers/fire doors... just jotting down some more inspiration. I believe such items do more good than a few additional pipes (while pipes would do a better job in maintenance area's and the like - each area it's own type of details, sortof).
The map a func_train? Oh man no! Put moving objects in the 3D skybox instead. If the whole map is one entity you'll have a very hard time keeping performance low (or, getting a reasonable amount of detail in the map). The problem is not the unavailability of func_details. It's the lack of VIS for entities.
Bytheway, dismaps aren't moveable, but models can be animated... There's a guy who made a map aboard a cargo ship, with a moving landscape (and bridge) around it, modelled. Looked pretty neat.
Bytheway, dismaps aren't moveable, but models can be animated... There's a guy who made a map aboard a cargo ship, with a moving landscape (and bridge) around it, modelled. Looked pretty neat.
Uhm, what bedroom screen?
I'd say it's overdone and feels 'for the sake of it'. Put some more time into those light fixtures, as they downgrade the area with their low-quality cubic forms more than that good pipe placement could upgrade.
You may also want to integrate those pillars with the walls and definitely add some trottoirs or walkways in this area - the floor and ceiling are both awefully flat. Also, focus light on the floor, the ceiling is best left mostly dark (some support beams with shadowed area's between them and stuff).
Oh well, you're still working on this but I thought I'd say it anyway.
You may also want to integrate those pillars with the walls and definitely add some trottoirs or walkways in this area - the floor and ceiling are both awefully flat. Also, focus light on the floor, the ceiling is best left mostly dark (some support beams with shadowed area's between them and stuff).
Oh well, you're still working on this but I thought I'd say it anyway.
I think I'm not going to like the fact that my current 3D card can't handle HDR... time for some updates, my monitor is becoming less quality by the day too...
Aww, starting to look real nice man. It's too bright like this indeed, but some HDR really does the map well I think, with it's warm sunny feeling.
I've got one grip with the map so far and that's that it's mostly 90 degrees. There's some roundings but the overall directions are very straight. How about rotating some of those houses in the back and alternating that plaza edge some more?
Other than that, looking real fine. I'd like to run through this for some testing...
I've got one grip with the map so far and that's that it's mostly 90 degrees. There's some roundings but the overall directions are very straight. How about rotating some of those houses in the back and alternating that plaza edge some more?
Other than that, looking real fine. I'd like to run through this for some testing...
I don't like them at all.
/2 cents
/2 cents