A New Age (okay, not really)
Post Reply
Quote
Re: A New Age (okay, not really)
Posted by G4MER on Wed Nov 23rd at 2:04am 2005


because im a noob can someone spell it out for me, on how I get the beta sdk?




Quote
Re: A New Age (okay, not really)
Posted by Madedog on Wed Nov 23rd at 2:11am 2005


You make a shortcut to _somewhere_
You target the shortcut to your Steam.exe
You Right Click and choose Properties on that shortcut
You round the initial Parameter box with quotes, and then add -beta sdk behind it
You will make sure the format would be something like this:

"D:SteamSteam.exe" -beta sdk



HL2 tutorials 'n' stuff: http://madedog.pri.ee
217.159.236.34:27050 - CSS Server - Clean | koffer.ee



Quote
Re: A New Age (okay, not really)
Posted by Campaignjunkie on Wed Nov 23rd at 2:40am 2005


Huzzah, I just got HDR working in my HL2 map. It's a wonderful feeling.
(note: You can't run HDR maps with HL2 yet, you have to load singleplayer HDR maps through Lost Coast)




Quote
Re: A New Age (okay, not really)
Posted by Addicted to Morphine on Wed Nov 23rd at 4:03am 2005


If you guys want to check out the full changelog, it's here:

http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/SDK_Beta_Changelist




Quote
Re: A New Age (okay, not really)
Posted by Crono on Wed Nov 23rd at 4:18am 2005


? quote:
Crono - No, it doesn't seem to compress the textures for the browser nor does it reduce the amount of memory, sadly =[

... kay ...



Blame it on Microsoft, God does.



Quote
Re: A New Age (okay, not really)
Posted by satchmo on Wed Nov 23rd at 5:56am 2005


? quote:
Huzzah, I just got HDR working in my HL2 map. It's a wonderful feeling.


How did you do it? Do you have to change anything in your map's source code from Hammer to enable HDR? Do you simply load up your custom map within Lost Coast?



"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return." -- Toulouse-Lautre, Moulin Rouge



Quote
Re: A New Age (okay, not really)
Posted by Crono on Wed Nov 23rd at 6:48am 2005


I believe a tutorial is in order.

If you hurry you'll have one for this year too, CJ.



Blame it on Microsoft, God does.



Quote
Re: A New Age (okay, not really)
Posted by Campaignjunkie on Wed Nov 23rd at 7:34am 2005


Valve beat me to the punch.

But in a nutshell: Enable HDR compile (the checkbox on the "Run Map" dialog); VRAD will compile twice, once for normal lightmaps, once for HDR lightmaps. Then, copy and paste your map into lost coastlostcoastmaps, and load 'er up! Don't forget to build cubemaps either.

The bad part(s):
- Two sets of lightmaps, two sets of cubemaps; double the compile time, double the BSP file size.
- Outdoor maps generally need a custom HDR skybox thingmajig. I'm not sure how easy it is to make one, but Valve made it sound like a lot of work in all those tech interviews (or maybe they were exaggerating to the press? who knows)




Quote
Re: A New Age (okay, not really)
Posted by Agent Smith on Wed Nov 23rd at 9:17am 2005


lol, I just ticked HDR in the simple compile options and it worked, albeit rather randomly, and reflections on water don't seem to work. I'll have to fiddle some more. I hope its not as complex to do outdoor area's, as thats all I've been working on <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif">.

Oh, and that was in DOD: Source, which seems to be included in the beta SDK with fully functioning HDR lighting. I'll have some screens of my latest dod map up soon, something I've been working on between job applications.



Ham and Jam Contributor
http://www.hamandjam.org

'Get your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape!'



Quote
Re: A New Age (okay, not really)
Posted by Captain P on Wed Nov 23rd at 1:37pm 2005


Exactly why I won't use HDR, CJ. Double filesize for something by far not everyone can see (yet)? Maps are already quite large files...

I think it's something to use in the future, when it's more mainstream. Not for me right now yet. <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_smile.gif">






Quote
Re: A New Age (okay, not really)
Posted by MisterBister on Wed Nov 23rd at 5:10pm 2005


Im currently having issues with hammer. It worked fine until i fired up steam today and loaded my current project. The program crashed.
It seemes like every time i load a map or try to create a new one, hammer crashes. Seemes like i have to reinstall the SDK again.. =(




Quote
Re: A New Age (okay, not really)
Posted by Andrei on Wed Nov 23rd at 7:27pm 2005


I'm pretty hesitant when it comes to beta software. Did they at least fix the detail sprite and alpha mask bugs?

[edit]

? quote:
Did they at least fix the detail sprite and alpha mask bugs?


Erm...no. But the other features are nice though.




Quote
Re: A New Age (okay, not really)
Posted by Madedog on Wed Nov 23rd at 7:48pm 2005


MisterBister, are you sure you restarted steam with -beta sdk in the parameters? <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_wink.gif"> I did that mistake, used wrong shortcut for it <img src=" SRC="images/smiles/icon_wink.gif">


HL2 tutorials 'n' stuff: http://madedog.pri.ee
217.159.236.34:27050 - CSS Server - Clean | koffer.ee



Quote
Re: A New Age (okay, not really)
Posted by fishy on Wed Nov 23rd at 8:42pm 2005


the model selector is really getting on my nerves now. ok, it gives a nice 3D preview of the model, but i was a lot happier spotting what i need by running my good eye over some pictures, rather than searching through a big list of names to see a preview of something i'm about to see anyway, at the next click of my mouse, and in the context of my map.


i eat paint



Quote
Re: A New Age (okay, not really)
Posted by RabidMonkey777 on Wed Nov 23rd at 9:07pm 2005


Same, it's kind of a cool concept but the thumbnails were much more efficient.

I have some issues with the brushes too - They drag in the 2d views way too slow and you have to be able to see the origin when you drag them or it starts a selection box instead.



<A HREF="http://www.rabidmnky.com" TARGET="_blank">Personal Website</A> - <A HREF="http://www.blackmesasource.com" TARGET="_blank">Black Mesa</A>



Quote
Re: A New Age (okay, not really)
Posted by satchmo on Wed Nov 23rd at 9:21pm 2005


Different isn't necessarily better.


"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return." -- Toulouse-Lautre, Moulin Rouge



Quote
Re: A New Age (okay, not really)
Posted by Andrei on Wed Nov 23rd at 9:30pm 2005


I wish they fixed the displacement issues already. The detail sprites (aka the grass) were the only thing that distracted people from the ugliness of the grass textures.



Quote
Re: A New Age (okay, not really)
Posted by Agent Smith on Wed Nov 23rd at 10:58pm 2005


What are you talking about Andrei? I've never had any troubles with displacements or detail sprites.



Ham and Jam Contributor
http://www.hamandjam.org

'Get your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape!'



Quote
Re: A New Age (okay, not really)
Posted by Andrei on Wed Nov 23rd at 11:07pm 2005


Erm...I was referring to the inverted alpha problem and...uh...the fact that detail sprites aren't being drawn anymore on any of the grass materials (that previously supported such a thing). I've heard others complain about these problems aswell.



Quote
Re: A New Age (okay, not really)
Posted by RabidMonkey777 on Thu Nov 24th at 7:40am 2005


You might have to recopy a detail.vbsp file, I think the update gets rid of it from the bin folder. It did for me at least.


<A HREF="http://www.rabidmnky.com" TARGET="_blank">Personal Website</A> - <A HREF="http://www.blackmesasource.com" TARGET="_blank">Black Mesa</A>




Post Reply