3D Studio Max map import

I have been reading many a tutorial on these boards as well as others. I am almost to the point that I am ready to start my first map for Counter Strike Source. I am wanting to build a map of my place of work, the surrounding area such as woods, parking lot and maybe some fictional parts.

However, while I am prepared to do this from scratch...I may have a wondeful way of building much of it more easily.

I work for an engineering firm. We just happen to have our entire building in 3D studio max and in AutoCad. Is there a way to bring these things into Hammer? Or into anything where I can use it for building my map?

If so, please treat me as a n00b, cause I am.... :smile: .

Thanks

Timech

Hammer can export to .dxf, so I'm assuimg it can also import .dxf. So load your building up in AutoCad, export to dxf, then try and import it into hammer. I expect it will depend on how the drawings were made in AutoCad; if it is just a wireframe, then it's ambiguous as to how hammer will interperet this. Should be OK if csg was used in AutoCAD though.

3d Studio max is a modeling program correct? What am I saying, yes it is. There are two "solid objects" in hammer. There are brushes (solids) and models for details (made in a modeling program then ported to be used in Hammer). So in a nut shell, no you cant port over. Hammer calcuates in planes and modeling calculates in polygons if im not mistaken. And Ive worked with autocad, so I know it cant be ported over. So the answer is a BIG FAT NO.
BTW the new hammer uses .vmf's and .map's, I dont believe 3D studio max or AutoCad uses these extentions.

I understand that since you are in an engineering firm and you need to cut the time in half, but why depribe your self of creating the world in hammer your self? That is where the fun is. :biggrin:

AND WELCOME TO THE SNARKPIT! just be careful admiting your a noob, cause vash will eat your legs.

Thanks for the reply's :smile: . I am having a blast working in Hammer, don't get me wrong. I just want the map to be really nice, ya know? As for those engineers, I ain't one of them lol, I'm a good ole fashioned computer nerd, web design, graphics that kind of thing.

But this Hammer has me up late at nights, practicing.

Thanks again guys!

Timech

naaa this hammer not is a good program

i create a max with 3dsmax for UT2004 & this map is a great map

But if the hammer not support this is a program very limited & only for NOOB

i game at HL2 & CS & the map's are only rectangular poligons

naaa this is only for noob no for a great beautiful see to approuch to the reality

In my opinion, it's not as easy to use for level building as Hammer is.

But yes, you CAN use 3dsmax for making HL/HL2 levels.

There is a maxscript called Game Level Builder, and allows you to model
levels using primitives (you can't alter them too much). Then it comes
with another script that converts the file into rmf or a bsp. You can
then open the rmf in Hammer, and edit away.

http://www.scriptspot.com/scripts/web_upload/Michael and John Little/GLB2_22.zip

modelling programs would be much better to make a level that is very
polygon soupy/densely polygonally populated. You can go into much
more detail than in hammer, which is good for bsp's, but bad for making it look very detailed. But source can't handle soup.