Map Making Tutorials Update

Update for Half-Life 2 Deathmatch and COD: United Offensive

In my initial post for Half-Life 2 tutorial pages I left the Snarkpit out because the page had been down for quite some time. It looks like the site is up and running again and you can check it out here http://www.snarkpit.com/

Also for those interested in COD: United Offensive map making, the tools for that can be downloaded at the following locations.

www.digitalworks.8m.com

http://www.3dgamers.com

http://www.gamershell.com


RC

Other Blogs
http://pcentertainment.blogspot.com/

http://scifitwist.blogspot.com/

http://cgeffects.blogspot.com/

Websites
http://digitalworks.8m.com

Half-Life 2: Deathmatch and Hammer

There will be No Half-Life 2 Deathmatch

Just before the 2004 holidays Valve released Half-Life 2 Death Match.

What was unusual about this move is that there was to be no Half-Life 2 Deathmatch.
Valve had stated for quite some time that Counterstrike: Source would be Half-Life 2’s multiplayer component. So why the about face? Who knows, but it most definitely changed my view on my HL2 purchase.

Half-Life 2 Deathmatch (HL2:DM) is what Counterstrike: Source (CS:S) should have been. Or at least should have been. CS:S is plagued with technical problems that detract from the overall game play. In HL2:DM the physics game play is superior in every way and hitting enemy targets simply works the way it should.

What separates HL2:DM from other multiplayer games on the market is the Gravity gun. The Source engine uses Havok 2 physics engine to great effect making the Gravity gun fun if not hilarious to use. In an age where games offer ever more expansive fire power, the Gravity gun lets you heave large objects to crush those gun wielding opponents.

For the most part game play is very balanced but there are only two official maps released to play on. That can wear out even the most ardent fan rather quickly.


Make Your Own Half-Life 2 Deathmatch Maps

With Half-Life 2 you get tools in the form of a Software Development Kit (SDK).

What this does it allows game players to design and build playable maps and levels the Source engine games. Valve supplies with the level editor called Hammer you need to download via a Steam which is Valves proprietary Internet delivery system.

Note my previous review of Steam. It is a necessary component of all Half-Life 2 content. If you are willing and able to deal with the technical requirements, more power to you.

So I took the opportunity to try my hand at level design for HL2:DM. I’ll note the Hammer layout is pretty basic and almost devoid of useful information. You are probably better served by visiting a variety of tutorial sites to get an understanding of all the modeling tools and functions. It will save you allot of time and frustration and in the end help you to create trouble free maps.

After a week and a half of tutorials and experimentation I was able to produce my first Beta map. After another week of tweaking I released my final map. It’s a map we play here regularl at the offices.

Download Half-Life 2 Deathmatch Tower Map Here

Hammer Tutorial Sites

http://www.migandi.org.uk/tutorials/half-life2-editing-hammer-tutorials.htm

http://collective.valve-erc.com/

RC

Steaming Valve in Half-Life 2

Half-Life 2

Valve Software’s Half-Life 2 is a sequel to the critically acclaimed and highly successful Half-Life game released for the PC in 1999. At the games core was the aging Quake 1 engine technology, which says allot about Valves ingenuity. Despite its aging game engine Valve managed to produce a very immersive game that offered a strong story line. (As far as PC games are concerned).

Six years later in November 2004 Valve released the long awaited Half-Life 2. This time the game boasts its own cutting edge engine called the Source engine. By January Vivendi (Valves publisher) had stated that they had sold 1.7 Million units in stores. It’s clear that Valve has another hit game in the making but other factors may hamper that success.

Getting Steamed

Anyone who has purchased Half-Life 2 knows exactly what Steam is. It’s Valves proprietary and some would argue buggy Internet software delivery system.

When you buy Half-Life 2 in stores or online, you are required to authenticate your copy via Steam. A broad band connection is most definitely required because once you authenticate your copy Steam will update your files with large downloads. More importantly you can not play Half-Life 2 if you are disconnected, this even after a recent update purportedly allowing you to do so. There are work-a-rounds but none are guaranteed to work.

There are pros and cons to Steam, and here are some points to consider before making your purchase.

• Are you familiar with online forums where you can get technical answers from other users?
• Are you familiar or comfortable editing files in installation directories?
• Are you aware of the differences between dial-up and broad band and which one you have?

The length at which Steam has burned more than a few of its customers relates to End Users License Agreement (EULA). Many are complaining that this agreement is illegal. This has resulted in potential legal problems for Valve. Already the German consumer association VZBV has sent a cease and desist order to both Vivendi and Valve.

Just visiting Valves forums can be a testament to the furor that technical problems customers face on a regular basis. Visit the Steam Forums

In a follow up I will give review on Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2 Deathmatch and Counterstrike Source purchased through Steam.



RC

Call of Duty Mods

Realism Mods

At the top of my list is the AWE mod that adds some much needed realism to COD weapons. This mod has a few customizable features but its base purpose adds some punch to all the weapons. You really won’t see two guys going at it from 8 paces out for a few seconds anymore. Generally the 1^st guy that initiates a shot will be the guy left standing.

Rifles are very lethal and there’s an overall balanced feel for machine guns and sub machine guns. Still each gun has its own feel. The American BAR really kicks but is lethal where as the Axis MP40 kicks less but requires some more shots on target to get a kill.

Overall this mod is getting allot of online support. We play allot of Team Deathmatch and there are allot of servers that run AWE. You don’t have to download and install the Mod. You can simply join a game online that is running it.

How do you know if a game is running a Mod?

On the server list there are icons that run across the very top of the list. You’ll see a hammer icon. If a server is running mods there will be a white check mark here. Keep in mind there are different kinds of mods, but AWE is a very popular one.

You can read more about it here

2^nd on the list is the Merciless mod. Now this mod adds allot more visceral damage to the player models. You won’t get red or white puffs on torso or head shots anymore. For some it may be over the top, but it most definitely outs a real effect on the weapons of war.

You can read more about it here

RC

New Call of Duty Officially Announced

The original Call Of Duty (COD) was an impressive title when it was released in 2003. Even though the market was packed with WWII themed FPS, COD really carved a niche on its release. In the single player campaign you were fighting right along side your squad mates. This was probably the first time in a long time that an FPS game didn't pit the player against the world. This game plays and feels like the movie Band of Brothers.

With the expansion pack United Offensive, COD continued to bring top notch action into a believable world where you and your men were set through various missions to take on the enemy. Even more impressive is that the games multiplayer component now offers drivable jeeps and different classes of tanks. Needless to say, its a fantastic update to an already great title.

Now Activisions CEO Ronald Doornink has stated that the COD will continue with a new release in 2006. It looks like Activision has a franchise not unlike EA's Medal of Honor, which also has a very loyal following. Of interesting note is that the PC version is not a console port. Thumbs up to Activision for keeping these two platforms focused in their respective areas.

RC