Mounting CS:S content for use in another mod

[Zacker]

At Sands-of-War2(http://www.sandsofwar.net) we want to have access to both HL2 and CS:S content in our maps. HL2 content works fine, but CS:S content displays as error(models) or purple/black(materials).

We have tried loading them through the GameInfo.txt, which you can see below. This however don't work. What else do you have to do?

"GameInfo"

{

game "Sands of War 2"

type "multiplayer_only"

nomodels "0"

nohimodel "1"

nocrosshair "0"

FileSystem

{

SteamAppId 240

SteamAppId 220

SteamAppId 320 // This will mount all the GCFs we need (240=CS:S, 220=HL2).

ToolsAppId 211 // Tools will load this (ie: source SDK caches) to get things like materials\debug, materials\editor, etc.

//

// The code that loads this file automatically does a few things here:

//

// 1. For each "Game" search path, it adds a "GameBin" path, in

// 2. For each "Game" search path, it adds another "Game" path in front of it with _ at the end.

// For example: c:\hl2\cstrike on a french machine would get a c:\hl2\cstrike_french path added to it.

// 3. For the first "Game" search path, it adds a search path called "MOD".

// 4. For the first "Game" search path, it adds a search path called "DEFAULT_WRITE_PATH".

//

//

// Search paths are relative to the base directory, which is where hl2.exe is found.

//

// |gameinfo_path| points at the directory where gameinfo.txt is.

// We always want to mount that directory relative to gameinfo.txt, so

// people can mount stuff in c:\mymod, and the main game resources are in

// someplace like c:\program files\valve\steam\steamapps\\half-life 2.

//

SearchPaths

{

Game |gameinfo_path|.

Game hl2

Game cstrike

Game hl2mp

}

}

}

[jimius]

CSS content may not be used in any 3rd party modification. It's in the EULA.

[Zacker]

Hmm, I was unaware of that. What about Garry's mod, it uses CSS content.

[mike-0]

so does POA

[Bic-B@ll]

if gary jumped off a bridge, would you?

[Zacker]

Ok, I have talked with Valve about it now. Here is what Yahn had to say about the issue:

Yeah, it's something that's not officially supported so I wouldn't rely

on cross-mod cache usage to keep working going forward. We'll try and

get the word out at some point to clarify this.

The gameinfo trick won't work because as I understand it only the first

appid is loaded.

[Zacker]

Yay, I have gotten it to work! The solution is plain simple: Load only the CS:S content! The HL2 content is automaticly added:)

[Pericolos0]

so what happens when someone who doesnt have css wants to play your mod

[Zacker]

Then they are unfortunately screwed:/ That's a downside for sure, but I guess it's one of thoose you have to live with.

[Tequila]

so what happens when someone who doesnt have css wants to play your mod

The world explodes.

[von*ferret]

thats a great attitude to people who are taking their time to download your work and give it a try. I'd say try to have a more proffesional approach to this kind of stuff. If you're bent on using CS:S content than find a way to distribute it without requiring people to have CS:S. Otherwise people will consider your project a joke. IMHO

[Zacker]

I see that it is not the perfect solution, but at least I did not just say "The world explodes" or some other bs like that.

We are of course trying to find a way to also get SoW2 working for people without CS:S.

[Makaveli]

well, i dont think you can re-distrubute CS:S material seeing as you are paying for them, so you either duplicate CS:S material or its a no go, b/c thats surely a lawsuit waiting to happen.

[ReNo]

But then again, CS:S is included in every HL2 distribution, so while not everybody with HL2 has it installed, everybody has the RIGHT to have it installed. For this reason, perhaps it would be ok to distribute CS:S content with an HL2 mod.