HL2 sdk update tomorrow morning

[Zeta]

Hi All-

I wanted to let you all know that I have finished testing the SDK update

and it will go live tomorrow morning. Thanks very much for your patience

while I spent extra time testing it out.

As I've said before the main purpose of this release is to get the

updated content creation tools in the hands of the community. The next

major release will include the client and server DLL code for Episode 2

although there may be a couple of minor releases before to address any

problems.

Here are the interesting things to know about the release tomorrow:

1. The new SDK contains tools for creating content compatible with both

the Ep1 and Orange Box versions of the Source Engine.

2. By default the SDK launcher will launch the Orange Box versions of

Hammer, Face Poser, and Model Viewer.

3. Adding '-engine ep1' to the launch options for the Source SDK tool

will set the launcher to run the Ep1 versions of Hammer Face Poser, and

Model Viewer

4. There is a new directory structure underneath

'%SteamInstallPath%\steamapps\\sourcesdk'

a. sourcesdk\bin - contains the binaries needed to run the SDK

Launcher

b. sourcesdk\bin\ep1\bin - contains the Ep1 tools and the

GameConfig.txt that is run when the Source SDK is in "Ep1" mode

c. sourcesdk\bin\orangebox\bin - contains the Orange Box tools and

the GameConfig.txt that is run when the Source SDK is in "Orange Box"

mode

5. There is a .vmf file for one of the shipping Portal maps in the

'sourcesdk_content' directory - testchmb_a_05.vmf. I will add an example

map for Team Fortress 2 in a subsequent release.

6. When running the Orange Box versions of the 'studiomdl' and 'vtex'

you should include '-nop4' on the command line to bypass our Perforce

integration with these tools. I will eliminate this need in a subsequent

release.

We're launching the new SDK in the morning so that I can be available to

make fixes as soon as you get your hands on the SDK. Once it goes live

please feel free to e-mail me directly if you see any problems. We

aren't able to release this version of the SDK as a beta so I will try

to act as quickly as possible to fix problems and put out an update.

-Mike Durand

Valve

finally

the new light preview better be decent enough to be actually useful

[Belgarion]

Don't you think the light preview would be useful if they're using it? I'm kind of excited for this. It's almost like UEd... almost. :wink:

[Zyn]

Gentlemen, start your engines.

[Erratic]

Yay, awesome news.

It seems Mapcore is long overdue for a contest.

'Best Portal Map', anybody?

[Meotwister]

I'm game for that.

Caaaan't waaiiiit

[Mr. Happy]

[mjens]

Light Preview! Maybe I'll make a map someday...

[Furyo]

YAY! I can have my light preview again !

[Sentura]

oh man, this is awesome. too bad i dont get real internets before the sixteenth D:

[Erratic]

Oh shit, this has the lighting preview?

[Nexus]

if it will be so, i'll make new mapz

[Furyo]

The particle editor won't be in this release, we'll have to wait some more. All existing tools will get their updated version though.

[Tequila]

A lighting preview, for real? This could catapult me back into mapping.

[Sa74n]

yeah a particle editor would be great. i'll definitely have to try out the light preview. wonder how good it works.

[Psy]

Is this today or tomorrow for people who live in GMT?