I've hinted at it, guessed it would come out earlier but it never happened. Until now that is. Valve has finally released a beta version of the Left 4 Dead SDK so modders can now officially start creating their own maps with custom content, like music, models and skins.
Valve wrote: Using the L4D Authoring Tools, you may create your own campaign maps, character skins, 3D models, sound effects, and music and load them into the game.
Here's what's included:
- Updated version of Hammer, the source level editor
- Updated suite of command line compiling utilities
- Updated Particle editor
- Updated Faceposer
- Example maps, common infected, props, and explosives
This release also introduces a pair of plug-ins for SketchUp, a 3D modeling program you may download for free. You may use these plug-ins to create building blocks and props that can be imported into Hammer for use in game levels.
Right now you can download the update free if you own a copy of Left 4 Dead. Simply navigate to the tools tab on steam and start the download. As of right now you won't be able to play the custom maps just yet although they have their reasons...
Valve wrote: Our plan is to release a beta of the Authoring Tools now so the community can start working on maps in the full environment. In a few weeks we will then release the updated match making to allow users to play those new maps and campaigns.
FYI Valve, people started making maps a very long time ago. Aw well its a step in the right direction, so start preparing, as Left 4 Dead just got more popular.
Great!! Finally....!!
sweet!
Groovy beans!
I've waited so long for this...!
Some one please make a tropical map, a dense jungle/swamp map, and a dense forest map!
would not be to great, too big, difficult to make fun, gamers get angry when there are invisible walls!
no we dont...
thats so friggin gay that we cant play them =[ any1 no of a way we can play them just in singleplayer
Its BETA SDK.
With full release they'll add custom map and campaign support.
VALVe released SDK early so you could start mapping right away.
The custom map support will be released next week.
crap! i thought it was full, oh well it is a start.
It's been mentioned in several places, that it's a BETA.
It's a whole different thing, if people have smartness to see the BETA - word.
seeing as you can play the non offical sdk maps. i don't see how the offical sdk can stop you playing maps.
with no source code. there will be no new player created game modes.
Sweet! Been waiting for this forever! :D
(buried)
Attention whores fail at getting attention. Such a coincidence they release their first "beta" sdk at such a weird time...
(buried)
Killing Floor is going to run this **** into the ground. I wouldn't be surprised to see custom KF maps hitting servers by the end of next week.
LOL killing floor is a joke that thing is was way to buggy to release go look at killing floors forums and look at the errors section its already got 5 pages worth of bugs and its been out only how long?
I was wrong. Custom maps hit servers today. 2 days after release.
Yeah, one had a benefit of a couple of millions in budget.
The other is practically a one man job.
Same way as Red Orchestra is better than TF2.
Grow up and stop trolling.
about time
I wonder if the SketchUp plugin will find its way back into the main Source SDK?
I'm hoping they release a plugin for blender, I mean... who the hell uses sketchup? :(
Moddb.com
This guy does amazing stuff with it.
I actually like google sketchchup, it's just so easy to work with, love it
No need.
SketchUp ALREADY(with VALVe plugins) could export in SMD or VMF which ANY version of Source SDK could use.
WOW, how ridiculous, you all finally get an SDK, and now you all complain? hahahahaha, have fun doing that, i'll be having fun making some L4D maps :)
I already had fun making Left 4 Dead maps months ago. Now I want to actually be able to play them with people.
Good for you, but my point is, that for those who hadn't started mapping yet, and have just got the SDK to start mapping, they shouldn't be complaining.
At least they have some official tools now, heck, it's still in beta, they didnt even have to release these tools, they could have done their own in house testing so eventually they could release a final version, but they've released a beta, yet people complain.
It's one of those "damned if you do, damned if you don't" situations.
All i'm saying is be grateful you've got anything at all from them at this stage rather than complaining like a bunch of school children.
but the code base wasnt released :'(
"Steam Error: The steam servers are currently too busy to handle your request. Please try again in a few minutes."
Can't say I'm surprised...
Nice but...no source code? No Total Conversions? ç_ç
You were never getting mod support / code / etc. Although nearly everyone of you failed to believe some of us when we said (including the moddb people). But meh, now it's a reality.
yet would have been nice to get hold of their offical co-op code.
That's what the Source SDK is. Duh.
Im a bit confused how to scale all the decals down in hammer
there ******* huge
Use overlays instead of standard decals. It allows scaling.
WOW!!! and it's adding a plug in for SketchUp!
AWESOME!!!!
seeing as you can extract the collada model from a sketchup file. you could already import that into most 3d modelers used for exporting the Source format.
Sketchup > Hammer
sounds better than:
Sketchup > HUGE professional software which costs many $ > Hammer
/thread
Milkshape3D isn't exactly expensive. Blender is free. XSI Mod Tool is free for non commercial stuff.
though having Sketchup officaly supported it nice.
im kinda disapointed i was hoping for better support for some of the major 3d modeling application's because its a pain getting something from maya into source properly, even more so with the newer versions like 2009
Awesome!!
How do i make a face next to my Post?
FINALLY! I'm really good with Sketchup and could create very well done maps, my one hamper has been the fact that I couldn't convert it to XSI or anything like that with the free version I have!