Left 4 Dead engine branch: Difference between revisions
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; [[lag compensation|Lag compensated]] props | ; [[lag compensation|Lag compensated]] props | ||
: [[prop_physics]] entities can be selectively lag compensated. | : [[prop_physics]] entities can be selectively lag compensated. | ||
; Split-screen | |||
: Up to four players can play on the same screen at once. | |||
== Availability == | == Availability == | ||
Revision as of 05:58, 22 July 2010
The Left 4 Dead engine branch was released in 2008 with Left 4 Dead, and continued in 2009 with Left 4 Dead 2. It is currently being maintained side-by-side with the Orange Box branch; the two branches share technology, but it is unclear if they will ever be merged.
Unlike other branches, L4D does not require earlier versions of Source to be installed. It stands entirely alone.
Features
New since the Orange Box is:
- "Counter-Strike bot" AI
- Source's original AI routines appear to have been completely replaced by the successor to Mike Booth's Counter-Strike bot. As well as unknown changes to code structure, the old nodegraph system has been superseded by polygonal navigation meshes that are automatically generated by the engine.
- AI director
- A "dungeon master" for the entire game which controls NPC spawning, music, weather effects, map layout, and more.
- Ambient occlusion
- Used on the survivors' eyes.
- VPK add-ons
- An archive format for easy mod distribution.
- Lag compensated props
- prop_physics entities can be selectively lag compensated.
- Split-screen
- Up to four players can play on the same screen at once.
Availability
Gamecode for this branch is not included in the Source SDK. However, server plugins are possible.