Mapbase: Difference between revisions
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== Overview == | == Overview == | ||
Mapbase is a special [[Source SDK 2013|Source 2013]] improvement mod that helps level designers make better maps and have a more comfortable experience designing them without changing too much of the game itself. Mapbase includes 50+ new entities (not counting filters or engine ports), hundreds of new I/O/KV (Inputs/Outputs/Keyvalues), heavily reworked FGDs, and more. | Mapbase is a special [[Source SDK 2013|Source 2013]] improvement mod that helps level designers make better maps and have a more comfortable experience designing them without changing too much of the game itself. Mapbase includes a bunch of general-purpose fixes, 50+ new entities (not counting filters or engine ports), hundreds of new I/O/KV (Inputs/Outputs/Keyvalues), heavily reworked FGDs, and more, all in one big thing for mappers and modders to work off of. | ||
Mapbase is NOT an improved version of Hammer. Mapbase is a mod for Source 2013 itself and maps using it must be played in Mapbase or a mod running its code in order to function correctly. Mappers would create their maps based off of this mod and larger mods with their own unique changes would draw from Mapbase's code and assets. | Mapbase is NOT an improved version of Hammer. Mapbase is a mod for Source 2013 itself and maps using it must be played in Mapbase or a mod running its code in order to function correctly. Mappers would create their maps based off of this mod and larger mods with their own unique changes would draw from Mapbase's code and assets. | ||
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* Hundreds of new Inputs, Outputs, and Keyvalues added to existing entities | * Hundreds of new Inputs, Outputs, and Keyvalues added to existing entities | ||
* Heavily revised and reworked FGDs | * Heavily revised and reworked FGDs | ||
* Special custom shaders with various subtle improvements, including projected texture fixes and radial fog originating from the Alien Swarm SDK | |||
* More map-specific file capabilities ([[Actbusy|actbusy files]], [[Response System|talker files]], etc.) | * More map-specific file capabilities ([[Actbusy|actbusy files]], [[Response System|talker files]], etc.) | ||
* Miscellaneous fixes and improvements (NPCs using more weapons, etc.) | * Miscellaneous fixes and improvements (NPCs using more weapons, etc.) | ||
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== History == | == History == | ||
Mapbase originally started in February 2018 as a prototype made by Blixibon alone, but the project seen now began in August-September 2018. At first, Mapbase was mostly just about modifying the FGDs and fixing/adding a few I/O/KV (Inputs/Outputs/Keyvalues) on logic entities. However, Mapbase quickly transformed into a huge project that Blixibon (who is also the one writing this) dedicated most of his time to. Over the next year, Mapbase became a repository for various general Source fixes and features, fixing long-running bugs and introducing features in one big thing that mappers and modders could use as a "modding platform". Mapbase's original goals haven't changed, but the scope has widened to levels I never expected when I started this project. | |||
== Release Information == | == Release Information == | ||
Mapbase's [https://www.moddb.com/mods/mapbase/downloads/mapbase-release-build release build] and [https://github.com/mapbase-source/source-sdk-2013 source code] were first released on September 30th 2019. | Mapbase's [https://www.moddb.com/mods/mapbase/downloads/mapbase-release-build release build] and [https://github.com/mapbase-source/source-sdk-2013 source code] were first released on September 30th 2019. Other kinds of files can be found [https://www.moddb.com/mods/mapbase/downloads here]. | ||
== Documentation == | == Documentation == | ||
Mapbase uses [https://github.com/mapbase-source/source-sdk-2013/wiki its own wiki] to hold most of its information and documentation. | Mapbase uses [https://github.com/mapbase-source/source-sdk-2013/wiki its own wiki] to hold most of its information and documentation. There's too many changes to post all of Mapbase's modifications on the VDC directly, but relevant fixes and features originally created for Mapbase have still been added to the VDC and may continue to be added in the future. | ||
Some larger, more widespread or niche changes and fixes that couldn't just be packed into the article itself might be documented on the VDC in a similar fashion to how mods like INFRA, Contagion, Sin Episodes, etc. are documented. | |||
{{Mapbase add}} | |||
== Team == | == Team == | ||
Mapbase was mainly created by Blixibon, but it couldn't have been done without contributors | Mapbase was mainly created by Blixibon, but it couldn't have been done without certain contributors, community repositories, and the VDC itself. You can find the full credits page [https://github.com/mapbase-source/source-sdk-2013/wiki/Mapbase-Credits here]. | ||
== External links == | == External links == | ||
Revision as of 11:39, 8 December 2019
This mod for Source has been released! Download it now.
Overview
Mapbase is a special Source 2013 improvement mod that helps level designers make better maps and have a more comfortable experience designing them without changing too much of the game itself. Mapbase includes a bunch of general-purpose fixes, 50+ new entities (not counting filters or engine ports), hundreds of new I/O/KV (Inputs/Outputs/Keyvalues), heavily reworked FGDs, and more, all in one big thing for mappers and modders to work off of.
Mapbase is NOT an improved version of Hammer. Mapbase is a mod for Source 2013 itself and maps using it must be played in Mapbase or a mod running its code in order to function correctly. Mappers would create their maps based off of this mod and larger mods with their own unique changes would draw from Mapbase's code and assets.
Mapbase is currently only built around Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode Two. Other games are not currently supported, although a MP port is planned.
Most of Mapbase's changes are quality-of-life improvements that could largely only be noticed in the editor. The main goal of this project is to alleviate the craziness and inconvenience of mapping and modding for Source.
Features
- 50+ new entities (mostly logic-related) and several filters and engine ports
- Hundreds of new Inputs, Outputs, and Keyvalues added to existing entities
- Heavily revised and reworked FGDs
- Special custom shaders with various subtle improvements, including projected texture fixes and radial fog originating from the Alien Swarm SDK
- More map-specific file capabilities (actbusy files, talker files, etc.)
- Miscellaneous fixes and improvements (NPCs using more weapons, etc.)
Media
You can find Mapbase's trailer here and you can find images of Mapbase on the ModDB gallery.
History
Mapbase originally started in February 2018 as a prototype made by Blixibon alone, but the project seen now began in August-September 2018. At first, Mapbase was mostly just about modifying the FGDs and fixing/adding a few I/O/KV (Inputs/Outputs/Keyvalues) on logic entities. However, Mapbase quickly transformed into a huge project that Blixibon (who is also the one writing this) dedicated most of his time to. Over the next year, Mapbase became a repository for various general Source fixes and features, fixing long-running bugs and introducing features in one big thing that mappers and modders could use as a "modding platform". Mapbase's original goals haven't changed, but the scope has widened to levels I never expected when I started this project.
Release Information
Mapbase's release build and source code were first released on September 30th 2019. Other kinds of files can be found here.
Documentation
Mapbase uses its own wiki to hold most of its information and documentation. There's too many changes to post all of Mapbase's modifications on the VDC directly, but relevant fixes and features originally created for Mapbase have still been added to the VDC and may continue to be added in the future.
Some larger, more widespread or niche changes and fixes that couldn't just be packed into the article itself might be documented on the VDC in a similar fashion to how mods like INFRA, Contagion, Sin Episodes, etc. are documented.
Team
Mapbase was mainly created by Blixibon, but it couldn't have been done without certain contributors, community repositories, and the VDC itself. You can find the full credits page here.
External links
More links can be found on the ModDB page.