User talk:JeffLane

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• Archive 1 -- October 10th, 2006

Designing stuff

Hey Jeff i was wondering how you obtained that effect in EP1 where at the end of the game against that stirder with the agressive behavior. While the player is in a cargo container the strider uses its cannon to shoot at the container leaving a dent in it. Also how do you make static props fall or are they dynamic? like when gordon leaves Alyx at Black Mesa East due to the rublle that falls and causes Gordon to venture into Ravenholm. Thanks--Gear 16:30, 11 Oct 2006 (PDT)

I did not work on that section of Episode One, but I'm guessing it was done with the SetCannonTarget input on the npc_strider and a simple model replacement by enabling and disabling two prop_dynamics.

Falling debris that blocks a route is usually done with prop_dynamics parented to a func_movelinear or func_door, with other effects triggered at the same time, such as func_breakable, env_ar2explosion, env explosion, ambient_generic, etc. --JeffLane 17:23, 11 Oct 2006 (PDT)

Something else i was wondering was the entity you use to make a brief cloud of smoke appear when the cannon of a strider hits something. And Thanks for the help on that one there.--Gear 20:05, 11 Oct 2006 (PDT)

Hey Jeff is there any way i can use the ep 1 content. I get the models and materials in hammer but in game the materials have the purple and black checkered box and the models have the huge "ERROR" model.--Gear 04:01, 30 Oct 2006 (PST)

Lump Files

I have read the article about patching levels with lump files and was wondering if you could make a tutorial or provide me with some more detailed info, especially how to check what lumps are modified when i change certain entity's properties? --Xoqolatl 05:52, 26 Nov 2006 (PST)

I'm not really sure what you are asking here. The entity data is an entire lump in the .bsp (lump 0), so when you extract the .lmp from a newly modified version of the map, all entities in the map will be included in the lump. When you make the new version of the map, you need to make sure to only change entity data (no brushes), just as if you were doing an -onlyents compile. --JeffLane 16:55, 28 Nov 2006 (PST)

Caution

If making User:mdurand a Sysop instead of User:Mdurand was a mistake, be sure to remove the mistaken clearance before somebody figures out that you can get Sysop privileges by making a user by the name of User:mdurand. --Andreasen 15:00, 15 Nov 2006 (PST)

There is no error, you cannot make a username "mdurand" if "Mdurand" already exists. Case-sensitivity is ignored for the usernames, except for pagelinks. --JeffLane 15:20, 15 Nov 2006 (PST)

Cinematic physics

Are cinematic physics possible to fake with the current SDK? Noclip 17:04, 11 Dec 2006 (PST)

Yes, by doing animated models using traditional methods and an entity such as prop_dynamic. There is no other method I am aware of. --JeffLane 17:10, 11 Dec 2006 (PST)

It may work out better to do a half-and-half scene if you can using phys_convert—ts2do 22:10, 11 Dec 2006 (PST)

You can try (that's one of the traditional methods to support animated elements), but if many props are converted to physics, there will be no performance savings and they may as well be physics from the beginning. However, phys_convert can definitely be used once the physics simulation is finished in order that (some of) the objects will interact properly with the environment. --JeffLane 12:16, 12 Dec 2006 (PST)

User scripts for the wiki

Could you enable user scripts for the VDC, so tools like the navigation popups can be used, making navigation more efficient? (User scripts are protected, so only the user can change which script he uses.) --Pizzahut 03:25, 1 Jan 2007 (PST)

It's possible. I'll add it to the list of things to look at after the next wiki upgrade, which should hopefully not be too far off. --JeffLane 09:41, 4 Jan 2007 (PST)

I was hoping this would be added too, for the same reason. There's also nice editing scripts currently on Wikipedia like WikEd. --AndrewNeo 10:08, 4 Jan 2007 (PST)

Combating spam

Assuming the spammers are bots, how about adding the spam blacklist and/or the FancyCaptcha plugin? Template:Mw --Pizzahut 10:06, 28 May 2007 (PDT)

Yes, I've seen these, and it is likely that one or both of these will be added after the next Mediawiki upgrade, which is still in the works. --JeffLane 15:07, 29 May 2007 (PDT)

Blocking npc_strider cannon

Hi Jeff. I've noticed that the strider cannon can't be blocked by geometry brushes or models. Is there any easy way to allow the player to cover behind them? Thanks,--uoz 13:23, 7 Jul 2007 (PDT)

It's been a little while since I've looked at this, but here's the basic rules:

• World geometry (brushes) blocks the attack if it's between the point of impact and the victim, unless the strider is aiming at an npc_bullseye, which it always hits.
• Heavier physics objects can absorb some of the damage, but do not block the attack. Generally, due to the size and shape of physics objects, they make unreliable cover from strider attacks.
• Brush entities, such as func_brushes, will usually block the damage, but the edges of these brushes can allow damage to be taken in some cases. Larger object = better coverage.
• Large invisible brushes can surround objects to provide more reliable cover.
• The code for the strider attack resides in CGameRules::RadiusDamage() in gamerules.cpp, for reference or changes.

In the future, I would suggest asking in the Steam SDK forums for a faster answer and one that can be seen by more people. --JeffLane 15:36, 17 Jul 2007 (PDT)

Thanks, I'll give these options a whirl. --uoz 14:15, 18 Jul 2007 (PDT)

Citadel Model

Hey there Jeff. Seemingly odd i cant get the Ep1 citadel card model to work properly. Apparently the cloud affects as well as the lightning arcs work correctly yet the citadel does not appear at all. Ive looked at fade distance and its not set nor is dx level fade. Mainly the model only really appears when i fly into the 3d skybox and get awfully close towards it. Thanks for your time and patience.--Gear 07:00, 20 Jul 2007 (PDT)

episode 2 SDK

I was just wondering, will the episode 2 SDK update hammer? There are several bugs that haven't been fixed for several years, and some are very serious. Solokiller 01:04, 31 Aug 2007 (PDT)

The Source SDK is an independent package. It will be updated to work with Orange Box content, like it was for Episode One. --JeffLane 07:39, 31 Aug 2007 (PDT)

Orange Box out, haven't got the SDK update though. Is there one or...? --Baliame 14:39, 10 Oct 2007 (PDT)

I sure got mine. --Tourorist 14:49, 10 Oct 2007 (PDT)

So there is one? I tried deleting the local content and redownloading it, nothing changed though. Help please? --Baliame 08:21, 11 Oct 2007 (PDT)

At least I think I did on the day of content unlock, although that might have been something else, cause now when I try to view the update news I get a blank page. I am not sure, sorry. --Tourorist 08:40, 11 Oct 2007 (PDT)

No problem, hey! I can still stick to the dodgy solution of the TF2 beta.. By the way, does anyone happen to have the portal fgds and prefabs? --Baliame 08:43, 11 Oct 2007 (PDT)

Mikeblas

Is User:Mikeblas a Valve employee (like he claims he is on his user page)? Just checking. (Looks funny to not know about the Valve image.) --Andreasen 03:54, 17 Sep 2007 (PDT)

Indeed it does, yet maybe theres a list of current staff somewhere like on the steam website or?--Gear 08:41, 17 Sep 2007 (PDT)

Prior to asking I searched for "Jeff Lane" together with "Mike Blas" on Google, without finding any result, so either he's new, or he's not that well known. --Andreasen 10:53, 17 Sep 2007 (PDT)

Yes, Mike works with Valve as a Steam Developer. Do not read too much into the lack of a logo on his user page. --JeffLane 14:58, 17 Sep 2007 (PDT)

TF2 Beta?

Jeff can you share if the beta will still arive today or later today, or even tomorrow, you dont have to give the exact time but al least a little info, people are seeming to become crazy about it.--Gear 17:27, 17 Sep 2007 (PDT)

• Jeff, go flip the switch for us please ;)--RP 20:10, 17 Sep 2007 (PDT)

Spammers

Theres been a hell of alot of spammers lately, making those stupid little changes to an article that are just some random letters at the start. I reckon I've fixed 10 of them in the past few days alone. Is there any chance we could get a modification to the Wiki so that editing an article requires a confirmation code (or signing up requires one, can't remember whether it does at the moment)? Having to perform that kind of maintainence day in, day out is something that I'm sure annoys a shitload of people and its not something any of us want to deal with. Wraiyth 18:49, 29 Sep 2007 (PDT)

Exactly my thoughts.. Their names seem to be a combination of a random 5-letter beginning and 5-letter end (like BerkiObtar).. Is there any chance that these retards could be dealt with once and for all? Baliame 16:45, 2 Oct 2007 (CET)

The correct word here is spammer not spammers. Is there an IP block?—ts2do 09:01, 2 Oct 2007 (PDT)

Spammer. spammers its all the same, the s meaning plural so i think they are right... And yes there has been alot of Spammers, we need to do something about this.--Gear 10:39, 2 Oct 2007 (PDT)

We're looking into some more permanent solutions for this. A lot of wikis are being hit with the same problem right now. --JeffLane 11:11, 2 Oct 2007 (PDT)

Some wikis are using a CAPTCHA plug-in to deal with (some of) the abuse. Not sure though if it's applicable to this version of MediaWiki. --Tourorist 13:08, 2 Oct 2007 (PDT)

Well one of the things that generally stops 99% of spammers is a little question on sign-up that has to be answered (like PHPBB has), they call them Humanizers or something to that extent. Given that the wiki requires users to be signed up, a change like that should be simple to make and should stop a vast majority in their tracks. Wraiyth 22:36, 2 Oct 2007 (PDT)

Can't all pages just be protected from edits by newly registered users? The few pages that wouldn't be protected would be spammed, but cleaning it up would be easier. Solokiller 03:45, 3 Oct 2007 (PDT)

I thought this was already used by some Wiki's (including Wikipedia?). Users must be 'idling' for some time (or beeïng screened by some people), before they can post. But the Humanizer-option within the registration form must be a helping hand for us... for now. --Jurgen Knops 04:06, 3 Oct 2007 (PDT)

Not true, when I registered, I could instantly modify and add stuff, and it wasn't so long ago either (19 September I think). --Baliame 15:40, 3 Oct 2007 (CET)

He said some Wiki's—ts2do 10:14, 3 Oct 2007 (PDT)

There are a number of methods and extensions we are looking at. As a temporary measure, I've blocked IPs of a number of these users. However it is clear that this is a botnet and they likely have a number of additional zombies. We use a customized version of Mediawiki, so some modifications are necessary before we can use almost all of the existing solutions. More permanent remedies are in the works, so please be patient. --JeffLane 13:13, 4 Oct 2007 (PDT)

Alrighty, thats cool, for now I don't mind at all, I'll keep em at bay whenever I see more of them. However thank you Jeff!--Gear 14:17, 4 Oct 2007 (PDT)

It'd be awesome if you guys could integrate Steam login into the Wiki, that way you could verify that all users have SDK access too. Of course, that'd be a whole bunch of work on the wiki code side. --AndrewNeo 14:46, 4 Oct 2007 (PDT)

Hath the dragon been slain?—ts2do 19:13, 4 Oct 2007 (PDT)

Some but not all yet sadly...--Gear 21:53, 4 Oct 2007 (PDT)

Perhaps a quick fix for these spammers could be to add an option to the sign up page - have a box you need to tick or untick to complete registration, and a quick check in the signup page to see if the item was checked/unchecked. Small changes like this humans take in stride, but utterly defeat bots. It helped me with my forum spammers, and is easier to implement than a captcha. --Daedalus 08:49, 10 Oct 2007 (PDT)

You mean like the one that's already on the registration page that you have to click to verify you have the Source SDK? --AndrewNeo 18:17, 10 Oct 2007 (PDT)

Jeff you really need to do something now, they're flooding our pages with.. *gulp* ..virus-with-porn links. --Baliame 12:24, 12 Oct 2007 (PDT)

That verification idea is really crap tbh, because anyone who is hell-bent on spamming a site will circumvent any non-random protection (for instance, a random question can't really be circumvented easily). And yeah, the spam is getting worse, so something should really be done soon. Wraiyth 18:39, 12 Oct 2007 (PDT)

The spams getting almost annoyintg enough i don't wanna visit the wiki cause I know I'll feel obligated to spend 15 minutes clearing out crap. Please do something. --Angry Beaver 23:32, 14 Oct 2007 (PDT)

Yeah i know how ya feel.--Gear 23:52, 14 Oct 2007 (PDT)

Can't agree more, I aint bothering cleaning it up any more, I've got better things to spend my time on. Wraiyth 02:06, 15 Oct 2007 (PDT)

Well, I've cleaned up something today/last days (unfortunately I have to work too :-)). But it is really annoying the last days, were getting flooded of spam. When I'm online I'll remove the spam which isn't just porn-links but some keyboard-strokes like sadlhasu and aeljhfd. When will this problem be solved? --Jurgen Knops 04:57, 15 Oct 2007 (PDT)

Just stop fixing it. If we don't fix it, then Valve/Jeff will need to do something to stop it happening. Wraiyth 06:34, 15 Oct 2007 (PDT)

For example put an image with numbers that one has to retype when editing, this prevents bots, and some of those probably are --FALCO 06:40, 15 Oct 2007 (PDT)

Is Jeff still around anyway...? --Baliame 07:40, 15 Oct 2007 (PDT)

Maybe he's got a hangover after EP2 release xD --FALCO 07:59, 15 Oct 2007 (PDT)

That's one tad long hangover... --Baliame 08:22, 15 Oct 2007 (PDT)

Oh yes, still around. Just busy. This is still in progress. It is certainly not forgotten. --JeffLane 19:08, 15 Oct 2007 (PDT)

Woot for Jeff

Hey you were in the TF2 commentary, sweetness!--Gear 22:15, 2 Oct 2007 (PDT)

Light pattern through Refract material?

Probably easier to illustrate than explain.

How can I achieve the effect where light that passes through a stained glass texture is colored in the lightmap based on the stained glass pattern? Noclip 19:46, 18 Oct 2007 (PDT)