[NoFaTe]

In this tutorial I'll try to show you how to make Portal 2 maps.

Things you'll need:
- Portal 2 (duh)
- Alien Swarm SDK
- GCFScape (or any tool that can extract VPKs)
- Patience

First of all you'd like to extract your portal 2 materials/models to your alien swarm directory.
To do that, just open the pak01_dir.vpk file which is located in your portal 2 directory (steamapps\common\portal 2\portal2) and extract the materials and models folders to your alien swarm directory (steamapps\common\alien swarm\swarm).
After the extraction is complete you will need to "fix" the models so that hammer can load the properly.
To do that just save the following text in a batch file (.bat), place it in your swarm/models directory and run it.

FOR /R %%a IN ("*.dx80.vtx") DO del "%%a" 
FOR /R %%a IN ("*.dx90.vtx") DO del "%%a"
FOR /R %%a IN ("*.sw.vtx") DO del "%%a"
FOR /R %%a IN ("*.vtx") DO copy "%%a" "%%~dpa%%~na.dx80.vtx"
FOR /R %%a IN ("*.vtx") DO copy "%%a" "%%~dpa%%~na.dx90.vtx"
FOR /R %%a IN ("*.vtx") DO copy "%%a" "%%~dpa%%~na.sw.vtx"
FOR /R %%a IN ("*.dx80.dx90.sw.vtx") DO del "%%a" 
FOR /R %%a IN ("*.dx80.dx90.vtx") DO del "%%a"
FOR /R %%a IN ("*.dx80.sw.vtx") DO del "%%a"
FOR /R %%a IN ("*.dx90.sw.vtx") DO del "%%a"

After this step is done you're ready to create Portal 2 maps.
Just launch Hammer through the Alien Swarm SDK and create a map.
Also, remember to follow these instructions, otherwise the map won't compile.
After you've compiled the map just copy it to your portal2/maps directory and launch it through the in-game console.

You can find a FGD with several entities here (Cheers to DeanWinchester).

Here are some interesting entities:

prop_tractor_beam
prop_wall_projector
env_portal_laser
prop_floor_button
info_coop_spawn

You can find a coop map I made here and it's source here.

I hope this helps.

Credits:
- Whoever made that model renaming script
- The guy who made BSPSource
- Valve

PS: You can find interesting stuff by decompiling existing p2 maps (you will need to fix the endings of the VMFs in order to load them in Hammer).

[xpod1]

literally 2 seconds ago i asked enth how to make portal 2 maps

[NoFaTe]

Here's a template for coop maps.
It simply contains the starting area and no, it will not compile as it is.
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/8504765/mp_booth.vmf

[Legend286]

I'll be sure to check it out later.

[evlbzltyr]

I'm just gonna wait for the proper SDK to come out, and spend the time planning maps and stuff :buddy: Pretty cool method though

[l337k1ll4]

evlbzltyr posted:

I'm just gonna wait for the proper SDK to come out, and spend the time planning maps and stuff :buddy: Pretty cool method though

This will probably be me too, but I'll probably fuck around with this so that I can get used to the new entities before the official release.

[icemaz]

Heh very handy, I drew down a design of a chamber and if I feel the need for the SDK is too great i'll use this. Thanks a lot.

[Diealready]

I'll probably just stick to mapping the basic geometry of the level in the old SDK, then import the vmf when the Portal 2 SDK comes out.

[Jessecar96]

ill wait for the real sdk, but this is a pretty cool method

[Silentfood]

Does anyone know where Portal 2 stores its sound files? I've looked in the directory, and the GFC files. No luck.

Edit: Found how to, FYI to anyone curious. Open pak01_dir in GFCScape, don't open it.

[Zuimzado]

I'll wait for the new SDK with a new Faceposer that supports Vista oh god please Valve please...

[Crazy_Farmer]

eitherway it doesn't seem like you can play coop maps, only singleplayer

[Murdoco]

Crazy_Farmer posted:

eitherway it doesn't seem like you can play coop maps, only singleplayer

For coop maps both people must have the map. Then in console you type "changelevel mapname" (no quotes of course)

[boomer678]

How do you make gels able to be placed on surfaces? They work, but they don't paint onto things. I think its a script or entity that allows it but I can't find it.

[Fenriswolf]

I hope some very nice custom maps come out, preferably some with more crushers, gel, funnels, bridges, and panels.

Oh god the panels, there was so much potential for absolutely crazy maps with those panels. I hope someone realizes that and makes some really good maps with copious amounts of panels!

[NoFaTe]

I managed to get some SP maps working in Co-op without modifying the BSPs :buddy:
http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/55...C86ED42F1EA6C/

Will post a how-to and needed files when I've finished making all the maps co-op compatible.
Cheers!

PS: The maps are still fully functional in SP.

[Feuvert]

NoFaTe posted:

I managed to get some SP maps working in Co-op without modifying the BSPs :buddy:
http://cloud.steampowered.com/ugc/55...C86ED42F1EA6C/

Will post a how-to and needed files when I've finished making all the maps co-op compatible.
Cheers!

PS: The maps are still fully functional in SP.

great work.


I think the first thing we need to do in the Portal 2's hammer is to make a map just to fuck around with everything. Like only portal-able surface, every goo type (Maybe gamma in a corner with non-portal-able surface.) and aerial faith plate.

[boomer678]

Feuvert posted:

great work.


I think the first thing we need to do in the Portal 2's hammer is to make a map just to fuck around with everything. Like only portal-able surface, every goo type (Maybe gamma in a corner with non-portal-able surface.) and aerial faith plate.

I was thinking of making one of these for co-op, but I need to figure out how to make the gels stick onto surfaces first.

[Ha3]

boomer678 posted:

How do you make gels able to be placed on surfaces? They work, but they don't paint onto things. I think its a script or entity that allows it but I can't find it.

You need to understand that the Alien Swarm SDK uses a special compiler that once used, transforms all world brushes into func_detail. Maybe that's the issue?


EDIT: I'm not actually sure. I've been trying to remove the -alldetail parameter in the VBSP Compiler (expert mode enabled before compiling) but it still jolts issues.

[Legend286]

In the name of science I ask you, what the fuck is this??!



Having fun with Boomer... I think we broke something.

[Crazy_Farmer]

Murdoco posted:

For coop maps both people must have the map. Then in console you type "changelevel mapname" (no quotes of course)

me and a friend both had the map and it crashed every time i changed the level

Edited:

Fenriswolf posted:

I hope some very nice custom maps come out, preferably some with more crushers, gel, funnels, bridges, and panels.

Oh god the panels, there was so much potential for absolutely crazy maps with those panels. I hope someone realizes that and makes some really good maps with copious amounts of panels!

i'm hyped for it, i really hope it doesn't take months (like L4D) to get the new hammer/documentation

[Legend286]

Crazy_Farmer posted:

me and a friend both had the map and it crashed every time i changed the level

Edited:



i'm hyped for it, i really hope it doesn't take months (like L4D) to get the new hammer/documentation

There's absolutely no reason why it would take longer than a week, but you know Valve...

[Feuvert]

Legend286 posted:

There's absolutely no reason why it would take longer than a week, but you know Valve...

Just look at L4D and L4D 2's SDK... Weren't they release extremely late?

[Wormy]

I hope Valve will release the new easier hammer layout when Portal 2 SDK comes.

[deadoctober]

Wormy posted:

I hope Valve will release the new easier hammer layout when Portal 2 SDK comes.

what new easier hammer layout

[Wormy]

deadoctober posted:

what new easier hammer layout

Gabe Newell said they are working on making hammer easier to work with. Even those who make maps at Valve got some problems sometimes.

http://www.igniq.com/2011/02/gabe-ne...k-less-painful

[Feuvert]

Wormy posted:

Gabe Newell said they are working on making hammer easier to work with. Even those who make maps at Valve got some problems sometimes.

http://www.igniq.com/2011/02/gabe-ne...k-less-painful

the infamous carving tool

[Wormy]

Feuvert posted:

the infamous carving tool

Oh god i hate that tool. It just stretches through the entire map sometimes and then i have to remove the whole thing.

[Stathis]

holy shit it works! good job man

[AlfieSR]

Awaiting mp_portal2_playground and sp_portal2_playground.

Too bad I have no clue how to map.

[DasMatze]

Even with the func_brush named structure_seal around the map I still can't compile it. :saddowns:

[jlj1]

Won't gels be a nightmare as you don't know how far they will go till you test

[PieClock]

What steps exactly do you need to follow in the alien swarm wiki to compile the map. I don't think they're all necessary.

It'd be great if someone outlined what they did to get it to compile even briefly.

[GameDev]

jlj1 posted:

Won't gels be a nightmare as you don't know how far they will go till you test

Hopefully there will be a quick compiler in the new SDK, or maybe you can set trajectories for gels and Aerial Faith Plates?

Seriously, those test chambers with the perfectly alligned plates weren't a coincedence.

Edited:

Fenriswolf posted:

I hope some very nice custom maps come out, preferably some with more crushers, gel, funnels, bridges, and panels.

Oh god the panels, there was so much potential for absolutely crazy maps with those panels. I hope someone realizes that and makes some really good maps with copious amounts of panels!

Oh, I will :smug:

[jlj1]

GameDev posted:

Hopefully there will be a quick compiler in the new SDK, or maybe you can set trajectories for gels and Aerial Faith Plates?

Seriously, those test chambers with the perfectly alligned plates weren't a coincedence.

I was talking about in this

[Ha3]

GameDev posted:

Hopefully there will be a quick compiler in the new SDK, or maybe you can set trajectories for gels and Aerial Faith Plates?

Seriously, those test chambers with the perfectly alligned plates weren't a coincedence.

In the console, in coop sometimes there is a message saying something like "<something> Prediction will fail! Fix this in the map." and the <something> was regarding Faith Plates. Many puzzle elements are embedded into the engine it seems now.


I wouldn't be surprised if the Portal 2 Hammer includes dedicated parabolic projections helper, just like they do with light_spot, ropes and env_projectedtexture dedicated helpers.

[Dachande]

Wormy posted:

I hope Valve will release the new easier hammer layout when Portal 2 SDK comes.

I hope not, I don't want to re-learn the hammer interface.
That was the thing about hammer. If you needed it, it was there. If you couldn't find it right away, then you didn't need it enough
Maybe they'll have a real-time compiled viewport.

[PieClock]

Dachande posted:

I hope not, I don't want to re-learn the hammer interface.
That was the thing about hammer. If you needed it, it was there. If you couldn't find it right away, then you didn't need it enough
Maybe they'll have a real-time compiled viewport.

They're obviously not going to change it all that much that someone needs to relearn stuff. It'll just be more user-friendly.

[Wormy]

PieClock posted:

They're obviously not going to change it all that much that someone needs to relearn stuff. It'll just be more user-friendly.

Finally someone who understands.

[Kyo]

Decided to try porting over a Portal 1 map I made with this method. Works pretty good. However, buildcubemaps in game doesn't work for me, despite my map having like 5 env_cubemap entities.

Also, if someone could make a FGD so we could see the entities in the editor, that'd be great. I have no idea what would go into making it though.