SketchUp game exporter (Source)

Gardentwine

hi back into the modding scene. RLP

i was wondering if anyone has come up with some scripts, that can really help map making and modeling for source engine.

PS you dont need the plugin to make model directly into source now, you can make the model or map and export it as a vmf (hammer map file) and dl a prog called Propper this can make any vmf into a model for source. once you made it restart hammer and it will be in you prop_static list of models

alz

I'm totally screeching in to the last page without reading previous ones. Having said that, has anyone looked at: http://playuptools.blogspot.com/?

zapwizard

@alz said:

I'm totally screeching in to the last page without reading previous ones. Having said that, has anyone looked at: http://playuptools.blogspot.com/?

Yes, it has been mentioned in the thread. I haven't used it for a while now and they have made updates to it.

dsarchs

PlayupTools works very will with the new (free) Crynegine 3 (basically Crysis 2).

I had been interested in the Source engine before, but it seems very cumbersome. You can't just export SketchUP models that you would normally make -- in my case, for architecture projects -- but instead would have to model them in a specific, and time-consuming way.

Crysis (Cryengine 3, as above) works much better, for me. As long as your normals are facing the right way you can export normal models directly in to the engine. There's a fairly strict size limit on what can be exported, so complex models usually need to be sent in several different exports, but it's not too much of a hassle. The only real difference is getting a new texture library. You need DDS versions of square (256x256, 512x512, etc.) of the textures you want to use. Once you have these, though, the process is fairly automated.
It CAN get much more complicated if you worry about optimizing models for (playing) the game engine and creating dynamic/moving objects -- but even without worrying about any of that I get good looking results that I can walk through with at least 60 FPS. That's all I need.

Richard

Mate are you suggesting you now don't need to use playup anymore?

Can you give a detailed workflow?
And DDS textures via conversion of existing maps?

Would love to no more!

peter_shaw

wow, just discovered this thread. i used to make maps for half life and quake 3 with the game-editors. gonna try out this stuff when i get home (slow GPUs at work, don't think cryengine or source will run here ::D)

zapwizard

I seems that I haven't posted some of my newer (like last two years) SketchUp to game works to this thread.

First: I wrote a start to finish article on making games in the Source engine using SketchUp:
http://www.maximumpc.com/article/howtos/howto_make_left_4_dead_map_google_sketchup?page=0,0

My most popular project is Fan Feast: http://www.zapwizard.com/blog/projects/fan-feast/
It is a 1:1 scale near perfect recreation of a real world shopping center.
It was made for Fantastic Fest 2010, which is mainly a movie festival, but in 2010 they started including independent games. The coolest part is that people were both actually, and virtually inside the same building while playing the game at the festival. The map is made for the game Left 4 Dead 2.

There are over 300 custom textures to make the place feel authentic (Signs, graffiti, etc..)
All the building exteriors were made using the photo-match tool as well as the theater interior. The bowling alley interior was made directly from the source DWG files.
I choose SketchUp as my modeler for a few reasons: One its super fast to work in, and two it is made for real world architecture and so it makes matching the real world so much easier then in-game editors.

My longer on going project is Seaholm Power Plant: http://www.zapwizard.com/blog/tag/seaholm/
It will be a three map campaign for L4D2. It is based again on a real world location, also at 1:1 scale.
Most of the geometry for this map was made in SketchUp.

Another showcase project I did was the winning entry in the the World of Level Design story telling contest.
In less then three hours I was able to model a old rail road station, and in less then two weeks I put together the whole contest map.
http://www.zapwizard.com/blog/2011/04/world-of-level-design-winner-storytelling-level-design-challenge/

Trimley Railway Station (13) by Richie Wisbey, on Flickr

dsarchs

Richard,

are you asking me or Zapwizard for a work flow?

peter_shaw

ok, since i own lfd2 (halloween sale for 5€ ) i just tried out the sdk. easy enough to get to run, but hammer seems to be REALLY buggy. keeps crashing randomly. i got the example map (myfirst_su_level) to run in l4d by just hitting "run map", but once i try to do stuff in hammer, it just crashes. when i restart it, i always have to reconfigure hammer (set the paths etc, really annoying). any fix to this? is hammer always the same, or is there a different version when u use the source sdk?

peter_shaw

okok, after getting frustrated with the left for dead 2 SDK, i just downloaded the CryENGINE 3 SDK. tried the example file "forrest.cry" - I'm completely blown away.. u can switch back and forth between game- and the editor-mode in real time. lightning is displayed in real time. water is moving, there are even rain drops. and sound. and u can modify, move around, change lighning (basically mapping) in real time! wtf!? how is this even possible, i don't even..
game design changed a bit since i last tried it with the quake 3 map editor.. the possibilities for arch viz are also there. it displays a HUGE area (maybe 500x500 meters) of high poly forrest with 30 fps.
haven't tested exporting from SU yet.

http://imgur.com/a/qAXh0

zapwizard

I should say, I started out mapping in CryEngine2 (Crysis original) and loved it.
However getting a workable game took lots of work, Crytek never patched many of the obvious flaws in the original editor, and the community of players faded away.

I only switched the L4D2 because one, I liked the game and was actively playing it, and two the AI is automatic, there is very little extra work you have to do besides making the game world. But yes, the source editor can be buggy and BSP based map editing is becoming dated.

I haven't started up a new project yet, as I have others to finish. But my next game would be using a different engine then Source, probably Unity, UDK or CryEngine. CryEngine would by my first choice if they would clearly spell out their independent licencing.

dsarchs

Zapwizard, you might be right, that Cryengine is more difficult to create a game with, but for a quick architectural walkthrough -- especially if it doesn't need to have moving doors -- can be VERY quick and get really good results. I think most design professionals would be attracted to this aspect of it, even if it ends up being more cumbersome at creating full games...

zapwizard

I might be using CryEngine right now for visualizations if it weren't for the fact that they won't spell out their licencing costs. The Architecture portion of their licencing website still says "Coming soon", it has for several years now. One thing to keep in mind is that CryEngine requires a hefty graphics processor for real time playback, meaning you usually can't just pack a file and send it to a customer.

Unity Pro is becoming more and more attractive as they add features, you pay them $1500 once and your good for life, no other fees ever. It also works on WebGL, iOS, and Android.

UDK has a $2500 per seat per year licence for anyone using UDK for in-direct income projects, and $99 per direct income project. +25% of any revenue related to the UDK software after $50,000 in sales. UDK also can build for iOS and Android.