Mods and Machinima

Half Life 2 Deathmatch player etiquette

0910 - 1155

- History of Half Life 2 - recap
http://www.twcdc.com/games2007/2007/09/half_life_network.html
- Importing models into Half Life 2 from XSI - the final word
- Demo of how to make Half Life 2 Deathmatch face texture
- This week's assignment
- Review of assignments and uploads to date
- Where are we heading?
- Make face texture for Deathmatch following the Noesis tutorial
- Upload a 480 pixel wide version of the completed texture to your blog as an embedded image

1310 - 1555

- Demo of importing face map into Deathmatch
- Upload Deathmatch zipped hldmp\materials folders
- Play Deathmatch
- Watch X-Play Game Developers Conference, Day 1

Read the interview with Tobias Bernstrup from Video Games and Art. Blog an idea for an art mod using the Source Engine.

Download reading

Valve facemap texture outlines for Deathmatch men and women, and Deathmatch player icon template (zip file)

Download zip file

This is for part 2. above.

1. Create your face image
Download Noesis Tutorial

2. Import into Deathmatch
Download tutorial file (PDF)

Build the room and blog at least one screenshot.

http://www.valve-erc.com/srcsdk/Levels/hl2dm_basics_construction.html

0910 - 1155

Create a custom model from scratch and import into Half Life 2 Deathmatch

If I am late to class, either complete your Deathmatch face (if unfinished), catch up on other imcomplete work, or get started on this project. I will demo when I get in.
Download custom model to Deathmatch tutorial.

1310 - 1555

Discuss ideas for art mods

Watch XPlay from the Game Developers Conference

I'm definitely going to be about 0.5 hr later today. Please continue with work as described in the previous blog.

For use in the game, rename your models as follows:

# Andy Cox - male_01
# Joseph Adkins - male_02
# Robert Carter - male_03
# Brian Chiu - male_04
# Darren Evans - male_05
# Reinhard Gutzat - male_06
# Mitchell Hall - male_07
# Xander Kent - male_08
# Jan-Kevin Lascina - male_09
# Noriko Matsuba - female_01
# Danny Pan - female_02
# Tawnia Rose - female_03
# Chris Selig - female_04
# Nicolaus Seppi - female_05
# Stephanie Sorth - female_06

Download sample vmt file
Download sample qc file

I received this email from Valve...................

Dear Valve Academic Program Participants,

We are in the process of updating the Academic Licensing Program under the name SourceU. The SourceU program will be a community-driven program with the goal of being a invaluable resource for students and educators alike. All existing Valve Academic Program licensees will be incorporated into SourceU.

As part of the launch of SourceU, we would like to showcase student-created works using the SDK. This would serve as an excellent opportunity to provide exposure to your school’s program. If you are interested in participating, please submit a description of the student’s project along with screenshots, links, and other relevant materials to sourceu@valvesoftware.com.

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Best Regards,

The SourceU Team
Valve Corporation

dolly fell down the stairs

dolly's dead in the water

dolly killed by his own studpidity

I will be completing mid term assessments the weekend of March 29. I will be issuing mid term letter "grades". You therefore have the Spring Break to catch up. By now, it should be clear what needs to be have been completed, but here's a summary list:

- Read Introduction to Videogames and Art and blog.
- Blog at least one screenshot from Half Life 2 and discuss narrative.
- In XSI complete the cat head and lamp animation and upload .exp files.
- Read Games - The Extensions of Man and blog.
- In XSI make timebomb and import into Half Life 2, blog screenshots.
- Blog a description of a Source game mod or machinima and blog.
- Read The Game Design Sequence and blog.
- Take photos for head replacement in Deathmatch.
- Make face texture for Deathmatch and blog face texture and in-game screenshots.
- Read interview with Tobias Bernstrup and blog idea for art mod or machinima.
- In Hammer, build a Deathmatch room and blog at least one screenshot.
- Create a custom model from scratch and import into Deathmatch, blog screenshots, and upload zipped hl2mp\materials folders (this is so I can upload them to the server so everyone will see each other's model).
- Read High Performance Play: The Making of Machinima. Watch one of the pieces and blog review.

(see the class blog for full details of each assignment)

The main aim of the assessment is to give you an idea of how you are doing in the class and how you could improve. My main concern is whether you have mastered a particular process, not so much that you have produced a great model or level (although of course that would be great and you will get credit for it!). As we have seen, the mod process is far from straightforward and mastering it is paramount. You can always find a decent model (for free or for money) on the internet, but it's another matter getting it into the game.

In addition to the technical aspects, in your posts I'm looking for some evidence that you have thought outside the (kill) box in your thinking about games: what they are, how they funciton in society, and what can be done with them in an artistic context.

I created the another character (Dolly) in Deathmatch and made a few changes to the procedure. The main changes are highlighted in yellow.
Download revised tutorial

Read High Performance Play - The Making of Machinima.
Download reading

You are a reviewer for Machinima Online (made up name) select one of the machinima pieces, view it, and blog your review of it.

The review should include the following, at a minimum:
1. One screenshot.
2. A one paragraph description of the technology used to create it and the level of proficiency achieved by the makers.
3. A one paragraph evaluation of the narrative quality of the piece. Is the piece interesting just because it's made with computer game technology? Would it be of interest to someone who wasnt't familiar with the original game?
4. Somewhere in your review, refer to the reading, for example by using a quote.

0910 - 1555

Announcements
- Valve looking for student work (see separate post below)
- Mid Term Assessments (see separate post below)
- Class Deathmatch server MODS, password = sfsu

Complete custom character and import into Deathmatch game
- see revised tutorial below
- see list of character number assignments below
- upload zipped hl2mp\materials folder so I can add models to the server so we can all see them in the game
- play Deathmatch on the class server.
- post at least one good screenshot of yourself in the game (you may need a friend to help with this). Remember screenshot = F5 with the image going to the game's screenshot folder.