Half-Life 2 SDK

[Chris D]

One of our forum members, the_culture, has just informed me of a conversation he had with Erik Johnson this week regarding the Half-Life 2 SDK (Software Development Kit) where he states they will be concentrating on it a lot more now E3 is out of the way and hope to get it through the door in "about a month".

You can see that forum thread and post your comments here.

Contrary to this however, HalfLifeRadio had an interview with Gabe Newell on Wednesday or Thursday night where he stated that they wouldn't be able to release the full SDK without releasing Half-Life 2 first. Gabe did mention however that very shortly they will be releasing the next stage of the SDK which will include their model compile tools and the Half-Life Model Viewer.

I really do doubt we'll see the full SDK before we see Half-Life 2 but if what Gabe Newell, (and even Rick Ellis here in this e-mail) says is true then you should at least have most of the tools to enable mod teams to do most of the artwork, getting a head start before the game is released.

 

[MichaelT]

A long month...

This is going to be a long wait I'd rather they just tell us when to expect HL2 instead. But I am busy writing HLSL anyway so I have things to do while I wait Nice to see some movement towards a final release though.

 

[BabyHeadCrab]

thanks for clearing this up chris

 

[Katana]

bah. gimme hammer, i wanna start mapping! got so much ideas! cant handle them anoymore

 

[polyguns]

this is my theory, it hit me finally last nigh. after all the lies and misleadings about the sdk, ive figured it out. they have the sdk, they couldn't handed it to the moders a vey long time ago, other hl1 mods have had it for months, and i think thats why they won't give it to us, they want those other hl1 mods to have such a huge advantage ofer the new hl2 mods, that we won't knock em out of the water. It wouldn't suprise me to find out that the sdk will be delayed untill after the game is released. As we saw with DC, the first mod out takes a huge aspect of the fanbase, and really gets the momentum, so they are gonna do what they can to make sure their favs doninate the hl2 mod scene as well, just more of that mcrosoft mentality.

 

[Chris D]

They've not been misleading. They've always said they'll release it in stages.

The first stage was SOFTIMAGE|XSI EXP for Half-Life 2.
The next stage will be the compile tools and Half-Life Model Viewer.
Then there'll be a few more stages before Half-Life 2 is released, and then once that's out the door they'll release the rest of the SDK.

Mods should just be thankful they get the SDK at all. Some developers don't even bother and those that do don't bother supporting the mod teams and then the mods all die.

 

[Apos]

Uh oh: SDk "out in a month" + "out long before HL2" = probably no HL2 for two months at least. Feh on the "going beta by E3" I guess.

 

[Onions]

That means no code until HL2 is released. Bah ;(

 

[Chris D]

You're lucky you get as much as you do and that you get any of it before the game is out.

AFAIK Valve are the only company ever to release tools before the release of the game.

 

[Lavrik]

Well Chris people expect this from valve.They expect it to be supernatural.

 

[Interitus]

Yeah I cant wait to get Hammer... thats where the strength of me in my mod will be(other than leading/writing). I'm still needing modellers to be able to use the modelling tools... Cause I know I'm not gonna have much use for 'em...

 

[Orange]

They could be in beta by e3, but put the focus on getting the next phase of the SDK out , then getting the beta finished and ready. . . which could take any amount of time.

 

[crabcakes66]

Just be happy your are even getting an SDK......


Ungrateful weenys...... :hmph:

 

[polyguns]

well xsi gave us the only tools that you can't use, i doubt valve wrote that version of xsi, i know some people think valve is god but that jsut seems hard to believe. just sux for them that their product was released with no purpose for 6 months.
now we need to carefully parse everything they say and realise the sdk might not be out till x-mas. If valve would've said that on sept 30, that their game or their sdk was no were close to completion, then for the past year, i could have been doing things more closely related to getting ingame work, and not waisting my time on "it'll be next month, just wait". I think this is jsut face saving, so many mods are leaving, but they'll be back if other companies bail on their sdk promises too. but with all these complexities and add-ons and steam complexities, im wondering how many issues they'll all have. I'm glad to see they have time to get everything in the world together to sell to us over their steam, but didn't have time to finish the game when they said

 

[RoguePsi]

I'm sure I heard ages ago that the SDK would be released in 2 'stages'. One will be released before HL2 (basic SDK to get you started) and then another after HL2 (containing the code). The primary reason was HL2 wouldn't be ruined from someone doing something special with the SDK before HL2 gets to wow people.

Maybe I dreamed it.

 

[Seppo]

They should just concentrate on finishing the game and release SDK after the game is out. What do you do with the SDK when there's no game? I hope VALVe won't break under the pressure and do everything the community asks. Take the time and finish the game


(and release it this summer)

 

[ferd]

bah. gimme hammer, i wanna start mapping! got so much ideas! cant handle them anoymore

write them down! quick!

 

[SLI_Fallen]

Trust me. You are getting WAY more support/info/tools from Valve that over in Crytek/FarCry land. We were told SDK release 2 weeks after game release but (going on 2 months now) were still waiting. All they tell us it is done but is it's in UBI's "legal" dept and they have not been forthcoming on any info since. *NOT* a good sign.

Count your blessings and be thankful you at least are being kept apprised of developments, and that the tools are trickling out at least. We have nothing but silence over there.

 

[Remani]

A 3DS MAX Modeller

I'm a good modeller, I mainly do low poly models, around... 400 polys for weapons, i dont do characters though. I only use 3ds max(5) as well, SOFTIMAGE is too confusing :rolling: So if you would like my help for your mod "Vingrad" just e-mail me with what type of weapons you need etc. And give me more info on your mod for what it's really based on, your website is a little low profile on the mod... my e-mail is [email protected]

Oh and I'm also currently working on a single-man job of making a Roman War and Glory mod, so maybe once we finish Vingrad off, you would be interested in helping me with my mod also? :thumbs: Ty anyways for whatever your reply is, at least you took the time to 'consider' me =)

Wow... i cant type.... Vingard i mean 0_o hahaha