December 15th, 1997

Worldcraft support for Quake2 - Reality


While the final decision for full Quake 2 support is still in Valve's inbox, we have managed a partial conversion that will support roughly 90% of Quake 2's features. I have assemblled a package  that contains everything you'll need to start making Quake2 maps.
Note: This package is necessary to properly make levels for Quake2 using Worldcraft. Using unmodified wad's may work on your computer, but NOBODY else can play your levels unless they too have the textures extracted from the pak file!


The 7.4 meg zip file includes the following:
- WAD files with the full Quake 2 texture set, specially modified to work properly with Worldcraft
- FGD file made by Taskmaster of the Multiplayer Quake site (http://www.brutality.com/mpq/)
- Qbsp3, Qvis3, Qrad3.
-colormap.pcx
-wc.pal for Q2pallette
- instructions, and a screenshot of the compile settings

Right now, it is not possible to edit surface properties of brushes with Worldcraft. 
Quake 2 posses the ability for any surface to give off light, and other attributes, and this is the source of much of the realistic lighting in Quake2. 
Also, transparency and rotating brushes necessary "origin" brush are not being handled properly by the current .fgd file. These are just more brush properties that need to be added.
Autolycus is planning to make his own copy of the Quake 2 FGD file, and it is possible that he will be able to bring in face properties editing through this. If not, it will have to be done directly to the executable, which would then be in Valve's hands.
You can however use Qe4 to edit the face properties of your map once it's almost done. (providing you can run Qe4) I expect also that it won't be long before someone documents the editing of Quake2 map file's in a text editor.


Qe4 tutorial:

The always awesome Zoid was nice enough to take the time to whip up a tutorial for Qe4, id's unsupported Quake2 editor.
It's an Excellent look into id's daunting editor, complete with screenshots and setup info.
Check it out! (http://threewave.planetquake.com/qe4/)