SketchUp game exporter (Source)

[Gardentwine]

i thank, both of you for trying to get sketchup to be more userfriendly with the source engine, this could be the start in making some really great content for this engine for people that dont know the bigger apps like XSI and 3dmax which are more native to importing models

ps if you need me to test anything please send a pm

oh and if you have any tutorials send them too, could do with a modeling one cause i still cant get one working yet lol
ive made the model but it only makes a (SMD) thats the only file i get but i belive i should also have a (qc) file or do i need to make that myself, who know ive tried to follow Valve Tut with no luck...

when i comes to using hammer i would say iam pritty good at it, i just found that sketchup has the chance of coming a 3rd party map editor its can be quicker with the right plugings to make maps with, so if you need any info on hammer just pm me

keep up the good work

[Chris Fullmer]

It makes an smd file and you need to convert it to a model file. THat is what I read. I still have not figured out how to do that though. But I made a nice lattice .smd file that I wanted to import, but so far I have not got it to work.

So if you figure out how to convert it, or figure out how to get .smd's into a map, let me know

Chris

[Gardentwine]

you having the same luck as me then lol

[Gardentwine]

i opened the file valve_sketchup_tools_config.rb and it says in here that build SMD file for import to the hammer engine is done for you but i tried to correct the Dir but it still dont work or perhaps valve release a duf plugin

[zapwizard]

i opened the file valve_sketchup_tools_config.rb and it says in here that build SMD file for import to the hammer engine is done for you but i tried to correct the Dir but it still dont work or perhaps valve release a duf plugin

The code in the Ruby file to automatically compile the SMD is old and inactive.
I have actually been in contact with a employee at Valve who worked on this plug-in.
He said they probably will be supporting it more in the future but current it is more of a in-between project. Also that the automatic compile stuff didn't make it into the public release, probably due to stability and the fact that more data would have be written into the model for the QC to work.

If you don't know a SMD file is the geometry for a model, similar to a Collada file. It has a paint-by-numbers style UV map that a compiler can then apply a material to.
A QC file is similar to the XML files packaged inside a KMZ. I describes the metadata for the geometry: Is this a static model? Physics model? Where do I find the textures? etc...
See this page on writing the .QC file. Search google for many tutorials and tools on compiling them. Once you know the work flow it isn't all that bad. Models in-game use a different material lighting scheme that isn't as complex as the brush work. This increases the game speed.

SMD files are blocks that make up the game world. These are the walls of buildings, floors, ceilings, trim work etc... And the majority of the game world. Each block or brush exported into the SMD file must be a convex object, have no lines splitting up a face, or any 2D surfaces. This is the primary purpose of the scripts we are trying to write.
See here: http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/VMF

So far most of the screenshots I have shown are SMD brushes. What makes sketchup so much more powerful to me is that I can create complex geometry models in SMD that mixes with the less complex brush work in VMF and have them meet seem lessly in the game world.

For example I made the greenhouse model below in SketchUp.
All the parts of the building are VMF blocks, along with all the glass.
The many beams that make up the ceiling though would be intensive on the game engine.
So they were made into a SMD model file, and compiled into a game model (.MDL)
The model uses 100% in-game materials, so I didn't have to make anything new.
Making this type of object in-game would be nearly impossible with all the angles. It would also take forever to tweak and modify. But SketchUp components and mirroring fixes all that.
For example I wanted the player go be able to crouch and squeeze though the windows along the side. I had to make the windows 8 inches taller. Well in sketchup that takes about 15 seconds including adjusting the matching glass. In-game that would mean modifying about 100 object each by hand.

SketchUp:

In-game:

Real-world:

[Gardentwine]

i managed to use the cannonfodder StudioCompiler to create my Mdl but now when i try and load hammer it come up with an error (failed to load default scheme) WTF is this, and is it cause of a bugged mdl or something

[zapwizard]

It should not be due to a MDL file.
See here: http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki ... cheme_file

Here is an example of model work that you can do in SketchUp. Both of these models were made in a few hours today.
All the models used existing in-game model textures I imported into SketchUp.
The white smoothed model behind each is the collision model that sets up the object physics.

Bonus:
The toolbox is very fun to play with as the tank, as it weighs quite a bit.

[Gardentwine]

your so good at making stuff i only wished i could get it to work, most of today i reinstalled cause my vista 64 system was so buggy dew to my part and alot of apps crash so hopefull now i have a fresh install i may have better luck

lets hope

[timbo89]

Any new information on this topic?

[zapwizard]

Any new information on this topic?

I have been too busy using the exporter to write my tutorials yet.
However, I think the plug-ins are finally good for release. I have worked out most of the bugs.
I will get them uploaded tonight.

Here are some screenshots of a game map I am making based on a real theater near my house.
People will actually be playing the map of the theater while inside the theater on Halloween.
These images show just how accurate you can make a game map compared to the real-world.

Photo:

Sketch-up:

In-game:

[zapwizard]

Attached are the plugins, styles, and template I use for Hammer.
I hope to get some tutorials made in November, I am currently too busy with a deadline project for Halloween.

[RadioDead]

When I try to install the plugins by going to Sketchup Plugins under the L4D authoring tools and go into the sketchup folder all I have is the valve_library folder -- the valve folder and other files that I am supposed to copy into the google folder are not there, any idea why or how to fix it?

[zapwizard]

When I try to install the plugins by going to Sketchup Plugins under the L4D authoring tools and go into the sketchup folder all I have is the valve_library folder -- the valve folder and other files that I am supposed to copy into the google folder are not there, any idea why or how to fix it?

Try to either re-install the authoring tools, or in steam right click on them, goto "Local Files", and "click on verify integrity of tool cache"

If they are still missing I would contact valve at: sketchuptools@valvesoftware.com

[RadioDead]

When I try to install the plugins by going to Sketchup Plugins under the L4D authoring tools and go into the sketchup folder all I have is the valve_library folder -- the valve folder and other files that I am supposed to copy into the google folder are not there, any idea why or how to fix it?

Try to either re-install the authoring tools, or in steam right click on them, goto "Local Files", and "click on verify integrity of tool cache"

If they are still missing I would contact valve at: sketchuptools@valvesoftware.com

Yeah, I tried to uninstall the authoring tools and reinstall, but it still wasn't there. I have all my hidden files & folders showing too. I'll try to verify the integrity, which file do you right click on and go to Local files? The Sketchup Plugin folder in the authoring tool menu?

[Killuminati91]

hey zap, thanks for the plugins.

You still have to build everything like in Hammer if you want to export it as an vmf, right?
Each block still one group?

[zapwizard]

Yes, the exporter won't group things automatically.
Each single "Brush" in hammer is a single convex grouping of faces in SketchUp.

You can however group together other groups of convex objects in SketchUp into more groups and components and they will export as groups in Hammer. This makes moving them around in hammer much easier, they can then be un-grouped in hammer back into their smallest convex objects.
For example I would group together any objects in sketchup that I knew I was going to convert to a func_detail, or breakable window.

Components are also a HUGE help in Sketchup when laying out buildings.
Since most of the buildings in my Allegheny map are symmetrical I only had to model half the building, make that half a component and mirror it on the other side.

[Gitaroo]

can someone teach me how to load up the model in cryengine 2 sandbox 2 editor? I group a mode then exported it with playup from sketchup to a .dae file, then I try to open the .dae file in sandbox 2, nothing happen. I tried the load a model option but it doesn't take any format beside .cgf

[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]

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 ... p?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/w ... 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.