Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22534 in Books
• Published on: 2007-01-12
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 334 pages

Synopsis
Modify gameplay, add textures, and integrate amazing effects, and develop intense environments, then share your design with players online. How cool would it be to build your own levels and customized weapons for Half-Life 2? This book will get you ready to mod so you can enjoy the ultimate gaming experience. You'll find out how to create your own maps, strategically place high-tech military equipment, and modify your levels for smoother play. The bonus CD-ROM features: samples from the book; a video walk-through of your first mod; Adobe[registered] Photoshop[registered] CS2 tryout version; NormalMapGenerator and Compressonator by ATI Technologies, Inc.; and, Packrat version 0.95 for Half-Life 2 and Adobe Photoshop Normal Map and DDS Authoring Plugins. For details and complete system requirements, see the CD-ROM appendix. Discover how to: design maps and playing levels; load your creation into the game; expand your map with additions; include armor and weapons; and, distribute levels on the Web.

Customer Reviews

Miss-titled, but otherwise useful
Despite its title, this book does not cover Mod's or Mod'ing, but rather mapping. Reviewed (and rated) on that basis it does a quite good job of taking you through the various stages of creating a map. In common with the rest of the "For Dummies..." range it assumes a minimal knowledge of the subject and gradually leads you deeper into the subject. I consider myself a fairly typical `dabbler' when it comes to mapping. I can set up Hammer for different Mods, create maps with basic puzzles and monsters, and carry out basic optimisation, so found myself skipping the early chapters, but the later chapters on optimisation, texture creation and detailing are of interest.

The incorrect title is a shame. Anyone looking for information on Mod'ing will be disappointed with this book. Anyone looking for a very good introduction to mapping will find the book useful, so should ignore the title.