Introducing Hammer Source!

Hi buddies! I would like to introduce you an application I’m developing, because, as you know, im a Software Engineer. I think I never told you that, because it’s not really important for you.

But as programmer and mapper, I saw the biggest and worst thing of the source engine editing at hammer: did you notice how difficult is to share a map, a prefab, a model, etc… . You can download a map, but then all the textures are missing; you download some models, and they do not appear in hammer because you put them in the wrong path; you want to upload a file and the mapping webpage is failing, you forgot the password and you don’t find the category; you downloaded a prefab with customs models but you get the ugly ERROR model, and you don’t find the folder to place it, … The solution for all this, is :

Hammer Source

Logo is not definitive

So, what is Hammer Source?

Hammer Source is a distributed application system that works like a plugin for the Hammer source tool. It’s pretty easy to use it, and you don’t need even to register, configure it or register an account, and, of course, it’s completely free! In few words: the program permits you to completely share your desired prefabs and download and insert in your map a selected one from a list.  Hammer dynamically reads the new prefabs placed in a specific folder, you don’t need to reboot hammer after inserting a prefab and I decided to exploit this feature in my application.

But, is this really useful? there are tons of webpages.

This application will detect automatically all the custom files and its dependences of the saved prefab, it will compress them in a .tar file (very small filesize),  and you will add useful information, like prefab type, preview picture (automatically generated!) name, description, game, etc… in a clean and easy interface. If you wish to download any prefab, you will search it at the database using filters (“let’s search a pretty door!, Name: door Kaemon”), and then, after clicking “Download” button, it will be automatically installed in your computer with all the custom files and placed in your map! (you will probably need to restart hammer if you wanna see some of these custom files, not sure!).

So, is it only for CS:S?

Of course not, this application will work with ANY Source engine game: Half Life 2, CS:GO, Left 4 Dead 1 and 2, Alien Swarm, …

Tell me an example

(I will make the application run on windows start and work it in background) Imagine you are mapping, and  you want to put some special items in your map. You press CTR+I (you can configure it) and a popup of my program will appear, it will show you the searcher, you will put in the filter: Prefab type: Item , Author: Rafuron , and then, all my weapons of all my maps will appear in a list (because I will upload all them). You choose the Titan, you press download, and the model, the sounds, the particles and the materials (everything!) will be automatically installed in your game as well as the Titan placed in the middle of your map.

But, maybe you want to share the whole map .vmf, you just need to press CTRL+D (or other thing), and then a popup of my program will appear, with all the custom files and information you want to add or change. You can upload without account (anon), without custom files, save a copy in your PC, etc…

Just prefabs? It sounds cheap

As I said, ALL the custom files will be included. So the application could turn into a model/sounds/materials/particles/colorcorrections/full maps share tool. If I want to upload any model, I would put the prop_dynamic with the model, and just upload it.

How long it will take to finish it?

I think the application will take 1 or 2 weeks for the working version, but the published one will be probably after 1 month.

This is the main window, a small and friendly interface, you will find the colors a bit familiar : )

Configuration window : I didn’t do nothing! it is all set automatically

Example with the Jukebox item, I select all the objects in the editor, and then I press CTRL-D

The new prefab popup appears, and you can set here some info. You can delete the custom files you want and set some options.

The jukebox was saved in local, so it wasn’t uploaded. I can see the information and upload it when I want!

As you see, this application could be an essential tool for Hammer editing and a meeting point for all mappers, modellers or anything you want who works with Source engine. The application:

• Will include a updater so I could add new functionalities easily.
• Will include different languages and you can edit them
• Will work offline and online.
• Will work with custom keys
• Will be configured automatically detecting all your games and accounts, as well as if you executed Hammer processes.
• Will include users profiles

After the release, there are no limits in what I could do! Source Engine mappers need a bit of help!

Thats all, I see you in the next update and in the coments!