Where to start on modding HL2?

[Fliko]

My brother recently got me Visual Studio Pro 2005 (Lucky me), and I was wondering how I would go about to mod HL2, I have the tools, but don't know what to make. I guess I just don't understand how I would go about to add stuff to Half-Life 2, so I was wondering if anyone could help me get footing, a video, tutorial, a lil' post, anything.
Thanks

 

[keats]

A li'l post then. I'm not gonna help you with what to mod, that's up to you. You can make anything from small adjustments like making a power crowbar or a superjumpmod or whatever, to a total conversion.

As for the how, for small adjustments coding will be enough. You have to download the Source SDK, and learn how to set it up and compile your own .dll's (the heart of a mod), and how to run them. Then you're set to stroll through the source code, find whatever it is you want, modify it, and recompile.

As for more serious modifications, such as adding your own stuff, you'll have to get acquainted with the whole compilation process, dive into exporters and .qc's. For maps, learn how to work with hammer, edit .fgd's and link them to your own classes etc etc.

A very good place to start is the Valve Source SDK Wiki

Good luck, and have fun. If you have coding related questions, just fire em away here, it's one of the best places to get an answer (this and the VERC forums).

 

[Fliko]

I have the SDK, but thanks for the link.

 

[Cole]

Well the Source SDK is C++, do you understand Object Oreinted Programming?

 

[crackhead]

im not sure you can compile it with 2005 yet?

 

[hot564231]

no you can't, but VALVe and MicroSoft say they are working close together to make it work with the SDK

 

[crackhead]

theyve been saying it for a while though.

 

[Pajari]

Your best bet would be to get Microsoft Visual C++ .net 2003. Its about a hundred bucks, but if you're a student or are willing to buy it used, you can probably get it for far less.

 

[crackhead]

i got the academic version for 100gbp or possibly a tiny bit less. they dont actually check if you are a student.

 

[Fliko]

Your best bet would be to get Microsoft Visual C++ .net 2003. Its about a hundred bucks, but if you're a student or are willing to buy it used, you can probably get it for far less.

I was installing 2005, but, it kept asking for a DVD disk, but I already have it in the DVD drive... any ideas?
I can wait for them to encorporate the feature to compile HL2 SDK.

 

[Pajari]

I don't think anything can compile the SDK except Visual C++ .net 2003. Sorry.

 

[crackhead]

i dont know about the dvd thing. if you start learning the basics with that by the time your confident with it then by then the sdk will hopefully be compatible.

 

[Fliko]

no you can't, but VALVe and MicroSoft say they are working close together to make it work with the SDK

6charrr
EDIT: Ahh, I know the basics, I plan on fooling around with the AI after I get a few books to understand it better.

 

[Crispy]

Check out the ModDB tutorials listings. If you filter your search for Coding + Half-life 2 you should find some helpful documentation (there are some video tutorials, too. Such as how to go about making a singleplayer mod).