Making GM_EXCESS_CONSTRUCT Night-Like - Developers

I don't know if this is the right place to ask for help on mapping. This isn't a release or a request. I'm still working on my machinima and I need my Excess Construct Map to be night-like. I used the program Entspy to edit some of the properties and change the skybox to night/sky_day01_09, but the surfaces are the same as daylight like the original. [IMG]http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd14/thehunter08/ANIFILM%20PROJECTS/Help.png[/IMG] Hammer Editor, to my ability, I was only able to edit they skybox and when I tried converting it to a .bsp file, it would either crash or freeze. Is there a trick using Entspy to make the surface colors and brightness be night-like or is there a different way of doing that? I would like to use a program other than Garry's Mod to test/view the maps to make sure everything is proper. Any help is appreciative. Thanks.

Entspy usually is for entities, such as world spawn. I don't believe you have access to lightmaps. If you want it to look dark, recompile it with darker lighting settings.

[QUOTE=Firegod522;33789732]Entspy usually is for entities, such as world spawn. I don't believe you have access to lightmaps. If you want it to look dark, recompile it with darker lighting settings.[/QUOTE] That's another problem that I mentioned with Hammer Editor. Trying to convert it back to a .bsp film freezes every time I attempt. And another thing, I don't know how to access the lightmaps in Entspy.

Decompiling maps leaves a negative impression on you, try asking the original creator to recompile it quick on night settings. If they can't/won't, try making your own night construct map. It probably won't be nearly as good, but it's experience.

[QUOTE=Pyth;33789777]Decompiling maps leaves a negative impression on you, try asking the original creator to recompile it quick on night settings. If they can't/won't, try making your own night construct map. It probably won't be nearly as good, but it's experience.[/QUOTE] A few people on the thread is asking for a night version. I even asked on the Garry's Mod Related Files site if there was one already. In terms of experience, I suck at making maps. Like I stated, the compiling process keeps freezing.

[QUOTE=Kaveren;33789872]A few people on the thread is asking for a night version. I even asked on the Garry's Mod Related Files site if there was one already. In terms of experience, I suck at making maps. Like I stated, the compiling process keeps freezing.[/QUOTE] Im on a brand new rig and even my hammer freezes during compile. How long have you waited for it to respond? Mine will freeze for about 1-2 mins but no more usually.

[QUOTE=Kaveren;33789872]A few people on the thread is asking for a night version. I even asked on the Garry's Mod Related Files site if there was one already. In terms of experience, I suck at making maps. Like I stated, the compiling process keeps freezing.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Silentwisher;33791318]Im on a brand new rig and even my hammer freezes during compile. How long have you waited for it to respond? Mine will freeze for about 1-2 mins but no more usually.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE=Firegod522;33775544] The "issue with windows" is that when a program isn't sending any commands to windows, it assumes that it crashed, but what it is actually doing with valve's tools is that it is working too much to be able to send data to windows to tell it "hey I'm still working." in which case, it is indeed not responding, because it is working too much to respond.[/QUOTE]

Hammer likes to go into a "Leave me the fuck alone" state when compiling, so just let it be and it will finish.

[QUOTE=Silentwisher;33791318]Im on a brand new rig and even my hammer freezes during compile. How long have you waited for it to respond? Mine will freeze for about 1-2 mins but no more usually.[/QUOTE] I would wait 12 hours and it still doesn't move. The size of the map itself is 50,000 KB and it's stuck to 7,000+ KB

Where's :uugh: when you need it? Maps take time to compile. A lot of time. Just give it at least an hour.

use valve batch compiler [editline]19th December 2011[/editline] [url]http://qsextreme.com/vbct/[/url]

Decompiling maps causes brushwork to be mandled. You will want to fix that before you recompile.

However in entspy you can see light_environment entities in the map, and also the map (if made well) will have an env_tonemap_controller, which controls the exposure, reducing the min and max values can darken a scene effectively (however light entities and the flash light will look darker). I don't know how much effect changing the light_environment entities will have on an already compiled map, but it's worth a play.

Hey, I originally made the map. Getting even the original .vmf to compile was always a bit tricky since the map is a bit shoddily put together and pushes a lot of limits. If you want to give me some new settings for the light_environment/skybox/whatever else, I can try to recompile it for you. However, a proper night version would take a bit more time and I couldn't do that right now. [QUOTE=simonjb;33795508]I don't know how much effect changing the light_environment entities will have on an already compiled map, but it's worth a play.[/QUOTE] It won't do anything. As far as I know, all light from the light_environment is calculated and applied during compilation.

[QUOTE=223344;33797289]It won't do anything. As far as I know, all light from the light_environment is calculated and applied during compilation.[/QUOTE] I guessed as much, but the tonemap controller could still be a quick fix if you don't mind all of the lights being dimmed. It has a similar effect to using the colour mod to change brightness.

[QUOTE=223344;33797289]If you want to give me some new settings for the light_environment/skybox/whatever else, I can try to recompile it for you.[/QUOTE] I understand that it would take time; it's a large map I know. I can change the "skybox" easily with Entspy, but in terms of bightness or light_environment, I would refer to the Sky List from the Valve Developer Community under source materials in sky_day01_09 or under half-life source in night. Whichever works, but I want to be able to see my characters faces still. It's up to you.

Here you go: [url]http://www.mediafire.com/?l81ahv5siu6zbis[/url] [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/rN0wJ.jpg[/IMG] The water looks flourescent and out of place, but you can change the fog color on the material to anything you want to fix it.

:rock:I thank you! I can say that the water can serve as moonlight shining on the water. I'll credit you greatly for this in my machinima!:rock:

AAAWWWWW YYYEEEEAAAAHHH!!!!