We've just published a new patch for the Spark SDK. The Spark SDK is the package which includes the level editor and other tools for Natural Selection 2, which we've made available to everyone who pre-orders the game.
This patch is the last one of the year...and it's a big one! We've tried to incorporate the biggest feature requests and compatibility issues we've seen posted on the forums. Highlights include selection filtering, edge extrusion, Hammer-style material cloning and a fix for the "yellow shadows" bug on older GeForce cards.
Here's the complete change list:
- Added edge extrusion to the Extrude tool
- Added flip/mirror functionality to the Edit menu
- Added double-click functionality to select all elements connected to a face
- Added shift-drag duplication to the Move tool
- Added element selection filtering
- Added proper selection toggle using rectangle selection
- Added a list of bones in the the Viewer with the ability to highlight individual bones
- Added material cloning for selected faces (alt + left-click in Paint mode)
- Added support in COLLADA files for multiple nodes with the same name
- Added tech point model
- Changed asset filter to allow multiple keywords, as well as inclusion(+)/exclusion(-)
- Changed the Viewer to allow closer zooming on models
- Changed editor panning speed for improved middle-mouse dragging
- Unified auto-updating between all of the tools (updating one updates them all)
- Fixed bug where shadows would appear yellow on GeForce 5, 6 and 7 series cards
- Fixed lighting and shadowing artifacts caused by moving the camera
- Fixed bug where the movement/rotation gizmo wouldn't work at certain angles aligned with the camera
- Fixed bug where deleting a game from the Launch Pad would not deselect it from the other tools
- Fixed bug where the length of blended or layered sequences that contained 0 length animations would be computed incorrectly
If you've already installed the Spark SDK, it will automatically detect the update and give you the option to install when the editor is launched. If you haven't installed it, use the link below to download the installer.
Note that in order to run the editor you will need your pre-order key.
Download ns2_setup.exe (360.3M)
If you haven't pre-ordered it and would like to, you can still do so here. 10 out of 10 Natural Selection 2 developers recommend it!
Happy Holidays! This week most of us are out of town or on vacation, so instead of an update to the Spark SDK, we're releasing a new section of our website, called Developer Resources. This area will contain libraries, tools and other resources we've developed that we think would be handy for other game and software developers.
The first resource we're releasing is our Updater library. This is the library we use in all of our products that automatically checks for software updates and installs them. This is the library that we use in Decoda and in the Spark SDK.
We've got a few more things we've been planning on releasing, so keep an eye on the Developer Resources!
We've just published a new patch for the Spark SDK. The Spark SDK is the package which includes the level editor and other tools for Natural Selection 2, which we've made available to everyone who pre-orders the game.
This week we've rounded out the "modding" tools including the Launch Pad application, the Builder and our model viewer. Here's the complete change list:
- Added the Launch Pad application to the SDK
- Added the Viewer application to the SDK
- Added error messages when the Builder is not properly configured
- Added texture texture compression tools to the SDK
- Added floodlight model (refinery_floodlight_01)
- Added barrel models (refinery_barrel_01-04)
- Added "mineshield" model (refinery_mineshield_01)
- Added pillarmods models (refinery_pillarmods_01-04)
To show you how to use the new Launch Pad application, we asked Breadman to make another tutorial video. Here's the first installment that shows how to use the tools to create new material files.
If you've already installed the Spark SDK, it will automatically detect the update and give you the option to install when the editor is launched. If you haven't installed it, you can download the installer from here. Note that in order to run the editor you will need your pre-order key.
If you haven't pre-ordered it and would like to, you can still do so here!
A small holiday treat for you! This was a timing test taken in our Cinematic Editor - the same tool we used to create the teaser. While no actual Gorges were actually harmed in the creation of this sadistic video, young viewers have been warned.
Three weeks ago we released the Spark Level Editor to everyone who pre-ordered Natural Selection 2. Our community has produced a lot of great stuff so far and we'd like to showcase some of our favorites.
These areas were created by forum members Braw, BreadMan, LordHorusNL, Mido, and shakewell.
If you haven't pre-ordered Natural Selection 2 and would like to get access to the editor and other tools we're releasing, you can still do so here!
If you want to see more great community work, check out our Facebook group or the forum thread.
We've just published a new patch for the Spark SDK. The Spark SDK is the package which includes the level editor and other tools for Natural Selection 2, which we've made available to everyone who pre-orders the game.
This patch includes a few bug fixes, new artwork and the content pipeline tools for getting models and textures ready to be used in the engine. We're still working on some documentation on how to use the content pipeline tools and we hope to have that for you really soon. Here's the complete list of changes in this patch:
- Added the Builder application to the SDK
- Added model and texture compilation tools to the SDK
- Added a field for specifying your email address in the crash reporter dialog
- Added new refinery pipe mods
- Added new refinery wall mods
- Added new refinery tram machine
- Added new refinery tram pads
- Added new mining track
- Fixed grid snapping when using adaptive grids
- Fixed flickering artifacts caused by rendering overlapping lines
- Fixed bug where creating a face with the Rectangle tool adjacent to another face would not always fill in the new face
- Fixed bug where creating a rectangle inside of a hole in another face would sometimes create incorrect geometry
- Fixed occasional crash when undoing a create rectangle operation
If you've already installed the Spark SDK, it will automatically detect the update and give you the option to install when the editor is launched. If you haven't installed it, you can download the installer from here. Note that in order to run the editor you will need your pre-order key.
If you haven't pre-ordered it and would like to, you can still do so here!
We've just published a new patch for the Spark SDK. The Spark SDK is the package which includes the level editor for Natural Selection 2, which we've made available to everyone who pre-orders the game.
This patch includes fixes for some of the most common crash problems, new features and some new artwork. Here's the complete list of changes:
- Added shadows for point lights
- Added a flag to choose whether a point or spot light casts shadows
- Added "paint" selection mode (activated by holding down shift in the Select tool)
- Added Duplicate Selection to Edit menu
- Added mouse wheel scrolling in the asset browsers
- Added the graphics adapter name and driver version to the log file
- Added additional information to the log file when a creating a Direct3D texture fails
- Added current color and selection indicators for lights
- Added new ceiling material (refinery_ceiling_04)
- Added new floor tubes models (refinery_floor_tubes)
- Added new pipe models (refinery_pipe_03_straight, refinery_pipemods)
- Added new pipe models (refinery_pipe_03_straight, refinery_pipemods)
- Added broken vent model (refinery_vent_broken_01)
- Added broken vent model (refinery_vent_broken_01)
- Added wall meshes with vent holes in them
- Changed light selection to be based on its visual representation rather than lighting distance
- Fixed crash when attempting to setup shadows for spot lights when a shadow map texture was not available
- Fixed crash bug when the accumulation buffers necessary for rendering could not be allocated
- Fixed selection bug in move tool for entities
- Fixed broken ceiling material (refinery_ceiling_03)
- Fixed broken ceiling material (refinery_ceiling_03)
- Fixed broken materials on a number of models
If you've already installed the Spark SDK, it will automatically detect the update and give you the option to install when the editor is launched. If you haven't installed it, you can download the installer from here. Note that in order to run the editor you will need your pre-order key.
If you haven't pre-ordered it and would like to, you can still do so here!