In-Game Editor

[Shylok Vakarian]

I'd love to have an in-game editor, one that's more user-friendly than the UDK. It'd probably be pretty basic, but at least would have some functionality for those of us that just can't understand/choose not to learn/can't run the UDK. It's all I ask. I know it'd be difficult, maybe even impossible, but it'd really be nice.

[cannonf0dder]

Is it even possilbe? I can't think off the top of my head, any game udk game that has an in-game editor. It's probably a mix of needing to do your own visual scripting inside and writing the publishing script outside of the editor..I don't know tbh. If you can build the basic map and setup the furnace in kismet, then putting all the junk and blood around is done on the fly as you play in the editors "play in editor" mode.
If you can get udk running, give it a try, it's actually very simple once you get going, just a case of taking the games assets and placing around them like a jigsaw to make your map shape.
BlackEagle(game dev) wrote a good guide here
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=323918819
Don't be intimidated, once you've done the "back to the basics" bit, you can make a pretty basic level no problem.

[Shylok Vakarian]

Sadly, can't get the playtest function in the editor working, so pretty much impossible for me to create a level. Which is sad, because I actually have ideas.

[cannonf0dder]

Hmm, if you load up the map you're making, hit the PIE button, then post a crash log, we might be able to help.

should be in viscera\udkgame\logs

[Shylok Vakarian]

Originally posted by cannonf0dder:

Hmm, if you load up the map you're making, hit the PIE button, then post a crash log, we might be able to help.

should be in viscera\udkgame\logs

I don't see a PIE button.

[cannonf0dder]

That's the green play button in the top right. You can use F8 as a hotkey.
Has to be on you're map though. The template day/night etc can be a bit off, some people use them fine, but I find they crash on me, unless I start from a blank map

[Shylok Vakarian]

Ugh, damn virtual memory. How much space does it need for a friggin' empty level?

[A JANITOR]

you should post a log file?

@fodder the template maps crash on me too=delete the cube delete the sky delete the fog actor and delete the solid white floor
setup the mymapinfo in the world properties save template map to use as your map
then editor wont crash after exit template map and load new map
circle of doom was a good template map other than the blank one which never crashes:)

memory
my pc is a potato without a video card=vcd run at 60fps in every level

Inside The log file you see txt like this in it=
My PC info in log file=

[0000.27] Init: CPU Page size=4096, Processors=4
[0000.27] Init: High frequency timer resolution =3.215358 MHz
[0000.27] Init: Memory total: Physical=7.9GB (7GB approx) Pagefile=9.1GB Virtual=13107
[0000.40] Log: Found D3D11 adapter 0: Intel(R) HD Graphics
[0000.40] Log: Adapter has 32MB of dedicated video memory, 0MB of dedicated system memory, and 1760MB of shared system memory
[0000.41] Log: Found D3D11 adapter 1: Microsoft Basic Render Driver
[0000.41] Log: Adapter has 0MB of dedicated video memory, 0MB of dedicated system memory, and 256MB of shared system memory
[0000.54] Log: Shader platform (RHI): PC-D3D-SM3
[0000.62] Log: PhysX GPU Support: ENABLED
[0000.67] Init: Initializing FaceFX...
[0000.67] Init: FaceFX 1.7.4 initialized.
[0002.41] Init: Finished loading startup packages in 1.48 seconds

How to increase virtual memory
Google it but don't set page file higher than the system says is the highest it let you set the page file
Exit all the crap on one's taskbar except for antivirus sound and ones video card app
Exit iTunes=the biggest memory hog of em all
Maybe set desktop to use windows classic. Instead of Areo mode
The page file=if PC has 8gb ram
4gb is probably ok but don't set it higher than system says is the highest it can be set at

my pc
300watt psu
intel i5 cpu
8gb ram
300gb hdd with 19gb or less space left on it
32MB internal intel video=bios override set to 1000MB=max power=danger meltdown imminent=seems to run vcd all day no problems:)
windows 8.1 pro
warning=
Override the bios video settings at your own risk!!!

runs vcd like a hot knife through butter
my pc runs both the 32 and 64 bit VCD game and editors just fine

making maps is fun=like fodder said its easy once ya try it:)

me at the time this game got a level editor in dec 2014=ummm whats udk n how the hell do i use it??
scratches head n looks at other game editors=ummm dunno how that works=
I winged it and gave it a try
a few years later=now i have over 20 levels i made=loads of fun:)

how to get more memory and more fps
start the game
go in options
disable the following=
antialising
ambient occlusion
set shadows to low
change screen size to 800 x 600 (its what im using as i get crashes if i up the res)
disable autosave
enable physx gpu support in udkengine.ini file
change benablephysx support change it from false to true

open editor it run at 800x600 res=heaps faster than high res=less chance of pie button crashes:)
can also use play from here option if the pie button kills the editor (theres a pie button crash bug in the 32 bit editor)
no pie bug in 64 bit editor:)

low res is abit blurry but when others sub to ya maps they can use any res and it look great in 4k when others do a lets play map on youtube of ones map/s

you don't need a beast of a pc to make maps for VCD:)
my pc is not overclocked=overclocking is dangerous to pc hardware

Don't be affraid to try=BlackEagle's level creation guide is a crash course in UDK
YouTube also has loads of udk basics videos:)
You get stuck post something on the community content forum =one of us will probably post the answer:)
That way more players can make more levels:)

Enex also posted a very good thread with vcd editor training videos and loads of stuff to help get new map creators started on the path of level creation:)

Post your log file after the editor crash on you
It's the 1st log at the top in the games logs folder
Open the log file with notepad and copy then paste the text in that file in a post below:)

Few editor tips=
Do not press the red button that's next to the green pie button in the editor or it break the editor!!!
Avoid the emulate mobile features button=don't press the red button!
Press don't save if editor asks to save a map that is not your map file=more time making maps instead of fixing an accidentally broken game
Do not use a space in your map file name

[Shylok Vakarian]

It's fine, I read the log file, and apparently I'm running out of virtual memory. I don't understand how two gigs isn't enough space, but whatever.

[A JANITOR]

2gb video memory is more than I have
Post your log file as us map makers or even the Devs might be able to tell you why it's crashing on you??
There could also be a simple fix for it
Only the log file can help if ya can't load and play any map in the level editor?
Basically if the game works fine so should the level editor???
If you can play hydroponic hell you can load any map in the editor and play it

My PC is below min requirements to run the game
I get virtual memory crashes too if I set the screen size too high in the ingame options
My PC also has no video card=the cause of the virtual memory crashes:)
Yet the game and the level editor I got working fine without any crashes
I set the game to dinosaur mode to work on my potato 🙂

It's nice to see others interested in making Thier own vcd map/s☺️

[cannonf0dder]

The virtual memory error, strangely, normaly isn't about file space.

First off, try creating a blank map, add one floor tile, then try playing the map.

Secondly, head to viscera\binaries then in both the 32 and 64 folders change the properies on the udk.exe to run in compatibilityy for W7 or 8. Then try playing the map via editor again.

Thirdly, Corrupted packages can cause it to crash. Did you happen to save any of the vcd files by mistake? the "mark as dirty" error recently popped up and you shouldn't hit save, only hit cancel, or just by saving all instead of just save. That could mean you'd need to either a) delete the vcd packages and use steams verify to replace them, or b) uninstall\manully delete the game and re-install.

Deleteing the vcd files, they are found in viscera\udkgame\content. Delete the loose ".upk" files
then just nuke the "santa,shadow,shared,viscera" folders, then use steams verify.

Edit: one last one, some times custom assets can cause crash too if not done right, have you imported a mesh or texture, an animation sequence, anything? if yeah, delete them and see if it helps.

[A JANITOR]

Yeah try that too it's easy to break something if not careful but it's also easy to fix it:)

If use the morning afternoon or night template maps
They will crash on you

To fix that do what fodder said
Place a floor tile static mesh on the white slab of floor under the spawn point (player start actor)
Delete the white floor slab
Delete the dinosaur head(fog actor)
Shrink or delete the sky dome it's too big
Move the red cube outline (builder brush) off the white cube in the middle
Find brush wireframe mode
Delete the yellow/blue wire cube that is the same size as the white cube
Find the unlit or lit button press one of them to get out of brush wireframe mode so ya can see the map
You still see the white cube you deleted the brush from
Go to build
Build all press that one
It will delete the white cube=build geometry
It will build the paths and lighting

If swarm fails to build the lighting
Go in the swarm window settings
Change the D drive letter to the HDD drive letter that the game is installed on
Usually it's a C
It's the swarm cache directory:)
Exit the swarm agent
Press build all again then it won't fail to build the lighting

Next go to view tab
Open world properties
Find mymap info tab it says none next to it
Press little blue arrow next to none
Select vcgame
Now you can open the mymap info for the level
Find punch out handler it says none
Set it to general
Find the Save setup tab it says none
Click little blue arrow next to that and select the top option vcsavegamesetup
Go to file in top left corner
Select save as
Save the map in udkgame/content/mods/mymod folder/name of udk file
Name the udk file to your map name
Don't put a space in the file name
Eg
My mod.udk=bad will crash or go haywire
Mymod.udk= good
My_mod.udk= good
After saving the map
Exit editor
Load editor and load the map file you just made
Welcome to your new level template that won't crash when ya try n load it:)

Sorry for long book but that's exactly how to stop the template maps from crashing

It was easier to use circle of Doom as a template map as it already have a bin and bucket machine in it:)

Once you have a template map that doesn't crash
Keep a copy of it=
Then won't have to do all that bs to start making a level:)

To be honest the template maps are a pain in the bum to setup so they don't crash on ya

If you Verify game cache after deleting game files ESP if ya accidentally break the game=

keep the saves folder and any files you make
That way the office stash is safe as is ones map file
Go for it an make a map out of your new map file

I think it's a good idea that you post a log file if your editor keeps crashing as it could also cause issues when playing the game not the editor?

Even if one decided not to create a new map
If others read this then they'll know how to Fix the template maps ☺️

[Shylok Vakarian]

Dear lord, this sounds like far too much effort to be able to make maps.

If either of you needs ideas for maps, I'm all for giving you my ideas.

[cannonf0dder]

Lol it's just a long winded way of saying, backup your saves and office trophy data, uninstall, manually remove any leftovers then reinstall.
As for all the stuff aj said, just boils down to "don't use the templates, just use a new blank map".
Ideas are all good too, but most of us are waiting for the workshop update, coming soon(tm)

[Shylok Vakarian]

Originally posted by cannonf0dder:

Lol it's just a long winded way of saying, backup your saves and office trophy data, uninstall, manually remove any leftovers then reinstall.
As for all the stuff aj said, just boils down to "don't use the templates, just use a new blank map".
Ideas are all good too, but most of us are waiting for the workshop update, coming soon(tm)

I literally open up the program and try to play the level it gives me, just a cube.

[A JANITOR]

What kind of ideas ya got?
I have one=make a decent template map then put it on workshop for the noobs to mess around with it:)
It be easier for new creator's to start making a level ESP if that level not crash on ya:)
Such a map template =
That has all the dispensers and an incinerator in it:)
I know that stuff sounds like it's heaps to do to a template map but it actually takes only a few minutes to do all that to get any of the morning afternoon and night template maps
Prepared for use as ones new map:)

Yeah blank map is ok too but then ya have to mess with the kill z values
At least the other ones have an example of=
Player start actor
Kill z already set
A sky
A fog actor
A dominant light=the sun
A bsp cube brush
An evil floor mesh
A lightmass importance volume (an important actor in ones level)

Messing with those at least helps with the very basics of the map editor to at least help one navigate it instead of staring into the dark empty black hole that is the blank level?

Anyhow one should be able to load and play any map in the level editor to get an idea of how the game works from the inside

Some maps contain alot of different types of actors lol
As one can see it requires patience=
Giant 3d jigsaw puzzle except the pieces fit everywhere:)

End of the day is fun albeit time consuming fun
Loads of fun when ya know how

BlackEagle's level creation guide takes the sting away from the editor and helps one get Thier map working as well as looking pretty nice

It a good guide too=makes things easier:)

I used to use circle of Doom as a template map=use circle of Doom as ones new map

A year later I figured out how to stop the dam template maps from crashing:)

The editor is actually pretty easy to use

Might sound strange I open Photoshop and I get stuck everywhere in that program
Why it take forever to make a menu pic with a transparent background yeah it look good
Import it into editor=black background=drives me crazy

Paint.net pic with transparent background in less than a minute=sweet done)

Editor really easy to use once get the hang of it:)

Check out exex's videos in the community content forum:)
https://steamcommunity.com/app/246900/discussions/4/357284767239018005/
there that takes my long messy books and makes em longer but better organised:)
and heres the best novel ever written for vcd=
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=323918819
monkey see monkey do:)
trying to read the technical bs is really daunting as a new creator in udk even the epic forums is like trying to read a manual thicker than a phone book in an unreadable language
devs made a guide=turns the technical jargon into a fun experience that one can read easily and do what needs to done to make a really cool vcd map=the easy way:)

when i made my 1st vcd map there was no guides=i did it the hard way and winged it=lucky i succeeded:)
i was also the 1st vcd player to post the 1st player created map on steam workshop:)
when i opened the editor for the very 1st time in vcd=wtf is this n how the ffff does this work=give it a go n see what happens=
oh cool i made a level and i accidently merged shadow warrior and santas rampage into VCD main game 1 year before devs made the official merger as my how to use the editor= my udk practice worked =i got to keep sr and sw stuff in my office one year before everyone else could:)
now how to put my new map on steam so everyone can play it=sweet theres a guide for that part:)
editor lots of fun to use=your smarter than the level editor dont let it defeat ya:)

my next project goes way beyond any steam guide lol=its a hard one but it gonna be a pretty cool map when i finish it:)