Locating the map editor

Max Payne originally came with a level editor on it's disk that is missing in this release of a game. Here's a way to get it

Introduction

Max Payne used to have a very large modding community that unfortunately went the way of the dinosaur when Levels4You, one of the largest sites devoted to it went down.

Unfortunately this means a lot of the documentation related to modding the game disappeared as well.

However it is still possible to make your own custom levels in Max Payne. Albiet it's not as easy as it was in 2002. The map editor was only available on the Max Payne 1 CD rom and no where else.

I'm going to include a link to an archive for it. However you'll have to do your own digging to find tutorials on how to mod the game. Either on Rockstar's site or in the official documentation made available for it.

Download

Here's a link to the archive for the level editor. I'll also include a few downloads that were available for download. Like sample levels, a tool to extract textures etc.

https://www.moddb.com/games/max-payne/downloads/max-fx-tools

Note the link might break, just ask me to reupload

Installing the editor

Once you download the file, install it to any folder you wish.

It's very important to read the readme available for Max Payne 1's level editor. You can find it in the root folder. Otherwise you won't understand how to decompress the files.

Bare in mind Max Payne is a very hard game to make levels for. Much harder in comparison to other old games like Quake or Half Life. This is a bit of a warning since much of it requires a knowledge of scripting.

You'll have to hunt down tutorials on your own. Remedy's site used to have tutorials but these seem to redirect to the official site right now.

If people want to help out with hunting down tutorials for modding Max Payne you're free to do so. I'll add them to the list of downloads.

[Bluebeak]

I don't think it's possible to port any levels to MP1. Since it's not possible to import geometry into MP1's engine since Remedy never wrote a plugin for something like 3dsmax. Everything in Mp1 was made by hand. Someone would either have to write an export plugin or remake a level by hand.

MP2 does have a level import plugin for 3dsmax only. I've used it before here https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1192081374
It's very limited though but it would theoretically be possible to import a level from HL1 into the game using it. It would just take a really long time to do.

[Doctor William Von Tacos]

alright so who's gonna port half life 1's levels over?

[Wingnut]

But, there are some links from the old community sites that work in wayback.

https://web.archive.org/web/20060407221931/http://www.rockstargames.com:80/maxpayne/tutorials/index.html
^ should work for all of the linked fanbase crap.

https://web.archive.org/web/20070828010324/http://maxpayne.3dactionplanet.gamespy.com:80/maxedit/list_tutorial.asp
^ Handy for learning other neato cutscene crap.

https://web.archive.org/web/20070212093027/http://maxpayne.levels4you.com:80/forum.l4y?do=showforum&forum=46
^ The fossilized remains of the forums has a few left over articles that should help out...just don't expect support.

[Wingnut]

Bah shit, nevermind...you were looking for links to place in the files, not for the page...my bad.

[Bluebeak]

@spongefin
It is not possible to view developer made levels because all levels in Max Payne 1 and 2's engines are compiled similar to Quake. Unless someone makes a decompilation utility it is impossible.

However Remedy did release the source files to the first two levels. Those being the two Roscoe Street Station levels. Those can be found on Rockstar's Max Payne tutorial site.

[Spoonge]

Is there any way to get the official levels to the editor to look at them?