Level Converter Software

3/31/2012

I don't particularly care for brush editing in the UDK. It's slow and cumbersome to drag around and re-size a builder brush. Want swim-able water? You have to not only make the level geometry, but also water volumes, and post-process volumes for the underwater effects.

In the old days things were so much simpler. Just extrude and cleave your geometry, assign sector flags and you are done.

Then I found out the editor can import text based level files. I set out to write a level converter, which would allow me to make level geometry in an older, easier to use level editor. Here is the result!

It works perfectly! The converter does a few things:

Imports all of the level geometry
Scales the geometry to equivalent UDK units.
Creates water volumes from water sectors.
Creates post process volumes for underwater effects, and sector tint effects.

11 Comments

GdesJk link

4/6/2012 01:07:15 am

Great project
I found the news in Jkhub, hope u can convert textures with the geometry

Don

4/8/2012 12:57:40 am

It turns out, it would be incredibly hard to convert texture coordinates, as UDK uses world coordinates, and not surface UV coordinates.

However, I have added another feature, and that is automatic import of editor lights. So you can even light the level in ZED as you see fit, and it will transfer over!

GdesJk link

4/8/2012 09:52:23 am

Bringing the lights will be a great help
I recreate the 1st level of jkdf2, it took me 18 months with materials, an a basic ilumination, effects sounds and music.
With your project i will risk building the 2nd level

Don

4/8/2012 12:29:15 pm

You spent 18 months recreating the first level of JK!? Wow. Are you attempting to make JK in UDK?

Unfortunately, if your aim is to convert the original game maps, there will be no lights information to convert - that info is only produced by placing lights in ZED for editing and not actually used in JK. (it only reads the vertex light data.)

You still get all the geometry which would save you tons of work, though.

The converter itself is pretty much finished. If you want it, I'll finish up some minor program details and release it here.

GdesJk link

4/8/2012 04:05:45 pm

It was the learning curve, slow at first, i begin with the ut04 editor, very basic lerning levels, but then udk came, put all the time in it. That was all the way of the samurai trying hard, now i want to learn programing oriented for udk, c java uscript and actionscript. My intesion is 1st to learn, Jk is a game i really love, and that helps a lot. Is going to be a journey this year.

GdesJk link

4/11/2012 03:38:44 am

How much time did u spend by making project so far ?

Don

4/11/2012 04:13:25 am

I've worked on the converter for about 4 days during my free time, if that's what you meant?

GdesJk link

4/11/2012 05:47:43 am

Yes; tell me what did u study ?

Don

4/11/2012 07:13:11 pm

I went to school for 3d art and animation.

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Level Converter Software

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