Releasing A Map

Izotope

Sourcerer
aa
May 13, 2013
698
764
Your compiled map(s) is in Steam\SteamApps\common\Team Fortress 2\tf\maps\ as well as in the directory your VMF file is in.

You should pack your map into a .zip file, using WinRAR or 7zip.
Then simply upload the .zip to Dropbox or other comfortable upload/download services.

Post a new thread in this forum. Add your download link and you're good.
 

Izotope

Sourcerer
aa
May 13, 2013
698
764
Also, must the teamcolor dev textures from the ABS pack be packed specially? And are the cubemaps already within the map file?

Any contents that do not come with TF2 must be packed using pakrat or packBSP or whatever the names are :p

And yes, the cubemaps are already within the map.
 

Crash

func_nerd
aa
Mar 1, 2010
3,315
5,499
No, cubemaps are not in the file already, you have to build them.

You need to do the following in your console:

If you have HDR lighting:
-load the map
-mat_specular 0
-buildcubemaps
-disconnect
-mat_hdr_level 0
-map <mapname>
-buildcubemaps
-disconnect
-mat_specular 1
-mat_hdr_level 2
-reload map and confirm reflections are working

If you don't have HDR lighting:
-load the map
-mat_specular 0
-buildcubemaps
-disconnect
-mat_specular 1
-reload map and confirm reflections are working

This will cycle through each of your cubemap entities in the map and take a quick picture from every direction. You do mat_specular 0 to turn off the current pink checkerboard reflections so they don't show up when they are in properly.

Afterwards you'll want to pack in your custom content, a common tool currently is VIDE.

If you want to go the extra step, you can compress your map into a BZ2 file using 7zip and upload that as well. This is for server owners and saves them a step for putting your map on their server. A regular ZIP of the BSP file is for players who just want to load it up and run around, or predownload it.
 
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Beetle

L9: Fashionable Member
Aug 17, 2008
627
178
I actually thought the colored dev textures were in tf2 officially now. I'm wrong, I guess?
 

FiLi

L4: Comfortable Member
Nov 14, 2009
195
102
The best way to pack your maps is in .bz2 format. This saves a lot of time when it comes to uploading to a server. The 7zip program has the ability to create that type of archive.
And, if you're not already using dropbox, I'd highly recommend you do. All you have to do with it is throw your files in a designated folder and as long as it's uploaded you have an almost permanent link. Plus, people on here generally appreciate if you do :>
 
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wareya

L420: High Member
Jun 17, 2012
493
191
Well I sent my friend who almost definitely doesn't have ABS my map that's made out of red and blue textures without packing them and they didn't see anything wrong with them. ABS might have its own red and blue dev textures though but I have no real idea.
 

Beetle

L9: Fashionable Member
Aug 17, 2008
627
178
Also, do I pack the NAV file into the .bz2 or .zip as well?

you can pack the nav file into the actual bsp. Otherwise, yes, if the nav file is important to your map, just pack it along with the bsp. Most maps (that aren't mvm) don't have navs.