Quake 3: Test Mapping Tools

Files:

• QeRadient (actually any map editor will do put it's good for practice)
• Q2toQ3t Map Converter v1.07
• Q3Wumpass
• QUBE
• Q3Retex
• WinBSP
• Wally
• Wordpad (or any other text editor I prefer EditPlus. :P)

QeRadient

This is one of the most popular map editor made for Quake 2 (I prefer BSP Editor but that's just me). This should be map editor of choice for Quake3 map authors since their team has been authorised to make the official map editor for Quake 3: Arena. It's good for practice since the layout if the Quake 3 editor will not be much different from it's predecessor. In fact it is said that the editor will have support for Quake 2 maps as well. Backwards compatible, gotta love it.

Q2toQ3t Map Converter v1.07

Love it, Love it, Love it. That basically sums up in a nutshell what I think about this program. It might be the fact that it's the only one of its kind in existance but we won't go there. The most recent version of this converter can convert maps to the Q3T1.08 map format so everyone is having a ball. The only problems I've seen so far with this program is that it assumes that you have the raw Q3T without the extra weapon & item models from the IHV test. So when you convert a map it removes the Grenade Launcher and the BFG and it replaces the Chaingun with the Plasmagun & the Grenade Launcher with the Lightning gun. Kinda weird but effective. Another problem is that it only looks for textures in the pak0.pak file so if a map is using textures from another pak file or even custom textures these are not converted.

Q3Wumpass

This was a fun program to work with because it was so easy to use. Export all the entities in a map to a text file, edit them as you wish (even add in new ones), import them back into the map & presto! you got a new map. This is how I tested out the extra weapons from the IHV test. I just changed around the entities a bit adding in the grenade launcher, BFG & the Grapple. Fun, fun, fun... The only problems I have encountered so far is that it's kinda hard determining co-ordinates for entities when you want to put more of them in. I have found a way around this though, read on...

QUBE

This was such an easy to use and user freindly program (@ least in layout) it saddens me that it seems that development on this program was discontinued. When I first got this program it looked so pretty I thought for sure it was a keeper. I loaded a map in it & hey still no problems. But when I tried to bring up an entity list, Good God! I think my processor got an ulcer trying to run this program (I know I almost did). It was sooooo slow it wasn't funny. It even moves slowish on a PII 350 for crissake. BUT...the layout it brought up when it did get through scanning the map for entites was so so easy to use & I saw future support of adding new entities. Dunno if that's ever gonna happen now though.

Q3Retex

This was a nice editing utility for Q3T maps unfortunately it only works with 1.05 maps. This program could re-assign what textures a map used. For example if you wanted a converted map to use the Q3T lava texture instead of the Q2 version this utility could do it. It Basically saved people from wasting space by having to have multiple copies of the same texture. Still wished it worked with 1.08 maps. Could someone nag YoGre into making a new one?

WinBSP

Technically not a Q3T editing tool but a VERY useful tool for both Q2 & Q3A/T map authors. This program was made by Mr. Elusive of the Gladiator Bot team. It's supposed to be used for creating route files for the bots but the for some reason they also put in the ability to make "*.map" files from "*.bsp" files! I haven't the foggiest idea why & I ain't complaining. This can be used in a number of ways:

• You can uncompile Q2 maps so that if the map contains a cool structure or effect you can see how it was done or made.
• You can tweak yor map if you accidentally lost your original *.map file.
• You can steal/rip/"borrow" other Q2 map authors work. (NOT RECOMMENDED!!!)
• You can tell the exact weapon/item placement in a level.

Furthur information on how this is used can be found in my Mapping Info Section.

Wally

Again another program that is technically not a Q3A/T editor but has proved itself to be very useful. This is the only program I know of that can efficiently batch convert *.wal textures to *.tga images. It effectively is a great time saver when converting maps.

Text Editor

Any text editor can be used when editing Q3A/T entities. Any except Notepad that is. For some reason Notepad can't understand Q3A/T's line feed symbol and vice versa, so therefore it's not wise to use Notepad when editing.