Forum | Thinking With Portals

#1 · January 10, 2012, 2:49 am

Since DLC1 broke the addons folder in the portal2 directory, you have two choices for playing maps distributed in .vpk files. One is to extract the files from the .vpk into your game directory, which might overwrite critical files. The other is to use the .vpk file as is in the addons folder for a mod, which works just fine for me.

I understand not every player has the time to learn how to build their own mod, even though it's simple enough for me to understand and do. So, I would like to release a basic mod that people could use to play .vpk distributions simply by dropping them in the addons folder. I have a completely working one that I have been using to play all kinds of custom maps, not just .vpks. Before I upload it, I thought I should ask for others suggestions, comments, questions and advice.

Let's start with my questions:

Where should I upload it? I was thinking Other Files, since it isn't actually a map.
I plan to release it with at least one working .vpk file already in it. Would it be presumptive of me to include a map already uploaded here, even if it isn't mine?
It works for split-screen coop, too, but does anyone have experience with using .vpks for remote coop?

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#2 · January 10, 2012, 7:19 am

1. Sure, go for the other files.
2. If you do that, make sure to ask for the permission of whoever's map you're using.
3. No, but I would assume that both players need the VPKs installed properly, whether it be through the mod or through extraction.

Try out Twin Pillars, a Portal 2 map by BOB74j.

#3 · January 10, 2012, 8:36 am

1. Other Files
2. I would add a map,but ask the author first
3. I did play .vpk coopmaps via internet before dlc 1, I haven't tested a coop map via a mod though, If you want you can add me on steam and try it: Steam Username Lpfreaky90

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#4 · January 10, 2012, 12:05 pm

Wow... a huge workaround for playing a custom map with custom content, isn't it?

I would urge people to pack their custom stuff into the bsp file instead of continuing with .vpk's. It can be done by many GUIs like pakrat or packbsp, but it is not so much difficult using directly the BSPZip.exe application (located into portal2/bin folder)

Here is a very good tutorial by naitookami, at the pre-Authoring tools times (using Alien Swarm SDK for mapping):
http://forums.thinking.withportals.com/mapping-help/bspzip-for-portal-2-t2396.html

And here is another which is really similar by Damagepy:
http://forums.thinking.withportals.com/mapping-help/include-pack-things-into-a-bsp-my-way-t2761.html

Anyway, about your questions:

1. In Other files
2. Of course an already existing map altogether with a readme.txt file explaining how to include the .vpk files into an addons folder and how to run them would be good. Ask any mapper before including his map into the basic-mod, I'm sure he won't deny your petition anyway...
3. My experience using VPKs in coop mode is pre-DLC, so... just try

useful tools and stuff here on TWP :thumbup:

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#5 · January 11, 2012, 9:31 pm

I've released the mod in Other Files.
Remote CoOp is not working, I hope to learn how to fix that.
Thanks to reepblue, MrLate and lpfreaky90 for their cooperation.

http://forums.thinking.withportals.com/downloads.php?view=detail&df_id=1512

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#6 · January 13, 2012, 11:37 am

I hope Valve fixes the problem with .vpk files since it is quite an easy way to release and share "custom campaigns" which have custom textures and such.

And I am still waiting for in-game level portal

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