FAQ - About - Mapping info

[Hourences]

What is this?
The Ball is a first person singleplayer puzzle mod with an Aztec theme to it. The mod takes place in a mysterious Aztec temple, at the top of a volcano. The player has to use the Impact Gun to move a large steel ball around and utilise that ball to solve puzzles and get around obstacles. Impact Gun aside, the mod uses all new custom art to establish a unique, stylish, and atmospheric experience.


Where can I get this? - Only 102 MB
http://www.moddb.com/mods/the-ball/downloads/the-ball-part-2-oztoc
http://files.filefront.com/TheBall+Oztoczip/;12038345;/fileinfo.html
http://rapidshare.com/files/153061528/TheBall_Oztoc.zip.html


How do I install this?
Unzip the zip into the My Games folder in My Documents and simply start the game. If you wish to do it manually, extract all files into C:\Documents and Settings\YOURNAME\My Documents\My Games\Unreal Tournament 3\UTGame\Published\CookedPC\TheBall except the file "UTTheBall.ini" which should go into My Games\Unreal Tournament 3\UTGame\Config.


How do I start this?
Run the game and go to Instant Action. The mod should show up as a new gametype now. Select that gametype, and then select the level you would like to play (It is best to start with Pehua). In the next screen, be sure to turn off any mutators you might have enabled The number of bots you add, or the time limit you set will not impact the game at all, the game automatically overrides whatever you enter.


Who was involved in this mod?
Our Core Development Team:
Hourences - Environment Art, Game and Level Design, Art Direction
Rendermonkey - Level scripting
MrE - Character modeling (the king)
Tores - Character modeling (the ball and monkey)
SolidSnake - Programming
Setheran - Level design, Environment Art, Level Scripting

Additional Help by:
David Green - programming
Utz - Animation
Zynthetic - Voice Acting
Manti - King skin touch up


How do I contact you guys?
Either you post something on this forum, or you email me - me@Hourences.com

[Hourences]

Mapping information

Mapping for The Ball, and any singleplay game for that matter, is very scripting intensive. There is a great deal of Kismet going on in The Ball, and it is essential to have at least basic understanding of Level Scripting in UE3 if you want to attempt creating a level for The Ball. Rendermonkey will try to create Kismet tutorials next week.


Things you need to do and be aware of:

Loading Files
Make sure that the editor is able to locate all files it needs. If the My Document setup gives you trouble, simply move all UPK files into UnrealTournament 3\UTGame\CookedPC\ and then any folder. I personally just use Environments for everything. Next have it load the U file by default. Look for the file UTEditor.ini, either in your game dir, or in My Documents, and locate [ModPackages]. Add this: ModPackages=TheBall.
You should now be able to open up the levels we made.

Right PP Settings
The Ball is quite Post Process dependent. The textures are actually quite yellow. Without some good Post Process colors you would not be able to make it look like our levels, even if you use the exact same lighting values. The easiest way to getting these PP settings is to download this very basic level - see attached files - and use it as a base to create your level in.

Kismet Scripts
Every Level in The Ball uses a number of Kismet scripts for some standard features. Your level must have these. The easiest way of getting these is by downloading that the same level as mentioned above, and using it as a base to work from.

The Right Ball Setup
You need to attach a second mesh to the Ball actor if you want its collision to behave properly. Just placing the actor will not work. Similarly, get the level mentioned above, and use the ball setup found in that demo level.

In Editor Playtest
You cant play test the level in the editor if it uses the TB prefix. Rename your level to DM while testing it in the editor, and rename it again later.
Also the in editor play plays different from ingame. A number of things either dont work like the hud, or are a bit bugged, like you get pushed back every time you hit the ball. Minor issues though.

Multiple Balls
When placing multiply Balls for testing purposes, only one can be attracted - this is normal.

Monkeys
Pathnode areas that need to have monkeys extensively - place way more pathnodes than normally - even if that makes the editor complain about unneccy pathnodes.

Water
We add a standard physics volume near the water area, because the ball doesn't seem to update its physics properly without that second volume. We use a non standard water volume, please have a look at the settings of the water in the example level.

TBPostProcessVolume
This is a new PP volume that is dynamic. It can be attached to things, for example to a water plane.