Please can somebody help me ?

I am having a nightmare of a time trying to get SOF2 to recognise any pk3 file that I create.

I am new to mapping so I will explain what I have learnt and what my problem is in as much detail as I can here.

I have managed to create a simple map containing only one small room with lighting and a player spawn point using gtkradiant.

I managed to compile the map into bsp format and test it by using the SOF2 console "devmap mapname"
I was able to get the map to load as it should and was happy that the visuals were correct.

Trouble starts here : I want to eventually develope maps to use on an online server in SOF2 MP gold edition.

I have tried to create a pk3 file to test my first map before developing any larger maps.

I create a pk3 file map_test using winzip by changing the file name to .pk3.
I have even tried packscape incase the problem was with using winzip.
The created pk3 file consists of a folder with the sub folders, maps, gfx, shaders,scripts and textures.

The .bsp file of map_test is placed in the map folder.
I create a .arena file with notepad named map_test.arena
The arena file is placed in scripts.
All other folders are at this stage empty, but for gfx which contains two folders ( "levelshots", within the folder "menus")
these sub folders are also empty at this testing stage.

The arena file script I am using is :

{
map "map_test"
longname "map_test"
type "dm tdm"
}

Once the pk3 is created I put it into the SOF2 game/base folder.
I have even tried SOF2 game/base/maps

If I try to create an online server the name "map_test" does not appear in the list of available maps.
Also the map cannot be accessed using devmap map_test any longer - reason bsp not found ( it is within the pk3 though)

I can place maps that other people have created, using an apparently identically structured pk3 file, into the SOF2/game/base folder and they do work.

There is possibly a problem within 3 areas I am thinking:

1 arena file?
2 pk3 structure??
3 pk3 filesize too small to be recognised? (5kb)

the file size is small as it is only one small room remember , just to test.

I have searched the forums long and hard for the answer to this , yet I cannot find the answer.
It appears to be a very common problem - so if anyone has the answer, please post it here to help me out and many others with the same problem.

Thanks , Carl

Ok I fixed this - I read a post in the forum

The problem myself and so many others have had is in structuring the PK3 correctly.

The common mistake is to create a folder named "maptest"
Put all the sub folders in it and then zip up "maptest" converting it to pk3.

The correct way to do it is as follows:

download packscape.exe
open the programme
drag all your sub folders into it
then save the lot as a pk3

If you simply zip a folder containing these sub folders the game can not recognise it.

The sub folders need to be merged into one file is the best way I can explain.

Talking to myself

Hope this helps somebody else , I just spent the best part of 2 days trying to fix it !!!

Thanks fr posting the answer. It will hopefully help others in the future.

My pleasure Foyleman, without your video tutorials on room 101 , 102 I would not even have known how to use radiant.

I now hopefully have the information I need to begin developing larger maps, no doubt I will come across more hurdles as I go along , but it's all a learning process.

If anyone has any difficulties and does not understand the fix for the problem I had please message me and I will set you on the right path.

:2guns: Lets get mapping !!!!
I've raised my ambitions from simple map creation in SOF2 to getting a map complete with Army Style Jeeps with RPG's across a huge desert terrain for 30+ players - see you in a few months

jo dude loook just put where u want in ur pc 2 files not inside the other every 1 allown . make 1 with maps name and 1 with scripts name put ur full BSP file in the maps folder and ur arena file in ur scripts folder then select the 2 folders(maps.scripts). and add them into pk3 file . then put ur map pk3 into ur sof2/base folder if u want more info write for me an e mail chamchom11@msn.com

old post...

I may have caught something reguardless...

1 reason your mapname might not show up in the list of internet servers is that your server must be "dedicated" or it will get filtered out automatically... However, you can still have ppl join it by IP address... and ofcourse a LAN...