In addition to the HL2 DM update, there are also other updates ready to be drooled over. For starters, the code for making HL2/Source mods is now ready and this also includes mapping, modeling and other things. Character samples and examples of a mod are included with exporters for 3D Studio Max and Maya.

Below is the full list of information, courtesy Jess Cliffe, Valve Software:

Half-Life 2/Source SDK
- Includes game code needed to create Half-Life
2/Source MODs
- New Half-Life 2 sample character model
- Ability to edit
Half-Life 2 maps
- Maya model exporter
- 3d Studio Max model exporter
source code
- Sample MOD with vehicles

Source Updates
- HTTP and
non-HTTP map auto downloading functionality
- Enhanced dedicated server
logging capabilities
- Various tweaks and fixes

UUUUH where is it? I found the link to download the sdk through Valve and it set there and did nothing as far as I can see. Valve Hammer is probably being really Hammered. Stupid way of doing something anyway. Such a great game to be ran by a bunch of idiots.

no offense, but i dont htink valve deserves to be called a bunch of idiots...

you dl the sdk through steam, btw

Then I must be the idiot then cause I can't find it to download. If it was downloaded when I connected steam and clicked on the link to download it I can't find it. I been all over thier site and can't find a download link anywhere. Publishers that are than proprietary don't rate very high in my book. That SDK should be available all over the net but no you got to go through the Steam network. :)

Hmmm. Does this mean that if I purchased the Retail Version of HL2 I can't get the SDK even though I installed the Steam software? I am still looking for the SDK download. If I don't find it soon Steam is really going to get the flaming arrow. :)

It's not you Red. It's not too obvious.

Go over to Play Games in STEAM. Then just run the same program used to load HAMMER. STEAM is supposed to download what you need for you automatically.

You might have to load up HL2 Deathmatch first in order to get all the files necesssary.

I finally found it. That sure is a screwy way of offering mappers modders the tools they need. Did a search on google and found lots of how to's but nothing on how to get to the SDK. Went into play games as you suggested and it installed. Thanks for the info. :)

I am going to tell you guys something and I hope it don't tick somebody off. Regardless this has got to be the worst scenario of someone controlling the mappers and modders I have ever seen.
First, you have to be connected to your Steam Account before even running Hammer. (this speculation is due to the fact that if you close Steam down in the Task Bar, Hammer will fail to run when executing it from your C Drive).

Second, Third, Fourth, 1 Million, there is no telling what Valve is doing on your computer i.e. sending and receiveing info to and from Valve. I do not like this at all.

2 Million, I ain't mapping for this game until some changes are made in how the SDK is loaded.

I agree Red, but we are stuck.
Also, what happens if Valve decides to no longer support the game on Steam. Do we lose access to it? There are alot of potential problems with this overly secure system. Again... we are stuck.

I just posted this at the Steam/Valve forums. More than likely I will be banned for life. If I could I would start a petition to boycott that company from ever publishing another game.

Posted at Steam's forums:
This is my first post here and will probably be my last. I have been mapping for quite some time, since the Duke Nukem days.
Never have I seen anything like this.
I purchased this game because I wanted to map for it. If you don't have a Steam account and if Steam is not connected you cannot run Hammer. This is the biggest scam in the history of mappers and modders. How can you people do this to the fan base. You ought to be banned from ever making moddable games again. I know I for one will never buy one of your releases again unless you release your SDK's without trying to control who uses it by having to install a third piece of software to be able to use the SDK. People should not have to be connected to the internet to make maps or mods for this game.
You should be boycotted until you change your way of doing business.