Oke, I have a question about the hint brush.

What does it really do? in tutorials it has something to do with bullet travel etc.. but is it? is it for better performance?

because I find it strange that I have to place these blocks in my map.

Usually the hint brush is a means of controlling where the VIS is split.

The level basically goes through 3 levels of compiling.

1. BSP: Creates the basic structure of the map for game use.
   
2. VIS: Divides the map up into nodes (blocks) that tell the final game what the player can and cannot see. This is the automatic optimization process.
   
3. RAD: lighting.
   

The VIS process tries to divide your map up logically into nodes. Think of nodes as block-like areas within the map. If one node in a map can physically see another node, then it is assumed the player can see everything in that node too. I have a picture somewhere...



OK. So the map tries to divide up the map logically. Usually at all intersections of brushes like where a wall meets the ground. As well as dividing up at all 1024x1024 square units (units within the editor).

Placing a hint brush will divide up the brushes as if that hint brush were a solid wall. The player can't see it, but the game can. This method allows you to better control the creation of nodes and thereby optimize your map better than the automatic system of the compile process.

Edit:
As far as bullet travel, idk. Perhaps the hint brushes assist in other areas of optimization for the CoD engine. What I described above is the general purpose of the hint brush starting back before CoD was around. hehe.

edited on Mar. 11, 2009 07:54 am by foyleman

oke. if I understand corectly it's the engine its own portal meganism. (in someway.). and by creating hint brushes it wil optimize the node creation of my map. (if it still works this way in cod4..)

ah well. I'l put it in my map and see if it will increase the performance in some way?!.

thanks foyleman.

view your map before and after using the console command to show your nodes, triangles, whatever helps you most.
Then you can SEE the difference it makes.

And be careful calling it a portal. While portals appear roughly the same, they perform a different function.