Valve's Filmmaker Code Hints at Source 2

[Jormala]

Small correction: the "Source engine" refers to the one Valve used starting with Half-Life 2. Half-Life used the engine now known as "GoldSrc". The Source engine was made using the GoldSrc codebase, but they are considered different engines.

And both of them are derivatives of Quake 1 engine.

But I've known for a long time that Valve was going to make HL3 with a new engine, no other way it would've taken this long otherwise.

 

[saintdane05]

As much as I like Source, I totally understand to hate it's tools.
Here's a comparision:
While you can do MUCH more with Hammer (Source) as mapper, than with Sandbox (CryEngine 3), it's incredibly hard to make something beautiful.
Let me explain that. In Hammer the maps are made out of "brushes". Brushes are primitive forms (default is a block). Your entire level is made out of those. Then you add props (3d models) for more detail. In the CryEngine those "props" play a much bigger role. They can be much more detailed and flexible. However, you have to be proficient with a 3d modeling program like Blender, 3ds Max, etc. too. As "just a mapper", you can't do as much as in Source.
This is why Source is easy to learn.
On the other hand, Hammer and the complete Source SDK are a pain in the arse to use.
Try to make some natural environment in Source. You'll most likely spend hours and hours of it and it still won't look as good as in the CryEngine, which paints beautiful landscapes as comfortable as with MS Paint.

I can live with it's graphics, but I'd love new tools.
I'd love some real real-time editing too.

In addition, Hammer's errors are obtuse and vague. I spent nearly an hour before I realized that my map had a leaking skybox. In addition, lighting can be difficult to pull off at first, and spawning mechanics can sometimes be described as "Broken". Moving placed objects is just stupid, seeing as you can't do it in camera mode.

It is, overall, quite a good program though.

 

[Ed130 The Vanguard]

I'm betting a next year release for the new engine.

The Half Life 3 release will still be con-current with Rapture.