UED2.1 Help

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This guide was created by Hellkeeper as a beginner's guide to using the new editor included with Unreal 227i (UEd 2.1).

Introduction

UnrealEd is the software used to create levels ('maps') for Unreal. The first UnrealEd was shipped with Unreal and Unreal Tournament, and replaced in the later by UnrealEd 2.0 in a subsequent patch. The developing team at OldUnreal ported it to Unreal, and rebranded it UnrealEd 2.1 after many bugs had been fixed and many aspects of the editor enhanced. It also comes with new actors, and most broken functions are now working properly.

UnrealEd is a complex tool, especially if you are used to handle level editors designed with opposite paradigms, the most important one being that the "void" is solid, and not empty, as you would expect after using QuArK, WorldCraft, Radiant, QuakeEd etc. Once you have assimilated the main concepts, however, UnrealEd happens to be one of the most stable, fast, easy to use and pleasant editors available.

Because plain explanations on tools are just not as easy to use as a step-by-step guide, see the Getting Started tutorial to put your new knowledge into practice. Because this help was written for beginners, it does not address the most complex and powerful features of the editor. To find out about them, the best idea is to mess around and learn by yourself, or search the web for tutorials (which are plentiful). For any specific question, head for the OldUnreal forum. Have fun with UnrealEd!

About Compatibility

Until now, maps made in Unreal 1 used to be mostly retro-compatible, and any Unreal 1 map could be launched in Unreal Tournament (where weapons would be replaced by the Unreal Tournament redesigned arsenal). The 227 patch, despite all its new unique features, tries to maintain a fair share of compatibility. Maps made with a 227-patched version of Unreal are compatible with previous versions of Unreal and with Unreal Tournament as long as no new element is used.

This means that to keep your map UT and U-226 compatible, you have to build your map without any 227 feature: no emitter, no FluidSurfaceInfo etc. Using any of these new feature will break compatibility, as the actors specific to Unreal 227 are not present in other versions or games and will prevent the map from loading.

It is of course possible to keep two settings of Unreal at different versions: simply keep a copy of your 226-version System directory before upgrading to 227 and switch accordingly.

Very important notice for Mappers: Mesh lighting was changed in 227. The specular lighting effect which made all meshes being partially unlit, even without light, was removed to make lighting more accurate. Meshes are now correctly illuminated by the surrounding light. If you need the specular effect like it was in previous versions, you can set this in texture properties with the "specular" float.