"Welcome to the DEdit overview and tutorial. DEdit is the tool created by the LithTech team that enabled the AVP2 Level Designers and Artists to create the geometry and game play you experienced in Alien vs Predator 2 (AVP2). DEdit allows you to build the ground, sky, walls, ceilings and shapes for your levels. You will then apply textures, props, prefabs, lights and sounds to give them a realistic appearance. Alien vs Predator 2 was created using literally thousands of these assets which you may appropriate to create the base for your own level. You may also add your own assets where applicable. Finally, you’ll add the game objects that allow other players to interact with your world."

"Creating levels is an extremely complex and time consuming process, and the following is merely the starting point for those who want to learn the basics of building worlds for the LithTech engine. If you’ve done game design before on a 3D or near-3D game, you’ve probably worked with tools like DEdit." ( LithTech™)

*Notes from TutonicMonkey

So you want to map for Alien vs. Predator 2.... well be prepared to give up the next year or so of your life before you expect to publish anything worth playing. Its a harsh fact but your first few maps will run poorly, if at all, and likely look the part. This tool kit has amazing potential and can do almost anything you can imagin if you take the time to learn. Time is the key. I have been using this tool kit for nearly 4 years now and I still come across new options and techniques. Take your time, be diligent, and keep it simple. Many people over-do their first few maps. These maps end up not working and people become frustrated and quit. Learn from your mistakes.

YOUR NOT FINISHED YET!! After completing the first 5 steps (in order) its time to configure the tools.

Configuration:

The first step in in the configuration process is is to gather the needed recourses from the Aliens vs. Predator 2 game for use in DEdit. Included with the tool kit is the UNREZ.bat packer. Simply navigate to the following location:

C:\Program Files\Fox\Aliens vs. Predator 2\Tools\unrez.bat

Double click the UNREZ icon and then wait 5-15 minutes (depending on the speed of your computer) to finish. During this process you will see a black window which appears to be frozen. It is working! It is basically copy/pasting 800+mb of resources to a new location. This window is fully automated and will automatically close when it is finished.

UNREZ.bat in action.

 

After unrez.bat has completed, its time to open DEdit.

Navigate to:

C:\Program Files\Fox\Aliens vs. Predator 2\Tools\DEdit.exe

(At this time you may also want to create a desktop shortcut to DEdit)

A freshly opened DEdit window.

Now you must open the project containing all the files you had just UNREZed. At the top left of the DEdit window click: File\Open Project The project you want to open is: avp2.dep

Navigate to:

 

C:\Program Files\Fox\Aliens vs. Predator 2\AVP2\avp2.dep

After avp2.dep has opened there is one final step in the configuration of the tools. At the top left of the DEdit window locate: Edit\Options. Clicking options will open the “DEdit Properties” pop-up window. Click the “RUN” tab. In this tab are three lines, Executable, Working directory, and Program arguments.

 

Fill in these lines as shown below:

***For the first line "Executable" I suggest you "browse" to lithtech.exe because in some cases its location may differ.

Executable	C:\Program Files\Fox\Aliens vs. Predator 2\lithtech.exe
Working directory	C:\Program Files\Fox\Aliens vs. Predator 2
Program arguments	-rez AVP2 +runworld %WorldName%

Download a copy of this text HERE

***Note
Before you can run a map you must also configure the DEdit processor. This will be covered in the “First World” section.