So this new Steam thing takes DoD and bundles it all up into a nicely encrypted cache file that cant be meddled with.

We can use custom models but we have to put them into the right folders. Great.

But what if you want to modify a default game model?

Errr, we cant get any of the game content out of the cache files to modify or learn from...

- Jed

Hopefully a gcf viewer will eventually be released, either by Valve or a third party. I wouldn't think that valve would alienate the entire custom community of the two most popular halflife mods.

Bump

Is there any one in the Dev Team that could shed some light on this problem.

I have just read on a CS forum that all models can be found separate in the Half-Life dedicated Server (V1.1.2.0.) file. I do not know if this includes dod models, but i'm thinking it might because it's 450mb in size.

but isnt that file a cache too ?

I was wondering that too, a while back, but didn't feel like reading through all the Steam threads to see if it'd been mentioned before and didn't want to get heckled by posting a concern that had already been addressed in great detail.

This would make it difficult to make new custom models if the animation system used by the defaults ever changes [before or after HL2 comes out; I don't know if DoD will continue to be updated for HL1].

It has been mentioned before, but not enough people seemed to understand the importance, so it dwindled into oblivion.
Furthermore, I've read somewhere from Waldo that it was recognised as a problem, and it was being looked into.

i think they'll likely come out with an extractor. exactly why is it all cached into one big file? its not like it saved space =\

It's so it's easier to send. I'd like it to be sent COMPRESSED so there's bloody LESS of it so those of us on 56K modems don't have to spend weeks downloading what they ALREADY HAVE. But hey. What am I to say? Despite being in the actual majority, my voice is in the minority.

I've also read on some CS forums, that some peeps have been using hex editors to rip models and things from the .gcf files, although this does seem a pain in the arse way of getting around the problem.

Give it some time...I'm sure either Wally or Valve proper will come out with a toolset to be able to extract the files...my guess is that they have bigger fish to fry right now.