Level Design

How to set up a zombie breaking through a wall, out of a cupboard and through metal panels (a bit like in the early coast level). I have tried to show a few ways of doing it using, and in the process illustrate a couple of ways of blowing up walls.

This is a timer put together by Bud Doug Lee for PORTAL. It is set up so that as soon as the map starts the timer counts down from 30 seconds to zero.

Shows how to make an escalator using the func_tracktrain.

I put a vmf in the 'Workshop' covering a few ways of making a cop kick down a door, but they were hacks really, so this is the real thing.

This is how to recreate the dog/ball interchange that appears in Eli's lab in the game.

CSS hostage resuce

This is another PORTAL tutorial. This one is the basic circular door model this time with two buttons needed to open the doors.

This is a small tutorial demo, showing how to use the 50 percent falloff distance and 0 percent falloff distance in the light and light_spot entities.

Add manhacks to your level that are hostile towards the player

This was put together by qwerty who was trying to find a way to make the Citizen act like a metrocop guarding an area (ai_goal_police).

This Tutorial covers some very basic stuff about env_global specifically the effect of the Gordon Pre-criminal setting in relation to NPC_Citizens following or not following the player.

This is a basic tutorial on lighting which I discovered on thread at Facepunch Forums. I liked it's simple straighforward four step approach to getting good basic lighting effects.

Making it Rain or Snow

This tutorial follows a request on the Halfwit-2 forum about respawning items.

High Dynamic Range can help you add that warm glow to your creation.

In this tutorial I have tried to show how to set up scripted_sequences.

Introduction to, and use of, a logic_case

This is the second tutorial on moving lasers. In this one the laser is in a round tunnel, it moves back and forward through the tunnel and revolves at the same time.

In this Tutorial we'll explain you how to navigate the Hammer Editor. You'll learn more about the functions of the Tools and the handling of the Editor.

The tutorial shows how you can respawn the func_physbox (which puts the map back to the start) by means of func_buttons.

This is a tutorial is the first on the logic_choreographed_scene.

Using the Nodraw Texture

Create a simple setup with a door that rotates

Control NPC actions

Shows how to make an angled pipe using displacements.

How To make a ladder

Env_Beam

Triggers, Inputs and Outputs are an intricate part of adding interactivity to your levels

This is a basic tutorial about how to get the Strider to fire the minigun and the cannon. The set up is straightforward, just a bit specialised for the demonstration VMF

Import Custom Textures

This is a set of stairs that slide out from a wall.

Put together by Dylan Holcomb, this helps you find your way around the new Particle Editor.

It is the Battery Puzzle in HalfLife 2 where you have to get the batteries all hooked up.

An introduction to scripted_sequences in Source.

This tutorial demonstrates some of the action in the Coast levels in the game.

This is a basic tutorial on how the Gravity function works. Put simply, to change the gravity the player must walk through a trigger_gravity brush.

An easy to use tool that makes life easier in many ways.

In this tutorial we will build a room and divide it with a wall.

An intermediate tutorial, it will try to give as much step by step as possible, but assumes you have Basic knowledge like making a room, using an info_player_start, and putting in a light entity.

Introduction to the light_dynamic entity

This tutorial shows how to make the plug that features a lot in the game.

In this and the last two tutorials, I have tried to show how to set up a zombie breaking through walls: out of a cupboard and through metal panels

This tutorial will explore how to use the env_screenoverlay entity. This is used in the intro to HL2 with G-Man musing about calling on Gordon again. The tutorial covers just the basic stuff about how to make it work.

Wanted to make something like in Unreal tournament a bounce pad,

Following on from the bomb target tutorial - how to set Bomb advance in your CSS map with fire and sound. This is a VIDEO tutorial.

In this tutorial we will take the room made in the last and put in two ways of turning the light on and off.

A teleporter that goes to a random location

This shows how to make a npc_c scanner on the same path patrol endlessly.

Need to make some good old fashioned glass in Source? Read on.

This tutorial shows how to make a simple rotating light. It's illustrated here as two lights on opposite sides of the fitting, but you can have one or three or more.

This example demonstrates how to build a 21 floor spiral staircase using the Paste Special function.

Set the mood of a scene easily using Source's in-game GUI colour correction editor.

This is another PORTAL tutorial. This one is the basic circular door model with the button that you put the box on to open it.

Cycling between cameras, chase cameras, etc.

Ever wondered how Valve made them, find out here!

This tutorial shows how to get citizens to jump down, as in the d3_c17_04 level HL2.

This is a tutorial on the ai_relationship entity. It will emerge in parts as I experiment with what works and what doesn't. In this tutorial we will look at how to get the npc_combine_s to ignore the player.

In this first tutorial on the Arch tool, we will make a tunnel, like those seen in HL2.

Made in Episode 1 config. Tutorial shows how to blow up doors with combine lock on.

Using the 'Clipping' tool to cut holes

This is a follow to Simple Lasers. It demonstrates how to link lasers to entities which move. Two ways are illustrated here and in 137 - a laser that goes up and down and one that revolves and moves to and fro at the same time.

One way of using trigger_look. In the VMF - you see a screen of the adjacent room, then a shelf falls down in the room enabling you to get a gun and ammo. Zombies Optional !

Using them, and stopping them from kicking up dust

Making a Rotating Door

This is a short tutorial on the new func_reflective_glass and texture,

Ever wanted to give areas in your map a name that'll show up under the radar, next to teamchat and that bots will refer to?

This tutorial shows how to insert your own .wav file and get a model (GMan in this case) to mouth what you have recorded.

make antlions or other npc's assault / move to a place on the map

You saw them, you want to make them...

Create a simple room with a light

This is fairly basic and does not require an extensive knowledge of Hammer.

Looks at both way of putting a sun (env_sun) into your map.

This shows how to put the Episode 2 car in your map. It also shows how to set up the radar unit, and an example of using it.

Making a Camera

Create a TV with Breen talking on it

Using Math_Counters To Trigger Single Events From Multiple Triggers

Take your first steps into creating a map in Valve’s Source SDK.

Want to make it look like your map is enormous without it actually being large? Read on!

This is a tutorial about ncp_strider . It will cover walking.

This is a tutorial on the 2-D skybox, which is the simpler of the two types of skybox in Hammer.

Making a Camera Part 2

This tutorial will try to explain how the phys_pulleyconstraint entity works.

This tutorial shows how to electrify something so that touching it hurts the player.

A Physics Collapsing Ceiling

This is a tutorial for how to spawn objects with a press of a button.

This is a tutorial on the env_soundscape entity, written by Mynameisme. It shows how to put in two different soundscapes and how they work in changing from one to another.

Illustrates the use of func_tracktrain, path_track and the phys_ragdoll_constraint.

Making a Rope/Cable

Let you map have light! A tutorial that will give you a better idea of how simple lights are implemented into your maps and also the effects that they will have on the compiled product.

Making a Bomb Site in CS:Source

The following tutorial shows how to spawn antlions that attack you.

I have taken the Hotel building from Trainstation and constructed it from scratch.

The actbusy system is used to make NPCs appear busy. NPCs do so on placed nodes and will act busy until certain conditions are met (such as hearing an explosion).

It shows how to make a lift that will visit anyone of five floors, by pressing the appropriate button

It shows a good way of using a math_counter and triggers, to set off a number of events.

Creating a Mounted gun, for Orange-box games and mods. (Ep2, etc)

Making distant scenery

How to add custom sounds to Source maps

Getting it done despite the bugs

In this tutorial we will learn how to use the sew command with displacement mapping, as well as a few tips for easier dispacement mapping.

This is a tutorial for creating an initial block map for an outdoor real world location.

Adding that touch of ambience to your Source maps

how to make a func_physbox explode upwards, and basically how to fling heavy objects into the air.

Create a remote control mechanism that applies to a vehicle.

This tutorial attempts to show how to make them come up through the floors.

Resembling the automatic stairs in Portal, this was made for Ep 2. It will work in both Half-life 2 and Portal, just be selective with your textures.

In this tutorial I will try to describe how to make a 3d skybox. See tutorial 100, here for the theory. The map I am making here is a bit like the SDK_3dskybox map, simple enough, but the principles apply to more complicated maps

How to construct one from scratch - though there is a prefab in Hammer.

A quick guide on how to make that really fantastic looking water from Half Life 2/Counter Strike.

This is a PORTAL tutorial. Shows how to construct the Rocket Gun - from a VMF by Bud Doug Lee.

Draws a basic outside area with trees and fog, and suggests a couple of good sky and light environment combinations to get a good effect.

This is a tutorial on how to make ladders that actually work

This is a revision (April 2009) of the original tutorial which turned out inaccurate either because I'm dumb, or because of a change in the SDK. It's an addition to the tutorial (53) on the Point_viewcontrol entity.

This tutorial is about Teleports. The map shows four teleports, A to B then B to A.

This is an illustration of some of the things you can do with Trigger_push. Most of what you need to know is in the VMF as you can experience the effects there.

Part two of an In-depth tutorial covering the ins and outs of lighting in the Source Engine

create a CCTV style monitor that will display two different camera locations on one monitor toggled by a button.

A short tutorial illustrating how to get an npc_metropolice to shoot a flare into the air.

Tutorial showing how to get citizens (NPC's) to come through a door.

This is a list of soundscapes for some Source Games

and why yours might not work

This is a simple tutorial; how to make it snow. The standard brush env_precipitation does not really work, everything in it looks like rain. However env_embers is a good substitute.

Making a Breakable Window

This is a tutorial from Nero that shows you how to make a carryable blowtorch that you can use to cut open a door.

This one looks at how you get a dropship to take troops to a particular location on a map.

This is another PORTAL tutorial. This shows how to make the 'Emancipation Grill' or Portal Cleanser, that removes the useful boxes, when you walk through.

How to get physics objects into your Source engine maps

Weapon entity

a tutorial on how buildings that are not accessible to the player, but form an essential part of maps, were made, and were able to look so realistic.

How to make the inside and outside of a dome using displacement surfaces

This tutorial is just another way of triggering something into action.

This is a small tutorial demo, which has an npc_combinegunship flying around for a while and then exploding.

The Tangled Web We Weave: Ropes in HL2

A short tutorial on how to add decals to brush entities.

Covers four different ways of making Volumetric Light and in part two shows how to create fake shadows.

In this tutorial I will show you how to use lightmapscale to help make good, realistic looking shadows.(#1Duck)

Making a Rotating Fan

This tutorial shows how to place and link, ai_goal_assault, assault_assaultpoint and assault_rallypoint.

This is another tutorial about ncp_strider. It will cover crouching and crouch/walking under things. This was difficult to get to work, but the important issue seems to be make sure there is enough space all around the strider.

Creating the unpluggable TV, as seen in Half-Life 2.

This is a tutorial illustrating a use of the info_node_link. An entity that has a link to another info_nodethat can be turned on and off.

These cameras are working monitors that turn on when a button is pushed.

This tutorial by Terrenteller shows how to spawn an npc_stalker by a button. The stalker walks across the room then disappears.

This tutorial will teach you how to make a func_breakable_surf start out broken when the map loads without the player doing anything to it.

This is a tutorial about stairs.

How to use XSI to detail your world geometry

This tutorial shows how to make an npc_combinedropship carry and drop off an npc_vehicle_apc.

Making Respawnable Entities

A different way of doing it

In this short tutorial we'll get a citizen to run from one side of the map to the other screaming.

This is our first PORTAL tutorial. It shows how to make the Pits that appear throughout the game.

PORTAL tutorial illustrating how to set up the wake up scene at the beginning of the game. It is similar to the scene where Gordon Wakes Up in HL2.

An introduction to terrain creation

An introduction to Source physics

This tutorial is another train oriented one. It shows how to make a couple of trains go from one tunnel to another, and after a short while they do it again endlessly.

In this second tutorial on the Arch tool. In it we will look at how to make curved corners and coving in rooms.

Create a simple lift/elevator system for your maps

This tutorial covers the env_steam entity , and includes a valve to turn it on and off.

Design realistically-breaking glass doors

Using displacement maps to preserve texture alignment around arches.

This is an extension of the tutorial on cameras.

The basic principles to Game_UI and Logic_Compare entity control.

Part 2. Add manhacks to your level that are hostile towards the player

Placing a BuyZone in a CSS map.

You want to make a ceiling collapse, whether to let in combine soldiers or headcrabs, or just to block a route. In this tutorial, I'll be showing you the basics.

The tutorial is one way of making a zipline.

This tutorial is a continuation of the fourth tutorial, we will take the rooms made there and join them with a corridor.

This is a basic tutorial by Raidenator on how to create a displacement brush. These are the brushes that are used mainly for creating terrain.

This tutorial shows how to hang something from a rope/cable. In this case it's a citizen - but the same principle applies to other models/entities.

This tutorial will describe how to set a sky different than the default one. At the end of the tutorial there is also a list of all the available skies as well as a link to a picture of them for reference.

Making a Ladder

Displaying something, and plugged into the wall

Alot of people have problems with opening their console.

CSS Bomb target