Level Design

This shows how to build a Revolving Door. The tutorial will cover making a plain door; a door with glass in, and a door with breakable glass in.

Making Water

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

A tutorial on how to get an npc_cscanner to equip itself with Combine Mines and drop them. The scanner uses Path Corners to guide it's movement.

Moving water layer

This camera is good for when you join a map, it gives you a view of the map before you join a team

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

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

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

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.

Making the Gman into a 'Model Citizen'

Real Constructive: Hammer Geometry for Unreal Mappers

Elapsed Time by Bud Doug Lee

how to make the Magnusson Device spawner from Episode 2.

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

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

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

This is part two of the dangly wire/electrified water tutorial. It uses the set up in the last tutorial and only adds a water brush and a trigger_hurt brush, and a couple of adjustments to outputs.

this shows how to make the headcrab canisters that crash in from the sky and disgorge a number of headcrabs.

How to add custom sounds to Source maps

How to make breakable glass

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

A Physics Collapsing Ceiling

Triggering a Sound

This tutorial gives you a better idea of how some of those cool water effects in HL2 are created. It's surprisingly simple

You have an nice interior area of your map. You have a few opaque windows and you want to have them cast light into your map.

Creating a Skybox

A keypad tutorial with a difference

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.

This tutorial shows how you get a Dropship to drop a Strider.

Hanging Entitys from a rope in CS:Source

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

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

A guide on the three diffrent types of glass the source engine is capable of

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

This tutorial shows the very simple way to make cylinders and spheres using displacements.

how I made the tunnels in my map

how to set up the exploding Gaspumps found in one of the coast levels.

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.

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

How To make a ladder

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

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

This tutorial on an alternative multi choice lift using func_movlinear instead of func_tracktrain.

Need to make a dropship fly in and drop off some combine soldiers?

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

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, placing entities and texturing.

Getting it done despite the bugs

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

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

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

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

Illustrates how to make fast zombies climb. Also in here is a way of starting the map in cheat mode on map spawn.

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.

How to create destroyed holes realistically via the Clipping and Vertex Edit tools

An introduction to terrain creation

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

Using assault_ entities to direct Combine assaults

This tutorial is a basic guide to the ai_goal_actbusy entity.

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

A guide to light ents for newbies

Using the displacement feature

An easy little tutorial that teaches the user to create hinged objects. In this example, we'll be making shutters.

This tutorial shows how to make an 'Iris' door.

Creating different glass types

Part 1 - This tutorial shows how to make a single drawbridge.

Blow up a wall with an airstrike

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

This is a tutorial on Neon Signs, made by Bud Doug Lee. The VMF has three letter 'A' in red, that blink on one at a time, then all blink on and off.

The input/output system for the Source engine is a very powerful tool, read on to learn its secrets

a way for setting off events (explosions in this case) randomly

Making Respawnable Entities

This was my first tutorial, for a pop up ground turret as seen in d3_c17_10b

Create a remote control mechanism that applies to a vehicle.

How to make a simple door that swings open

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.

Portal: Changing Textures/Signs

Second Video tutorial showing how to get your creations into Half-Life2 by means of a logic_choreograpphed_scene.

This is a basic tutorial about npc_helicopter

Create a simple corridor in hammer

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.

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

making a moving background map on the menu page of the game.

Making a Breakable Window

Make a door that can only be opened with a key card

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.

How to make stuff respawn if the conventional ways fail.

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

This tutorial is on the Vertex edit tool. It attempts to show how to use this tool to manipulate brushes into different shapes.

This is a list of soundscapes for some Source Games

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

Shows how to place water so it looks natural in a displacement area.

How to get physics objects into your Source engine maps

CSS hostage resuce

Displaying something, and plugged into the wall

Creating curved geometry using arches

Tutorial on how to set up Floor turrets to shoot at your enemies.

This tutorial illustrates how to recreate the effect of Gordon Freeman waking, then getting up.

This tutorial was put together by Raidenator and shows how to make flares the player can pick up.

This is a tutorial on simple lasers using env_beam ). It looks at 'Trip' Lasers, that when you walk through make something happen and harmful lasers that hurt or kill the player.

A teleporter that goes to a random location

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.

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

A tutorial covering how to make plugs that can be unplugged and plugged in over and over again, as well as learning how to use the combine power generator prefab.

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

This tutorial demonstrates the use of the logic_case and logic_timer entities.

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.

Configure advanced compile to run with extra parameters etc.

Learn how to install the Source SDK correctly and how to use Valve’s Hammer Editor

Ever wondered how you can make caves like in Episode 2?

In this tutorial i will show you how to create a basic room with a nice light and how to use the HDR effect in your maps.

Making a Rope/Cable

Cycling between cameras, chase cameras, etc.

Making it Rain or Snow

Reducing Vis Times

illustrating a dangling electric wire

Create a TV with Breen talking on it

Making a Rotating Door

Doing Buildings and Models the Combine way of life.

Making a Dynamic Light

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 is an example using the undocumented info_lighting_relative entity. Its primary use seems to be to light a prop_dynamic or prop_physics in a situation where a normal lighting source will not fit, or where a special lighting effect is desired.

Making a Spawn and func_buyzone in CS:S

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

It makes a Rope Bridge that spans a gap of 256 and is 64 units wide. There are two examples one is breakable.

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.

Using the Nodraw Texture

Hang 'Em High: phys_ballsocket

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.

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

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

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

Illustrates the use of func_tracktrain, path_track and the phys_ragdoll_constraint.

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 !

Texture variation within a terrain surface

A short and sweet tutorial that shows a simple way to blend fog seamlessly into the horizon.

Illustrates a use of the trigger_wind entity. The VMF has a simple set up some containers on a table and a cardboard box are blown by a gust of wind.

This tutorial shows how to make a simple camera and project a scene onto a monitor.

This shows one way of using the aiscripted_schedule entity. We will create a group of combine, who will seek out and come after the player.

In this Tutorial we will explain you how to create your first room. You will learn to place one light and a player start and something more. So you got a basic knowledge of building a map.

Introduction to the light_dynamic entity

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.

This Tutorial assumes you have completed 'Part-1', of making the corridor.

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.

little how-to on the new way to link entities

Make combine NPCs hurl barrels at the player and fire at them

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

This is a tutorial showing how to make swing doors.

A list of them, and solutions

Part 3 - This tutorial shows how to make a double drawbridge.

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

Cordon Tools in Hammer are useful for enclosing a map for compiling, if you don't have a skybox yet. Also useful for locating errors in a large map.

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.

This tutorial explains how to make a picture of your choice load up as the background picture on the ingame menu page.

In several paces in the game, metropolice throw ignited explosive barrels down onto Freeman, in water.

Design realistically-breaking glass doors

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 shows how to make a breakable padlock, enabling access to a locked/padlocked area. This is the promised extension to the env_steam tutorial ( No: 51) and uses that VMF.

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

This is a tutorial showing how to make double sliding doors

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

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

This is a tutorial on how to make a 'real' lift/elevator. This is the prop_dynamic model lift seen throughout the HL2 game, primarily in Eli's Lab.

Create a simple room with a light

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

This tutorial shows how to 'fuel' an energy source.

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

Adding that touch of ambience to your Source maps

How to use XSI to detail your world geometry

Making a Bomb Site in CS:Source

Triggered door with button

*Clip clip* Learn it. Use it. Love it.

Practical Displacements