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{{game release free|appid=630}}
{{LanguageBar}}
{{hierarchy|as}}
{{Infobox game
|title = Alien Swarm
|image = Software_Cover_-_Alien_Swarm.jpg
|doc = [[:Category:Alien_Swarm|Alien Swarm level design]]
|developer = [[Valve|Valve Corporation]]
|publisher = Valve Corporation
|releasedates = July 19, 2010
|genre = Action, top-down shooter
|platform = {{win|1}}
|engine = {{src|4.1}} ({{asbranch|1}})
|appid = 630
|codelang = [[WP:C++|C++]]
|modsupport = Yes
|sdk = Yes ({{Astools|4}})
|distribution = Steam
|links = {{Steam store|app/630|Steam page}}
}}


{{toc-right}}
{{toc-right}}


'''Alien Swarm''' is a free top-down shoot-em-up for up to four co-op players, created by [[Black Cat Games]] after the company was bought up by Valve. Its complete source code is provided in a new SDK as a sample project for Source modders, much like [[Team Fortress Classic]] was for [[GoldSrc]].
{{as|4}} (2010) is a completely free top-down shoot-em-up for up to four co-op players, which is a remake of the [[Alien Swarm (mod)|''Unreal Tournament 2004'' mod with the same name]], created by [[Black Cat Games]] after the company was bought up by Valve. Its complete source code is provided in a new SDK as a sample project for Source modders, much like {{ricochet|2}} and {{dmc|2}} were for {{Gldsrc|2}}.
 
'''A mod based on ''Alien Swarm'' will not require the purchase of another Valve game to play, but it will not have access to the usual "Source base" HL2 content either.'''


The game thrusts players into an epic bug hunt featuring a unique blend of co-op play and squad-level tactics. With your friends, form a squad of four distinct IAF Marine classes. Plan your attack using an unlockable arsenal of weapons with countless loadout configurations against a wide variety of aliens. Blaze your way through an overrun, off-world colony, eradicating the alien infestation in environments ranging from the icy planet's surface, to a subterranean lava-flooded mining facility.
The game thrusts players into an epic bug hunt featuring a unique blend of co-op play and squad-level tactics. With your friends, form a squad of four distinct IAF Marine classes. Plan your attack using an unlockable arsenal of weapons with countless loadout configurations against a wide variety of aliens. Blaze your way through an overrun, off-world colony, eradicating the alien infestation in environments ranging from the icy planet's surface, to a subterranean lava-flooded mining facility.


== Features ==
For mapping in ''Alien Swarm,'' see [[:Category:Alien Swarm]].


; [[Swarm_TileGen|TileGen]]
==Features==
: A new quick-build mapping tool. Level designers create connectible rooms and corridors which can be arranged either by hand or programmatically. TileGen maps can be played in-editor, and/or can be exported to Hammer for further refinement.
; [[Swarm TileGen|TileGen]]
; Global dynamic lighting
: A new quick-build mapping tool. Level designers create connectible rooms and corridors which can be arranged either by hand or programmatically. TileGen maps can be played in-editor, and/or can be exported to Hammer for further refinement.illuminate an entire scene.
: Alien Swarm will debut Source 2009's improved shadow mapping technology, which can be sanely used to illuminate an entire scene.
; [[VTF#Version history|VTF]] version 7.5 and [[PCF#File Format|PCF]] version Binary 5 PCF 2
; Depth of field
: The latest versions of Source's texture and particle formats.
: A real-time depth of field shader blurs backdrop scenery. Presumably we also have a decent depth buffer now, too.
; [[env_dof_controller|Depth of field]]
: A real-time depth of field shader blurs backdrop scenery.
; [[Vertex animation]]
: The ability to animate vertexes directly is now supported.
; Various entity improvements
: Numerous entities have been improved and have new features, such as {{ent|env_fire}} and {{ent|env_projectedtexture}}.
; [[Water_(shader)#Basetexture_Flow|Water debris flow]]
: Water now supports the ability to use a base texture layer that is flowed using a flow map. This implemention is less advanced than {{Portal2|2}}'s, however.
; [[Lightmap]] influence on [[$envmap|cubemapped]] materials
: Lightmaps can now tint cubemap reflections in the {{ent|LightmappedGeneric}} shader.
; [[Steamworks]] integration
; [[Steamworks]] integration
: Unclear how useful this will be, as currently Steamworks distribution is required to implement persistence, Steam Cloud, achievements, etc.
: Unclear how useful this will be, as currently Steamworks distribution is required to implement persistence, Steam Cloud, achievements, etc.


== Source code ==
==SDK and Source Code==
The source code for {{as|2}} is included in the {{Astools|4}}. It lacks a lot of supporting code that the {{srcsdk|4}} provides, however:


The source code for Alien Swarm will be released on Monday, July 19th, at the same time as the game. It will not initially include Mac code.
<div style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:top;margin-right:2em;">
'''Added'''
* [[GameUI]]
* [[Navigation Meshes]]
* [[Response Rules]]
* [[VScript]]
</div>
<div style="display:inline-block;vertical-align:top">
'''Removed'''
* Linux server support
* [[mathlib]]
* [[tier1]]
* utils ''(various command-line tools)''
* [[VGUI]] controls
* [[VMPI]]
</div>


Rather than an update to the Source SDK itself, Alien Swarm will receive an SDK of its own. This allows Valve to make it freely available to the whole world (as opposed to existing owners of Source games) without also granting access to HL2-mounting Source 2006/2007 mods - a mirror of the [http://www.udk.com/ Unreal Development Kit], which includes only a subset of Unreal Tournament 3's content. There is nothing confirmed either way yet.
The SDK is available to ''everyone'', not just owners of Source games.


See [[Alien Swarm SDK]]
== Official maps/campaign ==
{{todo}}


== Gallery ==
== Dedicated server ==
 
See [[Alien Swarm Dedicated Server]] for instructions on setting up your own ''Alien Swarm'' dedicated server.
<gallery>
{{warning|Uninstalling the Alien Swarm Dedicated Server will uninstall the main game, too!}}
File:As lift.jpg
File:As boom.jpg
File:As flame.jpg
</gallery>


== Content ==
== Content ==
* Alien Swarm (<code>swarm</code>)
* Alien Swarm base (<code>swarm_base</code>)
* Alien Swarm platform (<code>platform</code>)
* {{asbranch|4}}


* Alien Swarm {{confirm|(<code>as</code>)}}
[[Category:Alien Swarm]]
* {{confirm|Source 2007 shared (<code>hl2</code>)}}
{{As topicon}}{{Source topicon}}
* {{confirm|Source shared (<code>hl2</code>)}}
[[Category:Open source mods and games]] <!-- game code available via Alien Swarm SDK -->
* [[Source 2009]] engine branch
 
[[Category:Valve Games]]
[[Category:Alien_Swarm]]

Latest revision as of 08:37, 30 July 2025

English (en)Translate (Translate)
Alien Swarm Alien SwarmAlien Swarm: Reactive Drop Alien Swarm: Reactive Drop
Alien Swarm Deferred Alien Swarm Deferred
Alien Swarm
Software Cover - Alien Swarm.jpg
Developer(s)
Publisher(s)
Valve Corporation
Release date(s)
July 19, 2010
Genre(s)
Action, top-down shooter
Platform(s)
Steam AppID
Written in
Mod support
Yes
SDK
Documentation
Distribution
Steam
Links

Alien Swarm Alien Swarm (2010) is a completely free top-down shoot-em-up for up to four co-op players, which is a remake of the Unreal Tournament 2004 mod with the same name, created by Black Cat Games after the company was bought up by Valve. Its complete source code is provided in a new SDK as a sample project for Source modders, much like Ricochet Ricochet and Deathmatch Classic Deathmatch Classic were for GoldSrc GoldSrc.

A mod based on Alien Swarm will not require the purchase of another Valve game to play, but it will not have access to the usual "Source base" HL2 content either.

The game thrusts players into an epic bug hunt featuring a unique blend of co-op play and squad-level tactics. With your friends, form a squad of four distinct IAF Marine classes. Plan your attack using an unlockable arsenal of weapons with countless loadout configurations against a wide variety of aliens. Blaze your way through an overrun, off-world colony, eradicating the alien infestation in environments ranging from the icy planet's surface, to a subterranean lava-flooded mining facility.

For mapping in Alien Swarm, see Category:Alien Swarm.

Features

TileGen
A new quick-build mapping tool. Level designers create connectible rooms and corridors which can be arranged either by hand or programmatically. TileGen maps can be played in-editor, and/or can be exported to Hammer for further refinement.illuminate an entire scene.
VTF version 7.5 and PCF version Binary 5 PCF 2
The latest versions of Source's texture and particle formats.
Depth of field
A real-time depth of field shader blurs backdrop scenery.
Vertex animation
The ability to animate vertexes directly is now supported.
Various entity improvements
Numerous entities have been improved and have new features, such as env_fire and env_projectedtexture.
Water debris flow
Water now supports the ability to use a base texture layer that is flowed using a flow map. This implemention is less advanced than Portal 2 Portal 2's, however.
Lightmap influence on cubemapped materials
Lightmaps can now tint cubemap reflections in the LightmappedGeneric shader.
Steamworks integration
Unclear how useful this will be, as currently Steamworks distribution is required to implement persistence, Steam Cloud, achievements, etc.

SDK and Source Code

The source code for Alien Swarm Alien Swarm is included in the Alien Swarm - SDK Alien Swarm - SDK. It lacks a lot of supporting code that the Source SDK Source SDK provides, however:

Added

Removed

The SDK is available to everyone, not just owners of Source games.

Official maps/campaign

[Todo]

Dedicated server

See Alien Swarm Dedicated Server for instructions on setting up your own Alien Swarm dedicated server.

Warning.pngWarning:Uninstalling the Alien Swarm Dedicated Server will uninstall the main game, too!

Content