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Welcome to the Valve Developer Community! From here on in you can forget Valve - every page you see with an edit tab, including this one, is likely written or at least altered by someone in the community (though Valve staff are sometimes among them). If you want to do the same, go right ahead! Otherwise, take a look at the [[Special:Categories|Categories]] or run a search to find what you want.
{{LanguageBar}}
{{Subpage|[[Help:Contents]]}} {{shortcut|VDC:CP}}


=Recommended sites=
{{Background
This is a list of alternate resource sites for Source games in '''alphabetical''' order. It is by no means complete but please, if you add to it keep to decent sites and do not link to simple map download databases.
| file = HL2 GamepadUI - Chapter 1.jpg
''(Can editors please stop placing their websites at the top of the listing, place websites in the '''alphabetical''' order that they should be in.)''
| opacity = 0.13
| gradient-height = 250px
}}


==Cross-Purpose and General Development==
<div style="display:flex; flex-direction:column; gap:.8em; align-items:center; margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:3em"> <!--
--> <span style="color:rgb(255 255 255 / 80%); font-weight:bold; font-size:1.75em"> Welcome to the community portal!</span> <!--
--> <!--<span style="color:rgb(255 255 255 / 75%); font-weight:400; font-size:1.0em"> '''{{NUMBEROFUSERS}}''' users with '''{{NUMBEROFACTIVEUSERS}}''' users active in the last 30 days.</span>--> <!--
--> <span style="color:rgb(255 255 255 / 75%); font-weight:500; font-size:1.25em">This page provides community resources and ways you can interact with the Valve Developer Community.</span> <!--
--> <span style="color:rgb(255 255 255 / 75%); font-weight:500; font-size:1.25em">See [[Help:Contents]] for a wider overview on how to contribute to the wiki.</span>
</div>


* [http://www.acidvat.com/?view=remotetutorials&game=2 Acid Vat's HL2 Tutorial Database] - A list of almost every Half-Life 2 modding tutorial out there.
<div style="display:grid; grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fill,minmax(clamp((100%/2) - 1rem, 25rem, 100%),1fr)); column-gap:1.5em; margin-top:1.3em">
* [http://www.c-sec.net/ C-SEC] - Japanese Source modding and mapping development site, including with translated many SDK documents to Japanese.
* [http://game-advance.net/ Game-Advance.net] - Very small new modding community. Focus is on source engine, but forums exist for non-source modding as well. Hosts modding projects.
* [http://www.gamedesign.net Gamedesign.net] - Some helpful modding and mapping tutorials.
* [http://www.gamesmodding.com/?view=remotetutorials&game=2 GamesModding.com Tutorial Database] - A list of almost every Half-Life 2 modding tutorial out there.
* [http://www.handyvandal.com/ Handy Vandal's Almanac] - One of the original top editing resource sites for Half Life, contains some HL2 info.  Linked to in [[Worldcraft]]'s help menu.
* [http://hl.tozcentral.net/ hl.tozcentral.net] - Half Life and Half-Life 2 resource, Post your own bots, maps, media, mods and tutorials
* [http://hl2world.com/wiki HL2World.com] - Half Life 2 Knowledge Base
* [http://www.interlopers.net/ Interlopers.net] - News and general resources
* [http://forum.leak-free.org Leak-Free] - A Source Engine Development Community.
* [http://www.leak-free.org/errors Leak-Free: Error Listing] - A comprehensive listing of Hammer 3/4 errors and solutions.
* [http://www.mapcore.net Mapcore] - A great place to get mapping, modelling and texture help from industry pros.
* [http://www.modhelp.net Modhelp.net] - A developing modding community.
* [http://www.moddb.com Mod Database] - Free listings of mods for almost every moddable game. A great database full of tons of information on mods that are out there.
* [http://www.mod-hq.com Mod HQ] - Comprehensive news resource for Half-Life 2 modifications and Steam related content in general. Valve visit it. Will you?
* [http://nemesis.thewavelength.net/index.php Nem's Tools] - Several useful Source tools including [[GCFScape]]
* [http://www.pixelgames.com PixelGames] - File reviews and downloads, real friendly editing site based on community!
<!-- * Expired domain? Bought by advertisement company? [http://www.hl2modcentral.com/ HL2 Mod Central] - General tutorials -->
* [http://www.snarkpit.net The Snarkpit] - Mapping and modelling community site
* [http://www.sourceblog.org Sourceblog] - General tutorials (Many on Texturing/[[Skinning]])
* [http://www.sourcewiki.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page SourceWiki] - Unofficial and older Source Wiki
* [http://twhl.co.za/ TWHL] - Mapping community and tutorial site, mostly HL1.
* [http://collective.valve-erc.com/ VERC] - Valve Editing Resource Collective. This site's predecessor, which offers primarily HL1 resources (Official)
* [http://www.thewavelength.net Wavelength] - One of the original sources of HL1 editing material, now steadily servicing HL2
* [http://wunderboy.org Wunderboy.org] - Several useful Source tools including [[VTFTool]]


==Mapping==
{{Ongoing discussions|width=none|float=none|style=margin-block:1.0em;|depth=1|templatelinks=1}}
* {{hl2}} [http://www.akilling.org/akg/ aKilling] - HL2/Source Tutorials and Files by request (<em>Community support</em>)
* [http://ammahls.com/index.php?page=downloadcat&cat=tools Custom Source Tools] - Source Mapping Compile Tools - Faster, and more helpful with errors over the V Tools (Includes 64bit, and Linux versions)
* [http://www.violator.eclipse.co.uk/disped/ DispEd] - Precise displacement editor used to make geometric shapes in the style of "Quake 3 patches."
* [http://www.editlife.net/ Edit Life] - Mapping articles, entity list, error documentation and forums
* [http://www.halfwit-2.com/ Half-wit 2] - Another collection of Mapping tutorials
* [http://www.hl2mapping.com Hl2Mapping.com] - A Friendly helpful, mapping community.
*[http://www.iwannamap.com I Wanna Map] - You wanna map, We wanna help. For Tutorials and help
* [http://madedog.pri.ee/index.php?option=com_content&task=category&sectionid=3&id=72&Itemid=44 Madedog's E-Portal] - A small amount of great step-by-step tutorials.
* [http://www.niridastudios.com NiRiDa Studios] - Comunidad Española de Edición en Source - Spanish Community for the Source Engine edition tutorials.
* [http://www.robotchaos.com/ RobotChaos Map Making Tutorial - Along with a few other things (Sprays, etc.)] - Has a small ever building step by step tutorial on making maps taken from a beginner's perspective.
* [http://shammers.forumsplace.com/ Shammers Forums] - A small community, with a couple of useful tutorials.
* [http://www.sourceprefabs.com SourcePrefabs.com] - Great source for download-able prefabs to use in Hammer with a growing community.
* [http://www.student.kun.nl/rvanhoorn/Optimization.htm zombie's Optimizing-page] information on optimizing your map
* [http://www.nysteo.com/contentindex.php?optimize zombie's *Edited* Optimization Page] An in-depth guide to optimizing your maps.
*[http://www.spillmodding.no/ Spillmodding.no] A norwegian mapping community with more than 130 tutorials for more than 13 engines!
*[http://www.taz00.com/ TAz00.com] 22+ Tutorials on Mapping, Beginner to Advanced, 10+ Maps with source files included!
*[http://www.mapping-area.com/ Mapping-area] - Tutorials on Mapping, Beginner to Advanced, all in french!


==Map Archives==
<div class="plainlinks" style="background:#303030; background-image:radial-gradient(ellipse at left top, rgba(100 100 100 / 22%), transparent 40%), linear-gradient(135deg, rgba(0 64 255 / 5%), rgba(150 150 150 / 2%)); border:1px solid rgb(255 255 255 / 20%); border-radius:.35em; padding:.4em .6em .6em.6em; margin-block:1em; overflow:clip">
* [http://www.17buddies.net 17buddies] - French community of gamers - Map Downloads, tools .
<div style="height:fit-content; font-weight:600; font-size:125%; color:rgb(255 255 255 / 90%); margin-bottom:.75em">Putting the "Community" in Valve Developer Community</div>
* [http://www-personal.umich.edu/~fischmt/ascendancy/index.html The Ascendancy] - What you're trying to live up to. Database of the very best HL2DM maps.<br>
<p style="font-weight:500; font-size:120%; line-height:150%">The Valve Developer Community is hosted and administered by Valve, but the wiki itself is almost entirely community-driven. Every page you see with an Edit tab, including this one, is likely written by someone in the community (though Valve staff are sometimes among them). If you want to do the same, go right ahead!</p>
* [http://csm2.net/ CSM2] - Map Downloads,Tutorials and mapping help forums.
<p style="font-weight:500; font-size:120%;">There are a number of other ways you can help out:</p>
* [http://www.lanmaniax.com LanManiaX] - The largest map database for HL\HL2.
<div style="font-weight:600; font-size:115%; margin-top:8px;">
* [http://www.nlxr.com The Nightlight Mapping] - Maps devoted to realistic locations.
* Go to the [[Valve Developer Community:Tasks|Tasks]] page and see what needs work!
* [http://www.dimensionstudios.org Dimension Studios] - Professional level design team. Order Source and Pre-Source maps. Also view tutorials in the forums.
* Participate in ongoing discussions (see [[Valve Developer Community:Ongoing discussions|Ongoing discussions]])
* Want to translate articles into another language? See [[Valve Developer Community:Alternative Languages|Alternative Languages]] for more information!
</div>
</div>


==Modeling==
<div class="plainlinks" style="background:#303030; background-image:radial-gradient(ellipse at left top, rgba(100 100 100 / 22%), transparent 40%), linear-gradient(180deg, rgba(0 192 255 / 10%), rgba(150 150 150 / 2%)); border:1px solid rgb(255 255 255 / 20%); border-radius:.35em; padding:.4em .6em .6em.6em; margin-block:1em; overflow:clip">
* [http://cannonfodder.chaosincarnate.net/cftools.htm Cannonfodder's Tools] - [[3dsmax tools|3DSMax Importers and Exporters]], [http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/dispgen Dispgen - Displacement Terrains from heightmaps], [[studiocompiler|StudioCompiler - Model/Texture Compiler/Decompiler]], [http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/winBSPzip winBSPzip - BSP Packer]
<div style="margin-block:.4em; flex-basis:125%;">{{Table
* [http://www.cgtalk.com CG Talk] The largest and most useful model discussion/news site on the internet.
| width  = 90%
* [http://ii.hl2files.com/sdk/introduction.php Insects Infestation - II SDK modeling] Export models to Source engine tutorials for 3DSMax, Maya, MS3D, XSI, FRAG.
| radius  = 12px
* [http://forum.resistanceandliberation.com/showthread.php?t=806 RnL Forums' Lightwave Plugins] - Lightwave mesh export plugins.  Not currently available, but may be in the future.
| align  = center
* [http://www.redemptionmod.com Redemption] - Modeling tutorials and blog for XSI and HL2 Source
| caption = <span style="font-weight:600; font-size:1.1em; color:rgb(255 255 255 / 90%);">Noticeboards</span> <p style="font-weight:500;">Noticeboards are places where editors can ask questions and request assistance from others who are familiar with the topic(s) covered by each board.</p>
| {{tr|bgcolor=transparent
| {{td|radius=8px 0 0 0|align=center|font-size=14px|bgcolor=#303030| '''[[New Help Desk|Help Desk]]''' }}
  {{td|radius=0 8px 0 0|align=center|bgcolor=#3A3A3A|For asking questions about the wiki in general.}}
}}
        {{tr|bgcolor=transparent
| {{td|align=center|font-size=14px|bgcolor=#303030| '''[[Valve Developer Community:Administrators' noticeboard|Administrators' noticeboard]] ''' }}
  {{td|align=center|bgcolor=#3A3A3A|For items that need the attention of admins.}}
        }}
        {{tr|bgcolor=transparent
| {{td|align=center|font-size=14px|bgcolor=#303030| '''[[Valve Developer Community:Translators' noticeboard|Translators' noticeboard]] ''' }}
  {{td|align=center|bgcolor=#3A3A3A|For items that need the attention of translators. Also used for sidebar translations.}}
        }}
        {{tr|bgcolor=transparent
| {{td|align=center|font-size=14px|bgcolor=#303030| '''[[Valve Developer Community:Reasons for speedy deletion|Reasons for speedy deletion]] ''' }}
  {{td|align=center|bgcolor=#3A3A3A|For discussing reasons to delete a certain article.}}
        }}
}}<br>
{{Table
| width  = 70%
| radius  = 12px
| align  = center
| caption = <span style="font-weight:600; font-size:1.1em; color:rgb(255 255 255 / 90%);">Centralized Discussions</span> <p style="font-weight:500;">Other centralized pages to discuss topics with the community. Comparable to {{w|Wikipedia:Village_pump|Wikipedia's village pump.}}</p>
| {{tr|bgcolor=transparent
| {{td|radius=8px 0 0 0|align=center|font-size=14px|bgcolor=#303030| '''[[Valve Developer Community:Discussion|Discussion]]''' }}
  {{td|radius=0 8px 0 0|align=center|bgcolor=#3A3A3A|General discussion about the wiki.}}
}}
        {{tr|bgcolor=transparent
| {{td|align=center|font-size=14px|bgcolor=#303030| '''[[Valve Developer Community:Proposals|Proposals]]''' }}
  {{td|align=center|bgcolor=#3A3A3A|For proposing changes to the wiki.}}
        }}
        {{tr|bgcolor=transparent
| {{td|align=center|font-size=14px|bgcolor=#303030| '''[[Talk:Main Page|Main Page Talk]]''' }}
  {{td|align=center|bgcolor=#3A3A3A|For discussing the wiki's main page.}}
        }}
}}</div>
</div>


==Content Design Tools==
<div> <!--Community Resources + Bringing work to community-->
===Image Creation and Editing===
*[http://adobe.com/ Adobe Photoshop] - The standard image editing tool in the industy, used by professionals all over the world. Very expensive.
*[http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshopelwin/main.html Adobe Photoshop Elements] - Low-cost, consumer version of Photoshop with high-end features such as colour management removed.
*[http://www.gimp.org/ The GIMP] - Completely free, open source image editing software available for Windows, Linux, Mac OS X and other UNIX operating systems. Complex to use, but powerful, scriptable and endlessly modifiable.
*[http://jasc.com/ Paint Shop Pro] - A cheap alternative to Adobe Photoshop.  For those who don't want to break the bank.
*[http://www.telefragged.com/wally/ Wally] - Simple and dumb freeware texture/decals/skining editing program.


===3D Modelling, Animation and Rendering===
<div class="plainlinks" style="background:#303030; background-image:radial-gradient(ellipse at left top, rgba(100 100 100 / 22%), transparent 40%), linear-gradient(135deg, rgba(192 255 0 / 5%), rgba(150 150 150 / 2%)); border:1px solid rgb(255 255 255 / 20%); border-radius:.35em; padding:.4em .6em .6em.6em; margin-block:1em; overflow:clip">
*[http://discreet.com/ 3D Studio Max] - Powerful tool for modeling and animation, one of the industry's best. Expensive.
*[http://www.blender.org/ Blender] - Free, open source modeling, animation, rendering, post-production, interactive creation and playback library/engine/IDE.
*[http://www.autodesk.com/gmax/ Gmax] - Free modeling tool, without the rendering tools of 3D Studio Max.
*[http://www.newtek.com Lightwave 3D] - Excelent modelling & animation tool.
*[http://alias.com/ Maya 3D] - Excellent modeling and animation package. Considered to be one of the best among modders. Also expensive.
*[http://www.milkshape3d.com Milkshape3D] - Low cost, popular and simple to use 3D modelling program.
*[http://www.softimage.com Softimage|XSI] - Program used to make models & animations for HL2. XSI Mod Tool is available for FREE.
*[http://www.wings3d.com Wings3D] - Free, open source Nendo-alike natural modeling IDE.


==Programming==
<div style="display:grid; grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fill,minmax(clamp((100%/2) - 1rem, 25rem, 100%),1fr)); column-gap:1.0em;">
* [http://hl2coding.com/ Hl2 Coding] - Has some good hl2 related coding tutorials and has great forums for coders to chat.


==Resources==
<div>
Content for your project.
<div style="height:fit-content; font-weight:600; font-size:1.1em; color:rgb(255 255 255 / 90%); margin-bottom:.5em">Community Resources</div>
<span style="font-weight:600;">The Valve Developer Community has a vast number of resources available for modders, by modders:</span><br>
<span style="font-weight:300">
* [[Third Party Tools]]
* [[:Category:Tutorials|Tutorials]]
* [[:Category:Open Source|Open-Source Mods and Tools]] and [[:Category:Free source code|Free source code]]
* [[:Category:Publicity & Publication|Publicity & Publication information]]
<br></div>


* [http://www.animax.it/ Animax.it] - Free textures.
<div>
* [http://www.imageafter.com/ Image * After] - 10,000+ free images and textures.
<div style="height:fit-content; font-weight:600; font-size:1.1em; color:rgb(255 255 255 / 90%); margin-bottom:.5em">External Sites</div>
* [http://www.mayang.com/textures/ Mayang.com Textures] - Free textures for your maps and mods.
<span style="font-weight:600;">The Valve Developer Community links to [[:Category:External Sites|many additional websites]] which can assist modding:</span><br>
* [http://forum.moddb.com/thread/1975/ Moddb texture site directory] - Directory of free, ready to use game textures.
* [[Modding Sites]]
* [http://www.morguefile.com/ MorgueFile] - Free, high-resolution stock photography.
* [[Material Download Sites]]
* [http://perso.wanadoo.fr/oyonale/ Oyonale] - Small library of source photos suitable for turning into textures, courtesy of [http://www.oyonale.com/ Gilles Tran].
* [[Image Manipulation Programs]] and [[3D Modeling Programs]]
* [http://www.locationworks.com/ LocationWorks] - Lots of pictures, anything from old castles to pubs.
* [[International Sites]]
* [http://www.sxc.hu/ SXC.HU] - Huge library of images.
* [[Hosting Sites]]
* [[Map Archive Sites]]
</div>


== Other ==
</div>


* Official VERC Network [http://www.chatbear.com/board.plm?b=668&v=flatold Forums]
</div>


=== Game Design ===
<div class="plainlinks" style="background:#303030; background-image:radial-gradient(ellipse at left top, rgba(100 100 100 / 22%), transparent 40%), linear-gradient(135deg, rgba(255 192 0 / 5%), rgba(150 150 150 / 2%)); border:1px solid rgb(255 255 255 / 20%); border-radius:.35em; padding:.4em .6em .6em.6em; margin-block:1em; overflow:clip">
<div style="height:fit-content; font-weight:600; font-size:1.1em; color:rgb(255 255 255 / 90%); margin-bottom:.5em">Bringing your work to the community</div>
<span style="font-weight:600;">The Valve Developer Community once served as a hub for promoting Source mods and users willing to/looking for help, although that side of the community has migrated to other platforms over the years.</span><br><br>
<span style="font-weight:300">If you are creating a custom mod or map pack, and the game involved doesn't have a Steam Workshop, you may be interested in publishing it on {{Moddb}} or {{Gamebanana}}. Depending on the circumstances, you might even be able to publish your mod on Steam as its own application. Mods which are notable or have their own modding ecosystems continue to be documented on this wiki. You can see all of the mods documented on the VDC, past or present, in [[:Category:Mods]].
{{todo|More comprehensive explanation relating to [[Help:Mod Profiles]]}}
</span>
</div>


* [http://forum.moddb.com/thread/4386/ Game Design Theory] - Interesting for art directors, team leaders
</div>
* [http://guildhall.smu.edu/ GuildHall] - Teaching the arts and sciences of digital game development.
* [http://www.gamasutra.com/features/19991210/birdwell_pfv.htm Ken Birdwell's Gamasutra article] - The Cabal: Valve’s Design Process For Creating Half-Life (registration required)


=== Photo Reference ===
</div>


* [http://www.3d.sk 3d.sk] -  Human Photo References for 3D Artists and Game Developers (large source -partly free)
<div class="plainlinks" style="background:#303030; background-image:radial-gradient(ellipse at left top, rgba(100 100 100 / 22%), transparent 40%), linear-gradient(225deg, rgba(125 125 125 / 5%), rgba(125 125 175 / 5%)); border:1px solid rgb(255 255 255 / 20%); border-radius:.35em; padding:.4em .6em .6em.6em; margin-block:1em; overflow:clip">
* [http://www.textureref.com TextureRef.com] - Online repository of Texturekits and high-res Photo References for Artists (small source - partly free)
<div style="height:fit-content; font-weight:600; font-size:1.5em; color:rgb(255 255 255 / 90%); margin-bottom:.5em; text-align:center;">Other Valve Wikis</div>
* [http://www.morguefile.com/ Morguefile.com] - Lots of free photos. Anything from fruit to cement factories.
<div style="height:fit-content; font-weight:600; color:rgb(255 255 255 / 90%); margin-bottom:.5em; text-align:center;">NOTE: Of the following sites, only the TF2 Official Wiki is hosted and administered by Valve.</div>


===[[:Category:Steam|Steam]]===
{{VWN}}
* [http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/ Steampowered forums]
* [http://www.steamreview.org/ The Steam review] - Comment and discussion on Valve Software’s digital distribution platform.


==[[:Category:Steam Applications|Steam Applications]]==
</div>
* [[Steam Application IDs]]
* [http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Category:Official_Third_Party_Games Official Games on STEAM]
===Modifications===
* [[:Category:HL1 Third Party Mods|HL1 Third Party Mods]] {{HL1}}
* [[:Category:HL2 Third Party Mods|HL2 Third Party Mods]] {{HL2}}
* [[:Category:Official Mods|Official Mods]] {{HL1}} {{HL2}}


==[[Testing Valve Games on Vista]]==
<hr>
 
{{VDC-navbox}}
 
[[Category:Wiki]]

Latest revision as of 10:36, 3 June 2025

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VDC:CP
HL2 GamepadUI - Chapter 1.jpg
Welcome to the community portal! This page provides community resources and ways you can interact with the Valve Developer Community. See Help:Contents for a wider overview on how to contribute to the wiki.
Putting the "Community" in Valve Developer Community

The Valve Developer Community is hosted and administered by Valve, but the wiki itself is almost entirely community-driven. Every page you see with an Edit tab, including this one, is likely written by someone in the community (though Valve staff are sometimes among them). If you want to do the same, go right ahead!

There are a number of other ways you can help out:

Noticeboards

Noticeboards are places where editors can ask questions and request assistance from others who are familiar with the topic(s) covered by each board.
Help Desk For asking questions about the wiki in general.
Administrators' noticeboard For items that need the attention of admins.
Translators' noticeboard For items that need the attention of translators. Also used for sidebar translations.
Reasons for speedy deletion For discussing reasons to delete a certain article.

Centralized Discussions

Other centralized pages to discuss topics with the community. Comparable to Wikipedia icon Wikipedia's village pump.
Discussion General discussion about the wiki.
Proposals For proposing changes to the wiki.
Main Page Talk For discussing the wiki's main page.
Community Resources

The Valve Developer Community has a vast number of resources available for modders, by modders:


Bringing your work to the community

The Valve Developer Community once served as a hub for promoting Source mods and users willing to/looking for help, although that side of the community has migrated to other platforms over the years.

If you are creating a custom mod or map pack, and the game involved doesn't have a Steam Workshop, you may be interested in publishing it on ModDB ModDB or ModDB GameBanana. Depending on the circumstances, you might even be able to publish your mod on Steam as its own application. Mods which are notable or have their own modding ecosystems continue to be documented on this wiki. You can see all of the mods documented on the VDC, past or present, in Category:Mods.

Todo: More comprehensive explanation relating to Help:Mod Profiles

Other Valve Wikis
NOTE: Of the following sites, only the TF2 Official Wiki is hosted and administered by Valve.

Combineoverwiki-wh.png Left 4 Dead Wiki Logo.png Portalwiki.png Team Fortress Wiki Logo.png

Administration
Guidelines
Images
Maintenance
Categories
Issues
Templates
Logo of Valve Corporation.
Community
Pages
Discussion
Informational
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