Valve Developer Community:Community portal: Difference between revisions

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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.
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==Cross-Purpose and General Development==
* [http://collective.valve-erc.com/ VERC] - Valve Editing Resource Collective. This site's predecessor, which offers primarily HL1 resources (Official)
* [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.
* [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://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 visits 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!
<!-- Under construction... [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://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==
{{Background
* [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)
| file = HL2 GamepadUI - Chapter 1.jpg
* [http://www.violator.eclipse.co.uk/disped/ DispEd] - Precise displacement editor used to make geometric shapes in the style of "Quake 3 patches."
| opacity = 0.13
* [http://www.editlife.net/ Edit Life] - Mapping articles, entity list, error documentation and forums
| gradient-height = 250px
* [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!


==Modeling==
<div style="display:flex; flex-direction:column; gap:.8em; align-items:center; margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:3em"> <!--
* [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]
--> <span style="color:rgb(255 255 255 / 80%); font-weight:bold; font-size:1.75em"> Welcome to the community portal!</span> <!--
* [http://www.cgtalk.com CG Talk] The largest and most useful model discussion/news site on the internet.
--> <!--<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>--> <!--
* [http://ii.hl2files.com/sdk/introduction.php Insects Infestation - II SDK modeling] Export models to Source engine tutorials for 3DSMax, Maya, MS3D, XSI, FRAG. 
--> <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> <!--
* [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.
--> <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>
* [http://www.redemptionmod.com Redemption] - Modeling tutorials and blog for XSI and HL2 Source
</div>
* [http://www.digital-tutors.com Digital Tutors] - Excellent video tutorials, free and packaged, for using SoftImage|XSI and Adobe Photoshop


==Programming==
<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://hl2coding.com/ Hl2 Coding] - Has some good hl2 related coding tutorials and has great forums for coders to chat.
* [http://msdn.microsoft.com/coding4fun/half-life/default.aspx MSDN] - MSDN Half-Life Coding4fun.
* [http://www.priyajeet.com/web/MSDN/ Game Programming in C#] - 11-part Video Tutorial for Game Programming from MSDN.
* [http://msdn.microsoft.com/directx/default.aspx?pull=/library/en-us/directx9_c/directx_sdk.asp Directx C++] - Documentation for Unmanaged Directx
* [http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/directx9_m/directx/directx9m.asp?frame=true Directx Managed] - Documentation for Managed Directx
* [http://www.mdxinfo.com/ Managed Directx Info] - Includes various resources, tools, samples, code snippets for Managed Directx
* [http://msdn.microsoft.com/coding4fun/gamedevelopment/rocketcmd/default.aspx Tutorials of Rocket Commander] - 10-Part Howto make 3D Games Tutorial
* [http://www.gamedev.net/ Gamedev] - Website with a lot of useful resources for game developers.
===Sample Source Code===
* [http://www.planofattackgame.com/news.php Plan of Attack Source Code] - The entire source code (including art assets) for the Plan of Attack mod, free to use in other mods.
* [ftp://ftp.idsoftware.com/idstuff/source/ Quake Engine Source Code] - Source code from old Quake (used by Half-Life too) and Doom games.
* [http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=6d790cde-c3e5-46be-b3a5-729581269a9c&DisplayLang=en Mech Commander 2] - Entire game and source code. Can serve as an example for learning programming.


==Other==
{{Ongoing discussions|width=none|float=none|style=margin-block:1.0em;|depth=1|templatelinks=1}}
* Official VERC Network [http://www.chatbear.com/board.plm?b=668&v=flatold Forums]


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<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>
<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>
<p style="font-weight:500; font-size:120%;">There are a number of other ways you can help out:</p>
<div style="font-weight:600; font-size:115%; margin-top:8px;">
* Go to the [[Valve Developer Community:Tasks|Tasks]] page and see what needs work!
* 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>


==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(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://www.dodirectory.com/ ''Day of Defeat'' Directory] - Directory for custom maps, files and links to other ''Day of Defeat: Source'' sites
<div style="margin-block:.4em; flex-basis:125%;">{{Table
* [http://www.17buddies.net 17buddies] - French community of gamers - Map Downloads, tools .
| width  = 90%
* [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>
| radius  = 12px
* [http://csm2.net/ CSM2] - Map Downloads,Tutorials and mapping help forums.
| align  = center
* [http://www.lanmaniax.com LanManiaX] - The largest map database for HL\HL2.
| 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>
* [http://www.nlxr.com The Nightlight Mapping] - Maps devoted to realistic locations.
| {{tr|bgcolor=transparent
* [http://www.dimensionstudios.org Dimension Studios] - Professional level design team. Order Source and Pre-Source maps. Also view tutorials in the forums.
| {{td|radius=8px 0 0 0|align=center|font-size=14px|bgcolor=#303030| '''[[New Help Desk|Help Desk]]''' }}
{{category cell|background-color=white|border-color=lightgray}}
  {{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>


==Image Creation and Editing==
<div> <!--Community Resources + Bringing work to community-->
*[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 freeware texture/decals/skining editing program.
*[http://www.eecs.wsu.edu/paint.net/index.html Paint.NET] - An open source .NET based image manipulation program.


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==3D Modelling, Animation and Rendering==
<div style="display:grid; grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fill,minmax(clamp((100%/2) - 1rem, 25rem, 100%),1fr)); column-gap:1.0em;">
*[http://www.softimage.com Softimage|XSI] - Program used to make models & animations for HL2. XSI Mod Tool is available for FREE.
*[http://discreet.com/ 3D Studio Max] - Powerful tool for modeling and animation, one of the industry's best. Expensive.
*[http://alias.com/ Maya 3D] - Excellent modeling and animation package.  Considered to be one of the best among modders. Also expensive.
*[http://www.blender.org/ Blender] - Free, open source modeling, animation, rendering, post-production, interactive creation and playback library/engine/IDE.
*[http://www.newtek.com Lightwave 3D] - Excellent modelling & animation tool.  See [[Lightwave]] for links to HL2 exporters.  Like every other high end package, it is considered to be one of the best by its fans. :) Expensive, but less so than others.
*[http://www.milkshape3d.com Milkshape3D] - Low cost, popular and simple to use 3D modelling program.
*[http://www.wings3d.com Wings3D] - Free, open source Nendo-alike natural modeling IDE.


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<div>
<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>


==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">External Sites</div>
<span style="font-weight:600;">The Valve Developer Community links to [[:Category:External Sites|many additional websites]] which can assist modding:</span><br>
* [[Modding Sites]]
* [[Material Download Sites]]
* [[Image Manipulation Programs]] and [[3D Modeling Programs]]
* [[International Sites]]
* [[Hosting Sites]]
* [[Map Archive Sites]]
</div>


* [http://www.animax.it/ Animax.it] - Free textures.
</div>
* [http://www.imageafter.com/ Image * After] - 10,000+ free images and textures.
* [http://www.mayang.com/textures/ Mayang.com Textures] - Free textures for your maps and mods.
* [http://forum.moddb.com/thread/1975/ Moddb texture site directory] - Directory of free, ready to use game textures.
* [http://www.morguefile.com/ MorgueFile] - Free, high-resolution stock photography.
* [http://perso.wanadoo.fr/oyonale/ Oyonale] - Small library of source photos suitable for turning into textures, courtesy of [http://www.oyonale.com/ Gilles Tran].
* [http://www.locationworks.com/ LocationWorks] - Lots of pictures, anything from old castles to pubs.
* [http://www.sxc.hu/ SXC.HU] - Huge library of images.


===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(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">
* [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:1.1em; color:rgb(255 255 255 / 90%); margin-bottom:.5em">Bringing your work to the community</div>
* [http://www.morguefile.com/ Morguefile.com] - Lots of free photos. Anything from fruit to cement factories.
<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>
* [http://www.shutterstock.com ShutterStock] - 700,000 photos/vectors/illustrations/images/etc avail by subscription. All royalty-free.
<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>


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</div>


==Game Design==
</div>
* [http://forum.moddb.com/thread/4386/ Game Design Theory] - Interesting for art directors, team leaders
* [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)


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<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>
<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]]


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<hr>


==Modifications==
{{VDC-navbox}}
* [[:Category:HL1 Third Party Mods|HL1 Third Party Mods]] {{HL1}}
* [[:Category:HL2 Third Party Mods|HL2 Third Party Mods]] {{HL2}}
* [[:Category:Official Games|Official Games]] {{HL1}} {{HL2}}


{{category end}}
[[Category:Wiki]]
 
__NOTOC__

Latest revision as of 10:36, 3 June 2025

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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.