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 seach 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"> <!--
* [http://www.gamedesign.net Gamedesign.net] - Some helpful modding and mapping tutorials.
--> <span style="color:rgb(255 255 255 / 80%); font-weight:bold; font-size:1.75em"> Welcome to the community portal!</span> <!--
* [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.
--> <!--<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://www.hl2modcentral.com/ HL2 Mod Central] - General tutorials
--> <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://hl2world.com/wiki HL2World.com] - Half Life 2 Knowledge Base
--> <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://hl.tozcentral.net/ hl.tozcentral.net] - Half Life and Half-Life 2 resource, Post your own bots, maps, media, mods and tutorials
</div>
* [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 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.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.modhelp.net Modhelp.net] - A developing modding community.
* [http://nemesis.thewavelength.net/index.php Nem's Tools] - Several useful Source tools including [[GCFScape]]
* [http://www.snarkpit.net The Snarkpit] - Mapping and modelling community site
* [http://www.sourceblog.net 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==
<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.akilling.org/ aKilling.org] - Source Mapping tutorials, Files, child-safe forums. (English, German & Portuguese)
* [http://www.editlife.net/ Edit Life] - Mapping articles and forums
* [http://www.halfwit-2.com/ Half-wit 2] - Another collection of Mapping tutorials
* [http://www.student.kun.nl/rvanhoorn/Optimization.htm zombies Optimizing-page] information on optimizing your map
* [http://www.freepgs.com/ishbog/contentindex.php?optimize zombie's *Edited* Optimization Page] An in-depth guide to optimizing your maps.


==Map Archives==
{{Ongoing discussions|width=none|float=none|style=margin-block:1.0em;|depth=1|templatelinks=1}}
* [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>
* [http://www.lanmaniax.com LanManiaX] - The largest map database for HL\HL2.


==Modelling==
<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://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="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.cgtalk.com CG Talk] The largest and most useful model discussion/news site on the internet.
<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://forum.resistanceandliberation.com/showthread.php?t=806 RnL Forums' Lightwave Plugins] - Lightwave mesh export plugins.  Not currently available, but may be in the future.
<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>


==Content Design Tools==
<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">
===Image Creation and Editing===
<div style="margin-block:.4em; flex-basis:125%;">{{Table
*[http://adobe.com/ Adobe Photoshop] - The standard image editing tool in the industy, used by professionals all over the world. Very expensive.
| width  = 90%
*[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.
| radius  = 12px
*[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.
| align  = center
*[http://jasc.com/ Paint Shop Pro] - A cheap alternative to Adobe Photoshop.  For those who don't want to break the bank.
| 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.telefragged.com/wally/ Wally] -  Simple and dumb freeware texture/decals/skining editing program.
| {{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>


===3D Modelling, Animation and Rendering===
<div> <!--Community Resources + Bringing work to community-->
*[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://alias.com/ Maya 3D] - Excellent modeling and animation package.  Considered to be one of the best among modders. Also expensive.
*[http://www.wings3d.com Wings3D] - Free, open source Nendo-alike natural modeling IDE.


==Programming==
<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://hl2coding.com/ Hl2 Coding] - Has some good hl2 related coding tutorials and has great forums for coders to chat.


==Resources==
<div style="display:grid; grid-template-columns:repeat(auto-fill,minmax(clamp((100%/2) - 1rem, 25rem, 100%),1fr)); column-gap:1.0em;">
Content for your project.


* [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">Community Resources</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 has a vast number of resources available for modders, by modders:</span><br>
* [http://forum.moddb.com/thread/1975/ Moddb texture site directory] - Directory of free, ready to use game textures.
<span style="font-weight:300">
* [http://www.morguefile.com/ MorgueFile] - Free, high-resolution stock photography.
* [[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>


<div>
<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>


== Other ==
</div>


Other pages that may be of interest.
</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)


=== Steam ===
</div>


* [http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/ Steampowered forums]
<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">
<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>


{{VWN}}


==Modifications==
</div>
* [[: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}}


==ModDB Mod List==
<hr>
* [http://games.moddb.com/1/ Half-Life] {{HL1}}
 
* [http://games.moddb.com/61/ Half-Life 2] {{HL2}}
{{VDC-navbox}}
 
[[Category:Wiki]]

Latest revision as of 10:36, 3 June 2025

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Shortcut
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
Languages
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