Dissection of Official L4D2 Campaigns

Another way to help understand L4D2 level creation is to see what makes up an official one. This does not mean that developers are limited to only these elements in a L4D2 map, but these maps can be very good examples to start with.

Todo: Organize, interpret, tabulate, compact... celebrate!

Some Observations / Interpretations

• All maps are compiled only in HDR.
• Light entities often used:
• sky_camera is in every map. A L4D2 map without a 3D skybox will give graphical glitches in-game.

c1: Dead Center

Entities

Note: in this table denotes entities unique to Left 4 Dead Series.

Todo: confirm exclusive L4D series ents and what is only in L4D2

Note:Entity categories are arbitrary. Feel free to change entity category that makes more sense.

Dead Center

Entity Name	m1_hotel	m2_streets	m3_mall	m4_atrium	Category			Notes
ambient_generic	40	9	3	5	Audio and Choreography
beam_spotlight	-	21	40	-	Lighting and Visual Effects
color_correction	4	2	2	3	Lighting and Visual Effects
env_cubemap	84	27	40	28	Lighting and Visual Effects
env_entity_maker	-	2	181	-	Point Function
env_explosion	-	1	-	-	Point Function
env_fade	2	-	-	6	Lighting and Visual Effects			Usually for intro and outtro.
env_fog_controller	9	2	2	2	Lighting and Visual Effects
env_microphone	-	1	-	-	Audio and Choreography
env_outtro_stats	-	-	-	1	Point Function	x	x
env_physexplosion	-	1	-	1	Point Function
env_player_blocker	-	-	1	4	Point Function		x
env_physics_blocker	-	-	-	1	Point Function		x
env_shake	24	1	-	1	Lighting and Visual Effects
env_soundscape	62	29	28	20	Audio and Choreography
env_sprite	9	18	1	-	Lighting and Visual Effects
env_sun	1	1	-	-	Lighting and Visual Effects
env_tonemap_controller	1	1	1	1	Lighting and Visual Effects
env_tonemap_controller_ghost	1	1	1	1	Lighting and Visual Effects	x	x
env_tonemap_controller_infected	1	1	1	1	Lighting and Visual Effects	x	x
filter_activator_model	-	1	-	1	Filter
filter_activator_name	-	-	1	1	Filter
filter_activator_team	3	1	2	2	Filter
filter_damage_type	-	-	1	-	Filter
filter_melee_damage	-	-	1	-	Filter		x
filter_multi	-	-	1	-	Filter
fog_volume	15	8	2	2	Lighting and Visual Effects	x	x
func_block_charge	-	2	-	-	Brush Function		x
func_breakable	8	12	431	127	Brush Function
func_brush	195	30	36	2	Brush Function
func_button	2	1	1	2	Brush Function
func_clip_vphysics	-	50	-	3	Brush Function
func_detail	701	747	1830	717	Brush Function
func_door	-	1	-	6	Brush Function
func_door_rotating	-	-	9	6	Brush Function
func_illusionary	-	1	-	-	Brush Function			A legacy brush entity still used today.
func_elevator	1	-	-	1	Brush Function
func_ladder	-	77	26	9	Brush Function
func_movelinear	4	-	-	-	Brush Function
func_nav_attribute_region	1	23	-	2	Brush Function	x	x
func_nav_blocker	9	17	15	5	Brush Function	x	x
func_orator	1	1	2	1	Point Function
func_precipitation	1	-	-	-	Brush Function
func_playerinfected_clip	-	57	-	-	Brush Function	x	x
func_rotating	-	1	-	-	Brush Function
func_timescale	-	-	-	1	Brush Function		x
game_scavenge_progress_display	-	-	-	1	Point Function		x
info_ambient_mob_end	-	-	2	-	Point Info		x
info_ambient_mob_start	-	-	2	-	Point Info		x
info_changelevel	1	2	2	-	Point Info	x	x	Treated like brush ent. in Hammer
info_director	1	1	1	1	Point Info	x	x
info_elevator_floor	2	-	-	2	Point Info	x	x
info_game_event_proxy	5	8	3	10	Point Info	x	x
info_gamemode	-	3	-	3	Point Info	x	x
info_goal_infected_chase	-	-	-	1	Point Info	x	x
info_landmark	1	2	2	1	Point Info
info_map_parameters	1	1	1	1	Point Info	x	x
info_map_parameters_versus	1	1	1	-	Point Info		x
info_overlay	156	348	457	226	Props and Detail
info_particle_system	145	8	2	1	Lighting and Visual Effects
info_particle_target	166	12	-	-	Lighting and Visual Effects		x
info_player_start	4	-	-	-	Point Info
info_projecteddecal	10	-	-	-	Props and Detail
info_remarkable	16	16	32	-	Audio and Choreography	x	x
info_survivor_position	4	-	-	16	Point Info	x	x
info_survivor_rescue	6	12	12	-	Point Info	x	x
info_target	2	1	1	1	Point Info
info_zombie_spawn	26	-	-	34	Point Info	x	x
infodecal	14	-	8	7	Props and Detail
keyframe_rope	31	59	-	-	Props and Detail
light	95	15	3	2	Lighting and Visual Effects
light_directional	1	1	1	1	Lighting and Visual Effects
light_environment	1	1	1	1	Lighting and Visual Effects
light_spot	69	30	42	10	Lighting and Visual Effects
logic_auto	6	22	14	7	Logic
logic_branch	-	2	-	2	Logic
logic_branch_listener	-	-	-	1	Logic
logic_case	76	13	80	6	Logic
logic_choreographed_scene	1	-	-	-	Audio and Choreography
logic_compare	-	-	1	-	Logic
logic_director_query	3	1	3	-	Logic		x
logic_relay	43	15	19	22	Logic
logic_script	-	1	-	-	Logic
logic_timer	10	12	77	4	Logic
math_counter	4	-	1	-	Logic
move_rope	10	20	-	-	Props and Detail
path_track	14	1	-	4	Lighting and Visual Effects			Could be decompile error of info_lighting.
player_weaponstrip	-	1	-	-	Point Function
point_hurt	1	-	-	-	Point Function
point_prop_use_target	-	1	-	1	Point Function
point_spotlight	-	-	-	2	Lighting and Visual Effects
point_template	47	5	30	21	Point Function
point_viewcontrol_multiplayer	-	-	-	5	Point Function	x	x
point_viewcontrol_survivor	4	-	-	-	Point Function	x	x
postprocess_controller	4	2	2	3	Lighting and Visual Effects	x	x
prop_car_alarm	-	2	-	-	Props and Detail	x	x
prop_car_glass	-	4	-	-	Props and Detail	x	x
prop_door_rotating	29	13	39	16	Props and Detail
prop_door_rotating_checkpoint	1	2	2	1	Props and Detail	x	x
prop_dynamic	72	55	19	25	Props and Detail
prop_dynamic_override	-	-	-	2	Props and Detail
prop_health_cabinet	-	1	2	-	Props and Detail	x	x
prop_physics	314	230	288	87	Props and Detail
prop_static	1748	2193	4089	2332	Props and Detail
shadow_control	1	1	1	1	Lighting and Visual Effects
sky_camera	1	1	1	1	Lighting and Visual Effects
trigger_active_weapon_detect	-	1	-	-	Trigger		x
trigger_auto_crouch	-	-	4	-	Trigger	x	x
trigger_finale	-	-	-	1	Trigger	x	x
trigger_hurt	51	5	1	2	Trigger
trigger_hurt_ghost	7	-	-	-	Trigger		x
trigger_look	1	-	-	-	Trigger
trigger_multiple	5	2	3	2	Trigger
trigger_once	19	7	2	1	Trigger
trigger_push	38	4	-	2	Trigger
upgrade_spawn	-	17	-	9	Weapons		x
weapon_adrenaline_spawn	-	-	-	15	Weapons		x
weapon_ammo_spawn	1	7	2	3	Weapons	x	x
weapon_autoshotgun_spawn	-	7	-	1	Weapons	x	x
weapon_chainsaw_spawn	3	-	-	-	Weapons		x
weapon_defibrillator_spawn	-	-	-	1	Weapons		x
weapon_first_aid_kit_spawn	9	12	8	8	Weapons	x	x
weapon_hunting_rifle_spawn	-	4	-	-	Weapons	x	x
weapon_item_spawn	51	100	148	9	Weapons		x
weapon_melee_spawn	8	14	10	9	Weapons		x
weapon_molotov_spawn	-	-	-	23	Weapons	x	x
weapon_pain_pills_spawn	1	-	-	31	Weapons	x	x
weapon_pipe_bomb_spawn	-	-	-	25	Weapons	x	x
weapon_pistol_magnum_spawn	1	2	-	-	Weapons		x
weapon_pistol_spawn	3	5	-	-	Weapons	x	x
weapon_pumpshotgun_spawn	-	4	-	-	Weapons	x	x
weapon_rifle_ak47_spawn	-	5	-	1	Weapons		x
weapon_rifle_desert_spawn	-	4	-	1	Weapons		x
weapon_rifle_spawn	-	6	-	1	Weapons	x	x
weapon_scavenge_item_spawn	-	-	-	35	Weapons		x
weapon_shotgun_chrome_spawn	3	2	-	1	Weapons		x
weapon_shotgun_spas_spawn	-	4	-	-	Weapons		x
weapon_smg_silenced_spawn	1	3	-	1	Weapons		x
weapon_smg_spawn	-	2	-	-	Weapons	x	x
weapon_sniper_military_spawn	-	2	-	1	Weapons		x
weapon_spawn	6	13	17	8	Weapons		x
weapon_vomitjar_spawn	-	-	-	19	Weapons		x

c2: Dark Carnival

Entities

Dark Carnival

Entity Name	m1_highway	m2_fairgrounds	m3_coaster	m4_barns	m5_concert	Category			Notes
ambient_generic	9	17	15	-		Audio and Choreography
ambient_music	-	1	-	-		Audio and Choreography		x
beam_spotlight	22	48	8	-		Lighting and Visual Effects
color_correction	3	2	3	-		Lighting and Visual Effects
env_cubemap	63	48	68	-		Lighting and Visual Effects
env_entity_maker	3	-	-	-		Point Function
env_explosion	-	-	-	-	-	Point Function
env_fade	4	1	-	-	-	Lighting and Visual Effects			Usually for intro and outtro.
env_fog_controller	2	2	3	-		Lighting and Visual Effects
env_microphone	-	-	-	-	-	Audio and Choreography
env_outtro_stats	-	-	-	-	-	Point Function	x	x
env_physexplosion	-	-	-	-	-	Point Function
env_player_blocker	2	-	-	-		Point Function		x
env_physics_blocker	-	-	-	-		Point Function		x
env_shake	-	-	-	-		Lighting and Visual Effects
env_soundscape	88	38	41	-		Audio and Choreography
env_spark	-	1	-	-		Lighting and Visual Effects
env_sprite	162	97	11	-		Lighting and Visual Effects
env_sun	-	-	-	-		Lighting and Visual Effects
env_tonemap_controller	1	1	1	1	1	Lighting and Visual Effects
env_tonemap_controller_ghost	1	1	1	1	1	Lighting and Visual Effects	x	x
env_tonemap_controller_infected	1	1	1	1	1	Lighting and Visual Effects	x	x
env_wind	2	1	1	-	-	Point Function
filter_activator_model	-	1	-	-	-	Filter
filter_activator_name	-	-	-	-	-	Filter
filter_activator_team	2	1	1	-	-	Filter
filter_damage_type	-	-	-	-		Filter
filter_melee_damage	-	-	-	-		Filter		x
filter_multi	-	-	-	-		Filter
fog_volume	2	2	3	-		Lighting and Visual Effects	x	x
func_block_charge	-	-	-	-		Brush Function		x
func_breakable	-	3	4	-		Brush Function
func_brush	75	18	58	-		Brush Function
func_button	1	4	3	-		Brush Function
func_clip_vphysics	-	1	-	-		Brush Function
func_detail	596	1627	2917	-		Brush Function
func_detail_blocker	26	3	-	-		Brush Function
func_door	-	3	-	-		Brush Function
func_door_rotating	-	15	-	-		Brush Function
func_illusionary	-	-	-	-		Brush Function			A legacy brush entity still used today.
func_elevator	-	-	-	-		Brush Function
func_ladder	32	74	75	-		Brush Function
func_movelinear	-	9	-	-		Brush Function
func_nav_attribute_region	28	25	5	-		Brush Function	x	x
func_nav_blocker	10	18	5			Brush Function	x	x
func_orator	1	1	1	1	1	Point Function
func_precipitation		-	-	-		Brush Function
func_physbox	-	-	4	-	-	Brush Function
func_playerinfected_clip	-	53	2	-		Brush Function	x	x
func_rot_button	-	8	-	-		Brush Function
func_rotating	-	2	-	-		Brush Function
func_timescale	-	-	-			Brush Function		x
func_tracktrain	-	1	-			Brush Function
game_scavenge_progress_display	-	-	-			Point Function		x
info_ambient_mob_end	-	-		-		Point Info		x
info_ambient_mob_start	-	-		-		Point Info		x
info_changelevel	1	2	2	2	-	Point Info	x	x	Treated like brush ent. in Hammer
info_director	1	1	1	1	1	Point Info	x	x
info_elevator_floor		-	-			Point Info	x	x
info_game_event_proxy	10	3	3			Point Info	x	x
info_gamemode	2	4	2			Point Info	x	x
info_goal_infected_chase	-	-	-			Point Info	x	x
info_landmark	1	2	2	2	1	Point Info
info_map_parameters	1	1	1	1	1	Point Info	x	x
info_map_parameters_versus	1	1	1	1	1	Point Info		x
info_overlay	136	210	92			Props and Detail
info_particle_system	21	52	87	-	-	Lighting and Visual Effects
info_particle_target	12	97	77	-	-	Lighting and Visual Effects		x
info_player_start	4	1	1	-		Point Info
info_projecteddecal	-	-	-	-		Props and Detail
info_remarkable	42	36		-		Audio and Choreography	x	x
info_survivor_position	12	9	5			Point Info	x	x
info_survivor_rescue	7	18	6	-		Point Info	x	x
info_target	-	20	2			Point Info
info_zombie_spawn		-	-			Point Info	x	x
infodecal	-	-	13	-	-	Props and Detail
keyframe_rope	-	72	-	-	-	Props and Detail
light	34	165	154			Lighting and Visual Effects
light_directional	1	1	1	1	1	Lighting and Visual Effects
light_environment	1	1	1	1	1	Lighting and Visual Effects
light_spot	69	35	102			Lighting and Visual Effects
logic_auto	12	6	4			Logic
logic_branch	3		-			Logic
logic_branch_listener	-	-	-			Logic
logic_case	8	1				Logic
logic_choreographed_scene	1	-	-	-	-	Audio and Choreography
logic_compare	-	-		-		Logic
logic_director_query				-		Logic		x
logic_relay	27	16	13			Logic
logic_script	-	6	-	-		Logic
logic_timer	6	2	1			Logic
math_counter		-		-		Logic
momentary_rot_button	-	6	-	-	-	Brush Function
move_rope		15	-	-		Props and Detail
path_track		4	-			Lighting and Visual Effects			Could be decompile error of info_lighting.
player_weaponstrip	-		-	-		Point Function
point_broadcastclientcommand	-	1	-	-	-	Point Function
point_hurt		-	-	-		Point Function
point_prop_use_target	1		-			Point Function
point_spotlight	-	-	77	-	-	Lighting and Visual Effects
point_template	10	3	4	-	-	Point Function
point_viewcontrol_multiplayer	2	-	-			Point Function	x	x
point_viewcontrol_survivor	4	-	-	-		Point Function	x	x
postprocess_controller	3	2	2			Lighting and Visual Effects	x	x
prop_car_alarm	3		-	-		Props and Detail	x	x
prop_car_glass	6		-	-		Props and Detail	x	x
prop_door_rotating	30	7	11			Props and Detail
prop_door_rotating_checkpoint	1	2	2			Props and Detail	x	x
prop_dynamic	37	59	24			Props and Detail
prop_dynamic_override	-	-	1			Props and Detail
prop_health_cabinet	-	2		1		Props and Detail	x	x
prop_physics	282	594	80			Props and Detail
prop_static	2043	2216	1061			Props and Detail
shadow_control	1	1	1	1	1	Lighting and Visual Effects
sky_camera	1	1	1	1	1	Lighting and Visual Effects
trigger_active_weapon_detect	-		-	-		Trigger		x
trigger_auto_crouch	-	-	2	-		Trigger	x	x
trigger_finale	-	-	-	-	1	Trigger	x	x
trigger_hurt			4			Trigger
trigger_hurt_ghost		-	-	-		Trigger		x
trigger_look		-	-	-		Trigger
trigger_multiple	5	2	1			Trigger
trigger_once	2	4	6			Trigger
trigger_push	-	-	5			Trigger
upgrade_spawn	8	34	48	-	-	Weapons		x
water_lod_control	2	-	-	-	-	Point Info
weapon_adrenaline_spawn	5	1	7	-	-	Weapons		x
weapon_ammo_spawn	5	7	5	-	-	Weapons	x	x
weapon_autoshotgun_spawn	2	1	1	-	-	Weapons	x	x
weapon_chainsaw_spawn	5	-	-	-	-	Weapons		x
weapon_defibrillator_spawn	7	1	1	-	-	Weapons		x
weapon_first_aid_kit_spawn	14	13	14			Weapons	x	x
weapon_grenade_launcher_spawn	2	1	1			Weapons		x
weapon_hunting_rifle_spawn	2		-	-		Weapons	x	x
weapon_item_spawn	60	101	66			Weapons		x
weapon_melee_spawn	16	24	24			Weapons		x
weapon_molotov_spawn	9	7	9			Weapons	x	x
weapon_pain_pills_spawn	8	3	5			Weapons	x	x
weapon_pipe_bomb_spawn	18	7	11			Weapons	x	x
weapon_pistol_magnum_spawn	1		-	-		Weapons		x
weapon_pistol_spawn	2	15	-	-		Weapons	x	x
weapon_pumpshotgun_spawn	-	1	-	-		Weapons	x	x
weapon_rifle_ak47_spawn	1	1	-			Weapons		x
weapon_rifle_desert_spawn	2	1	1			Weapons		x
weapon_rifle_spawn	2	1	1			Weapons	x	x
weapon_scavenge_item_spawn	16	-	-			Weapons		x
weapon_shotgun_chrome_spawn	2	-	1			Weapons		x
weapon_shotgun_spas_spawn	-		-	-		Weapons		x
weapon_smg_silenced_spawn	1	1	1			Weapons		x
weapon_smg_spawn	-		-	-		Weapons	x	x
weapon_sniper_military_spawn	1	1	1			Weapons		x
weapon_spawn	12	18	12			Weapons		x
weapon_upgradepack_explosive_spawn	1	1	1			Weapons		x
weapon_upgradepack_incendiary_spawn	1	1	1			Weapons		x
weapon_vomitjar_spawn	4	2	1			Weapons		x