Decompiling Maps

Template:Otherlang2 Decompiling is the process of taking a compiled level and generating a source that can be opened in a map editor. Decompiled levels mimic the original source, they are not exact reproductions. This makes them useful for learning, measurement, and inspection, but not direct recompilation. The original source is ideal for reproductions or modifications.

Releasing reproductions, modifications, or approximations of another's work without permission nor credit is frowned upon and may be considered as a copyright violation.

Tools

• EntSpy (used to view and edit the entities of a BSP without recompiling)
• BSPSource (open source map decompiler for Source engine maps, based on VMEX)
• VMEX (decompiler for Source engine maps)
• MapFool (helps porting HL1 maps to Source)
• xwad (command-line tool to convert texture formats)

Tools for the HL1-engine:

• BSP2MAP
• WinBSPC
• BSP Viewer

Decompiling Valve Maps

The latest decompiler is BSPSource. Since it is written in Java you need to have the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) installed, which can be downloaded from Oracle. Once installed, you are ready to decompile your first map.

Most maps do not need to be extracted, as they are located in file-system rather than VPK. The .bsp files are usually located in /steamapps/common/<game name>/<game name>/maps/.

1. Go to File → Open.
   • For Alien Swarm maps, open \steamapps\common\Alien Swarm\swarm\maps\
   • For Counter-Strike: Source maps, open \steamapps\common\Counter-Strike Source\cstrike\maps\
   • For Day of Defeat: Source maps, open \steamapps\common\Day of Defeat Source\dod\maps\
   • For Half-Life 2 maps, open \steamapps\common\Half-Life 2\hl2\maps\
   • For Half-Life 2: Deathmatch maps, open \steamapps\common\Half-Life 2 Deathmatch\hl2mp\maps\
   • For Half-Life 2: Episode One maps, open \steamapps\common\Half-Life 2\episodic\maps\
   • For Half-Life 2: Episode Two maps, open \steamapps\common\Half-Life 2\ep2\maps\
   • For Left 4 Dead maps, open steamapps\common\Left 4 Dead\l4d\maps\
   • For Left 4 Dead 2 maps, open steamapps\common\Left 4 Dead 2\l4d2\maps\
   • For Portal maps, open steamapps\common\Portal\portal\maps\
   • For Portal 2 maps, open steamapps\common\Portal 2\portal2\maps\
   • For Team Fortress 2 maps, open steamapps\common\Team Fortress 2\tf\maps\

Note:Left 4 Dead, Left 4 Dead 2 and Portal 2 also have other folders for DLCs, for example: steamapps\common\Portal 2\portal2_dlc1\maps\.

Before you go

Before you take this jump to run off and decompile a map take a second or two to think, "What am I trying to learn/do?". Read the included TXT files, you may just find the creator's e-mail, and that could be more helpful than you imagine.

Some mappers will offer up help and advice, they may even go so far as to provide perfect examples of what you were trying to "borrow" from the map.

See also

• Porting Half-Life maps