Tutorials on map making with Hammer
(map maker for Half Life 2 and Counter Strike etc)

Below are some good tutorials that I have used while making maps.
Also check out the links at the bottom of this page for some sites with extra tutorials on.

Architecture and Environment

Arch how to make one SnarkPit
Arch Tool - Well/Pit SnarkPit
Button SnarkPit
Curve - Perfect 90 degree curve SnarkPit
Damaged walls/floors (hole) cliping tool SnarkPit
Domes Displacement SnarkPit
Doors - Video tutorial Filefront
Breakable Grates/Vents VERC Forums
Usable Cranes Interlopers.net
Elevators 2 sdknuts.net
Creating Fire Interlopers.net
Fog Interlopers.net
Glass Introduction SnarkPit
Grass - Adding grass to terrain VERC Forums
Ladders SnarkPit
Rain and Snow FPSbanana
Reflective Floors FPSbanana
Rock Formations - Quick and Easy SnarkPit
Rope Bridges - Video tutorial Filefront
Rounded Pipes Interlopers.net
Terrain Generator (tool) thewavelength.net
Tunnels and Caves SnarkPit
Waterfall SnarkPit

Basics
Basic room mapping - Video tutorial Filefront
Brushes what are they? Valve Software
Beginners Guide to Valve Hammer Editor moddb.com


Configuring Hammer
Custom Source Tools (BSP, RAD, VIS) ZHLT.tk
Using player models in Hammer HL2World Forums
Using batch files Interlopers.net


CS:Source Specific
Ammo Box FPSbanana
CS:S Level Creation Entities List Valve Software
Navigation Meshes Valve Software
Startup Camera FPSbanana
Installing custom CS:S content FPSbanana
Vending Machine (with bottles) FPSbanana


Don't let slow dial-up Internet get you down. Super-fast up to 8Mb broadband from only £9.99 per month. Free setup now available - terms apply. PlusNet broadband.

 

Displacement Surfaces
Displacement Surfaces an Introduction SnarkPit


Lighting
Lights Valve Software
Light Window Shadows SnarkPit
Light Switch Snark Pit
HDR Lighting FPSbanana


Materials
Custom Texturing + VTexGUI tool Halflife2.net Forum
Photoshop Normal Map Generator (HL2/CSS) VERC Forums
Photoshop Normal Map Generator (nVidia) nVidia
Realistic Textures Pack and Lego Texture Pack Planetquake


Up to 8Mb broadband, now with broadband phone calls. From only £9.99 per month - terms apply. PlusNet broadband.

Misc.
Getting a map from AutoCAD into Hammer VERC Forums
Flying Bird FPSBANANA
Gunship Paths Interlopers.net
The Input/Output System Wavelength
Mounted Turrets Halflife2.net Forums
The Shrinking Effect TWHL
Overview - Map SnarkPit
Scripted Sequences Interlopers.net
Moving Torch (Flashlight) Interlopers.net


Modeling
Maya and Source VERC Forums
Photoshop Normal Map Generator (HL2/CSS) VERC Forums
Photoshop Normal Map Generator (nVidia) nVidia
SMD Exporter for 3D Studio Max VERC Forums


NPCs
Antlion Rush Interlopers.net
Random hostage locations FBSBANANA


Optimization
Using Cordon Bounds to speed up compiling VERC Forums


Physics
Thruster Canister - Video tutorial Filefront


Want to save money on your broadband? Quick, grab this lifeline from PlusNet. Up to 8Mb broadband from only£9.99 per month. Free setup available - terms apply. Now with Internet phone calls. PlusNet broadband.

 

References


Skyboxes
Sky Box (2D) SnarkPit
Creating a 3D Skybox The Whole Half Life
Skybox 3D moddb.com


Sound
Applying Filters, Beat Sync And Effects In FLStudio Half-Life Files

 

Tools
GCFScape - an explorer like utility that enables users to browse Half-Life packages and extract their contents. Nem's Tools
Crafty - 3D object, material, model and file browsing utility (very fast), can also extract objestc etc! Nem's Tools
VMEX - a HL2 map decompiler Half-Life 2 Source Mapping Tools
   

Troubleshooting
Compile Errors SnarkPit

External Tutorial Sites
The Whole Half-Life  


News - Read all about it!
Some videos about CS
Gallery of images
Tutorials - How to do...
Send me some stuff
Some cracking websites to visit

Enjoy super-fast surfing at an amazing low price. Up to 8Mb broadband for under £15. Free setup now available - terms apply. PlusNet broadband.