Wall Worm

Wall Worm is a script and tool developer focused on 3ds Max and various Max-related pipelines. Historically, Wall Worm was devoted soley to optimizing the Source Engine asset pipeline. The Wall Worm toolset itself is a Source-only toolset. However, many new tools are generic in nature (for any game engine, VFX, VIZ, etc), such as the CorVex plugin and most other new tools.

See the official Autodesk blog feature about Wall Worm developer Shawn Olson, Wall Worm and Black Mesa: From Black Sheep to Black Mesa and Beyond.

Wall Worm tools allow you to create assets for Source and Source 2 in a way that was not possible before. You can build models, textures and levels inside one environment (3ds Max) and compile them straight into Source. Wall Worm tools have been used in the pipelines of many games including Dear Esther, Black Mesa and by designers of CS:GO Operation maps and many more.

CorVex level design plugin Carver Tools Normal Tools

Wall Worm works in collaboration with other 3ds Max/Source developers to help enhance all the tools available to designers and mod teams.

Featured Articles

Making Ragdolls in 3ds Max for Source

Posted on Feb 12, 2012 | Last Updated Oct 21, 2023

Making a ragdoll requires you to use the hierarchy tab in the command panel, which may be a new area for less experienced modelers. Watch the video here to get a basic overview of how to make a ragdoll for Source.

Read More

ragdoll, collisionjoints, ik tab, joints

Generating LODs

Posted on Feb 12, 2012 | Last Updated May 8, 2024

The Level of Detail Generator on the Level of Detail Tools Rollout lets you generate LOD models from the root mesh. The tool will make lower-res versions of your model so that less polygons are rendered in-game when players move farther away.

Read More

lod

Latest Articles

Back to the Future with BSP

Posted on Feb 20, 2016 | Last Updated Apr 7, 2016

Newsletter #2 in 2016 with recent updates in Wall Worm, talk about the level design contest and random thoughts.

Read More

2016, contest, random

Displacements Fail to Export

Posted on Feb 15, 2016 | Last Updated Feb 15, 2016

Some tips on troubleshooting displacements failing to export from Max into Source.

Read More

displacements, troubleshooting, missing, fail

Displacement edge abutting other edges

Posted on Jan 23, 2016 | Last Updated Jan 23, 2016

Help understanding the VBSP compile warning about displacement edge abutting other edges.

Read More

displacement, edge, abutting, other, edges, compile

Wall Worm Sends Greetings in 2016

Posted on Jan 10, 2016 | Last Updated Jan 10, 2016

First Wall Worm blog of 2016 with new videos, new level design contest and review of 3ds Max 2016.

Read More

blog, contest, 2016

Displacement Alpha Blending

Posted on Dec 29, 2015 | Last Updated Jul 26, 2017

Information on displacement alpha blending and the shaders you can use to visualize the blending.

Read More

worldvertextransition, alpha blending, blend material, directx shader, 3ds max, wallworm, anvil

Wall Worm Turns Five Years Old

Posted on Nov 17, 2015 | Last Updated Jan 16, 2023

Wall Worm launched on November 18, 2010. This post discusses the journey from then through November 2015.

Read More

anniversary, development, history

Exporting Animated Particle Textures

Posted on Oct 20, 2015 | Last Updated Oct 21, 2015

Instructions on exporting animated textures straight from 3ds Max into the Particle Editor.

Read More

animated vtf, particles, makesheet, mksheet, .mks, .sht

Texturing World Geometry in 3ds Max

Posted on Oct 13, 2015 | Last Updated Oct 13, 2015

Basic tips on texturing world geometry in Max, especially for those with a Hammer background.

Read More

texturing, world geometry

On the Grid

Posted on Sep 8, 2015 | Last Updated Dec 11, 2018

Information and videos on using the grid in 3ds Max for Source Engine Level Design.

Read More

grid, snaps, level design, snapping

Wall Worm: Work Flows and Other Things

Posted on Aug 14, 2015 | Last Updated Aug 14, 2015

Some new videos on the Wall Worm Workflow for Source.

Read More

workflow, pipeline

Newsletter Subscription