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 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

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.

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grid, snaps, level design, snapping

Exporting Correct Smoothing on Models

Understanding Smoothing Groups and Explicit Normals
Posted on Dec 8, 2017 | Last Updated Apr 10, 2023

Discussion on smoothing groups and explicit normals and how they relate to Source.

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smoothing, normals, smoothing groups, smooth

Latest Articles

Using Legacy CS:GO with Wall Worm

How to revive a project started in CS:GO after the update to Source 2 in Counter-Strike 2.
Posted on Oct 7, 2023 | Last Updated Oct 7, 2023

Instructions on using Wall Worm Projects configured for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive after the release of Counter-Strike 2 on the Source 2 engine.

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csgo, source 2, counter-strike 2, wall worm

Tutorial: Nuclear Cooling Towers

How to create nuclear cooling towers with Displacements
Posted on Dec 21, 2021 | Last Updated Dec 21, 2021

Tutorial on creating nuclear cooling towers as displacements for the Source Engine.

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displacement, curved, source engine, hammer, 3ds max, wall worm, corvex

A Decade of Wall Worm

Posted on Nov 29, 2020 | Last Updated Nov 29, 2020

Wall Worm turned 10 years old in 2020. Here is a little status update.

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ten year anniversary, decade

Converting Displacements to Models

Posted on Oct 25, 2019 | Last Updated Oct 26, 2019

Steps on converting a collection of displacements to props.

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displacements, convert, props, mdl, render to texture

Starter Kits

Posted on Oct 14, 2019 | Last Updated Aug 14, 2021

Source Engine level design starter kits will automate some entity setups for common level design tasks.

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starter kits, csgo, css, cstrike, day of defeat, dod, half-life, entity

Wall Worm 4, 3ds Max 2020 and Black Mesa News

Posted on May 6, 2019 | Last Updated May 6, 2019

Wall Worm 4.0 Released and other news about 3ds Max.

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wall worm, news, GDC, game developer conference, 3ds Max, black mesa

3ds Max 2020

Posted on Mar 27, 2019 | Last Updated Mar 29, 2019

Wall Worm plugins available for 3ds Max 2020.

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3ds Max 2020, plugins

Wall Worm Toolbars

Posted on Jan 27, 2019 | Last Updated Sep 24, 2019
Brush Toolbar

Wall Worm Toolbars available for 3ds Max 2017+.

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toolbars, UI

VMT Browser

Posted on Oct 31, 2018 | Last Updated Aug 18, 2021
vmt browser

The VMT Browser in Wall Worm allows you to browse, preview and assign materials from your game.

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vmt, vmt browser, vmt import

OSL: Multi Gradient

Posted on Sep 19, 2018 | Last Updated Sep 19, 2018
Multi Gradient OSL

The Multi Gradient OSL map has several gradient masking options.

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osl, gradient, radial, linear, square

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