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.
Common Destinations
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.
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
Information and videos on using the grid in 3ds Max for Source Engine Level Design.
Exporting Correct Smoothing on Models
Understanding Smoothing Groups and Explicit Normals
Discussion on smoothing groups and explicit normals and how they relate to Source.
Latest Articles
Using the IK Tab
Articles pertaining to the IK functions in Max and how they translate into settings for Source Game Engine models.
Displacement Texture Scale Sometimes Incorrect
Understanding Displacement Blend Texture Scale
This page explains one cause for displacement materials to be scaled incorrectly in Source as well as the solution. You should use bitmaps of equal dimensions in both materials controlling the Blend material.
Exporting a Level from 3ds Max into Source
Brush Geometry, 3D Skybox, 2D Sky, Animated Textures
Video tutorial and sample file on exporting a 3ds Max scene into a Source VMF file with Wall Worm.
Brush Materials and Decals
A beginning to end example of making and exporting brush materials and decals.
A video and sample file to show you how to export textures, brush materials, decals and a simple level from 3ds Max into the Source Game Engine.
DXF Importer
You can import a DXF scene into Max. This allows you to transfer the basic level design from Hammer to Max.
Lightmap Scale
This article details the process of setting lightmap scale on objects, displacements and faces with Wall Worm Anvil's lightmap tools.
Brush Materials have incorrect rotation and scale when using the DirectX Shader
The Wall Worm Material Library Generator originally created DirectX Materials for all materials. But updates to the VMF Exporter changed the way materials are interpretted. Whenever possible, you should not use DirectX Materials.
Wall Worm, Still Squirming
First Wall Worm blog entry. A brief discussion on the past, present and future of Wall Worm.
Understanding How to Set Up Paths
Many new users of WWMT find themselves confused when it comes to the setup of WWMT. This is primarily because there are some specific paths you must set correctly for the automation of WWMT to work.
Making Facial Animations
This page explains how to export your facial animations into Source. Facial animations are done using a different procedure than most animations in Source.
