Preface

Source SDK Development Essentials outlines the essential knowledge one needs to create maps and scripts for games using Valve's Source Engine. Valve, the videogame company behind Source, releases a Software Development Kit (SDK) with each game they produce. Counter-Strike: Source, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and Team Fortress 2 might be household names for some gamers, and the maps in those games were created with the Source SDK. Valve also released the Source SDK base for free in 2012, so anyone can download it and start creating for free.

This book is a walkthrough of the steps required to start producing professional environments and scripts. Because it's the same set of tools the professionals use, you can get the same professional results! This book is meant for gamers who want to get more out of their game, get their ideas down in 3D, and do it all without the need for any coding knowledge.