An epic bug hunt featuring a unique blend of co-op play and squad-level tactics. With your friends, form a squad of four distinct IAF Marine classes. Plan your attack using an unlockable arsenal of weapons with countless loadout configurations against a wide variety of aliens. Blaze your way through an overrun, off-world colony, eradicating the alien infestation in environments ranging from the icy planet's surface, to a subterranean lava-flooded mining facility.

Post tutorial Report RSS Holdout/Survival Mode

Learn how to use the Alien Swarm SDK to produce a Holdout/Survival Map.

Posted by on - Intermediate Mapping/Technical

(1)
1a)Open up hammer and create a basic room. (Including a player start and appropriate lighting).

1b)Locate the "asw_holdout_mode" entity and place it in your map. (NOTE: it doesn't really matter where you put it, just place it somewhere convenient).

(2)
2a)You will see the option "Holdout Filename".

2b)These files can be found in "C:\Program Files\Steam\steamapps\common\alien swarm\swarm\resource\holdout".

2c)Open the file "holdoutwaves_default".

Here's an example of the first paragraph:

"WAVE"
{
"Name" "Intro"
"EnvironmentModifiers" "0"
"Resupply" "1"
"ENTRY"
{
"AlienClass" "asw_drone"
"Quantity" "5"
"SpawnDelay" "0.0"
"SpawnDuration" "0.0"
"SpawnGroup" "Spawn_Left_Group"
"Modifiers" "0"
}

The bit in red is the name of the "asw_spawn_group" entity that needs to be placed in your map.

The bit in blue is the name of the "asw_holdout_spawner" that needs to be placed in your map.

2d)Create a text file in the Holdout folder and paste the paragraph in. Then insert the name of the text file into the "Holdout Filename" field in hammer.

(3)
3a)Make a "asw_spawn_group" using the name provided.

3b)Make a "asw_holdout_spawner" using the name provided. (Make sure it is situated near the spawn group, this is where the Aliens will spawn).

VIDEO EXAMPLE:



Hard to explain but i hope you understand :P.

To make more waves you just make a duplicate of the paragraph.alter the value in blue in the text file, make a duplicate of the "asw_holdout_spawner" and make sure that the values match up. Then enter the name of the next wave, (the name of the holdout spawner) ,into the "Spawner 02" field in the "asw_spawn_group" entity.

Example VMF:
Speedyshare.com

Post comment Comments
tymaxbeta
tymaxbeta - - 1,059 comments

Hrm, this will certainly save me the time of making a full campaign, but I'll still be satisfied that I contributed something to the game. That's a mighty fine tutorial, nice work man...

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Ithapher
Ithapher - - 8 comments

Sweet, I can't wait for some new custom maps.

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Nikholai-Chan
Nikholai-Chan - - 40 comments

Ah thanks mate, this will make things a lot more fun :]

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xXMaNiAcXx
xXMaNiAcXx - - 4,807 comments

Wow, really nice tutorial, with screens and a video, thanks!

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Spooboy
Spooboy - - 2,028 comments

Thanks a lot. Making game modes for this will be a blast!

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timstro59
timstro59 - - 1,586 comments

if i can only find a computer fast enough.

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Spooboy
Spooboy - - 2,028 comments

My computer is fast enough, come over to my house and plaaaay.

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Spooboy
Spooboy - - 2,028 comments

Many posts on my end xD

However; I was inspired by this map and I have created a larger scale version with a few personal tweaks. Really great tut btw, helped out a lot!

I27.tinypic.com
I28.tinypic.com
I28.tinypic.com
I30.tinypic.com
I30.tinypic.com

It's still a WIP, but thanks again!

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Adamw Author
Adamw - - 3 comments

looks Great. I love the Lighting :D

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B14d3r11
B14d3r11 - - 6 comments

SpooBoy, howd u get those Metal Grates and such?? Im making a Holdout Map based off this one and i cant find good Materials/Textures like that

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B14d3r11
B14d3r11 - - 6 comments

I need help... I made Spawners Exactly like this tutorial. I made the map all works but when they spawn they dont run to the players... I have doors in the way so its more of a "Survival" aspect but they dont seem to go near them or up the stairs..

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ScorpionFaiha
ScorpionFaiha - - 259 comments

More tutorials like this would be appreciative but , it would be more appreciating if all that was done in a video instead of screenshot and text.

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Japels
Japels - - 1 comments

you have got to make a Starship Troopers map for this mod it would be so perfect. The outpost from the movie would be good inspiration

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SnoriS
SnoriS - - 1 comments

@japels

if you find some images from above i'll might make it

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