Left 4 Dead Custom Map Guide 2.0! Now with more stuff!

[oliveira8]

So after half a year, VALVe finally released the SDK and remade the matchmaking system to support custom maps! Great right? But where to find them and how to install? Well thats very easy!

Spoiler: First lets learn how to install VKP files:

Step 1: Download the map you want(duh)
Step 2: When finished the download copy the .VPK file(or files) to your Steam folder.
C:/Steam/steamapps/common/Left 4 Dead/left4Dead/addons/ (or whatever Drive you installed your Steam folder)
Step 3: Run Left 4 Dead. On the game Menu go to Extra and click on the option named "ADD-ONS". The map you just copied, should be there with a check box. Just uncheck the box if you want to de-install the map.(Don't worry the file remains in the paste you copied to.)

Spoiler: But wait! Im lazy and I don't want to do all that copy paste around! I just want to click on stuff and it does all by itself!

VALVe thought of people like you! If you don't want to copy+paste, you can just double click the .VPK file once downloaded and the file will install it self!

Spoiler: But how do I play them after I download?

Very simple. Choose the mode, that the map you downloaded is(Survival, Co-Op, Versus) when hosting the campaign you should notice a new option, named "Add-on Campaign". Just choose the custom map you want and play!

Spoiler: But what about my friends? They lazy too and say they don't want to download the map! What do I do?

VALVe also thought of your lazy friends. To play custom maps with your friends, you just need to have the map and host the server! The custom map will be downloaded instantly to your friends PC.

WARNING: Only small sized maps it will work. Big maps your friends will have to download by themselfs.

Spoiler: But theres this other files named .BSP and .NAV and I don't get this!

Step 1: Download the .zip or .rar file
Step 2: Extract the files from the.zip or .rar
Step 3: Copy the extracted files to C:/Steam/steamapps/common/left 4 dead/left4dead/maps/
Step 4now it gets tricky) Open console and type the name of the map you want to play.(~You will have to write down the names of the maps.)
How to open console: Go to Steam->Right Click Left 4 Dead->Properties->Set Launch->type in "-console" no quotes.

On the console type "map map_name" Example: map l4d_alientsection1-12

The console should always be open.(At least its always open for me...)

Actually I noticed you can do multiplayer with these maps! But its tricky so here it goes!

Step 1: Host a local server with your friends.
Step 2: Choose any campaign, and start it.
Step 3: During level access, the console(look up in how to open the console) and type in "changelevel map_name" example: changelevel l4d_alientsection1-12

For this one ALL of your friends must have installed all the maps previously, so no automatic stuff like like VPK files. Get some less lazy friends

Spoiler: What about these Devpack maps? What the hell are these?

Dev Maps are more tricky word of advise BACKUP YOUR LEFT 4 DEAD FILES Steam does this for you: Right click on the L4D shortcut on Steam->click backup game files

Step 1: Download the .zip or .rar file
Step 2: Extract the files from the.zip or .rar
Step 3: Copy the extracted files to C:/Steam/steamapps/common/left 4 dead/left4dead/
STep 4:Open console and type the name of the map you want to play.(~You will have to write down the names of the maps.)
How to open console: Go to Steam->Right Click Left 4 Dead->Properties->Set Launch->type in "-console" no quotes.

On the console type "map map_name" Example: map l4d_alientsection1-12

No multiplayer for these I'm afraid.

For more info on how to install go here:
http://www.l4dmaps.com/install-maps.php

Yeah yeah, thats alot of talk but, show me the maps!

I was getting there! I'll try to update this thread as much as I can. I also don't play L4D all the time so I don't know all maps, so feel free to add your input too.

Remenber always read the comments when avaible! They contain very usefull information, like if the maps contain bugs, bad design and stuff like that. SO READ THEM BEFORE DOWNLOADING!

Spoiler: The maps/campaigns download Links and descriptions

SURVIVAL

COMPLETE

Warehouse 23- A big Warehouse named 23.(I think...)
http://www.l4dmaps.com/details.php?file=669

Dead House- A tribute to Evil Dead 2.(Like you didn't see that coming!)
http://www.l4dmaps.com/details.php?file=968

Dead Meat- Survive the mobs of Infected in a butcherts house. (Tried this one VERY creppy.)
http://www.scorchingcraniums.com/portfolio/abattoir.html

Unsafe Room- A big building apparently.
http://www.l4dmaps.com/details.php?file=716

Central Dark- In some Park, probably the New York one...but I doubt it. Its built on choise.
http://www.l4dmaps.com/details.php?file=861

The Manor-Its in some kind of old manor.
http://www.l4dmaps.com/details.php?file=1060

Jungle Crisis- In a jungle(duh), its very hard by the way. Lots of open space, lots of way for Zombies to come in.
http://www.l4dmaps.com/details.php?file=1124

Medievil- Nothing to do with the PS1 game sadly. Its based in a European Medieval setting.
http://www.l4dmaps.com/details.php?file=1063

Supermarket Funtimes- Fight against the horde in a supermarket! And the godawfull Supermaket music too!
http://www.l4dmaps.com/details.php?file=447

Shipment- Based in a CoD4 map.
http://www.acidfaq.com/L4D/shipment/index.html

Helm's Deep- Always wished to play as Aragorn in the famous battle of Helm's Deep and slaughter thousands of orcs? Well keep wishing, cause there is no Aragorn or Orcs here...theres Zombies and Bill, so it aint that bad. The map is a recreation of the Age of Chivarly version adapted for Survival mode.
http://www.l4dmaps.com/details.php?file=1274

CO-OP CAMPAIGN

COMPLETE

The Mortuary-Campaign Complete only 3 maps.
http://www.l4dmaps.com/details.php?file=69

Orange- Well...anyone that played another VALVe Multiplayer game knows what this is about, if not, its a map thats Orange.Fo' Real, its like a rule in VALVe community to have a bright Orange map.
http://www.l4dmaps.com/details.php?file=64

Heaven can Wait- After air crash the survivors turn out to be in most epicenter of the contamination. Military have already left the attempts to rescue all survivor people in this region.
http://www.l4dmaps.com/details.php?file=177

7 Hours Later-You spawn in the forest and you'll need to get to the forest airport (final action from "Dead air").
http://www.l4dmaps.com/details.php?file=2003

VERSUS

No Mercy Revival- A rework of No Mercy campaign.
http://www.l4dmaps.com/details.php?file=1983


CO-OP, VERSUS

Death Aboard- In Death Aboard you start out in a prison and work your way out to the nearest docks area. From here, you board a stranded ship and finally to an island where there will be a lighthouse as a finale.
http://www.l4dmaps.com/details.php?file=33

Death Pull- Like Death Toll but in Daylight. No idea if the map was retouched in anyway.
http://kosire.dk/media/

Dead City-Kill plenty of zombies starting in RiverSide (city) then battlling through the Back Alleys, over a Draw Bridge, at a Power Plant and during the escape at the Train Station.
http://www.l4dmaps.com/details.php?file=70

Miscellaneous

Hunter Training- A campaign that teaches you and lets you play the Hunter, so you can train and perfect the art of playing hunter in versus mode.
http://l4dmapdb.com/map:hunter-training

Tankball-Football to easy? Rugby to girly? Log trowing is for pansies? Well..ask no more...TANKBALL!! Revolutionizing the world of sport since some time ago.After the Zombie Apocalypse all that was left was Tankball. Plays just like football, but with tanks.

Read the Changelog to understand how to play.
http://www.l4dmaps.com/details.php?file=2151

Man vs Tank- Train your skillz with Tanks! The map is unbeatable it's just training ground.
http://www.l4dmaps.com/details.php?file=1776

Zelda- Puzzles, Zelda temples, zombies, dragons....what you need more?
http://www.l4dmaps.com/details.php?file=54

Spoiler: MODS

This part is dedicated to the mods of L4D. Stuff like reskins, new backgrounds etc etc.REMENBER ALWAYS BACKUP THE FILES YOU REPLACE!!!! YOU BEEN WARNED!

Backgrounds

Dawn of the Dead Background
http://www.l4dmaps.com/details.php?file=961

Dead Aird Background
http://www.l4dmaps.com/details.php?file=958

Death Toll Background
http://www.l4dmaps.com/details.php?file=950

SERVER BROWSER

Server Browser- So you can view the servers running. No idea if it works with the custom maps so...
http://www.l4dmaps.com/details.php?file=938

RESKINS

Survivors:

Hellboy Bill-I think it explains by itself.
http://www.fpsbanana.com/skins/68132

Infected:

Boomer thong!- When you thought it couldn't get any worse...
http://www.fpsbanana.com/skins/56922

Venom Tank-Cause regular Tank aint scary enough. Instructions in how to install in the link.
http://www.fpsbanana.com/skins/62497

Jonny Bravo Tank- Zombies usually don't have good hair....this one broke the rules! Get your mom's Elvis records and your best comb, it's time to dance the jailhouse rock!
http://www.fpsbanana.com/skins/58639

(I'll add other stuff later)

Spoiler: l4D STEAM Skin

Bored of your old Steam skin? Are you tired of looking at that grey green interface all the time? Well why don't get the L4D skin!!

The L4D skin changes your STEAM interface to a more L4D theme! With new, different and exciting colours(Black), new icons and different backgrounds! Its Zombietastic!

http://rthaut.deviantart.com/art/Left-4-Dead-v1-01-124182132

Instructions in how to install are in the download page. If you don't want to read them heres for you lazy people:

How to install:
1)Download the .rar
2)extract content from .rar
3)copy paste to your Steam folder C:\Program Files\Steam\skins\
4)On STEAM go to File->Settings->Interface->Select skin you wish and restart STEAM.
5)Enjoy.

Spoiler: edits and stuff no one cares for but me and really bored folk.

Disclaimer: I don't own or developed any of the maps/mods/skins/whatever in this thread, if any mapmaker roams this forum and stumbles on his map in this thread and doesn't want it here just say the word and I'll remove.

P.S: If the download takes to long to start in the L4Dmaps forum don't worry its just the website being annoying.

P.P.S All forms of files are now posted sorry forgot to put the Devmaps and messed up the .BSP and .NAV ones...sorry.

P.P.P.SChanged some stuff on the install of the NAV BNS files. Found out that you can play multiplayer with them after all.
P.P.P.P.S Edited the text around and added some pictures so it would look like less text....

P.P.P.P.P.S: Edited more maps and made it more easy to read inside the spoiler tags.

(I'll try to keep it updated!)

 

[Halfbreed13]

I love you
I literally just spent 2 hours in a vent with three other people sratching our heads over this.

 

[oliveira8]

I love you
I literally just spent 2 hours in a vent with three other people sratching our heads over this.

Glad I could help. The more complete maps are the Survival ones. Play the butcher one its quite creppy and well designed.(can get very claustrophobic.)

 

[Hazy]

No, I love you!
Seriously, thank you for this!

 

[sirdanrhodes]

I am still waiting on full campaigns...

 

[oliveira8]

I am still waiting on full campaigns...

You going have to wait some weeks. The full SDK just got released two days ago if not wrong.

Some Survival Maps are good.

 

[sirdanrhodes]

I am still waiting on full campaigns...

You going have to wait some weeks. The full SDK just got released two days ago if not wrong.

No, you're right. I know I am gonna be waiting a while...

 

[DazZ.]

Ive played through a 2 level campaign which was alright, nout special but fun because it was new.

Afew survival maps are good, Less time to complete I suppose so with time afew epic campaigns should emerge

 

[oliveira8]

Ive played through a 2 level campaign which was alright, nout special but fun because it was new.

Afew survival maps are good, Less time to complete I suppose so with time afew epic campaigns should emerge

Death Aboard looks cool, and Escape from Toronto if the makers decide to add some lights to maps...

 

[ProfessorLayton]

Thanks man, this is really helpful.

 

[oliveira8]

Updated with more campaigns and now you can see what maps are on BETA and the ones who are COMPLETE.


Also the ones in BETA you going to have to check up regularly for updates, I don't think that the maps will update by themselfs. xP

Going to add a custom mods section soon.

 

[oliveira8]

Scewed up on the install section of the BSP and NAV files and forgot to add the Devmap packs install guides.

Now all guides. Played for some moments the Alien Trilogy one and it looks great. For those that played the PS1 game or are Alien fans will love the map. Shame that theres no Xenomorph skin for the Infected.

 

[oliveira8]

You are out of your mind for taking the time to do all this. So thank you, i always appreciated insanity.

I lost my marbles long ago.

Anyway updated the install guides, and put one or two more campaign maps.

The Silent Hill 1 pack is looking cool. And so does Road to Hell. Both are still in BETA so it will take awhile till they finish. But! If you want them to hurry up, download them and start bug hunting.

I'll put the custom Mods some time later.

 

[Tatrion]

This guide is full of awesomeness!
I would've requested a stickie on this one if it were possible.

Thanks for guide!

 

[oliveira8]

So I got around playing the so called only complete campaign map yet The Mortuary House and I got to say, I'm impressed. Its really good. It still has some bugs on some textures and some of the pacing is a bit off, the ending is kinda weird. Also hoping that whoever made it can make it on .VPK file, cause they easier to use, than the BSA and NAV type of files. So download The Mortuary House and have fun with the very first "Complete" costum made campaign. All the instructions you need to play it on multiplayer are on the original post under the spoiler tag: But theres this other files named .BSP and .NAV and I don't get this!.

If you still have any doubts in how to install check the link to L4Dmaps.com I provided all the info you need is there with pictures.

Anyway I added the Mods to the list. Only really pointless stuff for now. Not many cool mods yet anyway. I putted some pictures in the OP just to make it less blocks of spoiler tags.

I'll keep updating whenever I can.

 

[DazZ.]

Ive played through a 2 level campaign which was alright, nout special but fun because it was new.

Afew survival maps are good, Less time to complete I suppose so with time afew epic campaigns should emerge

Death Aboard looks cool, and Escape from Toronto if the makers decide to add some lights to maps...

Death aboard does look good, but havn't played it yet. Just seen screenshots and stuff but sounds epic.

It was Deadline I played with 2 levels and the end of the second it seemed to be brightening up. So im thinking the third map in thats going to be morning

 

[oliveira8]

Ive played through a 2 level campaign which was alright, nout special but fun because it was new.

Afew survival maps are good, Less time to complete I suppose so with time afew epic campaigns should emerge

Death Aboard looks cool, and Escape from Toronto if the makers decide to add some lights to maps...

Death aboard does look good, but havn't played it yet. Just seen screenshots and stuff but sounds epic.

It was Deadline I played with 2 levels and the end of the second it seemed to be brightening up. So im thinking the third map in thats going to be morning

Deadline? Hmm aint that the map that Valve made for tutorial or something?

Anyway! The Mortuary House the so far only "complete"(Still has some bugs) campaign is now on .VKP updated the links so now you don't to suffer NAV and console commands to play it.

Not many Campaigns out yet, most of them are still on early stage on betas but theres some cool concepts around.

Keep an eye for the PS1 remake campaigns and Death Abroad!

 

[DazZ.]

Deadline? Hmm aint that the map that Valve made for tutorial or something?

Ahh feck yes it is, hang on brb, with the actual one I was playing...

bblsDetour, Dunno why I said deadline, havn't even played it yet.

Got anything to recommend campaign wise? Had enough of Survival now.

 

[oliveira8]

Deadline? Hmm aint that the map that Valve made for tutorial or something?

Ahh feck yes it is, hang on brb, with the actual one I was playing...

bblsDetour, Dunno why I said deadline, havn't even played it yet.

Got anything to recommend campaign wise? Had enough of Survival now.

Ah Detour Ahead.

Hmm I recommend The Mortuary. Its still the only campaign "complete". It has 3 full maps. Begining, middle and an ending. Theres some silly things missing(Like a non pixelated bench or something in map 1),the rooftops in Map 2 looks abit poor texture wise and the escape route is kinda weird. But overall is good and considering these early stages I wasn't expecting a masterpiece. The map does feel like alot of sections of the previous levels copied but theres some sections that are really cool.

That or Dam It. Its very well made but its only ONE map and its kinda...well it feels like a full campaign so, if you fail the mission you start ALL OVER! The author is thinking of splinting the map when he converts it to .VPK

http://www.l4dmods.com/index.php/downloads?view=package&packageId=329

You can download from there. I'll wait till the author breaks up the map tho.


To look for: Biohazard 2(A remake of Resident Evil 2) still no BETA. You can check the progress here:

http://www.bioh4zard2.com/

The Aliens Trilogy and Silent Hill 1 remakes are looking "funky" too. Hedgerow, Road to Hell and

 

[DazZ.]

Hmm I recommend The Mortuary. Its still the only campaign "complete". It has 3 full maps. Begining, middle and an ending. Theres some silly things missing(Like a non pixelated bench or something in map 1),the rooftops in Map 2 looks abit poor texture wise and the escape route is kinda weird.

Just played through.
The start was abit generic, but I liked the rooftops in the second map. The escape route was very weird lol, half the team didn't realise there was nothing you had to get on, just had to get to the end of the room, so we were killing shit for ages after we needed to. I liked the end room though.

Im still waiting for something to impress me