*I took some notes for myself I thought I'd share maybe it helps someone ;)* *Spawn Points* *T Main Pathways* -To CP and then Site -Focus on Simplicity -Core of map layout - 2 to 3 paths leading from T to Sites *Bomb Sites* *CT Main Pathways* *Choke Points/ Contact Points/ Control Point (On Main Pathways)* -Action happens here -Most time spent -Designed to offer interesting combat opportunities -T's Have to fight Through -Give options to -Fight -Rotate to another CP and Site *T Connecting Pathways (Variety, strategy)* *CT Connecting Pathways (Variety, strategy)* -Opportunity for both teams to change direction to different main path -Single Connecting path between two main paths -Connecting maps must be before CP -Not evert Main Path needs a Connecting Path *Additional Strategy Pathways (Additional Complexity & Strategy)*

Watching in 2023. Crazy to see a video praise maps for 'standing the test of time for ten years' and seeing those same maps around 9 years after this video is made: Dust2, Nuke, and Inferno are STILL played competitively.

Almost 2021 and this video is still relevant and of the best for multiplayer level design :)

This is ultra impressive. I guess the dislikes are from the in-game framerate, but that's just how fraps rolls.

Someone asked me one day, "Is it a good idea to make a Minecraft scale first?" I see a lot of younger mappers do this, and the answer is no. I would not recommend it. It's such a different game that the mechanics are way different (in game movement works a lot differently) and sometimes you may not have the textures of models available transferring the map to Source. Instead, pencil it. I don't care how bad your drawing skills are. If you can't draw well, scale the map to a reasonable size. Then, connect the areas using a legend or number the entrances to the area. This also helps when designing the objective sites in CS:GO, as it may help you figure out how many entrances are really needed.

I have decided when I first heard about Counter Strike 2 to make a map for my friends and me to play on. This video seems to be the only resource about this topic, which is surprising. Apparently, good mapping is timeless.

Glad to see that you are still doing level design :)

awesome guide. i was having trouble designing pathways for my halo maps. halo and cs have different mechanics but i think your method of starting with main paths, choke points and then side paths will help me a great deal.

Thank you! This might be old, but it's a very well put together video that outlines clearly and comprehensively the key components in making a map. Nicely done!

Thanks for videos and blogs! They are great

Really great step by step work Alex, thanks!

Extremely good tutorial thank you so much!

Thanks, I got some interesting insight about connecting paths from this vid

Thank you so much, this has been really helpful.

Fantastic video as always, Alex. Thank you for sharing your knowledge on the subject, it's always a big help!

Long and great tutorial!

You appreciate the game even more when you see the design and details in its development 🏅💯

Great stuff thanks!

Excellent video, I've been looking for something like this for awhile. After you've figured out the essentials of mapping a lot of people don't seem to go further than the technicals... they know how to make a map and maybe even make it look pretty, but often it completely lacks all the flow and other elements that make the gameplay fun. Either that or they just duplicate the layout of dust2 verbatim with minor changes.

What a great video! This has inspired and informed me to start producing and developing a multiplayer game.

Woah! Thank you!!!

This is gold!

Great video although the ingame footage could be a bit better.

thx, it helped a lot

Thanks a lot for this. I wanna get into cod/battlefield multiplayer design/art when I'm older and need to know this stuff. Glad I found this

Thanks for the help, your videos are great :)

Thanks for the insight, it's genuinely helpful for rational map design. The "main pathway" and "connecting pathway" theory is indeed convincing, yet I disagree with the "choke point" view. I know in CS the two sides tend to meet at the same spot(hence, choke point) for most rounds, but that's only an ideal state. What if the defending side changes tactics that instead of running to choke point they hold in their own spot? Or they wait for several seconds first then proceed? What I'm trying to express is that players' behavior is unpredictable, the two sides can meet anywhere at anytime in the map. Don't you think the "choke point" design might be too specific for an entire map? In addition, choke point design doesn't apply to certain genres. For example, Death Match in Call Of Duty, where players spawn almost immediately after death, and the spawn points location aren't fixed either, it's sprawling all over the map corners. I know there is a certain chapter for dynamic choke point, but I still think that doesn't apply to the above situation where players' behavior is unforeseen.

great

Cool :)

This video might be informative but that ingame footage running at about 10 FPS completely kills it for me.

Thanks for these awesome tutorial series,i have already ran my first map (= I have a question, when designing choke points, is there a simpler way to "time" the arrivals of players prior to doing some layout in Hammer and running the game thus timing it while playing?

Nicely done!!!! I'm a Architect, and so I'd like designing good CS:GO maps soon. My first one was made when I was about 12 years... horrible map!! :P I hope doing better today. Thx for the tips!

do you have a video wich helps building a map for strategy games? i didn't find any at your channel, but it could be that i just didn't see it

This is my actual dream career!!!!!!!!!! Is this something you worked on because you enjoy it? or if not rude to ask (about your career), is this your job? :) Because if so I’d love to know what kind of studies you’ve done in high school & collage ! Thank you :)

This video is a gem.

How does one define a choke point? A place where you're very likely killed or a place where both the teams collide against each other?

Could you do some tutorials on using Unity3D?

that fps tho. Is your computer slow or something?? cuz if you work in The SDK you should be able to record smooth footage. Am i right?

in italy, from CT side , there are 2 paths for them to leave the spawn points but the path which is tour left hand side is a connecting path or a main path please, tell me and also why so ???

Did you make De_Venesia?

am i allowed to use csgo textures for a workshop map?

what about gamemodes like deatmatch without teams

where do you get the static meshes my unreal editor dont have them

KNOWLEDGE

8:47 Thats Haven lol

you forgot the map CS_Assault edit: CS_ or CT_ lol cant remember actually

I only had boys to play agaisnt so hardest bots possible where a lot of fun. Original xbox man. Lol

This video describes a lot of things that are very impornt. 😐

1 FPS?

anyone else freeze up when he said "designer at Epic Games" I was like, oh god before Fortnite

XD rip aztec my babeee

+rep

I'M GOING TO MAKE A COLUMBINE MAP....wait that would actully be a good map like 2 T's and like 4 CT's......woah thats actully a good idea......wow

ingame footages feels like 15 fps

epic fps bro

Cs go multiplayer maps, they have been VERY LAZY FOR LONG for not adding or improving the maps. They should make new maps to show gratitude for people playing it still even in 2021 year where there are other competitive games out there. They have been there for so long and no mew maps at all. So lazy developers!