Publications

We publish our work.

Valve engineers and artists regularly contribute to industry publications and academic conferences. Their articles, papers, and presentations cover a wide range of topics, from the high level goals of Valve’s cabal development process to the inner workings of our cutting-edge rendering algorithms.

2015
  • Sergiy Migdalskiy. March 2015. "Physics for Game Developers: Physics Optimization Strategies." Game Developers Conference.
    Slides, Video

  • Dirk Gregorius. March 2015. "Robust Contact Creation for Physics Simulations." Game Developers Conference.
    Slides

  • Alex Vlachos. March 2015. "Advanced VR Rendering." Game Developers Conference.
    Slides

  • Pierre-Loup Griffais, et al. March 2015. "Vulkan: The Future of High-Performance Graphics." Game Developers Conference.
    Slides

2014
  • Sergiy Migdalskiy. March 2014. "Physics Debugging Techniques." Game Developers Conference.
    Slides

  • Dirk Gregorius. March 2014. "Implementing QuickHull." Game Developers Conference.
    Slides

  • Bronwen Grimes. March 2014. "Building the Content that Drives the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Economy." Game Developers Conference.
    Slides

2013
  • Joe Ludwig. March 2013. "Lessons learned porting Team Fortress 2 to Virtual Reality." Game Developers Conference.
    Slides

  • Michael Abrash. March 2013. "Why Virtual Reality Is Hard (and where it might be going)." Game Developers Conference.
    Slides

  • Dirk Gregorius. March 2013. "The Separating Axis Test Between Convex Polyhedra." Game Developers Conference.
    Slides

2012
  • Joe Ludwig. March 2012. "TF2 - From The Orange Box to Free to Play in "Just" Four Years!." Game Developers Conference.
    Slides

  • Elan Ruskin. March 2012. "Rule Databases for Contextual Dialog and Game Logic." Game Developers Conference.
    Slides

2011
  • Bruce Dawson. August 2011. "How Valve Makes Games Better with Xperf." Microsoft GameFest.
    Slides  |  Sample Code

  • Bronwen Grimes. March 2011. "Making and Using Non-Standard Textures: Manipulating UVs through Color Data in Portal 2." Game Developers Conference.
    Slides

  • Mike Ambinder. March 2011. "Biofeedback in Gameplay: How Valve Measures Physiology to Enhance Gaming Experience." Game Developers Conference.
    Slides

2010
  • Alex Vlachos. June 2010. "Water Flow in Portal 2." SIGGRAPH Course on Advances in Real-Time Rendering in 3D Graphics and Games.
    Slides

  • Alex Vlachos. March 2010. "Rendering Wounds in Left 4 Dead 2." Game Developers Conference.
    Slides

  • Bronwen Grimes. March 2010. "Shading a Bigger, Better Sequel: Techniques in Left 4 Dead 2." Game Developers Conference.
    Slides

2009
  • Michael Booth. 2009. "The AI Systems of Left 4 Dead." Artificial Intelligence and Interactive Digital Entertainment Conference (Stanford University).
    Slides

  • Michael Booth. March 2009. "Replayable Cooperative Game Design: Left 4 Dead." Game Developers Conference.
    Slides

  • Mike Ambinder. March 2009. "Valve’s Approach to Playtesting: The Application of Empiricism." Game Developers Conference.
    Slides

2008
  • Jason Mitchell. November 2008 "Connecting Visuals to Gameplay at Valve." Montreal International Game Summit.
    Slides

  • Moby Francke and Randy Lundeen. July 2008. "How Valve Connects Art Direction to Gameplay." Microsoft GameFest.
    Slides

  • Kim Swift and Erik Wolpaw. February 2008. "Integrating Narrative and Design: A Portal Post-Mortem." Game Developers Conference.
    Slides

  • Jason Mitchell. February 2008. "Stylization With a Purpose: The Illustrative World of Team Fortress 2." Game Developers Conference.
    Slides

  • Elan Ruskin. February 2008. "How To Go From PC to Cross Platform Development Without Killing Your Studio." Game Developers Conference.
    Slides

  • Alex Vlachos. February 2008. "Post Processing in The Orange Box." Game Developers Conference.
    Slides

2007
  • Jason Mitchell. Moby Francke and Dhabih Eng. 2007. "Illustrative Rendering in Team Fortress 2." International Symposium on Non-Photorealistic Animation and Rendering.
    Paper  |  Movie  |  Slides

  • Chris Green. 2007. "Improved Alpha-Tested Magnification for Vector Textures and Special Effects." SIGGRAPH Course on Advanced Real-Time Rendering in 3D Graphics and Games.
    Notes

  • Chris Green. 2007. "Efficient Self-Shadowed Radiosity Normal Mapping." SIGGRAPH Course on Advanced Real-Time Rendering in 3D Graphics and Games.
    Notes

  • Tom Leonard. March 2007 "Dragged Kicking and Screaming: Source Multicore." Game Developers Conference.
    Slides

2006
  • Jason Mitchell. Gary McTaggart and Chris Green. 2006 "Shading in Valve’s Source Engine." SIGGRAPH Course on Advanced Real-Time Rendering in 3D Graphics and Games.
    Notes  |  Slides

  • Gary McTaggart. 2006. "HDR in Valve’s Source Engine." SIGGRAPH Course on High-Dynamic-Range Imaging: Theory and Applications.
    Slides

  • David Speyrer and Brian Jacobson. March 2006. "Valve’s Design Process for Creating Half-Life 2." Game Developers Conference.
    Slides

  • Jay Stelly. March 2006. "Physical Gameplay in Half-Life 2." Game Developers Conference.
    Slides

2005
  • Brian Jacobson. 2005. "Sound Practices of Games Business and Design." Australian Game Developers Conference.
    Slides

2004
  • Gary McTaggart. March 2004. "Half-Life 2 / Valve Source Shading." Direct3D Tutorial Day. Game Developers Conference.
    Slides

1999