List of useful Alien Swarm console commands

[Shrimpsess]

News

Kotaku article links to this topic

PCGamer article links to this topic

Thanks everyone for making this topic successful and contributing. It couldn't have been done without you!

Oh, and check out this thread. It contains all the emails and PDAs that are in the game so you can see what the story is for yourself.



The Commands


These are useful commands to enhance your alien swarm experience. You use these by entering them into the developers console. To do this, go to options, keyboard/mouse, and checkmark enable developer's console. The default key is the ~ key.

To make these commands automatic so you no longer have to enter them every time you start up the game, you must create an autoexec file in: C:\Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\common\alien swarm\swarm\cfg

Create a file in notepad named "autoexec.cfg" (Include the quotation marks when you save it under saveas!) Place any console commands you want to be entered within that file. Alternatively, try placing them in the newmapsettings.cfg file in the cfg folder.

Client Side Commands

asw_realistic_death_chatter 1
asw_hear_from_marine 1

Enables the marines to chat with eachother during gameplay. For example, Wildcat and Wolfe keep track of who kills the most bugs, and they often comment on this with some friendly banter.

asw_auto_reload 0

Disables the auto reload.

asw_marine_labels_cursor_maxdist 1000

Always show health bars under marines. Good for medics.

mat_grain_scale_override 0

Removes the grain effect on the screen.

asw_camera_shake 0

Removes the camera shake effect when hit by an enemy.


asw_fast_reload_under_marine 1

Places a fast reload bar under your actual marine so you don't need to look in the corner to time your reload. Or rely on the poor cursor fast reload bar.

asw_flare_b
asw_flare_g
asw_flare_r

Change the flare colors.

exec 360_controller_pc.cfg

enables Xbox 360 controller support. See also WildBill's modified configuration. Courtesy shackanaw

asw_pick_stim_music

"This command allows you to pick a custom .mp3 or .wav to play during adrenaline. It even brings up a little menu to pick the file, like for when choosing sprays in other Source games." - Courtesy BobX Note: Problems have been reported. Warning: May disable your adrenaline music entirely

openserverbrowser

Opens server browser. Courtesy shackanaw

bind <key> "cl_emote 6"

"Will bind the old good Anime Smiley to the key of your choice." Courtesy NoData on the BCG forums.

cl_emote x

"Where X=
0 - Medic call
1 - Need Ammo
2 - Regular Smiley
3 - Stop
4 - Go
5 - Be careful
6 - Anime Smiley
7 - Ready?

cl_emote with anything not defined will result in an anime smiley"

Courtesy Warskull on the BCG forums.

For classic AS fans:

mp_friendlyfire 1
asw_marine_ff_absorption 0 (classic ff damage makes a return)
asw_marine_ff 0 (weapon lock/anti TK Guard mode[!!!]) or 1 (default; Guard off)
asw_marine_ff_guard_time 5.0 (Weapon lock time in seconds; default value. Set to desired duration, or make it indefinite for Moses.)
asw_sentry_friendly_fire_scale 1 (Sentries damage and kill players who get in the way)
asw_weapon_safety_hull 0 (Default; dictates how willing AI is to shoot you to get at Swarm. May or may not make Sentries decide to not kill you if you're in the way, a very valuable fix for the Flamer Sentry if so. Play with the numbers and post your results!)

Note: Some of these do not work in multiplayer.

Courtesy Stein from the blackcatgames forum.



Server Side Commands


firstperson
asw_hide_marine 1
asw_controls 0

First one enables firstperson mode, second one hides your marine so you can see, third one changes the camera controls to be more FPS like.


asw_custom_skill_points 1

If used before people connect to the game, the host is allowed to spend points on the Marines' stats. Disclaimer: Not really supported or well balances, use at own risk.

asw_ignore_need_two_player_requirement 1

Game will ignore the two player requirement. In other words, you can go rambo.

asw_horde_override 1
asw_wanderer_override 1


Enables an AI director like in L4D.

asw_horde_class asw_parasite

Enables the AI director to spawn parasites (scary!)


asw_show_all_singleplayer_maps 1

Enables mission chapter selection in singleplayer. Courtesy r_0_1_3.

asw_cam_marine_dist XXX (default 412)

Set camera distance.

asw_cam_marine_pitch XX (default 60, 0 on the floor, 90 directly above)

Set camera angle

asw_cam_marine_shift_enable X (1 for on, 0 for off, if you put your cursor toward the edge of the screen the game will let you see further that direction)

Enable/disable screen shift.

asw_cam_marine_shift_maxx XXX (default 300)
asw_cam_marine_shift_maxy XXX (default 200)

"Set screen shift distance (note, two different variable for both planes, top-bottom and left-right)" - Camera commands courtesy drunkenlobster

sv_cheats 1

asw_tilegen

Used to open the tile generation map editor. Courtesy Man of Hunts

make_game_public
make_game_friends_only

Self explanatory.

Split screen commands discussion located here.

Immense amount of commands can be found here: http://www.wyrdysm.com/arcalane/rand...mmand_list.txt

And here: http://files.definebyte.co.uk/alienswarm_cvarlist.txt

Courtesy arcalane from the BCG forums.


Regarding bots in multiplayer games

Originally Posted by fox Unit 01

So, to add a bot to your game:
cl_selectm (marinenum) (slot)
(marinenum) being numbers 0-7 for Sarge, Wildcat, etc. through Vegas, respectively.
(slot) being 0-3, for players 1-4, respectively. Slot number -1 can also be used to add to the first available slot.

To remove a bot from your game:
cl_dselectm (marinenum)
(marinenum) again being numbers 0-7 for Sarge, Wildcat, etc. through Vegas, respectively.

These commands must be used directly from the lobby menu. Using them anywhere else will result in invalid command errors from the console.

For those suspicious of the ability to add bots to a game, let me clarify some points:
-- You do not gain any EXP from bot kills and bots simply share your level.
-- Bots can, unfortunately, be added by public game joiners. However, new players can still join, and once the lobby fills up, all bots will be automatically kicked and none will be able to be added.
-- When a player leaves (or is kicked from) a lobby, his/her bots will leave as well.

There are, of course, some issues with MP bots as well. Anyone giving a "hold" or "go" order will order all bots, regardless of rather he/she "owns" them or not - however, equipment orders and marine switching work as intended. Also, bots sometimes do not leave correctly when new players join until the lobby fills up to 4 players, as mentioned above - this is being looked into, but in the meantime, use the cl_dselectm command to remove bots if you don't have a full lobby joining.

Source: http://forums.blackcatgames.com/showthread.php?t=12996


Neat command from valve:

Originally Posted by MattWood

By the way, if you ever want to test how much damage something does, you can spawn an asw_target_dummy which (when attacked) will show you the DPS, total damage and last damage inflicted. To do this, turn on cheats via "sv_cheats 1", point your cursor at a spot on the ground somewhere and type "asw_ent_create asw_target_dummy". Then start whacking away!

Courtesy shackanaw.

If you want to use sv_cheats commands online:

Originally Posted by MachineWraith
You can use it online. Somebody posted it here somewhere...

1. Make a server.
2. Quit to main menu.
3. In the console, type "map lobby".
4. In the console, type "sv_cheats 1"
5. Invite friends
6. ????
7. Profit!

More will be added as they are suggested.

Note: These settings are overriden by the newmapsettings.cfg file:



mat_motion_blur_enabled 0
mat_grain_enable 1
mat_grain_scale_override 1.5
mat_local_contrast_enable 1
ai_no_steer 1

crosshair 1
r_flashlight_topdown 1
r_flashlightscissor 0
fx_glass_velocity_cap 600
cam_idealyaw 0
cam_idealpitch 90
cam_idealdist 412
fov_desired 75
c_maxpitch 360
c_maxdistance 1000
cl_retire_low_priority_lights 1
cl_interp_ratio 2

[Genosidoh]

Nice thread, thanks for this. 5 starred, +rep.

[fortunehunters]

+rep

They should make that AI director command default on.

hey, i´ve tried the command "asw_custom_skill_points 1" , but now my marines just have nothing skilled, how can i spend skillpoints? :/

Anyone remember those commands to hide the marine body and go to first person view?

[vanad1um]

thanks, that camera shake is really annoying

[CanOfPop]

cool thanks for the reload thing

[ph2001]

are asw_ commands like sv_ commands? or sv_ and cl_ mixed and work randomly as a nonhost or not?

[CanOfPop]

Anyone know how to save a text file as .cfg on windows 7?

I name it autoexec.cfg and set all files as the type and it saves as autoexec.cfg.txt

[Shrimpsess]

Originally Posted by kotzwuerg

hey, i´ve tried the command "asw_custom_skill_points 1" , but now my marines just have nothing skilled, how can i spend skillpoints? :/

I'm not sure, I haven't used the command myself. Perhaps its in the marine select subscreen?

Where to put autoexec.cfg?

"C:\Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\common\alien swarm\swarm\cfg"

thanks, that camera shake is really annoying

yw

Anyone remember those commands to hide the marine body and go to first person view?

I believe its just "firstperson". If you confirm it I'll add it to the list.

[Shrimpsess]

Originally Posted by CanOfPop

Anyone know how to save a text file as .cfg on windows 7?

I name it autoexec.cfg and set all files as the type and it saves as autoexec.cfg.txt

Open one of the other .cfg files in notepad.

Delete all the text in it, replace it with the commands you want in it, and then save it as autoexec.cfg and select all files as the type.

Make darn sure you don't save it over the file you opened.

Originally Posted by Shrimpsess

I believe its just "firstperson". If you confirm it I'll add it to the list.

It was 3 different console commands I believe. One for the camera position, one for the movement, and one to hide the marine body.

[No_wander_off]

Originally Posted by Shrimpsess

asw_horde_override 1

Enables an AI director like in L4D.

what?!?

literally?

[chickenmaker]

Awesome man. Nice command list.

[Shrimpsess]

Originally Posted by Bizurkur

It was 3 different console commands I believe. One for the camera position, one for the movement, and one to hide the marine body.

This is all I could find

http://forums.steampowered.com/forum....php?t=1370036

Originally Posted by No_wander_off

what?!?

literally?

Thats what the devs say, I haven't tested it myself. I've heard from other players that once you play with it, you'll never be the same.