What is a .RES file?
A .RES file is a type of Windows Resource File used primarily in video games developed by Valve Corporation, such as Half-Life 2 and Counter-Strike. This file contains a list of resources, like materials and textures, which are used to enhance the gameplay on custom multiplayer maps. These maps have the .BSP file extension.
The .RES file is saved in a simple text format and lists the locations of custom content that is added to a game map. It does not contain the actual resources but points to where they can be found. This helps in reducing the amount of data players need to download when playing on custom maps, as the game only downloads the necessary resources listed in the .RES file.
To open and work with a .RES file, you can use programs associated with Valve games, such as Valve Steam, Valve Half-Life, and Valve Half-Life 2. These programs can recognize and process the .RES files to ensure the custom content is correctly loaded during gameplay.
Historically, .RES files became popular with the release of the game Half-Life in 1998. Over time, as internet speeds improved and game technology advanced, the use of .RES files has declined. Nowadays, these resource lists are often embedded directly into the .BSP map files using a tool called BSPZIP. However, separate .RES files can still be used if there are issues with embedded resources or if a custom map requires specific handling.
If there is a problem with a map not loading correctly, it might be due to an error in the resource paths listed in the .RES file. You can check and edit the .RES file using any basic text editor, like Notepad in Windows.
Note: For a .RES file to function correctly, it must be placed in the same folder as its corresponding .BSP map file, usually the \maps folder, and must have the same name as the .BSP file to ensure the game links them properly.
Verification
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