Dev Demo Tutorial - How to record/view an in-game demo!

​

If you're unaware, demo's are essentially a way to record your in-game experience. It is perfect for lower-end computers or computers without insane amounts of storage, which external programs like Fraps require. The demo command is only available in games built in the Source Engine, so please keep that in-mind.

With that said, this easily and widely accessible method of recording is perfect for..

• Capturing evidence for reports.
• Catching rule-breakers in the act.
• Recording an in-game bug.

Now, launch the Source Game of your choice and let us begin.

1. Ensure Developers Console is enabled. You may do this at the Main Menu by clicking Options, and hovering to the button labeled 'Advanced..' on the second row from the bottom.
2. After clicking 'Advanced..', simply click the Checkmark next to 'Enable Developers Console' and you are good to go.
3. Now, maneuver into the environment you'd like to record. Rather this is STTT, single player fun, or a brick wall.
4. Once you're ready to record, hit your ~ key. It is the little squigily to the left of your [1] button, just below [Esc] and above [Tab]
5. Next, a new menu should pop-up. Ignore all of the text, and click on the text field at the very bottom of the menu.
6. Type the following command, but do not hit enter.
7. record name
8. Ensure that where the word 'Name' is above, you've entered the name you would like your Demo to be. If this is certain, hit Enter and it will begin recording.
9. Once finished, simply hit your [~] key once more and type the word stop and hit enter.
10. Now that you're done, maneuver to your Garry's Mod folder. Below are the most common directories, unless you've changed it yourself upon installation.

Code:

Windows (64-Bit) ::
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\GarrysMod\garrysmod

Windows (32-Bit) ::
C:\Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\common\GarrysMod\garrysmod

OS X ::
~/Library/Application Support/Steam

Linux ::
|| You should know what you're doing.

Your demo will be in your Garry's Mod directory, as shown above. It will be a .dem file, with the name you've given it. Simply upload it to the File Upload website of your choice, and send the link to whoever need see it.


If you have any questions or need any assistance, please do not hesitate to utilize the comment section below.

 

​

1. Download the demo file you'd like to view, and place it somewhere easily accessible such as your Desktop.
2. Next, navigate to your Garry's Mod or other Source Game folder. Here are a list of common default directories, unless you changed this upon installation.

Code:

Windows (64-Bit) ::
C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\SteamApps\common\GarrysMod\garrysmod

Windows (32-Bit) ::
C:\Program Files\Steam\SteamApps\common\GarrysMod\garrysmod

OS X ::
~/Library/Application Support/Steam

Linux ::
|| You should know what you're doing.

1. Place your demo file into your Garry's Mod or other Source Game directory.
2. Start up your game. Next, you're going to want to enable Developer Console if you haven't already.
3. Navigate to the Options Menu.

1. You may do this at the Main Menu by clicking Options, and hovering to the button labeled 'Advanced..' on the second row from the bottom.
2. After clicking 'Advanced..', simply click the Checkmark next to 'Enable Developers Console' and you are good to go.
3. This is your final step. Open the Developers Console via your ~ key. It is the little squigily to the left of your [1] button, just below [Esc] and above [Tab] on your keyboard.
4. Next, a large window will appear on your Main Menu. Hover down to the long text field at the bottom of this menu, and type the following command. Do not hit enter as of yet.
5. playdemo name
6. Ensure that where the word 'name' is in the command above, you've inserted the name of your .demo file. The .demo file extension is not necessary when typing this. Now hit Enter, and it will begin loading/playing your demo.

If you have any questions or need any assistance, please do not hesitate to utilize the comment section below.

 

Some of my recordings haven't saved. I look in my folder andd some of them are there, but i recorded 5 or 6 rounds and only one saved. @Books

 

Question @Lightning , did you use the same name for the demo(s) each time?

 

At first yes, but i havent after Carned told me that it overwrites them

 

@Lightning

Sometimes the demo files save in your garrysmod folder, not your demos folder; you have to move them.

Also, for all the players who now know how to record demos: Remember that you don't always have to record one. Demos are not necessary in situations where you can simply report an RDM.