half life console

how do you open the half life conosle? because i open half life....i press the key i've been told opens it....but nothingg happens....so what do i actually do! please help...otherwise i cant add bots to my games!

make a shortcut to hl
klick right go to prosperities (the lowest thing)
open it
go to the second part an the target should be C:\SIERRA\Half-Life\hl.exe -console -game esf
the part of the -console is very important

that should work
then open it and it should open esf and on the top
it should say console
then in game juse the ~ button on my pc it is that one the button right next to
escape button an that should work

ok, the console thing works....but when i'm in a game and press the button for the console to come up...it doesn't!