I can't fucking wait for it! But damn are they taking their sweet time, going on three years now.
It sucks that Valve won't help them with the project. But then, I think either Valve or their once parent company Activision (not sure of the history about this) knows that if (and God pray when!) this project is released, sales for the original Half-Life game will plummet because this will be a free alternative.
Valve won the rights to all of their games when they sued Vivindi (Or rather, when Vivindi sued them trying to claim that they owned the rights when they really didn't have a leg to stand on). Activision has never been associated with Valve Software. It was just Sierra, who got bought by Vivindi.
I wouldn't be surprised if Valve (or someone related) bought the source code/maps etc. to BlackMesaSource after its completion specifically so they could sell it on the market. Either way I wouldn't be too upset, as long as the BMS team got their credit.
Way bigger headache than it's worth. The BMS team isn't some little 3 man mod group.. there's dozens of people work on it, and I'm willing to bet that there's been several dozen who have worked on it, and who's work still exists in the project in some form, meaning Valve would have to compensate each and every person. (This is why CS retail was missing a bunch of favorite maps; the people who made them didn't want to sell the rights to them to Valve.)
I've finally reached Lambda Core! Perhaps I'll find those scientists who are actually still alive and willing to help me!
Reactor complex?
Whoah, that's a LONG way down.. Watch where you step, Gordon!
Unsuspecting headcrabs suspect nothing
Anamolous materials sounds so much cooler than hazardous.
With a lack of marines, I'm running low on machine gun ammo. Time to switch to the shotgun! Been stocking up on ammo for this thing for a while now.
You know, every time I think I'm going to meet some scientists, I find dead scientists..
Crap! Assassins!
Ha! Puny little assassins can't take a few shotgun blasts. Their aim sucks too.
No time to gloat, Gordon! There's another one!
Come out, come out, wherever you are!
More dead bodies..
Refueling station!
I really do not like large doors. Usually something large is behind them.
Like that! Fortunately he's not that large and a few shotgun blasts brings him down.
Easy!
"Hello, Gordon. I apologize I could not open the door until you had scoured the area. This is the last entrance to the lambda core. All the others are sealed off to contain the invasion. We scientists drew straws to figure out who would stay and wait for you. Obviously, I drew the short straw. They are waiting for you at the core. Its off now, but you can turn it on on your way up there. You will have to flood the reactor anyway to reach the teleporters. You aren't authorized to know about those, but you already know more than one man should. Anyway, whats the harm."
Wait, wait, wait, what?! What is at the core? What teleporters? And who cares about authorization?!
While you're at it, can you just up my authorization so I don't have to bother you guys to let me through doors?
Convenient, especially after those big brutes. Not that they put up much of a fight against a pump shotgun.
Test firing? Firing what? I did that once already in the blast pit..
"Hi, you work in weapon research too? I built this gluon gun, but i can't stand to use it on a living creature. You, however, look like you have no problem killing things."
Nope! Thanks for the new toy!
Bzzt. Yes, sir, I like it!
Coolant system. Guess that's my next stop if I'm going to flood the reactor.
Great, more dead scientists. If it wasn't for Dan there by the door I would be wondering if any of Lambda team was still alive..
Hmm, 1, or 2?
Let's test out this new toy!
VISIBLE LASER RADIATION
AVOID EYE OR SKIN EXPOSURE TO
DIRECT OR SCATTERED RADIATION
CLASS 4 LASER
I'll say!
So, let's just go in order.
Whoah, that was just odd! The whole place shook and warped a little bit there.
Poor souls.
Ow! Jerk! They're starting to gang up on me!
To the pump station!
Well, that was simple.. Too simple..
Hey! Even better, two for the price of one!
On to number 2!
Figures.. Every time I get close something blocks my way.
Or not, don't be fooled, you can get right through it! Awesome.
Ahh! Stupid bees!
Now that is just sad.. Poor guy was so close..
And you things, get that ugly, blue tongue out of my face!
More attempted blockages!
Funny little headcrabs, this head isn't for you! I have pistol bullets for you!
Is it just me, or is it fun to pick off these guys with the pistol?
You couldn't flip that switch before you died, huh? I gotta do everything around here!
Green across the board! Let's go!
More choices.. Let's go maintenance first.
Hey! How's it going? Want to come along? No, no, you won't die....
"Don't delay, Mr. Freeman. Take the access pipe to the core and get to the labs."
Ok, ok, sheesh. You could at least help me out a bit by flooding it yourself you know. Or perhaps leading the way and showing me where to go? No? Jerk.
Always keep a shelving unit stocked with ammunition near your reactor cores. You never know when it will come in handy.
I love it when they don't see me. Why?
That's why.
Crap! I tipped off his friend though when I vaporized him!
Enjoy!
Holy! Where and when did you get here!?
Argh, stupid warping in aliens!
Yeah, no so great now, are ya?
Figures. I don't really think that accessing a reactor through it's coolant is such a good idea, but that's what the scientist said.
You think?
Who puts valves down here?!
Whoah, that does not look friendly.
Shoo! Go away!
Ack!
Level D? Hmm. Well, let's at least see what supplies are in the closet here.
Elevator is out of service, but who needs it? I am super-scientist!
Look at that, from D to B in no time.
So, think you could help me out or you want to cower in here some more?
Whoah! I haven't seen him in a long time! It's the guy in the blue suit! Hey! He just got vaporized!
In case you want to turn ON the hazardous steam. I personally prefer to leave it off.
They mean "No Access" too. It's locked.
What is this?
One yellow, one green. The blue suit guy walked into a yellow one and it vaporized him. Green one doesn't seem to do anything though. The yellow one, whoah! Hey, I'm at the green one! It's the teleporters the scientist by the door told me about! I gotta get to that teleporter the blue suit went through!
After I unleash my own barrage of bees on these guys. My unfortunate guard friend was not so lucky, however.
Locked..
Locked.. Oi..
Open!
What?! Crazy!
At least if I fall I can go up this ladder down here.
Yellow and green. I somehow doubt that the yellow here goes to that green.
Wow, I need to warp around to find my way to another area?! This should be interesting. Well, let's try port 2!
Which leads me to the next level up! Port 6?
Well, that was pointless..
Port 3? Ooh, time to stock up!
Port 1? Lots of headcrabs! At least I'm making some progress.
Hey! This is the teleporter that the blue suit went through! Let's go!
Wait, what?! This is going to get annoying.. Well, let's try port 2 again, and try one of the other teleporters on that level.
I probably went through port 2 a few times before I realized that different ports were not just openings to the same teleporter, but different teleporters.
I then spent the next half-hour or so working my way through these, trying to figure out how to get the to top level. Whenever I hit the top teleporter I would miss the platform and end up on the same one I jumped from, making me think it was the same level, not the one above. I was seriously confused for quite a while. LOL
I smacked myself when I realized what I was doing wrong.
Ok, wait for port 2. That takes you up to the next level.
Let's try port 4!
Hey! Scientists! Were you waiting for me?
"I'm sure someone will come rescue us soon."
Hello! I'm right here, Gordon Freeman, ever heard of me?!
"Do you remember the emergency survival training?"
"No, do you?"
"Nope."
Hey! Come one! Someone talk to me! Forget you guys..
I can see a new level! I just can't get to it!
So, back to the beginning..
I want to get to that one!
Aha! Level C! Progress!
Wait, I want to get up there? I was already in Level B! I'm further away now!
Ok, I have bad feeling I need to access this room and navigate those crazy platforms..
Too obvious? Outside of health, though, it leads nowhere.
More progress! I'm at the top level! Should I go for port 7?
Perhaps port 8?
Port 9 looks dangerous, there's red sparks blocking it.
Ha! I was right! Wait, that's not really a good thing..
Ok, if I ever meet the scientist who put this all together, I am going to shove this shotgun into his mouth and make him beg and plead. Then I'm going to make him promise never to design another facility ever again.
Another 1 and 2. May as well go in order..
Waiting for the "opportune moment".
Pushed 1, now to push 2. Let's see what happens.
Another teleporter!
I swear, if this takes me back to the beginning of that tower of portals, I will be SO MAD!
Well, I suppose this is better.
A new set of teleporters! Joy!
A? I'm in A?! Yes!
A!
Hey guys! Let me in! Ah! Don't shoot me! Whew..
"Gordon Freeman, you finally found us."
"So this is the guy. We thought you'd never make it."
"This is the supply depot for our first survey team. Quite a few handsome specimans were collected from the borderworld and brought back this way - before the members of the team were collected themselves. We suspect there is an immense portal over there created by the single collective thought of an intense powerful creature. You will know it when you see it. I hate to say it though, but you will probably have to kill it if you can."
"Yeah, you better kill it."
"Of course, you owe us nothing, but you have come this far and know more about these creatures than we do."
"If you don't do this, there won't be much to come back to."
"If you are willing, a collegue of mine is waiting to open the door to the portal for you."
"Don't forget to gear up!"
"This is a long jump module. It will prove to be necessary in the borderworld. I hope you had some training with one? You should practice before you go."
Hello supplies!
I get the feeling this will be the last time I see these for a while..
Wow.
Or, I could say forget it like everyone else in this facility and just run away.
I've come this far, let's do this thing!
What the heck is that!
Ooh, pretty! And more of those flying aliens!
Is it ready yet!?
Sheesh, hurry up already.
"Not yet Gordon, but get in position!"
"Go, Gordon!"
I did this section twice. Once I stood there and relied on my cheat to keep me alive so I could get good pictures of this thing starting up. The second time I played without my cheat and ran around in circles trying to stay alive while it was starting up. I only got hit twice while running around.
Whoah, trippy!
Xen. What have I gotten myself into?
Find out next time! What has Gordon gotten himself into!? Secrets will be revealed! (not really)
ArcSyn on
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Gear GirlMore class than a state universityRegistered Userregular
I thought Xen was neat. Jumping puzzles = no fun, but it was definitely something different.
Yah, I found Xen fine until the final fight. That was just too frustrating for words. Since the first time I beat that crackbaby I have played through the game 2 more times, but I use noclilp and flymode and just blow him to bits on the 2nd and 3rd playthroughs. I don't know why I even bother doing that really. I guess I crave my one textline finale, heh.
Can't wait till that black mesa source is done. I am itching to play again, but I want to wait till that project is done.
I've never actually played all the way through blueshift or opposing force either. Wish someone would give them the source treatment as well.
Since Xen and Gonarch's Lair are so small and devoid of any real story I'll probably do Xen tomorrow and Gonarch's Lair Friday. I'm working through Interloper now, but I don't think I'll have it done for Friday.
Ok , its not that xen was bad... its that its "pacing" seemed off to me if that makes any sense , and both boss battles were annoying.
EspantaPajaro on
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Gear GirlMore class than a state universityRegistered Userregular
edited November 2007
Didn't really have any trouble with the boss battles..the mini headcrabs are a bit annoying but the end boss is easy once you get the pattern down..which takes all of 10 seconds.
Gear Girl on
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MorninglordI'm tired of being Batman,so today I'll be Owl.Registered Userregular
I thought Xen was neat. Jumping puzzles = no fun, but it was definitely something different.
Yah, I found Xen fine until the final fight. That was just too frustrating for words. Since the first time I beat that crackbaby I have played through the game 2 more times, but I use noclilp and flymode and just blow him to bits on the 2nd and 3rd playthroughs. I don't know why I even bother doing that really. I guess I crave my one textline finale, heh.
Can't wait till that black mesa source is done. I am itching to play again, but I want to wait till that project is done.
I've never actually played all the way through blueshift or opposing force either. Wish someone would give them the source treatment as well.
I don't think that is going to be done anytime soon. According to their forums they're around 50% done and that took them three years.
Morninglord on
(PSN: Morninglord) (Steam: Morninglord) (WiiU: Morninglord22) I like to record and toss up a lot of random gaming videos here.
Apparently, the laws of physics (and who knows what else!) that you are familiar with don't apply here. Despite there being gravity that doesn't affect these "islands".
RIP. Hopefully your sacrifice and research will benefit us all one day. Perhaps me, today.
My calm romp is starting to be interrupted by aliens warping in. Just a small fry for now, and I hope it stays that way.
I really have no idea where I'm going, but it seems like it's leading me down to the large platform below.
A look up gives me shivers down my spine as to the distance I've traveled with this jump-pack. The sheer possibilities for me to have fallen finally grips my mind.
It looks to only get more dangerous, as there is a platform below this one.
I find the first signs of vegetation on this devoid section of space. These little "light" plants seem sentient, and turn off and shrink when you get too close. The purple lights seem to release electricity if you approach as well. I will need to be cautious.
A larger area is on the other side of this platform. I really do not have an idea as to what this is all for, or how it got here.
A bubbling pool of some sort. It doesn't seem dangerous, but I won't tempt fate either.
I discover a small cave with a blocked opening. My trusty crowbar may prove to be invaluable in this world.
Pods grow out of a liquid covered floor. They don't seem to be aware of my presence, or hurt by my bullets. The liquid seems safe enough as well.
I find three of these posts around the room. I feel that they serve some purpose.
With a touch, the claws open. I'm not sure what else to do, but it feels like progress. I move on to the next ones.
This one opens just like the last. One more to go.
The third opens, and nothing happens. Frustration starts to set in when I notice movement to my left.
I see three objects fluttering like butterflies in the corner, trapped.
I release them and they fly about, finally landing on the three pillars.
That's when it begins. What? I dunno. But something is happening.
They seem to have created some sort of device in the center of the room. Or just powered it. I want to say it's a teleporter, but what do I know of such things?
Having nowhere else to go, I step in.
Who? "Lair" does not sound good..
Just a small section today. Gonarch's lair is pretty small too, but I won't have the next section after that done by tomorrow, so it will be just that. I'm just happy I can give you guys updates in some sort of decent time frame.
ArcSyn on
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FencingsaxIt is difficult to get a man to understand, when his salary depends upon his not understandingGNU Terry PratchettRegistered Userregular
After looking at the Xen walkthrough, I realized that thing he powered up using the claw thingies were of similar design to the Combine power 'tubes' with the energy balls flowing up and down.
Cool little continuity thing...
MidVicious on
"When you're in the type of business we're in, you don't get a criminal lawyer, you get a criminal lawyer!" -- Jesse, Breaking Bad
All this classic, boxy-polygon goodness has me tempted to pick up the PS2 version of HL1... is it good? I haven't been able to find a review of the PS2 version, though I fear it may have horrid controls...
Also, is it just me or are there several possible paths through the beginning of the game?
Curly_Brace on
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Gear GirlMore class than a state universityRegistered Userregular
All this classic, boxy-polygon goodness has me tempted to pick up the PS2 version of HL1... is it good? I haven't been able to find a review of the PS2 version, though I fear it may have horrid controls...
Also, is it just me or are there several possible paths through the beginning of the game?
It comes with Half-Life: Decay the third expansion so that is a bonus..no idea about the controls and everything..I'd personally want to play it on PC and there is a team porting Decay over to the PC so I'll wait for that I think.
Only one path I think, you might have to be more specific as to where you are talking about.
All this classic, boxy-polygon goodness has me tempted to pick up the PS2 version of HL1... is it good? I haven't been able to find a review of the PS2 version, though I fear it may have horrid controls...
Also, is it just me or are there several possible paths through the beginning of the game?
It comes with Half-Life: Decay the third expansion so that is a bonus..no idea about the controls and everything..I'd personally want to play it on PC and there is a team porting Decay over to the PC so I'll wait for that I think.
Only one path I think, you might have to be more specific as to where you are talking about.
I'm not 100% sure about the main game, but I played Decay recently and can comfirm it lets you use USB keyboard and mouse. So anyway, I would assume you could play PS2 HL with KBAM too.
All this classic, boxy-polygon goodness has me tempted to pick up the PS2 version of HL1... is it good? I haven't been able to find a review of the PS2 version, though I fear it may have horrid controls...
Also, is it just me or are there several possible paths through the beginning of the game?
Why even bother with PS2? The PC version functions perfectly fine. Plus you get all the awesome mods.
Well I bought the PS2 version for Decay and I know about the mod team trying to bring it to the PC but who knows if that will pan out. I think the real answer here is to get it for Decay and then Steam the rest.
All this classic, boxy-polygon goodness has me tempted to pick up the PS2 version of HL1... is it good? I haven't been able to find a review of the PS2 version, though I fear it may have horrid controls...
Also, is it just me or are there several possible paths through the beginning of the game?
Why even bother with PS2? The PC version functions perfectly fine. Plus you get all the awesome mods.
Because, alas, I have a Mac and I'm not gonna go spend $2000 on a kick-ass PC to play HL, HL2, etc. I am, however, very tempted to save up for a 360, if only to play the Orange Box.
I played HL2 on a friend's PC, and the first bit of HL Hi-Res on the same friend's PC. I am a game moocher, what can I say?
EDIT: I remember I was working on killing the giant alien-plant-thing with the rocket engine when I stopped playing. And a lot of the stuff in this LP up until that point is oddly unfamiliar. Or maybe the OP is side-tracking a bit to show us some cool bits in the game!
All this classic, boxy-polygon goodness has me tempted to pick up the PS2 version of HL1... is it good? I haven't been able to find a review of the PS2 version, though I fear it may have horrid controls...
Also, is it just me or are there several possible paths through the beginning of the game?
Why even bother with PS2? The PC version functions perfectly fine. Plus you get all the awesome mods.
Because, alas, I have a Mac and I'm not gonna go spend $2000 on a kick-ass PC to play HL, HL2, etc. I am, however, very tempted to save up for a 360, if only to play the Orange Box.
Without wanting to dive into the "lol cheap" aspect (I'm not) but for Orange Box, et al, sans monitor, you should be able to get a computer capable of playing them for ~500 or so.
Excuse my incredible ignorance of anything to do with macs but would you not be able to get things up and running with bootcamp?
Bootcamp? Eh? *Looks at the Mac site* Oh man this better work well, 'cause my Dad just got Leopard for me yesterday, and if Bootcamp doesn't make my machine run really slow, then we're in business and Orange Box fun awaits me! Hurrah! Gonna need some more RAM, though.
BTW, for you all y'all to know, Bootcamp is a feature of OS X Leopard, it apparently lets you run 32-bit XP and/or Vista on a Mac machine.
We shall soon see if this works!
Curly_Brace on
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augustwhere you come from is goneRegistered Userregular
edited November 2007
You might want to check to see if your mac has any kind of 3d card before purchasing HL2. HL1 it can no doubt handle.
You might want to check to see if your mac has any kind of 3d card before purchasing HL2. HL1 it can no doubt handle.
Well I've played WoW on this computer, no problem... so I assume I have a 3D card...
"About This Mac" tells me I have a ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 card, which despite having a web-page about it, I am not sure if it a 3D card persay.
Thanks y'all for your help, by the way. But anything to allow another gaming soul to enjoy thining with portals, yeah?
You might want to check to see if your mac has any kind of 3d card before purchasing HL2. HL1 it can no doubt handle.
Well I've played WoW on this computer, no problem... so I assume I have a 3D card...
"About This Mac" tells me I have a ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 card, which despite having a web-page about it, I am not sure if it a 3D card persay.
Thanks y'all for your help, by the way. But anything to allow another gaming soul to enjoy thining with portals, yeah?
That should be enough for HL2, if memory serves (although I don't know if bootcamp acts as an emulator or just as a proper dual-boot program). I'm not sure how much requirements scale up for episodes 1 and 2 (and therefore portal and TF2), though.
Edit: Found a quote about that card: "Made Half-Life 2 reasonably playable on a notebook - quite a noteworthy accomplishment."
So HL2 should be playable, presumably at mid-to-low settings. I wouldn't hold my breath for EPs 1 and 2, though.
You might want to check to see if your mac has any kind of 3d card before purchasing HL2. HL1 it can no doubt handle.
Well I've played WoW on this computer, no problem... so I assume I have a 3D card...
"About This Mac" tells me I have a ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 card, which despite having a web-page about it, I am not sure if it a 3D card persay.
Thanks y'all for your help, by the way. But anything to allow another gaming soul to enjoy thining with portals, yeah?
Bootcamp is just a front-end for dual booting which means you'll need a copy of XP, and it will run natively. Sounds like you have a first gen macbook pro, HL2 should run awesome with at least 1-2 gb of ram. EP2/Portal/TF2 are more demanding but should run fine if you tone down the settings.
To backtrack a bit, the PS2 port of Half-Life is awesome. It stands with Quake III Arena on the Dreamcast as one of the best PC to console ports in existence. Controls are good, graphics aren't shabby (and the models actually surpass the quality of the PC high definition pack), and you get Decay. Also, if you can track down a December 2002 copy of OPM and it's demo disc, you can play UpLink as well. The only caveat is the load times are obviously longer than what you would get on a modern PC.
I really don't like the sound of that. Is this the creature the scientist was referring to?
Another of the collection team. How long did Black Mesa know of this place?
Whoah! What the heck is that!
It saw me! Crap!
Regardless, it seems to be hurt by my grenades. A few hits and it turns away from me.
Wait, it's turning back around!
Have some more grenades!
Oh. Oh, I see. Running away, eh? You yellow bastards! Come back here and take what's coming to you. I'll bite your legs off!
I don't know if it put up those webs, but it sure is making short work taking them down.
Catch!
Hmm, it didn't seem to care. Guess I will just have to follow it for now.
There must have been another scientist here, I just picked up some more grenades. Looks like there's an opening ahead. Perhaps I will find where this thing is going.
Whoah, it's spitting out little crabs..
Seems that it doesn't like grenades now.
That sack is especially vulnerable. I'll have to make sure to have them explode underneath it.
Ack! Get it off my face!
Whoah! It's charging at me this time!
Whew.. I went through all of my grenades, but it's running away again. I guess this isn't the end yet..
I'll wait for it to stop moving. I don't want to waste any of my rockets..
Hmm, seems we are going underground this time.
Watch your step, Gordon! This floor is just a web! Have some rockets you alien freak!
Crap, I've fallen below and I'm out of rockets! Fortunately this gives me a clear shot of it's underside! Let's see how it likes this gun!
It's running in circles trying to get away now!
Die already!
The web is falling apart!
Oh yeah! Going down!
Hey! What's going on!?
Where am I?
Another teleporter, I guess. Where am I going this time?
Interloper? Seems my quest has not yet ended with the defeat of that thing..
Curly_Brace:
I'm running HL (and HL2) on a laptop with 2GB of RAM and a nVidia Quaddro NVS 110. Needless to say it's not the best graphics in the world, but it's playable.
As far as me going to different areas in the LP? Not really. I've never played past the first section of HL before and decided that I wanted to play through it, and with the Orange Box release I figured I'll make it an LP as well. So what you are seeing is what someone would likely see/do when it's their first time through the game. The videos MMAN is putting together would probably show you more than I do, as he is more knowledgeable of the game and much more thorough.
Also, just want to put this out there.
It's been a while since I've asked, but is there anything I can do to improve my LP? Something you guys would like to see or something? Or not see? Just want to keep the quality up and I realized today that I've been kinda rushing the posts a little and my comments aren't really the deepest or most insightful. Part of that is just the game doesn't seem to give you too much to work with as you explore and get from point A to point B. Some areas moreso than others.
Or go the used PC route. I have seen computers VERY capable of playing HL2 and Orange box go for under $300 with monitor on craigslist.
HL2 does not have very high system specs, and it degrades very nicely. The biggest improvement to the game in the expansions is HDL and that can be turned off without any big hit to the visuals.
My computer is about 3 years old, and it wasn't top of the line then and I still can play modern pc games fine. Bioshock, HL1 & 2, quakewars... The PC tech curve is not nearly as nasty as it was a decade ago when 3d was newer. My 3 year old system can play games fine in 1600x1200 resolution as long as I turn off AA and AF. AA and AF are pretty much useless at that high of a resolution anyway.
Also, just want to put this out there.
It's been a while since I've asked, but is there anything I can do to improve my LP? Something you guys would like to see or something? Or not see? Just want to keep the quality up and I realized today that I've been kinda rushing the posts a little and my comments aren't really the deepest or most insightful. Part of that is just the game doesn't seem to give you too much to work with as you explore and get from point A to point B. Some areas moreso than others.
I actually can't think of anything wrong with your LP. This and the STALKER LP have been the most entertaining ones I have read.
Yeah. Having not played HL in a while, this is great!
Are you planning to do one for Opposing Force? I think you should. Just make sure you do the tutorial.
Thanks Hybrid and Athenor!
Athenor, my plans unless someone beats me to it, are to do the following games/LPs:
Opposing Force
Blue Shift
Half-Life 2
Half-Life 2: Episode 1
Granted, that could take a VERY long time to finally finish them all, but I'm getting into playing games again a bit right now, and I've been wanting to play HL2 but my continuity minded self wants to play all of the HL1 stuff first.
I'm debating on maybe doing a video LP like MMAN is doing simply because it would remove the need for me to pause and get screenshots and I could play normally in the future. I'm not sure what software to use for that though or if that would be a good idea either. Personally, I enjoy screenshot LPs (Read through the SS2, and currently keeping up with the STALKER, Indiana Jones, Chrono Cross, and Silent Hill 2) and commenting later on screenshots is probably easier than trying to provide a real-time commentary while playing. So for right now I'm sticking with screenshots.
Posts
"I HATE ALIEN WORLDS!"
that is all.
Lambda Complex should be going up Wednesday. I'll probably be quite busy at work tomorrow.
Valve won the rights to all of their games when they sued Vivindi (Or rather, when Vivindi sued them trying to claim that they owned the rights when they really didn't have a leg to stand on). Activision has never been associated with Valve Software. It was just Sierra, who got bought by Vivindi.
Way bigger headache than it's worth. The BMS team isn't some little 3 man mod group.. there's dozens of people work on it, and I'm willing to bet that there's been several dozen who have worked on it, and who's work still exists in the project in some form, meaning Valve would have to compensate each and every person. (This is why CS retail was missing a bunch of favorite maps; the people who made them didn't want to sell the rights to them to Valve.)
Haha, you have an unhealthy obsession with making sure everything that can break is broken or that can explode is blown up...but then again..so do I.
I've finally reached Lambda Core! Perhaps I'll find those scientists who are actually still alive and willing to help me!
Reactor complex?
Whoah, that's a LONG way down.. Watch where you step, Gordon!
Unsuspecting headcrabs suspect nothing
Anamolous materials sounds so much cooler than hazardous.
With a lack of marines, I'm running low on machine gun ammo. Time to switch to the shotgun! Been stocking up on ammo for this thing for a while now.
You know, every time I think I'm going to meet some scientists, I find dead scientists..
Crap! Assassins!
Ha! Puny little assassins can't take a few shotgun blasts. Their aim sucks too.
No time to gloat, Gordon! There's another one!
Come out, come out, wherever you are!
More dead bodies..
Refueling station!
I really do not like large doors. Usually something large is behind them.
Like that! Fortunately he's not that large and a few shotgun blasts brings him down.
Easy!
"Hello, Gordon. I apologize I could not open the door until you had scoured the area. This is the last entrance to the lambda core. All the others are sealed off to contain the invasion. We scientists drew straws to figure out who would stay and wait for you. Obviously, I drew the short straw. They are waiting for you at the core. Its off now, but you can turn it on on your way up there. You will have to flood the reactor anyway to reach the teleporters. You aren't authorized to know about those, but you already know more than one man should. Anyway, whats the harm."
Wait, wait, wait, what?! What is at the core? What teleporters? And who cares about authorization?!
While you're at it, can you just up my authorization so I don't have to bother you guys to let me through doors?
Convenient, especially after those big brutes. Not that they put up much of a fight against a pump shotgun.
Test firing? Firing what? I did that once already in the blast pit..
"Hi, you work in weapon research too? I built this gluon gun, but i can't stand to use it on a living creature. You, however, look like you have no problem killing things."
Nope! Thanks for the new toy!
Bzzt.
Coolant system. Guess that's my next stop if I'm going to flood the reactor.
Great, more dead scientists. If it wasn't for Dan there by the door I would be wondering if any of Lambda team was still alive..
Hmm, 1, or 2?
Let's test out this new toy!
VISIBLE LASER RADIATION
AVOID EYE OR SKIN EXPOSURE TO
DIRECT OR SCATTERED RADIATION
CLASS 4 LASER
I'll say!
So, let's just go in order.
Whoah, that was just odd! The whole place shook and warped a little bit there.
Poor souls.
Ow! Jerk! They're starting to gang up on me!
To the pump station!
Well, that was simple.. Too simple..
Hey! Even better, two for the price of one!
On to number 2!
Figures.. Every time I get close something blocks my way.
Or not, don't be fooled, you can get right through it! Awesome.
Ahh! Stupid bees!
Now that is just sad.. Poor guy was so close..
And you things, get that ugly, blue tongue out of my face!
More attempted blockages!
Funny little headcrabs, this head isn't for you! I have pistol bullets for you!
Is it just me, or is it fun to pick off these guys with the pistol?
You couldn't flip that switch before you died, huh? I gotta do everything around here!
Green across the board! Let's go!
More choices.. Let's go maintenance first.
Hey! How's it going? Want to come along? No, no, you won't die....
"Don't delay, Mr. Freeman. Take the access pipe to the core and get to the labs."
Ok, ok, sheesh. You could at least help me out a bit by flooding it yourself you know. Or perhaps leading the way and showing me where to go? No? Jerk.
Always keep a shelving unit stocked with ammunition near your reactor cores. You never know when it will come in handy.
I love it when they don't see me. Why?
That's why.
Crap! I tipped off his friend though when I vaporized him!
Enjoy!
Holy! Where and when did you get here!?
Argh, stupid warping in aliens!
Yeah, no so great now, are ya?
Figures. I don't really think that accessing a reactor through it's coolant is such a good idea, but that's what the scientist said.
You think?
Who puts valves down here?!
Whoah, that does not look friendly.
Shoo! Go away!
Ack!
Level D? Hmm. Well, let's at least see what supplies are in the closet here.
Elevator is out of service, but who needs it? I am super-scientist!
Look at that, from D to B in no time.
So, think you could help me out or you want to cower in here some more?
Whoah! I haven't seen him in a long time! It's the guy in the blue suit! Hey! He just got vaporized!
In case you want to turn ON the hazardous steam. I personally prefer to leave it off.
They mean "No Access" too. It's locked.
What is this?
One yellow, one green. The blue suit guy walked into a yellow one and it vaporized him. Green one doesn't seem to do anything though. The yellow one, whoah! Hey, I'm at the green one! It's the teleporters the scientist by the door told me about! I gotta get to that teleporter the blue suit went through!
After I unleash my own barrage of bees on these guys. My unfortunate guard friend was not so lucky, however.
Locked..
Locked.. Oi..
Open!
What?! Crazy!
At least if I fall I can go up this ladder down here.
Yellow and green. I somehow doubt that the yellow here goes to that green.
Wow, I need to warp around to find my way to another area?! This should be interesting. Well, let's try port 2!
Which leads me to the next level up! Port 6?
Well, that was pointless..
Port 3? Ooh, time to stock up!
Port 1? Lots of headcrabs! At least I'm making some progress.
Hey! This is the teleporter that the blue suit went through! Let's go!
Wait, what?! This is going to get annoying.. Well, let's try port 2 again, and try one of the other teleporters on that level.
I then spent the next half-hour or so working my way through these, trying to figure out how to get the to top level. Whenever I hit the top teleporter I would miss the platform and end up on the same one I jumped from, making me think it was the same level, not the one above. I was seriously confused for quite a while. LOL
I smacked myself when I realized what I was doing wrong.
Ok, wait for port 2. That takes you up to the next level.
Let's try port 4!
Hey! Scientists! Were you waiting for me?
"I'm sure someone will come rescue us soon."
Hello! I'm right here, Gordon Freeman, ever heard of me?!
"Do you remember the emergency survival training?"
"No, do you?"
"Nope."
Hey! Come one! Someone talk to me! Forget you guys..
I can see a new level! I just can't get to it!
So, back to the beginning..
I want to get to that one!
Aha! Level C! Progress!
Wait, I want to get up there? I was already in Level B! I'm further away now!
Ok, I have bad feeling I need to access this room and navigate those crazy platforms..
Too obvious? Outside of health, though, it leads nowhere.
More progress! I'm at the top level! Should I go for port 7?
Perhaps port 8?
Port 9 looks dangerous, there's red sparks blocking it.
Ha! I was right! Wait, that's not really a good thing..
Ok, if I ever meet the scientist who put this all together, I am going to shove this shotgun into his mouth and make him beg and plead. Then I'm going to make him promise never to design another facility ever again.
Another 1 and 2. May as well go in order..
Waiting for the "opportune moment".
Pushed 1, now to push 2. Let's see what happens.
Another teleporter!
I swear, if this takes me back to the beginning of that tower of portals, I will be SO MAD!
Well, I suppose this is better.
A new set of teleporters! Joy!
A? I'm in A?! Yes!
A!
Hey guys! Let me in! Ah! Don't shoot me! Whew..
"Gordon Freeman, you finally found us."
"So this is the guy. We thought you'd never make it."
"This is the supply depot for our first survey team. Quite a few handsome specimans were collected from the borderworld and brought back this way - before the members of the team were collected themselves. We suspect there is an immense portal over there created by the single collective thought of an intense powerful creature. You will know it when you see it. I hate to say it though, but you will probably have to kill it if you can."
"Yeah, you better kill it."
"Of course, you owe us nothing, but you have come this far and know more about these creatures than we do."
"If you don't do this, there won't be much to come back to."
"If you are willing, a collegue of mine is waiting to open the door to the portal for you."
"Don't forget to gear up!"
"This is a long jump module. It will prove to be necessary in the borderworld. I hope you had some training with one? You should practice before you go."
Hello supplies!
I get the feeling this will be the last time I see these for a while..
Wow.
Or, I could say forget it like everyone else in this facility and just run away.
I've come this far, let's do this thing!
What the heck is that!
Ooh, pretty! And more of those flying aliens!
Is it ready yet!?
Sheesh, hurry up already.
"Not yet Gordon, but get in position!"
"Go, Gordon!"
Whoah, trippy!
Xen. What have I gotten myself into?
Find out next time! What has Gordon gotten himself into!? Secrets will be revealed! (not really)
Yah, I found Xen fine until the final fight. That was just too frustrating for words. Since the first time I beat that crackbaby I have played through the game 2 more times, but I use noclilp and flymode and just blow him to bits on the 2nd and 3rd playthroughs. I don't know why I even bother doing that really. I guess I crave my one textline finale, heh.
Can't wait till that black mesa source is done. I am itching to play again, but I want to wait till that project is done.
I've never actually played all the way through blueshift or opposing force either. Wish someone would give them the source treatment as well.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
MMOG Comic, Quests, and News. www.thebrasse.com
It's been, interesting, to say the least..
I don't think that is going to be done anytime soon. According to their forums they're around 50% done and that took them three years.
Xen. Gordon, what have you gotten yourself into?
Apparently, the laws of physics (and who knows what else!) that you are familiar with don't apply here. Despite there being gravity that doesn't affect these "islands".
RIP. Hopefully your sacrifice and research will benefit us all one day. Perhaps me, today.
My calm romp is starting to be interrupted by aliens warping in. Just a small fry for now, and I hope it stays that way.
I really have no idea where I'm going, but it seems like it's leading me down to the large platform below.
A look up gives me shivers down my spine as to the distance I've traveled with this jump-pack. The sheer possibilities for me to have fallen finally grips my mind.
It looks to only get more dangerous, as there is a platform below this one.
I find the first signs of vegetation on this devoid section of space. These little "light" plants seem sentient, and turn off and shrink when you get too close. The purple lights seem to release electricity if you approach as well. I will need to be cautious.
A larger area is on the other side of this platform. I really do not have an idea as to what this is all for, or how it got here.
A bubbling pool of some sort. It doesn't seem dangerous, but I won't tempt fate either.
I discover a small cave with a blocked opening. My trusty crowbar may prove to be invaluable in this world.
Pods grow out of a liquid covered floor. They don't seem to be aware of my presence, or hurt by my bullets. The liquid seems safe enough as well.
I find three of these posts around the room. I feel that they serve some purpose.
With a touch, the claws open. I'm not sure what else to do, but it feels like progress. I move on to the next ones.
This one opens just like the last. One more to go.
The third opens, and nothing happens. Frustration starts to set in when I notice movement to my left.
I see three objects fluttering like butterflies in the corner, trapped.
I release them and they fly about, finally landing on the three pillars.
That's when it begins. What? I dunno. But something is happening.
They seem to have created some sort of device in the center of the room. Or just powered it. I want to say it's a teleporter, but what do I know of such things?
Having nowhere else to go, I step in.
Who? "Lair" does not sound good..
Just a small section today. Gonarch's lair is pretty small too, but I won't have the next section after that done by tomorrow, so it will be just that. I'm just happy I can give you guys updates in some sort of decent time frame.
I was wondering if thats what it was.
I'm actually using a lot of restraint in this playthrough :P .
Power up! done: http://www.dailymotion.com/MMAN2/video/5753236
After looking at the Xen walkthrough, I realized that thing he powered up using the claw thingies were of similar design to the Combine power 'tubes' with the energy balls flowing up and down.
Cool little continuity thing...
-- Jesse, Breaking Bad
Also, is it just me or are there several possible paths through the beginning of the game?
It comes with Half-Life: Decay the third expansion so that is a bonus..no idea about the controls and everything..I'd personally want to play it on PC and there is a team porting Decay over to the PC so I'll wait for that I think.
Only one path I think, you might have to be more specific as to where you are talking about.
Why even bother with PS2? The PC version functions perfectly fine. Plus you get all the awesome mods.
Because, alas, I have a Mac and I'm not gonna go spend $2000 on a kick-ass PC to play HL, HL2, etc. I am, however, very tempted to save up for a 360, if only to play the Orange Box.
I played HL2 on a friend's PC, and the first bit of HL Hi-Res on the same friend's PC. I am a game moocher, what can I say?
EDIT: I remember I was working on killing the giant alien-plant-thing with the rocket engine when I stopped playing. And a lot of the stuff in this LP up until that point is oddly unfamiliar. Or maybe the OP is side-tracking a bit to show us some cool bits in the game!
Without wanting to dive into the "lol cheap" aspect (I'm not) but for Orange Box, et al, sans monitor, you should be able to get a computer capable of playing them for ~500 or so.
Bootcamp? Eh? *Looks at the Mac site* Oh man this better work well, 'cause my Dad just got Leopard for me yesterday, and if Bootcamp doesn't make my machine run really slow, then we're in business and Orange Box fun awaits me! Hurrah! Gonna need some more RAM, though.
BTW, for you all y'all to know, Bootcamp is a feature of OS X Leopard, it apparently lets you run 32-bit XP and/or Vista on a Mac machine.
We shall soon see if this works!
Well I've played WoW on this computer, no problem... so I assume I have a 3D card...
"About This Mac" tells me I have a ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 card, which despite having a web-page about it, I am not sure if it a 3D card persay.
Thanks y'all for your help, by the way. But anything to allow another gaming soul to enjoy thining with portals, yeah?
That should be enough for HL2, if memory serves (although I don't know if bootcamp acts as an emulator or just as a proper dual-boot program). I'm not sure how much requirements scale up for episodes 1 and 2 (and therefore portal and TF2), though.
Edit: Found a quote about that card: "Made Half-Life 2 reasonably playable on a notebook - quite a noteworthy accomplishment."
So HL2 should be playable, presumably at mid-to-low settings. I wouldn't hold my breath for EPs 1 and 2, though.
Bootcamp is just a front-end for dual booting which means you'll need a copy of XP, and it will run natively. Sounds like you have a first gen macbook pro, HL2 should run awesome with at least 1-2 gb of ram. EP2/Portal/TF2 are more demanding but should run fine if you tone down the settings.
There is a HL2 demo if you want to check!
Steam / Bus Blog / Goozex Referral
I really don't like the sound of that. Is this the creature the scientist was referring to?
Another of the collection team. How long did Black Mesa know of this place?
Whoah! What the heck is that!
It saw me! Crap!
Regardless, it seems to be hurt by my grenades. A few hits and it turns away from me.
Wait, it's turning back around!
Have some more grenades!
Oh. Oh, I see. Running away, eh? You yellow bastards! Come back here and take what's coming to you. I'll bite your legs off!
I don't know if it put up those webs, but it sure is making short work taking them down.
Catch!
Hmm, it didn't seem to care. Guess I will just have to follow it for now.
There must have been another scientist here, I just picked up some more grenades. Looks like there's an opening ahead. Perhaps I will find where this thing is going.
Whoah, it's spitting out little crabs..
Seems that it doesn't like grenades now.
That sack is especially vulnerable. I'll have to make sure to have them explode underneath it.
Ack! Get it off my face!
Whoah! It's charging at me this time!
Whew.. I went through all of my grenades, but it's running away again. I guess this isn't the end yet..
I'll wait for it to stop moving. I don't want to waste any of my rockets..
Hmm, seems we are going underground this time.
Watch your step, Gordon! This floor is just a web! Have some rockets you alien freak!
Crap, I've fallen below and I'm out of rockets! Fortunately this gives me a clear shot of it's underside! Let's see how it likes this gun!
It's running in circles trying to get away now!
Die already!
The web is falling apart!
Oh yeah! Going down!
Hey! What's going on!?
Where am I?
Another teleporter, I guess. Where am I going this time?
Interloper? Seems my quest has not yet ended with the defeat of that thing..
I'm running HL (and HL2) on a laptop with 2GB of RAM and a nVidia Quaddro NVS 110. Needless to say it's not the best graphics in the world, but it's playable.
As far as me going to different areas in the LP? Not really. I've never played past the first section of HL before and decided that I wanted to play through it, and with the Orange Box release I figured I'll make it an LP as well. So what you are seeing is what someone would likely see/do when it's their first time through the game. The videos MMAN is putting together would probably show you more than I do, as he is more knowledgeable of the game and much more thorough.
Also, just want to put this out there.
It's been a while since I've asked, but is there anything I can do to improve my LP? Something you guys would like to see or something? Or not see? Just want to keep the quality up and I realized today that I've been kinda rushing the posts a little and my comments aren't really the deepest or most insightful. Part of that is just the game doesn't seem to give you too much to work with as you explore and get from point A to point B. Some areas moreso than others.
HL2 does not have very high system specs, and it degrades very nicely. The biggest improvement to the game in the expansions is HDL and that can be turned off without any big hit to the visuals.
My computer is about 3 years old, and it wasn't top of the line then and I still can play modern pc games fine. Bioshock, HL1 & 2, quakewars... The PC tech curve is not nearly as nasty as it was a decade ago when 3d was newer. My 3 year old system can play games fine in 1600x1200 resolution as long as I turn off AA and AF. AA and AF are pretty much useless at that high of a resolution anyway.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
MMOG Comic, Quests, and News. www.thebrasse.com
I actually can't think of anything wrong with your LP. This and the STALKER LP have been the most entertaining ones I have read.
Are you planning to do one for Opposing Force? I think you should. Just make sure you do the tutorial.
Thanks Hybrid and Athenor!
Athenor, my plans unless someone beats me to it, are to do the following games/LPs:
Opposing Force
Blue Shift
Half-Life 2
Half-Life 2: Episode 1
Granted, that could take a VERY long time to finally finish them all, but I'm getting into playing games again a bit right now, and I've been wanting to play HL2 but my continuity minded self wants to play all of the HL1 stuff first.
I'm debating on maybe doing a video LP like MMAN is doing simply because it would remove the need for me to pause and get screenshots and I could play normally in the future. I'm not sure what software to use for that though or if that would be a good idea either. Personally, I enjoy screenshot LPs (Read through the SS2, and currently keeping up with the STALKER, Indiana Jones, Chrono Cross, and Silent Hill 2) and commenting later on screenshots is probably easier than trying to provide a real-time commentary while playing. So for right now I'm sticking with screenshots.