Ok first off, to answer the question is HL:Source better then HALf-life. WEll DUH of course it was, but what are the improvements?

Graphics:
Some new skyboxes (3d skyboxes, most noticible when your on the cliffs).
Same old textures
Same old models
Same old animations
Same old sounds
Also make note these aren't the High Definition pack versions from Blue Shift (WHY THE HELL DIDN"T TheY PUT THOSE IN?!!!!)
Decals from HL2
Has the Shadow system of HL2
Has the water shader of HL2
Has the lighting system of HL2
Has the ragdoll effects
Has the tracers from HL2
Has the decals and surface properties (for instance shooting a Alien Grunt will result in sparks and richochets from the armor).


Gameplay:
The AI from HL2 has carried over, mainly in the grunts and Barney (not a massive difference from HL though barney seems more useful ). The zombies don't do any of the cool things in HL2 (like throw barrels). The physics engine is there but nothing uses it (in general the things you could move in HL1 still move and act exactly the same as HL1). Nice little physic effects are there (some puzzles have been somewhat tweaked and the jumping from the hanging boxes in the begining of the game now dangle adding more peril to the situation).


So to re-cap the game is exactly the same, however if you never played HL1 or you want to re-play HL1 then by all means have a blast, its still a great game and unlike HL1 which always gave me a headache due to how blurry the textures were (the source engine handles textures better) the source engine does revamp it and thank god they stuck in the tracers from HL2 since I really hated the HL1 tracers. Love the ragdoll effects and fighting Alien Grunts is now way more badass (with the clink of the metal and the sparks coming off the armor).

So HL1 and HL:Source can best be said like this.

Remember when games came out on the PS1 and on the Dreamcast? Well the Dreamcast version was always better graphically and had some more bells and whistles but it was still the exact same game.

The major disapointments:
The models should have been at least Blue Shift quality, i would have really loved to see the lyp synch technology used on them too
They should have added the physics to the non-movable boxes and added some more junk lying around the labs (beakers and test tubes would have been great).
Barney AI should have been improved so he can pick up weapons like the AI in HL2 (though he is much better in this version)
They should have re-did the intro more and stuck Eli in there more clearly
Have the zombies behave like in HL2


Well the good news is theres a mod in the works that aims to bring HL:source up to HL2 quality without completely changing the game. However HL:source is definatlly something to look into since its still very fun and the AI puts up a great fight..... a must play before HL2 (recommended one right after another). Definatlly makes HL2's short gameplay seem much longer.

So basically it's HL in the HL2 engine right?

Screens please?

Sounds like essentially I won't be missing much. When I heard about it initially, I was expecting something better than that. Meh. My Planium Pack suits me fine.

HL original does not play well on my 9200 for some reason. I have got to try HL source. maybe someone will release a patch down the line which does the things seen in Hl2.

Is HL:S a part of HL2 or do you have to get it separately?

@PW: It comes with the silver package on Steam.

If's funny how HL Source runs better than the original HL. I've got everything maxed out (1280x1024, max details, 16xAF, 6xAA) and it's as smooth as butter.

For those that wanted photos... also I wish teh tanks actually worked (they aren't vehicles but are basically the same they were in HL1)


Water and junk


More water


bullet holes on models


helicopters


one of the random menus that pops up


Grunt effect



Xen is really trippy too this time around however Xen still blows goats (worse end levels ever).

My Original HL is setup exactly like that. Runs perfectly.

From those screens, it seriously looks like they spent almost no time making HL look better. What's with the SEAL Sub-Machine Gun? I know it was originally in HL, but the HD pack (I think) changed it to an M-16. Why'd they change it back? Why'd they change it initially?

I was *really* dissapointed in HL:Source.
I payed 10 extra bucks for this peice of crap... I could care less about DoD.

You made all the points, it sucks. The changes made are not worthy of adding :Source to it. Meh.

I can see where you're going with that. It looks like they just ported it over. I thought it was going to be completely redone. Didn't even remodel the weapons! I didn't know it was out actually, I thought it was coming out in like a year or something (when it would actually be GOOD).

Yeah... the least they could've done is use the Blue-Shift high definition pack.

BTW: I have a zip file containing the files that were in the HL high-definition pack, and it weighs in at 5.5mb. I don't have the OF or BS packs though, sorry. I'm assuming they still use .mdl files in HL:S? If so, if you want the file, I guess I could find somewhere to host it.

I had a feeling that HL:source of nothing more than a simple port. I wanted to say something about this a long time ago but I didn't have much evidence to back that up. Since I was right after all, the DoD source most likely a simple port as well because from the screenshots I saw (particulerly this one) clearly shows the DoD is nothing more than a simple port rather than a complete ravamp like CS source. Because of that, I ain't wasting an extra ten bucks for this since I really don't care for either HL1 or DoD.

Valve had publically stated that CS:S was going to be the only completely revamped source port. As to why they didn't use the HD pack... Blue Shift (as well as OpFor) was made by Gearbox, so I would assume some legal crap was preventing them from using the HD pack (which I think is also why blue shift isn't on steam)

As for the SMG being changed... see above. Gearbox changed it to an M16 (as well as changing the glock to a beretta) in the HD pack.

DoD:S is getting the same treatment as HL:S; just a simple port (though supposedly the DoD team is going to upgrade somewhere down the road)

Also, supposedly there's a mod team working on completely rebuilding HL for source (not a port, but actually rebuilding the game from scratch in the new engine). I doubt it will ever be finished, though.

WEll we could always try to stick in the high Definition models, I mean it couldn't hurt. Might even give me another excuse to beat HL1 again.

Well, as good of a point that is, OpFor is on Steam so the legal issues for that add-on must be different than Blue Shift or Valve gained the rights to OpFor but not for Blue Shift.

stupid legal rights wtf... valve should just buy gearbox out! why? because they can and it would make the community a whole lot happier. I know we are all real pissy right now but we will forget about it after some kickass mod's come out and we could care less about valve. At least they redid counter-strike right?

Here's how.



Well, something's made Valve snappy about porting Blue Shift to Steam. Saw this on steapowered.com's support section:



Oh, and the physics in HL:S have some problems. I pushed a box and it became suspended and simply rolled slowly on an edge (see the cockroach's movement for a reference of speed).

I'm pretty disappointed. I paid $10 more for this and DoD:Source. They had better do a better job with DoD.

I have a quick break now, but after my classes end at 3:00 I'm going to write a letter(Email) to Valve about this subject.

I'm really dissapointed about this matter. I don't expect them to do anything about it, but I hopefully will at least get to annoy them.

I think everybody who feels ripped off should.

GabeN@valvesoftware.com

Hm. If I buy just the regular bronze version of the game (which will probably happen) is there anyway I could still get HL: Source? Buying it separately through steam or something?

Why would you want it?
If you want to just play it, you can easily acquire a version of it... That allows you to use the HD pack.

I've seen some screenshots of DoD:S, and it looks like they've been doing some work on the maps and models. Originally, yes it was supposed to be just a direct port at first, but I think they've actually started making improvements, and that this is why its going to be released later.

Well the steam enhancements do outweigh the HD pack. The animations are smoother and the effects from source such as some fog effects (which you will sure make note of after you blow the hell out of the tentacle) and ragdoll effects are great touches to the game. Those who are complaining should go past the first couple of levels (up till the marines) and check out some of the new effects and Xen is really out of this world now thanx to the water and lighting effects. It only took me about 10 hours to beat on medium difficulty (which is odd cause i only beat HL1 once before that).



However I'm sure you can purchase HL:Source from steam at a later date.


As for DOD source I think the first release will be somewhat of a port but checking out the DOD forums it appears the Devs are thinking of using alot of source specific things such as vehicles (from tanks to planes). Those who remember those real early DOD maps that were huge areas (Like the small city in some hill country) might see those maps returned with better terrain and tanks. I know im looking forward to seeing a Sherman tank with correct suppension busting through a wooden fence or barn with proper physics.



Also more pics


Xen (still sucks in a big way but at least its better looking)


The lesser master (AKA big baby)


G-man during the war


G-man in xen

... It's your own fault if you feel ripped off. It's been public knowledge for a long while now that HL:S wasn't going to get any special treatment. It's not valve's fault you either A; misunderstood, or B; didn't do your research (which would have taken less than five minutes using google), so don't be complaining that you got "ripped off" because you don't like HL:S.

And for the record, you didn't just pay $10 for HL:S and DoD:S, you also got the rest of the games on steam (HL, DoD, CS, CS:CZ, Richochet, DMC, TFC, and OpFor)

I already owned the other games, so yes, I did pay $10 for DoD Source and HL Source.

DoD Source better be good...

The DoD team is working on making it kickass.

Seeing as how it was the best looking HL mod period, I don't think they'll let us down

So? I can still ***** about it if I want..

Ok i got some screenshots of a 3d skybox and lighting on characters and such.



The Canyon level comes to life with this


Creepy Dudes


Its the Gang (later to be stuck in HL2, sans the other docter... who was later violated by a headcrab).


Electric Funeral or Ride the Lightning

Well the game could still be updated via Steam. Maybe Valve will work on it bit by bit to bring it closer to HL2. You couldn't have expected them to pay too much attention to it, not when the development of HL2 was obviously the higher priority.

Where is the M16 from the HD Pack?

This is not at all true and that screen shot was just to show level progress. DoD: Source is doing a complete revamp ala CS: Source.

i don't feel ripped off i feel lied to... PC Gamer said it had the blue shift models

Ahem... I have to admit now that it is a fact... I already bought Half-Life 2 Silver via Steam so... umm... pretend I never said that previous quote...

<.<

>.>

I tried adding the Blue Shift HD pack to Source and...it's kind of funny when your weapon shoots error messages and not bullets. Nothing seems to work at all from the old pack. *sigh* I will wait with my HL playthrough until new models have been incorporated (by the community).