Filip Victor has released a mod which graphically updates the original HL2.

It uses the Orange Box engine, features HDR, New Textures/Models, and even features steam achievements.

http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1093025



I'm downloading now to see for myself.

It looks a /little/ better, but it wasn't spectacular or anything.

Intemeresting. I missed out on the chance to play through HL2 (Had a cracked copy in which the AI stopped working around the part you first meet that giant robot dog. Before Ravensomething)

So maybe I'll try it out with these upgrades at some point.

Funky, but I'm not a fan of Half Life.

Honestly I thought the same thing, I'm hoping the real experience is better than youtube is capable of showcasing.

I doubt that its good enough to warrant the replay. HL2 is pretty boring to play now. Which is why they need to friggin get episode 3 out before people completely stop caring.

I think I liked the flames in the original better than the updated version. Other than that it looks nice, but I agree: not nice enough to play through again.

All it did was add HDR and particle effect capabilities... I didn't see them actually add any sexy particle effects in-game. I am disappoint.

While this mod obviously isn't a huge update to the original game, it's still kind of sad that we're seeing mods that update HL2 before Black Mesa has been released.

Are the black mesa people doing the stupid thing and refusing to release ANYTHING until the whole thing is done?

I question the value in making the cement platform at a train depot shiny and reflective.

For a while, there was a constant stream of updates, videos, screen shots, etc. But recently (the past year or so) there's been hardly any news.

I think they all got real lives and don't want to admit it.

I'm a regular on the black mesa boards. No, they have not been releasing things regularly to the general public. However, on their twitter feed, they have been releasing old stuff (alpha, beta) on youtube, such as animation and effect tests. They're pretty awesome.

And would you rather they release media all the time, ruin the surprise of what is to come, and ultimately slow down the release date even further? Stop complaining, JM. It's coming out within the next two months.

Ah yes, the classic defense of dead mods and TCs, turning the focus away from the mod itself to the those offering the criticism... "Quit complaining, it's not like you're paying for it, let's see you do it better, etc."

Magicians use the classic art of misdirection as well.

I never said quit complaining, they don't owe you anything. I said quit complaining to JM specifically because, well, he complains a lot.

Black Mesa isn't dead, and quite frankly it's quite annoying when people are always like 'zomg its teh dead lols they sux and they broke their promise'. It is less than two months away from release, and after 6 years, why the hell would they give up now?

[nevermind]

ah forget it i wont waste my breath with you guys.

I still believe

Calm down Zell. I've never even LOOKED at the black mesa mod.

They're not giving status updates, I guess they want the release to be a surprise? It slipped 2009 at least...

Then don't open your mouth. Idiot. -_-

Black Mesa Forever.
That's all I have to say.

shut the f*** up tibby. jesus. nothing you say is constructive so just get the hell out.

Kay I'll be constructive.
The problem with the Black Mesa team is that they don't post meaningful updates, it's not hard. Look at phoenix rising- http://www.eawpr.net/. I believe in this mod because he takes the time every once and a while to add information and keep the site up. All black mesa does is post alpha-level youtube videos without even touching the main site.

Another problem is the lack of betas, It would be ridiculously easy to release simplistic betas based on those same youtube videos, give us a chance to **** about with the explosives and that will keep us entertained for a while, while also proving you are doing something.

That is, unfortunately, the exact complaint I had. So many of these projects actually make SOMETHING, but then it's never released. If they are making four levels and the first is done, they should release it right away! The black mesa guys seem to have made it, though.

Yeah, I completely agree with Tibby... all game developers should release their work when it's not finished so people can develop opinions early on about unfinished and/or buggy work.

Only that's a horrible ****ing idea. They don't have to prove anything to you. You're not employing them. You're not their publisher. They don't have a publisher, and because they don't have a publisher, they can work at their own pace, and they don't have to release a god damned ****in' thing until they want to.

Tibby. Allow me to explain. The black mesa team is a talented and smart group of people. They have released lots of media, as a matter of fact. They have shown screenshots from every chapter except Xen (which they are keeping under wraps until release for hopefully obvious reasons), and even videos of some of them. You want your proof that gameplay exists? just watch the trailer that was released last year. They made that trailer state the year '2009' not for the public, but for themselves. They believed that if they set a deadline, even one as vague as 2009, then they would be motivated to work harder. And it worked. Unfortunately, they came to realize a week or two ago that they would not be able to make 2009, due to real life circumstances. Thus, they made a post in the news section of the forum stating they are sorry for not making 2009, and promising an early 2010 release- they're very close! So basically you should be glad they didn't release in 2009, because it is still unfinished, and the released version would be buggy and disappointing. They are making quite positive they release a mod that, in their eyes, is complete. And they have very good standards. They won't **** it up.

You keep getting pissy at me preferring a differing style of mod development, and I'll keep neither insulting you, nor insulting them in any way.
Seriously, I just have a differing opinion. You fill your post with stars because I would rather have it a different way.

So, you're admitting to pissing and moaning because you can't have your way?

I wasn't getting pissy at you with my last post, I was calmly reassuring you that their method is not wrong. Did you even read my post? The only swear I said was 'They won't **** it up.' How is that directed at you?

They don't need to prove anything. It's their personal project. I don't think you understand that. You are always angsting about them as if they owe you something. They don't.

Really, it only makes sense to release betas for MP mods.

But that's not what Tibby wants....

It was directed at antony.
Look at you guys "Boo hoo someone has a differing opinion, how dare he!

Let me put it very, very straight.
I don't think they owe me anything, I would just like to see more releases, even if small.

Are we done? Can Antony stop getting pissed off at nothing?

Yes... release it bit by bit. Of course, that's the answer. Call Chevrolet! It's the way of the future. When you buy a new car from them they'll Fed Ex it to you piece by piece just so you can have each bit as soon as it's ready.

tibby, you came into the goddamn thread saying 'black mesa forever' thinking you were all clever. fine, you have a different opinion. but do you have to present it in such a pain in the ***, stuck up, ******* sort of way?

Little thing called a demo.
Also yes, it was a joke
A joke you then took far, far too seriously.

Yeah, because god knows if there's one person on this board I take seriously, it's Tiberium_Empire.

Has it occurred to you that maybe the development isn't being done in a straightforward 'start on the first level and finish on the last level' method, and is instead spread all over the place amongst multiple devs, and the gameplay may not be 100% ironed out and bug-free?

Seriously, do you think?

I give up.
I don't get it, I like it when things are done one way, you don't.
Those minutes of your lives you spent rebutting and belittling me you will never have back.

Comments like this really aren't all that constructive either! (In fact, neither is my comment in this very post! Oh no!)