now since valve time hasn't posted any news on the front page and i just added some information to the "minute with half-life" video and there still isn't a front page article, i figured I'd make this.
so basically, black mesa source will come to steam as a retail product(http://forums.blackmesasource.com/showthread.php?t=17088) don't get out the pitchforks and torches yet though. according to the developers a free version will still be available(and updated) the steam version however will consist of many upgrades that the free version won't be capable of, so your definitely getting your moneys worth. one of the main things mentioned is they are upgrading the game engine to the full version of source, we can assume this means linux, mac and oculus rift support, the devs of OBM and guard duty have already confirmed that for their game since they are upgrading to the 2013 engine version which allows this to be possible.
It would probably be accurate to assume that valve will also give the guys making operation black mesa and guard duty the same treatment if they want it. hopefully those 2 release soon as well. and hopefully one day the 2 teams(tripmine and black mesa team) get together and share assets so the games feel as connected as the expansion packs originally did. But I digress.
my opinion on all of this? It's a mixed blessing, while a lot of work went into the mod, no doubt about it, there were some key flaws I fear may turn people away from the franchise if they think BM:S is the definitive half-life experience
the weapon and enemy balancing, anyone whose played the mod knows that the weapon and enemy balancing is changed from the original. In my personal opinion most of the changes have been for the worse, especially with the grunts AI. and we have no conformation if any of it will changed before going to steam.
If it isn't changed i think the creators should put in a disclaimer on the steam release saying "this is a fan made recreation of the original half-life, level design, weapon and enemy balancing has been changed from the original, for the official experience play the original"
but that's not to say there isn't any good in this. the engine upgrade should hopefully make the load times between sections faster(which is a large problem right now) and with how well things are going between valve and them maybe they would give permission for them to add in an original soundtrack option to the game
we'll just have to wait and see the final release before we can judge it
EDIT: edited out source 2 theory after it was confirmed false
so basically, black mesa source will come to steam as a retail product(http://forums.blackmesasource.com/showthread.php?t=17088) don't get out the pitchforks and torches yet though. according to the developers a free version will still be available(and updated) the steam version however will consist of many upgrades that the free version won't be capable of, so your definitely getting your moneys worth. one of the main things mentioned is they are upgrading the game engine to the full version of source, we can assume this means linux, mac and oculus rift support, the devs of OBM and guard duty have already confirmed that for their game since they are upgrading to the 2013 engine version which allows this to be possible.
It would probably be accurate to assume that valve will also give the guys making operation black mesa and guard duty the same treatment if they want it. hopefully those 2 release soon as well. and hopefully one day the 2 teams(tripmine and black mesa team) get together and share assets so the games feel as connected as the expansion packs originally did. But I digress.
my opinion on all of this? It's a mixed blessing, while a lot of work went into the mod, no doubt about it, there were some key flaws I fear may turn people away from the franchise if they think BM:S is the definitive half-life experience
the weapon and enemy balancing, anyone whose played the mod knows that the weapon and enemy balancing is changed from the original. In my personal opinion most of the changes have been for the worse, especially with the grunts AI. and we have no conformation if any of it will changed before going to steam.
If it isn't changed i think the creators should put in a disclaimer on the steam release saying "this is a fan made recreation of the original half-life, level design, weapon and enemy balancing has been changed from the original, for the official experience play the original"
but that's not to say there isn't any good in this. the engine upgrade should hopefully make the load times between sections faster(which is a large problem right now) and with how well things are going between valve and them maybe they would give permission for them to add in an original soundtrack option to the game
we'll just have to wait and see the final release before we can judge it
EDIT: edited out source 2 theory after it was confirmed false
