Hiroshima Dome cameo in Ep. 1?

nokori3byo

nokori3byo

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Hey gang, I'm new here. Actually, I'm new to the Half-Life franchise. Just started playing Half-Life 2 a week ago and I'm hooked.

Just a quick question about a scene in Episode 1 (at least, I think it's in Ep. 1--I haven't player it yet).

Anyway, I stumbled across this screen shot a moment ago:

http://ep1.half-life2.com/img/screens/screenshot_3.jpg

I was struck by how much the ruined, dome-like structure in the distance resembles the "A-Bomb Dome" in Hiroshima.

I couldn't find an image that illustrated the resemblance very well, but when viewed from the right angle, it's uncanny:

http://www.ics.uci.edu/~ihler/photos/Travel/Japan/raw/2001-10-09 Hiroshima Dome 01.jpg

Has anyone ever heard anything about this?

Considering that the architect of the original building was a Czech named Jan Letzel, I guess it's also possible that it's simply a coincidence. It would make sense for the eastern European architecture that formed such an integral part of the game's artisitic design to show up again in the ruins of City 17. On the other hand, it it was meant to resemble Hiroshima Dome, it would be a nice little, post apocalyptic subtlety to insert into the game.
 
I definitely see what you mean.

I suppose it's just similar architecture. I am currently replaying Episode One when I get up to that part I'll do some noclipping and check it out more closely.

Oh and Welcome to HL2.net! Glad you are enjoying the game. I'd try to avoid any more Episode One content if I were you - spoilers are evil.
 
I wouldn't put it past Valve to take influences from already ruined cities when they were constructing Ruined 17. I bet they took a look at Chernobyl, various earthquake-struck cities and other such places too.
 
But for a firstposter, you kick ass.

I hadn't noticed that before.
 
Very good observation and points made, I agree that we can't say definitively that they included it as reference to the Hiroshima dome, and it is more likely it's based on the similar architecture. Hugely impressive how they really captured it so perfectly. I've seen people on holiday in eastern Europe posting here & being completely taken back by HL2's firm grip on mapping the architecture so precisely of those areas.
 
Well I live in Eastern Europe and am amazed at how well HL2 captures it all. In some places, City17 even feels really familiar to me, the architecture and feeling is so well done.
 
Thanks to everyone who responded.

Currently, I'm leaning (about 65/35) toward the opinion that it was deliberately designed to resemble Genbaku Dome. I showed the pic to two of my friends who, like me, have visited the actual site in Hiroshima, and they both said they were sure that's what it was meant to be.

Of course neither of those guys has played Ep. 1, and so would not be aware of the frequent appearance of neo-classical domes in City 17. Indeed, the Overwatch Nexus has a similar dome, as do one or two buildings visible in the plaza at the beginning of Half-Life 2.

Here's a before and after picture of the historical bomb site for anyone who's interested: http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/kids/KPSH_E/question_box/question1.html
 
The before picture looks like the Nexus Overwatch and the after picture looks like what this thread is about...

For your first post this is way beyond the normal "I'm new ololol you can blind alyx with flashlight" crap people usually fling around :D
 
I'm new lololol you can blind alyx with flashlight!!!1

;)
 
Thread Update: What do you make of this?

Okay, so I finally got around to playing Ep. 1. But when I made my highly anticipated arrival at the spot discussed in this thread, I was shocked to see that the Hiroshima Dome-like building wasn't there:



This befuddled me a bit. I still have no idea why the dome would be absent from my copy of the game.
 
It's behind the pole, far in the distance. I think your draw distance prevents you from seeing it fully.
 
Jintor said:
It's behind the pole, far in the distance. I think your draw distance prevents you from seeing it fully.
Click to expand...

Ah...could that be it? My card is a fossil. I've often sensed there was stuff I wasn't seeing...
 
Jintor said:
It's behind the pole, far in the distance. I think your draw distance prevents you from seeing it fully.
Click to expand...

No, it`s not. The dome is in the game a couple of times though. Just not in this place (but in the menu it is there...)
 
See the first link in the original post. It's the same area, no doubt about it.
 
nokori3byo said:
Hey gang, I'm new here...I couldn't find an image that illustrated the resemblance very well, but when viewed from the right angle, it's uncanny.

Considering that the architect of the original building was a Czech named Jan Letzel... It would make sense for the eastern European architecture that formed such an integral part of the game's artisitic design to show up again in the ruins of City 17. On the other hand, it it was meant to resemble Hiroshima Dome, it would be a nice little, post apocalyptic subtlety to insert into the game.
Click to expand...

nokori3byo said:
Of course neither of those guys has played Ep. 1, and so would not be aware of the frequent appearance of neo-classical domes in City 17. Indeed, the Overwatch Nexus has a similar dome, as do one or two buildings visible in the plaza at the beginning of Half-Life 2.
Click to expand...

nokori3byo said:
Okay, so I finally got around to playing Ep. 1. But when I made my highly anticipated arrival at the spot discussed in this thread, I was shocked to see that the Hiroshima Dome-like building wasn't there.

This befuddled me a bit. I still have no idea why the dome would be absent from my copy of the game.
Click to expand...

nokori3byo said:
My card is a fossil. I've often sensed there was stuff I wasn't seeing...
Click to expand...
You are hereby banned from the internetz on account of -

a) Spelling properly.
b) Using perfect grammar.
c) Having a good vocabulary.
d) Being intelligent.

Have a nice day...

-Thought Police.
 
xirow said:
No, it`s not. The dome is in the game a couple of times though. Just not in this place (but in the menu it is there...)
Click to expand...

Have you checked? I havn't, yet, but I can sort of see the outline behind the pole.
 
99.vikram said:
You are hereby banned from the internetz on account of -

a) Spelling properly.
b) Using perfect grammar.
c) Having a good vocabulary.
d) Being intelligent.

Have a nice day...

-Thought Police.
Click to expand...

You forgot that he'll be lobotomized to drag his level down to the one of the general populace...
 
Jintor said:
Have you checked? I havn't, yet, but I can sort of see the outline behind the pole.
Click to expand...

Yeah I`ve checked. In the menu screen the dome building is there, but in the actual game it`s gone. Later on in the game you can still see the dome building a couple of times though, just not in this vista area.

Behind the pole is an outline of another building.
 
xirow said:
Yeah I`ve checked. In the menu screen the dome building is there, but in the actual game it`s gone. Later on in the game you can still see the dome building a couple of times though, just not in this vista area.

Behind the pole is an outline of another building.
Click to expand...

That would mean this screenshot is a misrepresentation of the scene as it appears in the game: http://ep1.half-life2.com/img/screens/screenshot_3.jpg
 
nokori3byo said:
That would mean this screenshot is a misrepresentation of the scene as it appears in the game: http://ep1.half-life2.com/img/screens/screenshot_3.jpg
Click to expand...

Yep. But that happens all the time. Early screenshots never are 100% representative.

When this screenshot was released I was extremely excited because I thought we were going to travel through the rubble towards the dome building :P Pretty foolish.

Nothing like that happened, it was only a vista :sleep: And not even half as good looking as this screenshot.
 
Are we sure the dome building isn't there? I could have sworn it was.
 
nokori3byo said:
Lobotomized? Whatever it was I did, I promise I won't do it again.
Click to expand...

No, I think he means someone will piss you off, and then you'll yell at them, and get into a fight, and if they mispell you'll start to mispell the same words, and then become one of those "LOL OMG U KIK AZZ!!!" type people. Not a fault of your own... we've all had that happen. You'll have it happen soon enough, but I'm sure it won't be here cause you're already obviously famous among the forum surfers. :D

No further input on the dome though... But isn't that where the nexus was?
 
Samon said:
Are we sure the dome building isn't there? I could have sworn it was.
Click to expand...

It is. You just cant see it very well in that pic.


Click to enlarge.

The building should be in that red rectangle. You can faintly see the outline of that building.
 
That`s not the same building. It doesn`t even look like the dome building. Trust me, it`s not there.
 
menu:
ep1dome1.jpg



game:
ep1dome2.jpg


2 domes in the street in front of City 17 hospital
ep1dome3.jpg


ep1dome4.jpg
 
Many thanks, xirow. I just went and had a look at those scenes for myself.

I'll sleep better now.
 
Has anyone gone no-clip yet and gotten close to it yet? Because the angles look as though the building was 'painted' into the sky to look really far away.
 
You mean it doesn't look like it from no-clip, or it's painted to an invisible wall or something?
 
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