"The Lost Chapters" of Half-Life

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Max35

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I know Valve said they were working on porting HL to Source, but they didn't say if there would be any new content, such as new Chapters, monsters, weapons, etc. What if a team was formed to make this new content. I would gladly put my skills of writing, and (limited) mapping to make this happen. Imagine playing the cliff level as a night scene, or at the beginning of the game, a power outage rockets your tram into the darkness. These are the small touches that I think would add alot to the game. I think adding 5-6 more chapters would greatly enhance the HL experience. Anyone interested in this ambitious project?.
 
Max35 said:
I know Valve said they were working on porting HL to Source, but they didn't say if there would be any new content, such as new Chapters, monsters, weapons, etc. What if a team was formed to make this new content. I would gladly put my skills of writing, and (limited) mapping to make this happen. Imagine playing the cliff level as a night scene, or at the beginning of the game, a power outage rockets your tram into the darkness. These are the small touches that I think would add alot to the game. I think adding 5-6 more chapters would greatly enhance the HL experience. Anyone interested in this ambitious project?.
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I'd pay for that!!!

but i can't do it, no modding experience...
but good idea
 
I reckon they'll do some extra content if they are going ahead with it, if it was a straight port, it would more than likely be done through a modification. But yeah, I would pay to have a HalfLife with extra content (including better narrative). Think about the guys on the PS2 who won't be able to get it. LOL
 
they didnt acctully say they were going to release it, just that they had ported all there half-life content to HL2.

I would like an extra chapter near surface tension where u bomb around in a millitary jeep or a Black Mesa car, and also include the missing scenes with the Radar Dome, and stuff..
 
It happened with the Ps2 version, loads of little changes and differences there, for one, the start of the hazard course was before you took the elevator down and a scientist was aking if you had signed a certificate stating that you would not hold Black Mesa for and damages like dismemberment, and acidic parts. So i dont see why they wouldn't add a few new area's in the game.
 
I did ask that question to Gabe (porting HL and releasing it) very VERY early on in the "Replies from valve" thread
back when this site was a baby! :)

check it out for gabes responce
 
I never finished HL1 and was going to start it again next week..
If they are planing to release the game with HL2 engine maybe I should wait
-Thinks-
On the other hard I would miss some of the plot while playing HL2
-Thinks harder-
What will I do... hmmm
 
I'd play it anyways. It's still very fun, even without these newfangled "Physics" and "bumpmaps". :)

HL 1, I mean.

I hope that the port ends up being like the PS2 version:
basically the same, but with better graphics, textures, and upgraded models.

Ohhh... A xen makeover! That'd rock.
 
What if we just add on a few additional chapters using the HL1 engine for right now, starting right at the end of the original. Or maybe, extend something that REALLY needs it, like Bshift. That could definitely use new weapons, creatures, and levels. I dunno, but Bshift just didn't have that innovative of gameplay. In HL, you fought to stay alive while witnessing a great storyline unfold, in Op4 they introduced spuad combat. I always thought that Bshift's beginning was lame, it was basically a not-so-good rehash of the original. I think this idea has potential, thoughts?.
 
Max35 said:
What if we just add on a few additional chapters using the HL1 engine for right now, starting right at the end of the original. Or maybe, extend something that REALLY needs it, like Bshift. That could definitely use new weapons, creatures, and levels. I dunno, but Bshift just didn't have that innovative of gameplay. In HL, you fought to stay alive while witnessing a great storyline unfold, in Op4 they introduced spuad combat. I always thought that Bshift's beginning was lame, it was basically a not-so-good rehash of the original. I think this idea has potential, thoughts?.
Click to expand...

Blueshift was originally a bonus level that would come on the same CD as a Half-life port to Sega Dreamcast.
Much like how Decay came with the PS2 Port

However, the Dreamcast flopped, so they were forced to release a standalone PC version instead.
Since it was only meant to be bonus mission, Blueshift didn't have any new content.
And, since it was meant to fit on one CD with Half-life, It had to be small.
Frankly, I'm surprised it's as good as it is.
They did a great job with the limited resources.
I actually liked it very much.
 
Hell, I would pay a good 40 bucks to play Half-Life 1 with completely upgraded graphics (on par with HL2 graphics), in addition to physics and all that.
 
Jadewolf5675 said:
Hell, I would pay a good 40 bucks to play Half-Life 1 with completely upgraded graphics (on par with HL2 graphics), in addition to physics and all that.
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Same here. :)

Adding tons of chapters into the middle would render every other copy of Half-life obsolete. Not a good plan.

I think it'd be best if all they did was give it a graphical overhaul, make the models high-poly (like how they fixed the med stations and HEV terminals for the PS2), and make all the objects affected by physics.

The first thing I'd do is grab the soup out of the blown-up microwave, and toss it at a zombie.
 
Jadewolf5675 said:
Hell, I would pay a good 40 bucks to play Half-Life 1 with completely upgraded graphics (on par with HL2 graphics), in addition to physics and all that.
Click to expand...
Hehe, yeah that would be great. But remember, to fully enjoy the physics they would have to change the design of the maps and maybe add some kind of weapon (manipulator) to make a good use of it. :)
But just the graphics improvement would be enough reason to buy it. I agree
 
Hey, I just thought of something. Wouldn't it be cool if you could beat HL1 and go directly to HL2 as if they were one complete game? (with HL1 being graphically upgraded of course). Oh, and I didn't say I didn't like Bshift, just that it could've used a little more work in some areas.
 
What I'm curious about is this: They port HL1 to Source, fine. But what about the old weapons and beasties?
What will be there instead of marines? The Combine? What about some of the old aliens that aren't in HL2? Will they be upgraded simply for that or will they be left or replaced with some similar thing?
 
I think to make it their worth while porting to Source (especially if they plan to earn any money from it) that they'd need to redesign everything for the HL1 port. The weapons would need remodelled and skinned, the enemies would need the right skins, the prefabs and maps would need to be up to date. It could be a very difficult task.
 
Max35 said:
Hey, I just thought of something. Wouldn't it be cool if you could beat HL1 and go directly to HL2 as if they were one complete game? (with HL1 being graphically upgraded of course). Oh, and I didn't say I didn't like Bshift, just that it could've used a little more work in some areas.
Click to expand...

That would be awesome.
 
Exacty, which is why it coming as a free bonus would seem a bit unlikely, whilst seeling it as a new product would be quite cheeky. Maybe it'd be in the collector's edition?
 
The best case scenario is including it in the normal HL2 package as an optional "prologue".
 
Don't edit something that was already good in the first place.
 
dura said:
Don't edit something that was already good in the first place.
Click to expand...
Haven't you ever heard the old adage: "If it ain't broke, whore it out as far as it'll possibly go" ? It's been EA's company motto for years.
Anyway, it'd just be a slight update - HL 1.5 or maybe even a little less... Half-Life 1 and a third. Starring Leslie Nielsen as Gordon Freeman.
 
It's nearly six years old, just leave it as it is.
 
"We said it was easy to port Half-life 1 to Source. And to prove how easy it is, we've gone and ported all of the original Half-Life over to Source to demonstrate. And we've also gone and re-modelled and re-skinned every enemy, ally and object to boot. And the best thing about this is that it's included on every Half-life 2 Package with no extra charge."

Yeah, right, and I have a magical Third Nipple of Fury.
 
(Talking to the second post up.)

Why? Making a source version isn't going to hurt or change the old one. No-one complained when the graphics and textures were fixed in the PS2 game.
 
Dux said:
"We said it was easy to port Half-life 1 to Source. And to prove how easy it is, we've gone and ported all of the original Half-Life over to Source to demonstrate. And we've also gone and re-modelled and re-skinned every enemy, ally and object to boot. And the best thing about this is that it's included on every Half-life 2 Package with no extra charge."

Yeah, right, and I have a magical Third Nipple of Fury.
Click to expand...
I said it was the best case scenario, not the most likely scenario.
 
I extremely doubt they would redo hl1 on source unless they sold it as another full game. To make it any better they would have to bascially redo everything as Chris said, not only would they have to redo every weapon, player, and monster model, but they would have to recreate all new textures, rebuild all the maps, create new prefabs, and implement the new AI system.

They couldn't just do any one thing because it would look silly. I mean you can't have an 8000 poly character with bumpmapping walking through an original HL1 map.
 
Neutrino said:
I extremely doubt they would redo hl1 on source unless they sold it as another full game. To make it any better they would have to bascially redo everything as Chris said, not only would they have to redo every weapon, player, and monster model, but they would have to recreate all new textures, rebuild all the maps, create new prefabs, and implement the new AI system.

They couldn't just do any one thing because it would look silly. I mean you can't have an 8000 poly character with bumpmapping walking through an original HL1 map.
Click to expand...

True, except for one point:

Valve'd get Gearbox to do it for them! :p
 
Chris_D said:
I said it was the best case scenario, not the most likely scenario.
Click to expand...

Absolutley.
But yeah - I'd deffinatley like to see that happen though, by all means. Please, valve, surprise me some more.

Come stroke the Nipple of Fury, Chi.
 
Neutrino said:
I extremely doubt they would redo hl1 on source unless they sold it as another full game. To make it any better they would have to bascially redo everything as Chris said, not only would they have to redo every weapon, player, and monster model, but they would have to recreate all new textures, rebuild all the maps, create new prefabs, and implement the new AI system.

They couldn't just do any one thing because it would look silly. I mean you can't have an 8000 poly character with bumpmapping walking through an original HL1 map.
Click to expand...
I was under the impression that they wouldn't have to rebuild the maps, because they could be "ported", such was Source's compatibility and versatility. As for the rest, yeah it sounds like quite a task, but I can't see them trying to sell it, unless it comes with the Special Edition.

<Strokes Dux's nipple> Hmmm. Feels good. Not quite as furious as I'd anticipated, but rather simmering wrath waiting for when needed. Strong but silent. Good stuff.
'scuse me - got a bit carried away there. <Removes hand from nipple>
 
The maps would need to be recompiled as there is so much new technology that needs to be included in the maps.
 
I see we've moved on from the adding chapters discussion. Which is good as there would be no place to add the new chapters (except between being captured and waking up) as its one continous story. You can't really add them before the beginning or after the end. Unless he had a really bad drive to work.

I can't see why you can't have nice shiny models walking around the old maps. Perhaps redo some textures for tables and stuff (Which they have probably done for HL2 so you can just copy them across). Recompile in Source and go, it might look a little odd but I could live with that.

I wonder how good an original HL1 map would look after just a straight recompile. That will be something to test.
 
careful, Valve might use this idea as another excuse to delay HL2.
 
If they port the original HL to the Source engine, then i wouldnt want new chapters. Why should it be any different?
 
Exactly.
And like Wilco said - exactly when and where would they occur? They wouldn't.
You could play one of the other science team folk who get sent to Xen but then invariably you would end up lots of deadness. Bad Thing.
You could play a beastie? OR you could just say: "No, it's pointless and gimmicky and an update is splendiferous"
 
It would just be interesting to see some of the chapters that were cut out from the original game, like "Uplink". I've always wondered what happens when that Garg comes along
 
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