What was dropped from Half-Life due to deadlines?

[kill-9]

I saw in another thread that the original plan for the game included Gordon flying the Apache, but that was dropped due to time. Was there anything else? I've always wondered about the big yellow walking mechanisms seen during the intro...they seem like they should have been in the game somwhere.

-kill-9

 

[nostgard]

They did show up somewhere in the game. If I recall correctly, you had to activate one to open up a path to get across an area. That may have been in one of the expansions, however.

 

[FoB_Ed]

it was in Opposing Force I believe

 

[BloodyL]

It was already active, just stuck.

 

[Mechagodzilla]

Originally posted by kill-9
I saw in another thread that the original plan for the game included Gordon flying the Apache, but that was dropped due to time.

I'm glad they didn't put that in, it would cheapen the effect. I mean, what would keep gordon from flying the heck outta Black Mesa? And how would he suddenly know how to fly a 'copter? It just sounds dumb to me.

 

[Gordon'sFreeman]

i rekon flying an Apache would be awesome! like, you have to fly across a huge canyon or something, be fun as
Gives me ideas.

Originally posted by Mechagodzilla
I'm glad they didn't put that in, it would cheapen the effect. I mean, what would keep gordon from flying the heck outta Black Mesa? And how would he suddenly know how to fly a 'copter? It just sounds dumb to me.

you can say the same thing about gordon useing weapons, ie: RPGs, grenades, ExpPacks and Snarks even, hmmm...

 

[HalfAsleep]

Originally posted by kill-9
I saw in another thread that the original plan for the game included Gordon flying the Apache, but that was dropped due to time. Was there anything else? I've always wondered about the big yellow walking mechanisms seen during the intro...they seem like they should have been in the game somwhere.

-kill-9

The valve guys have admitted on a number of occasions that they were the least happy with xen, since it was a bit rushed and unimaginative. Just low gravity and a bunch of jumping puzzles.

HalfAsleep

 

[Apos]

Other things cut out were the HWgrunts (which can now be seen in SvenCo-op!) and some scripted sequences. You see some on the HL box that aren't in the game, including a sequence where the grunts are strangling a scientist.

 

[Kyle2]

i had a friend who actually made a mod where you could fly an apache, be a gargantua and all this other neat crap. when he finished it you could basically be whatever monster you wanted to be and do all this crazy shit, it was a lot of fun

props to Lazer and his Rocket Crowbar mod, one of the funnest games I've ever played.

 

[Feath]

I know they left out hit decals on bodies. And in the manual theres concept art of an alien with "Telescopic jaws" which they couldn't get to work so they left it out.

If you look in the PAK file, the yellow robot thing has a number of animations that it does use, so I think that was actually meant to be in the game somewhere.

 

[Reiska]

They left out decals on models

edit: oh, Feath was faster.

 

[MrWhite]

Originally posted by Feath
I know they left out hit decals on bodies. And in the manual theres concept art of an alien with "Telescopic jaws" which they couldn't get to work so they left it out.

If you look in the PAK file, the yellow robot thing has a number of animations that it does use, so I think that was actually meant to be in the game somewhere.

I can see it have two chain guns on either side of it as you tirelessly tried to dent it and it spun around shooting at you, not missing a beat...

but where would that tie in with the game?

 

[Mechagodzilla]

Originally posted by Feath
I know they left out hit decals on bodies. And in the manual theres concept art of an alien with "Telescopic jaws" which they couldn't get to work so they left it out.

The telescopic jaws guy was an early concept for the gargantua.

Apparently they made him bipedal for the final version, changed his face and gave him flamethrowers for hands. Other than that, the design is very similar.

And it says "Gargantua" at the bottom of the sketch, cut off a bit by the edge of the page.