Archives for August 2008

• Please note that these are publication date on this site, NOT the actual release date of the maps and mods

Which search engine do you use? How often do you try new ones? What is your favourite one? Questions, questions, questions. Well, I’m going to tell you about some search engines that you have probably never heard of.

Besides Half-Life 2 I can’t remember the last retail game I played, let alone finished. I think it was probably the Crysis demo, not sure. Anyway, visitors to PP probably play quite a few mods, so…
Do you spend more time playing retail games or mods?

Author’s Notes “I made this map this map to prove that killing does not have to be an depressing or scary thing. Actually killing is FUN!!! (Don’t think I am getting crazy now, I’m talking of an game

There has been new a beta/demo released of the latest version of this mod. Unfortunately the author listed the October 2007 release as final. He has now released a new version. This version contains approximately 1 hour’s worth of gameplay and is approximately 70% of the finished release.

A first map that offers a very simple premise. I’m not sure what that is but it’s fun. There’s no story and I didn’t reach the end, so I can’t tell you what happens.

A playable map that is part of Robert Gee‘s thesis project entitled The Right Way is the Wrong Way: Dead-End Theory in Level Design, which explores dead ends in games.

This is a mod that seems to have slipped under the radar and been more or less ignored. So far it seems a solid production and has surprised me, which is why I added the surprised face to the title image.

I don’t buy many PC games, partly because I don’t have any spare cash to pay with and partly because I run this website and play all the mods I can. That lifestyle choice got me thinking.
Do you buy less PC games because you play mods?

“Clearing a Path is a single player level I created using Half-Life 2: Episode Two. This project took 4 months to complete. For this project I wanted to focus on scripting and exploration.”

Former Sony CEO Chris Deering recently said “currently only 3 in 10 games recoup their development budgets. … So developers will have to turn to new revenue sources to cover their losses.”
There is little doubt that developing games is becoming harder and harder for so many reasons. It seems to me that the amateur game development community produces incredible work. Therefore I would like to pose a question that should generate much discussion, if few votes…
Is it time to merge amateur and professional game development?

Gordon Freeman infiltrates a powerstation commandeered by Combine forces in an effort to destabilize their control of the region.

As with Chernobyl this was originally an illegal stand alone version but it has now been packaged as a mod.

“This map is set in the Half-Life 2 universe with the player in the role of Gordon Freeman. In this scenario, Gordon must infiltrate an enemy controlled research lab to recover valuable data before it is compromised.

Your objective is to find your way out of the abandoned base. You’ll need to find some batteries and Alyx even makes a brief appearance.

Thanks to a few dedicated PP readers I can finally release this mod. Originally it was an illegal stand alone version but it has now been packaged as a mod.

A short map leading you through various styles of canal environments.

I presume that most PP readers have played Opposing Force and Blue Shift, both made by Gearbox Software. Well, if you haven’t you should definitely play OP and play BS if you find it cheap and have some spare time.
Anyway, I have been thinking that since HL2 there are plenty of new opportunities for Valve or a sub-contractor to make some interesting stories. So, this week’s (late again!!) question is..
Should Valve sub-contract a development studio to make an HL2 offshoot?