Archives for January 2010

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

I understand why Valve make other games, I do, I just don’t like it. I want the best Episode 3 they can make and I want it now.

In addition I want a series of video tutorials for making single player mods, a book and even paid forum support. Did I mention I want it NOW!?

You wake up and find your cell door open. Do you sit quietly and wait for a guard or do you try and escape? Hell! What kind of stupid question is that? GET THE HELL OUT OF THERE!

Of course, it’s not as simple as finding a key and walking out into the bright sunshine.

Good Luck.

Have you ever noticed how different Alyx is in HL2, HL2: EP1 and HL2: EP2? I have to admit that I didn’t until Jasper pointed it out to me and suggested this poll question.

Let’s look a little closer, and these are Jasper’s descriptions, so feel free to compare and contrast each Alyx with your observations.

You find yourself arriving at some sort of Combine facility. You are taken to a room where you are attacked. Next thing you know you wake up in a bin, presumably assumed dead.

Wasting no time, you begin to explore and you find two identical rebel twins who tell you exactly what you need to do, it’s just they tell you in Russian!

As in most mods, you don’t really need to hear what they say, just do what you do best; find and kill Combine. And so, starts your journey to Abyss!

Want to breakout from jail and leave Alyx behind? If so, then this is the mod for you!

A very basic, linear map with a simple objective: escape.

Combine soldiers stand in your way, but don’t let them stop you.

This is a great question that came from Jasper and those who visit the forum will know that his partner also plays video games and has even started to comment on the site.

I fear he is one of the lucky ones, the chances are that a lot of men will at least give gaming a try, even if they don’t like it, whereas women seem to be less inclined to try and that’s a shame because it’s cool to share some activities with your partner.

In December 2009 I ran a mapping competition and this mod contains all the entries. They are packaged as a mod to make it easy to play.

The maps can be played in any order from the New Game menu and are listed in alphabetically.

To see who won and who got honourable mentions please read on.

Divinity II – Ego Draconis brings you back to Rivellon, a timeless world of awe and magic, torn and scarred by successions of apocalyptic wars. Ever since the Great War ended, the Order of the Dragon Slayers has had eyes only for their number one enemy: the Dragon Knights who killed their Divine hero.

Thanks to BlueWolf72 and CDV USA I am pleased to announce I have 3 copies to giveaway! Great start to 2010, huh

There has been some discussion on the forum about “the rise of puzzle mods”. Personally I don’t see that they are becoming more popular or being released more often.

Considering how long physics has been in the HL games, it’s almost strange that we haven’t had more pure puzzle mods. Ideally, I think 95% of players prefer a balance between action, exploring and puzzles, but the operative word is “balance” and for some 30% of each is too much.

I need to clarify this question, because “limitations” sounds such a negative word.

When you look at how HL2 works in regard to movement and weapons etc it can seem quite limiting. For example, a lot of games have headbob, and changes of view while sprinting, bullet time etc.

This is something that occurred to me while walking yesterday and watching a couple of cats stalk a bird. It’s probably been done in games before but I can’t remember seeing it – that’s one of the problems of not playing other games.

The idea is that when you press the backwards key somewhere on the screen a small window appears that shows the view behind you. The size, placement and transparency of the view would be controlled by the player in an options window, same as other in-game options.

Imagine this: A warehouse over flowing with crates, but not just ordinary crates, oh no! Crates that have different attributes, floating, burning, exploding etc.

The question is do you have the necessary patience and skill to destroy all the crates. Oh, did I mention there is over 1000 crates. Good luck!