Comments on: Ghost In The Machine – Half-Life 2: Ep2 http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/ghost-in-the-machine-half-life-2-ep2/ Finishing Half-Life is just the beginning! Thu, 18 Mar 2010 21:02:56 +0200 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Grey Acumen http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/ghost-in-the-machine-half-life-2-ep2/comment-page-1/#comment-215973 Grey Acumen Tue, 12 Jan 2010 19:58:37 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=5892#comment-215973 Except for some VERY minor issues, this mod is an excellent proof of concept piece. I actually like how it implemented the idea of cyberspace far better than what Neuromancer did. Unfortunately, its incredibly short length keeps it from being seriously considered as anything but a proof of concept. It took me barely 10 minutes the first time I played, and could probably be done in less than 5 minutes if you played efficiently. Other than the short length, another issue is that there isn't much forgiveness. I decided to bug the guards on the bridge before i turned the bridge off and ended up with one chasing me back to the console that I needed to use to turn the bridge off. Once there, he wouldn't go BACK to the bridge so I had to either reload, or maybe lead him over to a turret that I could then turn on him. Even then, it seems like if an enemy comes into sight of the console you're working from, they won't see you while you're in cyberspace, which is actually too convenient for my tastes. Realistically, you should still be at the console, so if they get into sight of it, they should shoot at you and interrupt your connection. The only other problem i had was that they used the flashlight button for you to manually eject yourself from cyberspace. This apparently left the flashlight unable to work normally. Anytime I turned it on it would immediately turn off. I would have rather seen the author use the reload button for ejection, as you don't have any weapons while you're in cyberspace. If implementing this concept is going to break the flashlight then that's going to severely hamper its ability to be used in future mods. Except for some VERY minor issues, this mod is an excellent proof of concept piece. I actually like how it implemented the idea of cyberspace far better than what Neuromancer did.

Unfortunately, its incredibly short length keeps it from being seriously considered as anything but a proof of concept. It took me barely 10 minutes the first time I played, and could probably be done in less than 5 minutes if you played efficiently.

Other than the short length, another issue is that there isn’t much forgiveness. I decided to bug the guards on the bridge before i turned the bridge off and ended up with one chasing me back to the console that I needed to use to turn the bridge off. Once there, he wouldn’t go BACK to the bridge so I had to either reload, or maybe lead him over to a turret that I could then turn on him. Even then, it seems like if an enemy comes into sight of the console you’re working from, they won’t see you while you’re in cyberspace, which is actually too convenient for my tastes. Realistically, you should still be at the console, so if they get into sight of it, they should shoot at you and interrupt your connection.

The only other problem i had was that they used the flashlight button for you to manually eject yourself from cyberspace. This apparently left the flashlight unable to work normally. Anytime I turned it on it would immediately turn off. I would have rather seen the author use the reload button for ejection, as you don’t have any weapons while you’re in cyberspace. If implementing this concept is going to break the flashlight then that’s going to severely hamper its ability to be used in future mods.

]]> By: dougjp http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/ghost-in-the-machine-half-life-2-ep2/comment-page-1/#comment-209518 dougjp Sun, 06 Sep 2009 01:25:10 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=5892#comment-209518 Fascinating map construction indeed! From a technical point of view, wonderful. I got about 4 puzzles and then input the correct code and got continually zapped. Of course that was the end of that. Accordingly, Gameplay is where I take issue with this one, hence the rating. Fascinating map construction indeed! From a technical point of view, wonderful.

I got about 4 puzzles and then input the correct code and got continually zapped. Of course that was the end of that. Accordingly, Gameplay is where I take issue with this one, hence the rating.

]]> By: Mel http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/ghost-in-the-machine-half-life-2-ep2/comment-page-1/#comment-206797 Mel Wed, 08 Jul 2009 03:42:56 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=5892#comment-206797 I had no trouble getting through this mod and managed to get pass all the force fields to the SGG, also figured out quickly that you need a pen and paper for this one. However, I was never fully confident that I was always doing the right thing and just followed my nose at times, if any one tells me I missed a whole chunk of this mod then I would not be surprised. I enjoyed the play through and thought that it was well designed and laid out with some interesting graphics, the balance between sorting out and inputting codes to the following Combine encounters was just about right, any more decoding would have taxed my boredom level. HOF mod, I am not sure but defiantly worth mentioning in dispatches. I had no trouble getting through this mod and managed to get pass all the force fields to the SGG, also figured out quickly that you need a pen and paper for this one.

However, I was never fully confident that I was always doing the right thing and just followed my nose at times, if any one tells me I missed a whole chunk of this mod then I would not be surprised.

I enjoyed the play through and thought that it was well designed and laid out with some interesting graphics, the balance between sorting out and inputting codes to the following Combine encounters was just about right, any more decoding would have taxed my boredom level.

HOF mod, I am not sure but defiantly worth mentioning in dispatches.

]]> By: andyb http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/ghost-in-the-machine-half-life-2-ep2/comment-page-1/#comment-206228 andyb Sat, 27 Jun 2009 20:14:06 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=5892#comment-206228 It comes up on the screen every time you go cyber in the top right corner in pretty big letters It comes up on the screen every time you go cyber in the top right corner in pretty big letters
]]> By: geekofalltrades http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/ghost-in-the-machine-half-life-2-ep2/comment-page-1/#comment-206177 geekofalltrades Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:32:46 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=5892#comment-206177 I didn't see it either. I didn’t see it either.
]]> By: SolidFake http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/ghost-in-the-machine-half-life-2-ep2/comment-page-1/#comment-206042 SolidFake Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:39:36 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=5892#comment-206042 oh, have just seen that I need to press f to get out, didn't see any hints about that? oh, have just seen that I need to press f to get out, didn’t see any hints about that?
]]> By: SolidFake http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/ghost-in-the-machine-half-life-2-ep2/comment-page-1/#comment-206040 SolidFake Tue, 23 Jun 2009 19:36:20 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=5892#comment-206040 Wow, very nice, I luv it. I've already seen this idea for a virtual world which has the same basic geometry as the real one and were you can see enemies paths already in Tron2.0 and I guess in Ghost in the shell, so it's not really innovative. But what this to one of my favourites was the fact of how it was realised. Just perfectly. The style and shapes look really the same. The only thing that bothered me was that there were only simply "search the code" puzzles, wanna see some more complex puzzles which alter to the others in the same map. Also I missed a key to switch out of cyberspace. I wanna have loads more of such maps! Wow, very nice, I luv it.
I’ve already seen this idea for a virtual world which has the same basic geometry as the real one and were you can see enemies paths already in Tron2.0 and I guess in Ghost in the shell, so it’s not really innovative.
But what this to one of my favourites was the fact of how it was realised. Just perfectly. The style and shapes look really the same.
The only thing that bothered me was that there were only simply “search the code” puzzles, wanna see some more complex puzzles which alter to the others in the same map. Also I missed a key to switch out of cyberspace.
I wanna have loads more of such maps!
]]> By: andyb http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/ghost-in-the-machine-half-life-2-ep2/comment-page-1/#comment-206037 andyb Tue, 23 Jun 2009 18:56:10 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=5892#comment-206037 Yea,I had to figure that out too.Still cant turn the sentry gun off thou.I dont like the way the keypad works.I've tried it about 50 times in the last 3 days so I give up for now.Going camping for a few days instead. Yea,I had to figure that out too.Still cant turn the sentry gun off thou.I dont like the way the keypad works.I’ve tried it about 50 times in the last 3 days so I give up for now.Going camping for a few days instead.
]]> By: planetphillip http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/ghost-in-the-machine-half-life-2-ep2/comment-page-1/#comment-206033 planetphillip Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:18:08 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=5892#comment-206033 MAke sure that when you turn it off they are actually walking along the energy bridge. MAke sure that when you turn it off they are actually walking along the energy bridge.
]]> By: enablerbr http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/ghost-in-the-machine-half-life-2-ep2/comment-page-1/#comment-206032 enablerbr Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:15:05 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=5892#comment-206032 forget my last comment. i worked out i had to switch out of cybermode once i switched it off. as for the map nice effect and well used. pity short map. forget my last comment. i worked out i had to switch out of cybermode once i switched it off.

as for the map nice effect and well used. pity short map.

]]> By: enablerbr http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/ghost-in-the-machine-half-life-2-ep2/comment-page-1/#comment-206031 enablerbr Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:01:52 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=5892#comment-206031 the puzzle with the 2 guards crossing the bridge. i used cybermode to turn off bridge control but the 2 guards don't fall. is there something else i should be doing or is it a bug? the puzzle with the 2 guards crossing the bridge. i used cybermode to turn off bridge control but the 2 guards don’t fall. is there something else i should be doing or is it a bug?
]]> By: C:14585 » Podcast 17 http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/ghost-in-the-machine-half-life-2-ep2/comment-page-1/#comment-206020 C:14585 » Podcast 17 Tue, 23 Jun 2009 11:20:47 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=5892#comment-206020 [...] Ghost in the Machine (HL2:Ep2) [...] [...] Ghost in the Machine (HL2:Ep2) [...]
]]> By: HL2 & HL1 SP Maps & Mods - polska baza map i modyfikacjii single player dla Half-Life 2 & Half-Life 1 » Garść informacji… http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/ghost-in-the-machine-half-life-2-ep2/comment-page-1/#comment-205946 HL2 & HL1 SP Maps & Mods - polska baza map i modyfikacjii single player dla Half-Life 2 & Half-Life 1 » Garść informacji… Mon, 22 Jun 2009 10:39:54 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=5892#comment-205946 [...] Ghost In The Machine (EP2) [...] [...] Ghost In The Machine (EP2) [...]
]]> By: bobdog http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/ghost-in-the-machine-half-life-2-ep2/comment-page-1/#comment-205813 bobdog Sat, 20 Jun 2009 04:27:29 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=5892#comment-205813 press "f" to exit cyberspace, at least that's what showed up on my screen press “f” to exit cyberspace, at least that’s what showed up on my screen
]]> By: bobdog http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/ghost-in-the-machine-half-life-2-ep2/comment-page-1/#comment-205812 bobdog Sat, 20 Jun 2009 04:26:07 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=5892#comment-205812 the buttons light up certain ones around them -- just use the code as printed on the wall, aim your curser at the middle of those specific buttons, and it should work for you the buttons light up certain ones around them — just use the code as printed on the wall, aim your curser at the middle of those specific buttons, and it should work for you
]]> By: Kodox http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/ghost-in-the-machine-half-life-2-ep2/comment-page-1/#comment-205805 Kodox Sat, 20 Jun 2009 02:32:30 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=5892#comment-205805 Sry, But I could not figure out the cool cyber space puzzles, which looked super awesome. Besides that point, this map looked awesome. I'm gonna learn from that combine architecture and see if I can make brushwork like that. I still reccomend ppl play this. Sry, But I could not figure out the cool cyber space puzzles, which looked super awesome. Besides that point, this map looked awesome. I’m gonna learn from that combine architecture and see if I can make brushwork like that. I still reccomend ppl play this.
]]> By: geekofalltrades http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/ghost-in-the-machine-half-life-2-ep2/comment-page-1/#comment-205801 geekofalltrades Sat, 20 Jun 2009 01:37:49 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=5892#comment-205801 My only qualm is that there was no reliable way - at least that I was aware of - to exit the virtual-reality realm. Otherwise, this is a great concept; reminds me of Neuromancer and HL1's The Edge of Darkness. My only qualm is that there was no reliable way – at least that I was aware of – to exit the virtual-reality realm. Otherwise, this is a great concept; reminds me of Neuromancer and HL1’s The Edge of Darkness.
]]> By: Jeff http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/ghost-in-the-machine-half-life-2-ep2/comment-page-1/#comment-205767 Jeff Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:14:54 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=5892#comment-205767 The virtual work concept is almost as much fun -- and arguably more innovative -- that the telekinesis at the end of Mistake of Pythagoras. I'd still like to have seen more combat, and once you figure out the mechanics, the map is brutally short. I'm giving it a must play just for the concept! The virtual work concept is almost as much fun — and arguably more innovative — that the telekinesis at the end of Mistake of Pythagoras. I’d still like to have seen more combat, and once you figure out the mechanics, the map is brutally short. I’m giving it a must play just for the concept!
]]> By: Tony http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/ghost-in-the-machine-half-life-2-ep2/comment-page-1/#comment-205759 Tony Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:03:48 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=5892#comment-205759 Thanks Philip ,I saw the codes but I can't seem to input them ,whenever I use the use button on the keypad (in the game ) it lights up whichever numbers it feels like I can't choose which I want to input . Thanks Philip ,I saw the codes but I can’t seem to input them ,whenever I use the use button on the keypad (in the game ) it lights up whichever numbers it feels like I can’t choose which I want to input .
]]> By: planetphillip http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/ghost-in-the-machine-half-life-2-ep2/comment-page-1/#comment-205758 planetphillip Fri, 19 Jun 2009 15:32:02 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=5892#comment-205758 The codes you need are printed on the wall by the security point when you play in normal view. Took me a while to figure that out! The codes you need are printed on the wall by the security point when you play in normal view. Took me a while to figure that out!
]]> By: Tony http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/ghost-in-the-machine-half-life-2-ep2/comment-page-1/#comment-205757 Tony Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:46:12 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=5892#comment-205757 Is it just me or do you (or the game) just randomly input codes for forcefields & sentry guns until it either opens or you die ? I can't seem to be able to choose what code goes in . Is it just me or do you (or the game) just randomly input codes for forcefields & sentry guns until it either opens or you die ?
I can’t seem to be able to choose what code goes in .
]]> By: Phil http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/ghost-in-the-machine-half-life-2-ep2/comment-page-1/#comment-205743 Phil Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:18:56 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=5892#comment-205743 Reminds a little of TRON - but definitely playable. In the the halflife world, original too! Reminds a little of TRON – but definitely playable. In the the halflife world, original too!
]]> By: planetphillip http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/ghost-in-the-machine-half-life-2-ep2/comment-page-1/#comment-205714 planetphillip Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:40:36 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=5892#comment-205714 Panoramic Image added. Full screen only. Almost 3Mb, I decided to go for quality rather than speed. Sorry to low speed users. Panoramic Image added. Full screen only. Almost 3Mb, I decided to go for quality rather than speed. Sorry to low speed users.
]]> By: Jasper http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/ghost-in-the-machine-half-life-2-ep2/comment-page-1/#comment-205687 Jasper Thu, 18 Jun 2009 14:05:44 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=5892#comment-205687 It's always fun to use the Super Gravity Gun. It's a must play for sure. Not so happy with the 'hacking' - find the number and use the keypads. Innovative scripting (no idea what that is, just copied it from the author's notes!) but strangely dated too. It’s always fun to use the Super Gravity Gun. It’s a must play for sure. Not so happy with the ‘hacking’ – find the number and use the keypads. Innovative scripting (no idea what that is, just copied it from the author’s notes!) but strangely dated too.
]]> By: Sortie http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/ghost-in-the-machine-half-life-2-ep2/comment-page-1/#comment-205649 Sortie Wed, 17 Jun 2009 17:25:25 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=5892#comment-205649 Ack! It's just a map that should be copied into Ep2 and not a stand alone mod. I hate opening Ep2 just to play a map pack and I always forget these maps, unlike the mods which is on my Steam list, so they are hard to forget. (It's not that hard to release proper map packs as mods, just find a similar mod and copy the required files and edit as nessesary.) Regardless, this looks like it is a very interesting map, a rare piece of imagination in the HL2 SP modding scene, from what I can tell from the screenshots and descriptions. I'll post my opinion on it when I have played it. Ack! It’s just a map that should be copied into Ep2 and not a stand alone mod. I hate opening Ep2 just to play a map pack and I always forget these maps, unlike the mods which is on my Steam list, so they are hard to forget. (It’s not that hard to release proper map packs as mods, just find a similar mod and copy the required files and edit as nessesary.)

Regardless, this looks like it is a very interesting map, a rare piece of imagination in the HL2 SP modding scene, from what I can tell from the screenshots and descriptions. I’ll post my opinion on it when I have played it.

]]> By: planetphillip http://www.planetphillip.com/posts/ghost-in-the-machine-half-life-2-ep2/comment-page-1/#comment-205646 planetphillip Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:14:48 +0000 http://www.planetphillip.com/?p=5892#comment-205646 WOW! I LOVED this map. This could definitely be made into a completely mod, it adds a whole new dimension to potential puzzles. The technical implimentation is very slick, took me a little while for my super stupid brain to work out how to solve the first puzzle, a bit less for the second one, which is really the best of the lot, and they kinda got easier after that. It's a beautiful Citadel-type environment, if a little sparse. It's great fun to get the Super Gravity Gun too, don't understand why it isn't used more often. Gameplay other than the puzzles is normal and the backtracking is frustrating only because I want to play in new areas. This author is going places. <strong>5 Words Or Less Review</strong> Tron sucks compared to this! WOW! I LOVED this map. This could definitely be made into a completely mod, it adds a whole new dimension to potential puzzles.

The technical implimentation is very slick, took me a little while for my super stupid brain to work out how to solve the first puzzle, a bit less for the second one, which is really the best of the lot, and they kinda got easier after that.

It’s a beautiful Citadel-type environment, if a little sparse. It’s great fun to get the Super Gravity Gun too, don’t understand why it isn’t used more often.

Gameplay other than the puzzles is normal and the backtracking is frustrating only because I want to play in new areas.

This author is going places.

5 Words Or Less Review
Tron sucks compared to this!

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