was not aware the file had been taken down from filefront.

It hasn’t, it’s just that the link to the file has been changed because of some complicated technical issue.

I hope all is well in your world.

Cheers mate

The general layouts of the maps were fairly linear, but I noticed numerous examples of lack of detail: For example some food on a table was only rendered on one side, and also using a box to jump up onto the pyramid at one point allowed me into an area the designer probably didn’t intend, as the map was just blank, with enemies “floating” in the air – very strange. When I did stay in the places I was supposed to, I found the lighting not dynamic enough for the environments. Besides the map idiosyncrasies, some of the text displayed by the game was cut off, but this may be because of the version of the Source engine I’m using. Also, some of the sequences in the game are based on the player’s position in a particular area, and I managed to miss a sequenced action so that I was unable to continue and had to go back to a previously saved point.

In general, these shortcomings didn’t prevent me from having a little fun with maps, and complete the game in a couple of hours. However, because of my extreme curiosity, I accidentally spoiled the after-the-ending-credits surprise, discovering it less than halfway through. I really wish I hadn’t, because it changes things so much that I had to force myself to continue with the “normal” player experience. I must say, though, that the surprise itself is very very inventive. I don’t want to spoil it for any of you, so I’ll just say if you don’t mind a set of maps which aren’t completely polished, this mod makes for a fun afternoon or evening ride if you have the time.

GAMEPLAY	MAP DESIGN
Playability:	Detail:
Originality:	Puzzles:
Challenge:	Battles:
Storyline:	Lighting:
Variety:	Audio:

I played this map successfully in the latest version of Half-Life 2: Ep2 on the Windows version of Steam, and besides the map and text glitches mentioned above, I saw no other compatibility issues. However, this mod will not run on a Mac in the current version of the Source engine as of October 2010.

IMHO,
This was quite a poorly done mod. Still, the author deserves something for the bit of effort he put into making this. Still, I’d recommend avoiding this. The quantity of high votes fooled me into playing it.

Not perfect, as said–not all the ladders worked, the way forward wasn’t always obvious (I finally figured out the first gate on my own; only found out how to pass the second underwater gate by coming here)–but enjoyable.

Continuing on, will update further as i get more accomplished. So far I still am liking it some great variety in setup and battle.

Later on…

And thanks for the work you put into this, I really like the different aspects that were put together in this mod.

I’m glad you are enjoying the Pyramid. Thanks for giving it a go.

Spoiler ahead…

If you go up the stairs in the room with the Antlion Guard in the Glass Cage to the door on the landing overlooking the room with the caged head crabs, then go thru the door, watch out for the 3 guards, take them out and there is a button to your right that will unlock the Barred Door in the original room. It also winds down the Engine room sounds. Then you’re up the stairs again to the Weapon Store and nearly there. Tho if you’ve played that area from the hub, it may play different than if you hadn’t found it first.. mmmm You got me thinking now about how it would play. Anyway…..

Hope that helps.

Finding the hub would have made it very different for you than if you had played it thru first without finding it like most people do as that was the way I tried to map it to work. Good for you and great feedback for me.

Thank You

I’m not a mapper but as a player its an engaging mod with good length. I am enjoying the trip and the layout of the different challenges requires tactical thought which I really like.

I have reached the area with the two glass enclosures with the zombies and headcrabs etc. Killed everything and gone through all the various doors but now I am stuck. There is one gate still closed at the stairs near the open area with four turrets and manhacks just before entering the water and reaching the glass cages place. I can see a button inside through the bars and a further set of stairs but how do I get in there? Do I use the hub?
Any help would be appreciated, I’d like to finish the mod.

btw my recommendation is based on the level of enjoyment its providing me – good stuff.

To BlackDog,

Let’s see, there’s a couple of Antlions in the first room with the HEV Suit, there’s an infestation in and below the courtyard in front of the Pyramid, some Antlions trapped inside cells in the Pyramid, possibly for experimental purposes and some have gotten free to breed, then Antlions escaping when you disturb the nest below by destroying the Pyramid. I thought that was plenty.

I’m glad you liked my mod.

Thanks for the praise and I wish you well.

To: Sirocco
Why the anti-lions at the end and not during the game?

To: Phillip
If you had not encourage Sirocco then I would have not gotten the opportunity to play this mod.
Like you said “This was done with the best intentions” and that is all that is needed.

It is entirely my fault for not play testing it or refining it enough before release.

That’s not true. I bear a lot of responsibility in this matter by encouraging Sirocco to release when he did. This was done with the best intentions because I truly believe that it would have taken too long to correct all the issues. Normally this beta testing process is a gradual process but in this case it would have meant a lot more work because the mod was “finished”.

I have stated before that if Sirocco had agreed to correct all the errors he wouldn’t have been able to do it without almost rebuilding the mod. It was/is therefore my opinion to release as is and spend the time he would have spent on correcting the errors on a new mod.

Phew! I hope you all understand.

I am sorry you guys are having the problems that you are with my Mod. It is entirely my fault for not play testing it or refining it enough before release. You have to understand I made the whole thing while I was teaching myself how to use hammer and having fun playing what i was making.

To those who don’t know, hammer isn’t that hard to use and is like a game in itself. You make the map and play it. Set goals and obstacles for yourself and overcome them.

I have had my computer freeze up on top of the Pyramid also. There is too many things happening at once that it overloads your memory and crashes. Especially if you are moving or looking wildly around. Too many physical objects falling or exploding. The best thing to do is stay still and wait for it all to happen. I was over-zealous, wanting too much to happen, and not having the skills needed to make it work. As pointed out earlier by others,
I tried to run before I could walk. I can see that now in retrospect.

Spoiler ahead

All that aside and one possible fix I would recommend is to delete and replace Pyramid then restart a New Game at map 6 Combine Massacre. You will have to play the upper level again but there is plenty of ammo and it’s one I like to think has plenty of replayability, if that is a word. Once you take out the guards at the top of the stairs and grenade the turrents, get up the stairs and take out most of the others below at your leisure. From there, after you get to the top and take out the gunships, you are nearly to the end. If you do make it there, wait until the credits roll and there is an extra map to check out.

Thanks for giving Pyramid a go and all the feedback. Cheers

I got this error:
The Instruction at “0x10a5806f” reference memory at “0x0ef90454″. The Memory could not be “Read”.
Click on O.K. to Terminate The Program.

I’ve had to reset my desktop several time’s especially when to lit barrels came down the ramp.

I don’t think it’s my computer. This is what I have.

Dell XPS 720
Intel Q6600
Nvidia GT 8800
Windows XP
2.40 GHz 2.00 of RAM
DirectX 9.0c