| Revision as of 16:00, 10 May 2010 editI need a name (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users6,784 edits Unconfirmed← Previous edit | Revision as of 18:52, 10 May 2010 edit undo79.196.132.62 (talk) Black Mesa is just fake, don't waste space for it.Tag: blankingNext edit → | ||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| Black Mesa is just fake, don't waste space for it. | |||
| {{Infobox VG | |||
| |title= Black Mesa | |||
| |image= ] | |||
| |caption= | |||
| |developer= Black Mesa Modification Team | |||
| |designer= | |||
| |series= '']'' | |||
| |engine= ] | |||
| |released= TBA<ref>{{cite web |last= |first= |title= Black Mesa 2009 Update |work= Black Mesa: Community Forums |publisher= |url= http://forums.blackmesasource.com/showthread.php?t=2416 |date= 2009-12-07 |accessdate= 2009-12-07}}</ref> | |||
| |genre= ],<br>],<br>] | |||
| |modes= ], ] | |||
| |ratings= | |||
| |platforms= ] | |||
| |media= | |||
| |requirements= | |||
| |input= ] and ] | |||
| }} | |||
| '''''Black Mesa''''' (previously known as '''''Black Mesa: Source''''') is a third-party ] for ]'s ]. The stated goal of the project is to recreate Valve's critically acclaimed video game ''Half-Life''—released in 1998—using the more advanced capabilities of the ] ] ]. The 38-person volunteer development team says they hope to create a more engrossing in-game world with more varied, complex environments, and more challenging, realistic gameplay. During its five years in development, ''Black Mesa'' has been the subject of articles in several video game publications, and received attention from Valve themselves. It is planned to be distributed as a free download when completed. | |||
| ==Development== | |||
| With the release of ''Half-Life 2'' In 2004, Valve Corporation re-released several of their previously released games ported to their new Source game engine; this included a port of their critically acclaimed 1998 game '']'' named ''Half-Life: Source''. The Source engine is graphically more advanced than the ] engine, which the original versions of those games used. ''Half-Life: Source'' featured implementation of the ] physics engine, and improved water effects and lighting. The level architecture and models of the game, however, remained unchanged.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hlfallout.net/articles.php/article_2/4/ | |||
| |title=Source: Belly of the Beast | |||
| |publisher=hlfallout.net | |||
| |quote=''Since they licensed and integrated it into Source, Valve have been tweaking and adding to Havok to the point it's virtually a new animal. Almost every aspect of the Source engine follows on from the physics — including the sound, graphics, AI and animation. When asked whether or not they would be upgrading to Havok 2, Valve seemed to suggest they probably wouldn't, in part because H2 wouldn't be much of a step forward from what they currently have. | |||
| |date=2004-06-21 | |||
| |accessdate=2008-12-06}}</ref> | |||
| ''Half-Life: Source'' was met with mixed reviews. ] liked the new user interface and other technical features, but noted that it did not receive as many improvements as Valve's other Source engine ports.<ref>{{cite web | last=McNamara | first=Tom | date=2004-11-18 | accessdate=2010-03-13 | title=Half-Life: Source: What's the big hoo-ha? | url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/567/567451p1.html | publisher=]}}</ref> ] said that while it was a "fun little bonus", it was "certainly not the major graphical upgrade some people thought it might be."<ref>{{cite web | last=Accardo | first=Sal | date=2004-11-17 | accessdate=2010-03-13 | title=Half-Life: Source | url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/half-life-remake-source-engine-powered/566979p1.html | publisher=]}}</ref> Valve CEO ] is quoted as saying that a complete remake of ''Half-Life'' by fans of the game using Source was "not only possible…but inevitable."<ref name=cgw>{{cite journal | last=Elliot | first=Shawn | date= | journal=] | publisher=] | location=Cambridge, MA | issn=0744-6667 | title=Black Mesa: Source | issule=257 | url=http://www.natedgreat3.com/htmlSite/Images/CGWmagIssue257.pdf | accessdate=2010-03-13 }}</ref> | |||
| {{multiple image | |||
| | align = right | |||
| | direction = vertical | |||
| | width = 200 | |||
| | image1 = Half Life-Surface Tension.jpg | |||
| | caption1 = The "Surface Tension" chapter as it appears in ''Half-Life''... | |||
| | image2 = Black Mesa-Surface Tension.jpg | |||
| | caption2 = ...and as it appears in a development version of ''Black Mesa''. | |||
| }} | |||
| ''Black Mesa'' began as the combination of two independent volunteer projects, each aiming to do just that: completely recreate Half-Life using Source. The ''Leakfree'' modification was announced in September 2004. ''Half-Life: Source Overhaul Project'' was announced one month later. After realizing their similar goals, project leaders for both teams decided to combine efforts; they formed a new 13-person team titled ''Black Mesa: Source''.<ref name=cgw/> The "Source" in the project's title was later dropped when Valve asked the team to remove it in order to "stem confusion over whether or not an endorsed or official product," which it is not.<ref name=age>{{cite web | last=Hill | first=Jason | date=2009-02-16 | accessdate=2010-03-13 | title=Your Turn: Returning to the Source | url=http://blogs.theage.com.au/digital-life/screenplay/2009/02/16/yourturnretur.html | publisher=]}}</ref> | |||
| The team now consists of 38 volunteer level designers, programmers, modelers, texture artists, animators, sound engineers, voice actors, and support staff.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://wiki.blackmesasource.com/index.php/Team_Members | title=Team Members|publisher=Black Mesa Modification Team | date=2010-01-04 | accessdate=2010-03-13}}</ref> They have stated they want ''Black Mesa'' to be similar to ''Half-Life'' in gameplay and story, but changes will be made to take advantage of Source's more advanced features. Changes to the story will not divert from, or alter, the overall storyline of the ''Half-life'' series.<ref name=cgw/> Level designers have shortened or modified some areas of the game that "didn't make any sense," or were "tedious" in the original. Maps will also be of a larger scale, for instance the hydro-electric dam, which is now "twenty or thirty times" larger.<ref name=powerplay>{{cite journal | last=Kim | first=Paul | date=2009-12-07 | journal=] | publisher=Media House|location=Macclesfield|issn=1362-2722| title=Black Mesa: Why The Future of Half-Life 2... Is In The Past | issule=174 | url=http://www.pcpowerplay.com.au/article/1002/PCPP174-Black-Mesa-and-GOTD/ | accessdate=2010-03-13 }}</ref> | |||
| Originally based on the version of Source released with ''Half-Life 2'' in 2004, the project now uses a more recent version released with Valve's ''The Orange Box'' in 2007. This new version includes more advanced ], ] facial animation, support for ] rendering, among other improvements.<ref name="official_rendering">{{cite web|url=http://source.valvesoftware.com/rendering.php|title=Source - Rendering System|publisher=Valve|accessdate=August 8, 2009}}</ref><ref></ref><ref name="PCZone">{{cite web|url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=145846|title=Interview: Gabe Newell|accessdate=2006-09-20|publisher=]|date=2006-09-11}}</ref> The team has stated they do not plan on upgrading again to newer versions such as those used in Valve's '']'' (2008) or '']'' (2010) games.<ref name=age/> The only software requirement to install the modification will be to already have at least one game installed which uses the Source engine.<ref></ref> | |||
| In addition to the modification itself, the game's thematic score—produced by sound designer Joel Nielsen—will be independently released as a soundtrack. The developers also plan to later add a ] mode to ''Black Mesa'', something only the ] version of ''Half-Life'' offered.<ref>{{cite web | |||
| | title=Black Mesa - Co-operative FAQ | url=http://wiki.blackmesasource.com/index.php/Co-operative_FAQ | accessdate=2010-02-27 }}</ref> | |||
| ''Black Mesa'' is planned to be distributed as a free download when completed.<ref>{{cite web | accessdate=2010-03-14 | title=Black Mesa Official FAQ | url=http://www.blackmesasource.com/faq.html | publisher=Black Mesa Modification Team}}</ref> The developers released a teaser trailer in 2005, and a full-length preview trailer in 2008. They have also released images, videos, and concept art during the project's development. ''Black Mesa'' was given an official release date of "late 2009" in the spring of 2009, but this date has since been changed to "when it's done."<ref name=powerplay/> | |||
| ==Reception== | |||
| During its five years in development, ''Black Mesa'' has received attention from several video game publications. It has been featured in articles from '']'', '']'', and '']'' magazines. Valve published a news update about the modification on their ] ] platform in 2007 saying that "We're as eager to play here as everyone else."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.steampowered.com/Steam/Marketing/message/925/ | title=Friday, January 26, 2007|publisher=] date=2007-01-26 | accessdate=2010-03-13}}</ref> | |||
| The project was awarded ''Top Unreleased Mod'' by video game modification website ] in 2005 and 2006.<ref></ref> | |||
| <ref></ref> Mod DB gave the project an honorable mention in their choice of ''Top Unreleased Mod'' in 2007.<ref></ref> | |||
| After receiving a development version of ''Black Mesa'' in December 2009, ''PC PowerPlay'' magazine said that the game's setting "looks, sounds, plays better than ever before." The "subtle" changes from the original ''Half-Life'' were said to have a "substantial" overall impact. They also noted the project's "frustrating" five-year development time, and current lack of release date, but added that the developers are making progress.<ref name=powerplay/> | |||
| ==See also== | |||
| *] | |||
| *] | |||
| {{Misplaced Pages-Books|Half-Life series}} | |||
| {{-}} | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{reflist}} | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| * | |||
| {{Half-Life}} | |||
| {{Source modifications}} | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Black Mesa (Video Game)}} | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
| ] | |||
Revision as of 18:52, 10 May 2010
Black Mesa is just fake, don't waste space for it.