Half-Life & Portal series, general discussion (v3) - Games

[QUOTE=SiPlus;39595682]Another level change inconsistency. [img_thumb]http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/540684781015538377/E93E1788517A9250A33DEB856C1D849077945F6F/[/img_thumb] [img_thumb]http://cloud-2.steampowered.com/ugc/540684781015599063/F4449D85C5E45CC89023D3C7A67646DD01252C81/[/img_thumb][/QUOTE] Late reply here, but the missing bit actually used to be there before they updated it out. They did this because you could jump onto the grassy hill and skip the level change. God I found too many glitches on the 360 version. Did you know, you could pick up a pick axe in episode 2 with the gravity gun, and place it just under the elevator door, and when you closed it, the axe turns into a fucking trampoline? Here's the video [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpPO3l43LmM[/media]

[QUOTE=IrishBandit;39604101]Is that in the beta update only?[/QUOTE] Doesn't say beta.

Alright, even with the new 'custom addon content enabled', I get the feeling there's still probably bugs or such with the HD models? Also, I found a fun little glitch with the Training Course that i'm sure is public knowledge or something; when you get on the tram at the end, go forwards until the screen starts fading to black and stop before you reach the end of the tunnel. Then, back up a little, and go through the fader again and stop; the screen will turn back to normal. Hitting the end of the tunnel is what initiates the map change / end trigger back to the main menu, not the fade-to-black. Completely useless little glitch unless you just want to run back over and kill the three guys and two turrets in the other room (which you can do before getting on the tram anyway, as long as the door's open), but yeah. :v:

hwat steam beta ends?

For whatever reason my game now locks up for a few seconds when I try to use the voice chat and I am getting short spikes of mouse lag, anyone else with similar issues?

So what did the Vortigaunts do when the Nihilanth was killed? Did they all stop fighting knowing that their leader was killed?

[QUOTE=tempunary;39605653]So what did the Vortigaunts do when the Nihilanth was killed? Did they all stop fighting knowing that their leader was killed?[/QUOTE] No they still fought humans because humans were trying to kill them still. And they would have fought the other lifeforms while banding together. They only allied with the humans when Eli Vance spoke to them and suggested they work together to fight the Combine. (The Combine have previously attacked and enslaved/killed/whatever the vortigaunt homeworld)

[QUOTE=Ereunity;39605755]No they still fought humans because humans were trying to kill them still. And they would have fought the other lifeforms while banding together. They only allied with the humans when Eli Vance spoke to them and suggested they work together to fight the Combine. (The Combine have previously attacked and enslaved/killed/whatever the vortigaunt homeworld)[/QUOTE] They were enslaved by Nihilanth, hence the bands they wore on their ankles. They revere you in HL2 because you freed them from his enslavement

Do you guys ever just sit there and go "Man.. I wish I could continue the amazing story of Half Life" And then realize you can't? I do.

It has been six years since Episode 2 was released. That's all I really have to say. If I don't hear something this year, I think I am going to set myself on fire.

[QUOTE=Maloof?;39605948]They were enslaved by Nihilanth, hence the bands they wore on their ankles. They revere you in HL2 because you freed them from his enslavement[/QUOTE] They still only allied with the humans due to Eli's contact.

[QUOTE=WillerinV1.02;39608195]They still only allied with the humans due to Eli's contact.[/QUOTE] I don't recall anything about that in any of the lore

[QUOTE=Maloof?;39608209]I don't recall anything about that in any of the lore[/QUOTE] It was in the Prima HL2 official game guide that came with the collectors edition, and is also mentioned by the vortigaunts: "The Eli Vance was our first collaborator."

[QUOTE=Chrille;39608320]It was in the Prima HL2 official game guide that came with the collectors edition, and is also mentioned by the vortigaunts: "The Eli Vance was our first collaborator."[/QUOTE] Oh I see, thanks! [editline]17th February 2013[/editline] Are you going to engage me in conversation, [URL="http://facepunch.com/member.php?u=113486"]Butthurter[/URL], or are you just going to hide behind your childish boxes?

-snip-

[QUOTE=Maloof?;39605948]They were enslaved by Nihilanth, hence the bands they wore on their ankles. They revere you in HL2 because you freed them from his enslavement[/QUOTE] [QUOTE] Clearly we see you in the Nihilanth's chamber. We bear witness to the bright eternity of the Nihilanth's demise. You leap, you fall, we see you flash between the barriers. We are there still, in observance of your final stroke. While our own lay scattered at your feet, you severed the vortal cord that bound the Nihilanth to life, and to us. That sharp spur of hope has not dulled to this day. [B]For once the lesser master lay defeated, we knew the greater must also fall in time.[/B][/QUOTE] [QUOTE]Unity of purpose, the shattering of common shackles, a single road we tread.[/QUOTE] [QUOTE]Let this war end in either total victory or our extinction. No further compromise shall we allow. We take our stand beside you, here, upon this miserable rock.[/QUOTE] Nihilanth was fighting a war against the Combine. He was the last of his kind and Xen was his final retreat. The Vortigaunt homeworld was invaded by the Combine at some point, they mentioned that they practised Antlion husbandry (Breeding and caring for them, I assume for the larval extract amongst other things.)

Antlions are fucking awesome things. I mean... They probably need to eat a lot. I can imagine a hive would eat all the food in an area and then starve them to death. They don't have acid for blood and they could use opposable thumbs.. but biologically they'd pretty much become the dominant species of the universe. They'd beat anything smaller than them and swarm anything bigger. And they can fly with tiny wings.

[QUOTE=The Jack;39610560]Antlions are fucking awesome things. I mean... They probably need to eat a lot. I can imagine a hive would eat all the food in an area and then starve them to death. They don't have acid for blood and they could use opposable thumbs.. but biologically they'd pretty much become the dominant species of the universe. They'd beat anything smaller than them and swarm anything bigger. And they can fly with tiny wings.[/QUOTE] And where is Gordon Freeman on this universal food chain?

[QUOTE=ojcoolj;39610918]And where is Gordon Freeman on this universal food chain?[/QUOTE] Haven't you heard of the Plague?

In the resistance camp after killing the first antlion king thingy, the Vorts say they won't speak ill of you unless they are talking in their tongue. Right after that they talk in their tongue. Assholes.

I don't know about any of you guys but when I got the update applied I went to launch Half-life and the menu would load normal with it's regular background but when the menu stopped loading the screen turns a bright green. When I move my mouse around I can hear all the noises the menu makes when you hover your mouse over something.

Actually, the antlions would be a quite weak species in my opinion. First of all, their flight is more like a extended jump or a pounce. They're extremely fragile (in Raising the Bar it's stated that they were meant to be more armored, but it was a good demonstration of the SMG and Shotgun to riddle them with bullets), and they're not extremely fast either: most animals would have no problem running away from them. Although they are strong against organic targets (Combine Soldiers), more physically formidable predators like rhinos and lions would be harder to dispatch. Also, they're not very intelligent, two turrets and a few Combine can hold down a neverending Antlion wave indefinitely. Being weak individually, they're only strong with reinforcements and they can only get them on the coast. Also, they're pretty much defensive: they're confined to the sand and caves and rarely come out unless ordered to by a Guard (or Freeman, for that matter). They may have taken control of the beaches, but they can't even go in to water, and Earth's natural wildlife should be able to control any antlion who goes outside of their natural bounds. That's not to say they didn't mess up the ecosystem, or anything like that. However, they're not a ruler species, especially because they're limited in adaptability. (Sorry, I'm basing this info off of HL2 Sandtraps and Coast and Nova Pros levels, I don't know if they're more formidable in the episodes.) TL;DR: Antlions are more defensive than offensive creatures, and aren't individually powerful enough to spread as a rule species.

[QUOTE=Perhaps;39611065]In the resistance camp after killing the first antlion king thingy, the Vorts say they won't speak ill of you unless they are talking in their tongue. Right after that they talk in their tongue. Assholes.[/QUOTE] You kind of killed a good 100+ Vortigaunts, and they remember and felt every loss so I'm pretty sure they're allowed to talk trash about you. [QUOTE=cardboardtheory;39611165]That's not to say they didn't mess up the ecosystem, or anything like that. However, they're not a ruler species, especially because they're limited in adaptability. (Sorry, I'm basing this info off of HL2 Sandtraps and Coast and Nova Pros levels, I don't know if they're more formidable in the episodes.) TL;DR: Antlions are more defensive than offensive creatures, and aren't individually powerful enough to spread as a rule species.[/QUOTE] In episode 1 the dark matter reactor's destruction shuts off many citadel systems, everything from the suppression field to the massive citadel thumper that kept the antlions out of city 17. They effectively swarm and take over all the underground areas. And even some above ground areas where there are even guardians. I think it's safe to say that they're incredibly invasive, especially when there is food available.

[QUOTE=cardboardtheory;39611165]That's not to say they didn't mess up the ecosystem, or anything like that. However, they're not a ruler species, especially because they're limited in adaptability. (Sorry, I'm basing this info off of HL2 Sandtraps and Coast and Nova Pros levels, I don't know if they're more formidable in the episodes.) TL;DR: Antlions are more defensive than offensive creatures, and aren't individually powerful enough to spread as a rule species.[/QUOTE] Pretty sure the suppression field killed off most species. Mammalian at least.

The suppression field only affects humans.

[QUOTE=supersoldier58;39612578]The suppression field only affects humans.[/QUOTE] source?

Sure? [quote=marc laidlaw]I imagine the suppression field had an effect on a great deal of mammalian life actually. The lack of creatures has more to do with where we were able to invest resources but it does raise an interesting story angle.[/quote]

[QUOTE=supersoldier58;39612578]The suppression field only affects humans.[/QUOTE] It's never specified whether it effects only humans, only that it disabled certain proteins required for embryonic development.

It really seems more like a suggestion for why you don't seem much wildlife (Barring birds) in Half-Life 2 than it is some completely grounded piece of canon. If it [i]is[/i] canon, then we can say for sure that cats and rodents weren't affected - seeing as the cat teleporter incident is implied to be recent, and rodents can be heard as ambient noises.

[QUOTE=Ereunity;39612680]It's never specified whether it effects only humans, only that it disabled certain proteins required for embryonic development.[/QUOTE] It obviously works only on humans, or at least on mammals, since there are birds in the game