Black Mesa Source V4 - 'Marines are OP' Edition - Games

[QUOTE=A B.A. Survivor;39440667]I remember when I first played Half-Life and got to "We've Got Hostiles!" I was all, "Sweet, the military is here!" It came as such a surprise when the guy started shooting me.[/QUOTE] It would be interesting play a mod where the H.E.C.U. and the Black Ops follow the real evacuation plan. It would make able create a complete new plot.

[QUOTE=LegndNikko;39445654][URL="http://half-life.wikia.com/wiki/Race_X#Behind_the_scenes"]Link[/URL][/QUOTE] Regardless he doesn't consider it non-canon. He just won't use it or consider it canon if he comes up with something that contradicts its existence.

[QUOTE=Maestro Fenix;39446804]It would be interesting play a mod where the H.E.C.U. and the Black Ops follow the real evacuation plan. It would make able create a complete new plot.[/QUOTE] There wouldn't even need to be a rescue mission in the first place if Black Mesa were just willing to work with the HECU when developing these portals to other dimensions. I mean, you'd think the military would be all over that kind of shit, since it could backfire at any moment and basically turn the entirety of New Mexico into the Zone of Alienation. They're clearly developing highly advanced weapons for the military in Questionable Ethics and are apparently competing for grant money from the government, so I don't really get why you'd use the rent-a-cops when you could have actual US soldiers all over the facility. I dunno, maybe they just didn't want the government seeing how bad the lack of OSHA compliance was?

I always imagined that the guy who recorded the zombie noises had too much fun.

[QUOTE=Cone;39447266]There wouldn't even need to be a rescue mission in the first place if Black Mesa were just willing to work with the HECU when developing these portals to other dimensions. I mean, you'd think the military would be all over that kind of shit, since it could backfire at any moment and basically turn the entirety of New Mexico into the Zone of Alienation. They're clearly developing highly advanced weapons for the military in Questionable Ethics and are apparently competing for grant money from the government, so I don't really get why you'd use the rent-a-cops when you could have actual US soldiers all over the facility. I dunno, maybe they just didn't want the government seeing how bad the lack of OSHA compliance was?[/QUOTE] There was already a US Military presence at Black Mesa, it was sort of a hybrid civilian / government / military base. There's already a large amount of military equipment sitting around (far more than what the HECU could have realistically brought with them), as well as garages for military vehicles, and even an AH-64 Attack Helicopter (seen before the incident). In addition, the anouncement system calls for several people addressed as "Agent _____", implying government agents are present. The guards at Black Mesa are probably mostly ex-military or at least highly trained, judging by how well they handle themselves even when faced with Soldiers (in HL, a Barney could usually kill a Soldier or even two before being killed).

[QUOTE=A B.A. Survivor;39440667]I remember when I first played Half-Life and got to "We've Got Hostiles!" I was all, "Sweet, the military is here!" It came as such a surprise when the guy started shooting me.[/QUOTE] I was more or less confused. I was wondering "Wait, what the fuck is shooting m- WHAT THE FUCK DUDE!"

I remember I was confused by the equipment at first, I was thinking "What kind of rescue unit sets up deadly turrets and mines, I must have taken the wrong evacuation route.". Then I got to the first Soldier, he shoots the scientist then turns at me and I'm like "Aaaaaaaaaaaa?", shot him. "Hope I don't get in trouble for that, he shot me first." My relationship with the Soldiers go downhill from there of course. My personal theory is that a certain someone had a hand in issuing the kill orders to the first wave of arriving Soldiers, and things just snowballed from there. After all, what's the point in causing a Resonance Cascade if the Human Military teams up with the Scientists and fixes it? What's the point in 'testing' Freeman's abilities if he just gets rescued by Spec Ops before things get too serious? If he needed a way to prolong the incident as long as possible, altering the Military's procedure would definitely be the way to go.

The Gman is why all the doors are locked.

he updated rpg again and crossbow [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpNBxphoZ7U[/media]

[media]http://soundcloud.com/riftskan/black-mesa-orchestra-of-death[/media] I got bored after black mesa crashed so i decided to screw around in Fl studio using only sounds from BM. My plan was to originally use only pain and death sounds but I ended up throwing guns into, so without furtho ado, I present to you the Black-mesa orchestra of death.

[QUOTE=LoLWaT?;39454459]Well the Gman did have a hand in all of it. He snatches up Gordon and Adrian and then shows [I]some[/I] interest in Barney before letting him slip away at the end of Blue-Shift. Plus, Gman was seen talking to an HECU grunt/commander in Opposing Force (during the Boot Camp segment) so... meh. I know things can be pretty dodgy when it comes to the expansions but as far as I know, the only thing that Valve explicitly said to be not canon was Race X in Opposing Force. Everything else though is canon to the story unless Valve says otherwise.[/QUOTE] I thought Valve said Race X was canon, but "contained in Opposing Force."

[QUOTE=LoLWaT?;39457049]Nope. Mark Laidlaw said that Race X was Gearbox's "own little project" and basically just told everyone to disregard it. (I guess it was their attempt at making the enemies more diverse so you wouldn't be fighting the same group of aliens through the entire expansion) Everything else is basically canon to the story though unless Valve says it isn't. And Opposing Force has only ever been in question. There haven't been any problems or concerns raised with Blue-Shift or Decay.[/QUOTE] Because Blue Shift and Decay don't have any "non-canon" stuff like Race X. Also, didn't Gabe Newell himself said that we'll see Shephard sometime?

[QUOTE=SouthParkMGT;39457165]Because Blue Shift and Decay don't have any "non-canon" stuff like Race X. Also, didn't Gabe Newell himself said that we'll see Shephard sometime?[/QUOTE] He said we might see him if he's needed

The Nihilanth is a dick. Not only did "He" enslave the Vortigaunts, and forced them to fight, "He" forced them to wear shackles that made them more likely to perish in combat.

[QUOTE=LoLWaT?;39457049]There haven't been any problems or concerns raised with Blue-Shift or Decay.[/QUOTE] I think someone asked him awhile ago if the Barney you play in Blue shift is the one you see in half life 2.. if someone can dig up that post somewhere to back me up please do. But I remember him saying something like there are a million barneys in the first games, but who knows which one is the one in Half life 2.

Yeah I know, but In BS he is considered B.Calhoun but it is never clear what his actual first name is. Damn i wish I could quote him directly. I'm near positive that he said he doesn't see the Calhoun in Blue Shift being Barney in Half Life 2. Theres a thread over at the steam forums but I don't feel like scrolling through pages and pages of marc's messages to find it. E: here we go [quote= Marc Laidlaw] Hi, Daniel, I won't be able to clear up much. It was a deliberate decision to have Gearbox never call him Barney in Blue Shift, only Calhoun. Raising the bar is not a game, so material is presented differently there; manifestations differ in every medium. Gearbox took our Barney and did their own best version, but I'm not sure that Barney is the same Barney I'm picturing when I picture Valve's Barney. In the time BS was created, there were many Barneys. Only gradually have the redundant creature and character types slowly settled into iconic individuals...it's an ongoing process. Gearbox did what was right for their games. Even though they had feedback and guidance from us, they didn't always listen to it, and they steered by their own lights, etc., etc. I wasn't very close to the creation of the expansion packs, and much more concerned with how to move the story forward and open up the universe; so I only take the games created by Valve into consideration when I am working on the story...there are more than enough potential contradictions in our own designs without me worrying about contradictions in the inventions of other developers who were not part of our initial creative meetings. I know this is confusing to fans; it's partly a byproduct of the way expansion packs were created, the way they were packaged and published, and also I was very new to this whole concept at the time. It never occurred to me that large chunks of the story would be taken out of our hands, changes made beyond our control, and then have the stuff handed back with some odd unexpected kinks in it. So I try not to worry about it, and simply do my best with material directly in my control. However, as to your last question, there was pressure on us to set Half-Life 2 at Black Mesa, which a lot of us felt would be creative death; it was important to break new ground. Nuking Black Mesa was a good way to ensure that we had a way to avoid setting Half-Life 2 there. You might say I gave the G-Man his orders. The whole issue of canon is something the fans came up with. I guess you will be able to identify as canon those story elements we continue to build on and develop and mention repeatedly as the story progresses. Others might fall by the wayside once they've served their purpose. Couldn't you say the same of us all? [/quote]

In the intro it says "Subject: Barney Calhoun"

I apologize for editing my post last second before, but I found what marc said. I think it would be awesome if that was Barney's story, I'd also like to know what happened with him between BS and HL2 if that was the case, however the lead writer of the game doesn't really agree with it, so it can't be the case.

One thing I dont get is why marc doesn't feel as if that is the same Barney. In Blue Shift he is a heroic, brave leader, just like in HL2. (Although remaining silent in BS) Would have been badass if they brought back characters like Dr. Rosenberg (who'd fit in perfectly somewhere in the series since him and Barney would most likely be pretty close after the close escape). It'd give the player a good feeling like "Oh man, I remember this guy", it'd be the only scientist who is actually seen in the first game aswell.

[QUOTE=artDecor;39457360]The Nihilanth is a dick. Not only did "He" enslave the Vortigaunts, and forced them to fight, "He" forced them to wear shackles that made them more likely to perish in combat.[/QUOTE] He did it to get away from the combine, to save the last of his kind from them

[QUOTE=Ki11aFTFW;39457610]I apologize for editing my post last second before, but I found what marc said. I think it would be awesome if that was Barney's story, I'd also like to know what happened with him between BS and HL2 if that was the case, however the lead writer of the game doesn't really agree with it, so it can't be the case.[/QUOTE]I'd like to think Blue Shift is canon. It details Barney's transition from an expendable security guard into a hero, and it gives him, and a handful of scientists, a smooth path out of Black Mesa.

I think that BS Barney and HL2 Barney are the same person, it's just that Marc doesn't like to think of Barney as HIS version of the character, since obviously Blue Shift wasn't written by him. So canonically they're the same, they're just different versions of the character.

After months of mucking about in Black Mesa, I was shocked to hear the Vortigaunts speak English in Half-Life 2.

I made the vorts speak in my game, but they only say things like "To the void with you!" and "The tether is cut!" when they spot you / attack.

[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;39458720]I made the vorts speak in my game, but they only say things like "To the void with you!" and "The tether is cut!" when they spot you / attack.[/QUOTE] Doesn't make a lot of sense that they'd learn english that fast though.

[QUOTE=WillerinV1.02;39459248]Doesn't make a lot of sense that they'd learn english that fast though.[/QUOTE] They're psychically bound to Freeman, so them knowing English doesn't seem that far fetched, especially as every time he killed one of them every Vortigaunt saw it and mourned as they felt the loss.

[QUOTE=Ereunity;39459274]They're psychically bound to Freeman, so them knowing English doesn't seem that far fetched, especially as every time he killed one of them every Vortigaunt saw it and mourned as they felt the loss.[/QUOTE] I don't think they're bound to Freeman at that point, if 'bound' is the proper term you'd use for it. Furthermore, Freemans silent the whole game, how the hell are they going to learn english off of him?

Didn't the Vorts sometimes yell 'die!' in HL1?

[QUOTE=WillerinV1.02;39459917]I don't think they're bound to Freeman at that point, if 'bound' is the proper term you'd use for it. Furthermore, Freemans silent the whole game, how the hell are they going to learn english off of him?[/QUOTE] Freeman is silent from the players view, he's not actually silent, how else would he be able to direct colleagues around? You have to remember he's in a helmeted HEV suit (confirmed by laidlaw) and having him speaking would break the immersion and get repetative, it was a design choice. [QUOTE]We remember the Freeman. We are coterminous. There is no distance between us. No false veils of time or space may intervene. We see you still in Black Mesa. 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. For once the lesser master lay defeated, we knew the greater must also fall in time.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=Cone;39458485]I think that BS Barney and HL2 Barney are the same person, it's just that Marc doesn't like to think of Barney as HIS version of the character, since obviously Blue Shift wasn't written by him. So canonically they're the same, they're just different versions of the character.[/QUOTE] So Barney is like James Bond, then. [editline]3rd February 2013[/editline] Plus I would imagine that they learned English from guards and HECU personnel.