Half-Life and Portal series, general discussion (v6) - Games

[QUOTE=Dr. Kyuros;48910979]In HL1, Headcrab Zombies are clearly seen feeding on scientists with their chests. [t]http://combineoverwiki.net/images/1/14/C1a1b_zombie.jpg[/t] It can be easily assumed that they undergo the same process in HL2 to acquire subsistence.[/QUOTE] I think that's looking into it too far. The animation was limited in gold source, and the fingers barely moved if they even moved at all on them. I think the animation was just a general motion towards the body, as moving towards the head would probably have lead to the fingers clipping through it.

How would it eat if not through the gaping hole in its stomach? There's a headcrab covering the mouth.

[quote]Some time has passed--that's what you see at the beginning of Ep1. Gordon's in stasis and the vortigaunts pull a bit of a rewind and yank him out of there, out of the G-Man's clutches. The idea is that Alyx was looking for him for a few days. It's always troubled me how poorly we conveyed this.[/quote] [url]http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2503050[/url] [editline]16th October 2015[/editline] Although yes, it is still remarkable that she finds a ship that has been lost for decades in a matter of days.

[QUOTE=Cinnamonbun;48909397]I asked Laidlaw a question yesterday, so if you are wondering why all zombies have ripped out stomachs here is your answer: [IMG]https://i.imgur.com/fprOW0h.png[/IMG][/QUOTE] It sounds like he's referencing Ted Backman. I'm sure you could find some notes in his concept art that at least partially explains it.

[QUOTE=tier22;48912368]It sounds like he's referencing Ted Backman. I'm sure you could find some notes in his concept art that at least partially explains it.[/QUOTE] I own the Artbook that explains all that. I don't know where it is right now, but paraphrasing it was "Since the host's face is covered, it gets sustenance by picking food and depositing it directly into it's stomach, through the hole in the chest."

The chest cavity in the infected zombies always reminded me of John Carpenter's "The Thing." Fitting given how its influences are from H.P. Lovecraft and how much of a fan Laidlaw is of Lovecraft's work, though oddly enough I guess we have confirmation that Laidlaw had nothing to do with that character design.

The headcrab zombies on the whole always made me think of the thing, especially when looking at stuff like this statue [t]http://a.tgcdn.net/images/products/zoom/15b5_halflife2_headcrab_zombie_statue.jpg[/t] The chest cavity in particular is pretty much exactly like what the thing changes to in a part in the 1982 movie Though the HL2 version doesn't feel as much like the thing as the HL1 version (or the rendition above), probably because the claw hands aren't as exaggerated in HL2.

[QUOTE=Bloodshot12;48913557]The headcrab zombies on the whole always made me think of the thing, especially when looking at stuff like this statue [t]http://a.tgcdn.net/images/products/zoom/15b5_halflife2_headcrab_zombie_statue.jpg[/t] The chest cavity in particular is pretty much exactly like what the thing changes to in a part in the 1982 movie Though the HL2 version doesn't feel as much like the thing as the HL1 version (or the rendition above), probably because the claw hands aren't as exaggerated in HL2.[/QUOTE] Holy shit, I never thought about it.

[QUOTE=Bloodshot12;48913557]Though the HL2 version doesn't feel as much like the thing as the HL1 version (or the rendition above), probably because the claw hands aren't as exaggerated in HL2.[/QUOTE] Partly stylistic change, but also because they're no longer the "big" enemy in HL2. In HL1 they were a big shocker to gamers, but when HL2 rolled around it was assumed they'd be in the game, so they probably wanted to focus on emphasizing other aspects. The combine concept art does a good job conveying the early thoughts.

Does anyone know of any good custom SP maps that take place in a city? I'm looking for something Duke 3D-esque

I've been working on revamping some of my old HL2 pixel art and decided to start with the AR2. This is what I've got so far. [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/hY3d19A.png[/IMG] Which one do you like better? [IMG]https://facepunch.com/fp/ratings/palette.png[/IMG] = New one [IMG]https://facepunch.com/fp/ratings/box.png[/IMG] = Old one

[QUOTE=Kaleidescoop;48925849]I've been working on revamping some of my old HL2 pixel art and decided to start with the AR2. This is what I've got so far. [IMG]http://i.imgur.com/hY3d19A.png[/IMG] Which one do you like better? [IMG]https://facepunch.com/fp/ratings/palette.png[/IMG] = New one [IMG]https://facepunch.com/fp/ratings/box.png[/IMG] = Old one[/QUOTE] i like the new one better because the colors blend easier, unlike the old one where the colors were divided into blocks

Good idea dropping the black outline, doing a pixel game with a friend we discovered early on why it sucks. Kind of too low contrast though, not sure if it's just me.

Being zombies, why would they even eat? The crab could just suck them dry, and then it fucks off to the next poor soul. I know that's how it's officially, but the way I see it, that's how the combine would want it. You'd want them to die off, not keep amassing.

[QUOTE=Medevila;48926565]HL2 standard zombies had a bigger impact on me than HL1's because of their tortured gibberish[/QUOTE] I personally found the HL1 zombies more viscerally disturbing, a lot of the beta hl2 concepts are really disturbing, the Cremator, The stenographer's chasm, Vort cells, etcetera.

[QUOTE=glitchvid;48927200]I personally found the HL1 zombies more viscerally disturbing, a lot of the beta hl2 concepts are really disturbing, the Cremator, The stenographer's chasm, Vort cells, etcetera.[/QUOTE] gabe did say hl3 would be going back to its horror roots, though i don't know if that concept has changed but i would be glad if they went with that approach, you don't see many games nowadays doing pure, visceral psychological horror anymore

The latest txt leak insinuates them experimenting with an rpg style. Who knows.

I definitely wouldn't mind a horror-ish beginning to the game like HL1, but I would hope that they'd steer it towards heavy action mid to late game. I could definitely see wandering around a massive frozen ship full of science experiments that have been festering for a decade or two being a good setting for horror sections though.

[QUOTE=Mort Stroodle;48927510]I definitely wouldn't mind a horror-ish beginning to the game like HL1, but I would hope that they'd steer it towards heavy action mid to late game.[/QUOTE] So basically the kind of variety they usually put in a Half-Life game to keep things from getting stale?

What kind of horror? The eldritch or psychological kind?

[QUOTE=aurum481;48927721]What kind of horror? The eldritch or psychological kind?[/QUOTE] Icky-oogily alien kind. Like HL1.

[QUOTE=aurum481;48927721]What kind of horror? The eldritch or psychological kind?[/QUOTE] I remember Gabe saying they were interested in doing more psychological horror a while ago. Something about the fears of parenthood or some such. Half Life became a really flexible universe with Half Life 2 and Portal, a lot of mixes and varieties of horror and action could work in it.

[QUOTE=Bloodshot12;48927565]So basically the kind of variety they usually put in a Half-Life game to keep things from getting stale?[/QUOTE] Well yeah I'm describing HL1's general progression. I just wouldn't want them to focus primarily on horror. [editline]17th October 2015[/editline] [QUOTE=_charon;48928009] Something about the fears of parenthood or some such. [/QUOTE] well it is an excellent time for procreation

I could see some horror sequences involving the Combine Advisors, given their appearance and abilities, quite reminiscent of the brain bug in Starship Troopers (and hey they have Antlions in there too!). [video=youtube;DtTgHuGgW-c]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtTgHuGgW-c[/video] I'm sure at some point in HL3 Gordon will have a confrontation against Combine Advisors. [sp]Avenge Eli's death![/sp]

[QUOTE=_charon;48928009]Something about the fears of parenthood or some such.[/QUOTE] [sp]Gordon/Alyx sex in HL3 confirmed?[/sp]

[QUOTE=_charon;48928009]I remember Gabe saying they were interested in doing more psychological horror a while ago. Something about the fears of parenthood or some such. Half Life became a really flexible universe with Half Life 2 and Portal, a lot of mixes and varieties of horror and action could work in it.[/QUOTE] The original article isn't up anymore, but it was: [QUOTE]However, "I feel like we've gotten away from genuinely scaring the player more than I'd like, and it's something we need to think about, in addition to broadening the emotional palette we can draw on." And Newell knows exactly what pushes those emotional buttons. Asked what scares Valve's gamers the most, he replied: "The death of their children. The fading of their own abilities."[/QUOTE]

The hl3.txt also mentions children. Huh.

[QUOTE=Pigbear;48931122]The hl3.txt also mentions children. Huh.[/QUOTE] Probably a programming term.

On one side, we have the optimistic people who will find any little thing and try to make something out of it involving Half-Life 3. On the other side, we have either cynics or logical folks that will find these things and make arguments as to why they mean nothing overall. And after almost a decade, it's getting tiring from both sides.

[QUOTE=VintageCat;48931171]Probably a programming term.[/QUOTE] Ever heard of "parent object" in like, anything?