Differences between development and final product

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.half-life (More info?)

Hi there,

I'm a bit of a lurker here but every lurker ought to post at least once,
right?

I've just found a load of old HL2 tech demo videos on my HD and there's
one with a blue energy beam thing impaling a soldier. I know that a lot
of things changed during development (weapons, some story etc. ) but
this is quite a major thing.

Does anyone have a clue what it is or is meant to be? I know this is
just idle curiosity and nothing relevant but humour me.

I've posted a couple of pics with the video at
http://www.larkinweb.co.uk/hl2_vids

James
--
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[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.half-life (More info?)

"James Larkin" wrote

> I'm a bit of a lurker here but every lurker ought to post at least once,
> right?
>
Hmm

> I've just found a load of old HL2 tech demo videos on my HD and there's
> one with a blue energy beam thing impaling a soldier. I know that a lot of
> things changed during development (weapons, some story etc. ) but this is
> quite a major thing.

> Does anyone have a clue what it is or is meant to be? I know this is just
> idle curiosity and nothing relevant but humour me.

It was called Hydra - wasn't fun to bash - removed
You can read about it in the hint book that came with the collectors edition
(apparently)
Anyone got that one?

- Peter

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.half-life (More info?)

Precious little of that demo made it to the final game. No Hydra, no
swinging-bar killing the Combine, no gunship actually crashing on to
the coast road (that may have been a fluke that's repeatable in the
game, but it would have been an excellent set piece). I'm not sure if
the bit where you are Barney &co make your way up the street and
through the houses to emerge behind the barricade made it to the final
cut. Shame, coz that looked good.

The bit I really wanted to see was the NPCs made of fire or water. I
guess they just didn't fit the storyline, but they would have been
freaky, and an excellent opportunity to use the physics engine. How do
kill a creature made of fire? Douse him in water. How do you kill a
creature made of water? Answers on a postcard please.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.half-life (More info?)

Paul Catley wrote:
> "Rincewind" <rinso@unseen.edu> wrote in message
> newsan.2005.02.10.13.23.57.584516@unseen.edu...
> >
> > > no gunship actually crashing on to the
> > > coast road
> >
> > I have brought down the gunship on the coast road.
>
> Yep, me too
>
> I was quite surprised that it makes a metallic sound when you walk on
it. I
> thought it would be organic and squishy
>

Well, that's my evening's entertainment sorted out

 

[Andrew]

Archived from groups: alt.games.half-life (More info?)

On 10 Feb 2005 03:48:05 -0800, "Chadwick" <chadwick110@hotmail.com>
wrote:

>Precious little of that demo made it to the final game. No Hydra, no
>swinging-bar killing the Combine, no gunship actually crashing on to
>the coast road (that may have been a fluke that's repeatable in the
>game, but it would have been an excellent set piece). I'm not sure if
>the bit where you are Barney &co make your way up the street and
>through the houses to emerge behind the barricade made it to the final
>cut. Shame, coz that looked good.

They didn't include the sniper rifle from that scene either :-(

>The bit I really wanted to see was the NPCs made of fire or water. I
>guess they just didn't fit the storyline, but they would have been
>freaky, and an excellent opportunity to use the physics engine. How do
>kill a creature made of fire? Douse him in water. How do you kill a
>creature made of water? Answers on a postcard please.

He is in the CS:S video test.
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[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.half-life (More info?)

Peter Lykkegaard wrote:
> It was called Hydra - wasn't fun to bash - removed
> You can read about it in the hint book that came with the collectors edition
> (apparently)
> Anyone got that one?
>
> - Peter

Thanks for that. Like Chadwick said, it's a real shame that a load of
the demo stuff didn't make it to the final game. Some of it looked
really cool and would have really added to the 'wow' factor.

I'd have loved to crush combine soldiers using a swinging bar

James

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[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.half-life (More info?)

"Chadwick" wrote

> (...) no gunship actually crashing on to the coast road (that may
> have been a fluke that's repeatable in the game, but it would
> have been an excellent set piece).

I think it depends a little on where you take the gunship down
Several has reported the crashlanding on the road ingame
It is also a fact that you can add specific info_targets for crashlanding
when doing a (SP) map

- Peter

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.half-life (More info?)

"Rincewind" <rinso@unseen.edu> wrote in message
newsan.2005.02.10.13.23.57.584516@unseen.edu...
>
> > no gunship actually crashing on to the
> > coast road
>
> I have brought down the gunship on the coast road.

Yep, me too

I was quite surprised that it makes a metallic sound when you walk on it. I
thought it would be organic and squishy

--
Paul

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.half-life (More info?)

"Chadwick" <chadwick110@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1108049902.018862.130710@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com
> Paul Catley wrote:
>> "Rincewind" <rinso@unseen.edu> wrote in message
>> newsan.2005.02.10.13.23.57.584516@unseen.edu...
>>>
>>>> no gunship actually crashing on to the
>>>> coast road
>>>
>>> I have brought down the gunship on the coast road.
>>
>> Yep, me too
>>
>> I was quite surprised that it makes a metallic sound when you walk
>> on it. I thought it would be organic and squishy
>>
>
> Well, that's my evening's entertainment sorted out

Damn. That last sentence sounded like a Texan talking, not a Brit!!!!!
Ain't you supposed to put it like "Well, that's me sorted for the
evenings entertainment"???

;o) McG.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.half-life (More info?)

Peter Lykkegaard wrote:

> It was called Hydra - wasn't fun to bash - removed
> You can read about it in the hint book that came with the collectors edition
> (apparently)
> Anyone got that one?

I heard that the Hydra was removed because it "didn't work"

I'm not entirely sure whether "didn't work" was in the design sense or
in the technical sense.. But maybe the Hydra will reappear in an addon
pack or mod


--
Ben Cottrell AKA Bench

All these modern celebrities are endorsing supermarket products now...
I got a pack of sausages from Tesco the other day and there was this
picture of Anthony Worral Thompson on the front. Below, it read 'prick
with a fork'.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.half-life (More info?)

I started thinking something odd was going on in
alt.games.half-life when one foggy november evening Ben Cottrell
<bench@bench333.screaming.net> came into my office and told me:

> Peter Lykkegaard wrote:
>
>> It was called Hydra - wasn't fun to bash - removed
>> You can read about it in the hint book that came with the
>> collectors edition (apparently)
>> Anyone got that one?
>
> I heard that the Hydra was removed because it "didn't work"
>
> I'm not entirely sure whether "didn't work" was in the design
> sense or in the technical sense.. But maybe the Hydra will
> reappear in an addon pack or mod


bah, give me head banging giraffes over a hydra any day...

--
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email:iphi.at.imagis.ch icq:55502215 aol:superiphi steam:superiphi
In games: iphigenie[AGHL] superiphi[AGHL] Zen Zenaide
Games of the moment: Spellforce, Sacred, HL2
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[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.half-life (More info?)

James Larkin wrote:
> I'd have loved to crush combine soldiers using a swinging bar
>
> James
>
Then open up the Hammer editor in the SDK, and make your own.

Not really that hard. Start with a simple map, add a bar on ropes or
something, stick a few passive Metrocops and perhaps a switch to release
the bar (or shoot the ropes?). There's plenty of example maps in the SDK.

Also, there is a web site somewhere on the Net that hosts several of the
E3 demo maps converted for use with the final version of HL2. One of
them contains the infamous Ravenholm swinging bar map.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.half-life (More info?)

Ben Cottrell wrote:
> Peter Lykkegaard wrote:
>
>> It was called Hydra - wasn't fun to bash - removed
>> You can read about it in the hint book that came with the collectors
>> edition (apparently)
>> Anyone got that one?
>
>
> I heard that the Hydra was removed because it "didn't work"
>
> I'm not entirely sure whether "didn't work" was in the design sense or
> in the technical sense.. But maybe the Hydra will reappear in an addon
> pack or mod
>
>

I can't quote my Raising the Bar book (excellent book, get it if you
can), but the main problem was it's design. It looks like it was capable
to attacking things on it's own quite effectively, but it was a hostile
creature to all, including both the Combine and Gordon Freeman. For this
reason when you try to attack it, it gets very difficult to work out how
to kill a single blue (and very thin) tenticle, particularly when it can
impale you with one hit.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.half-life (More info?)

"Rincewind" <rinso@unseen.edu> wrote in message
newsan.2005.02.10.13.23.57.584516@unseen.edu...
> On Thu, 10 Feb 2005 03:48:05 -0800, Chadwick mumbled something like this:
>
>> no gunship actually crashing on to the
>> coast road
>
> I have brought down the gunship on the coast road. I guess it depends
> where it is and which direction it's heading when you hit it with the shot
> that finishes it off... Pity you can't steal the weapon from it

Yeah but when you brought it down I bet it was in smaller bits and not one
piece like on the Demo....

 

[Andrew]

Archived from groups: alt.games.half-life (More info?)

On Thu, 10 Feb 2005 23:05:17 -0000, "Craig Coope"
<coope1999@hotmail.com> wrote:

>Yeah but when you brought it down I bet it was in smaller bits and not one
>piece like on the Demo....

I got it down in one piece when I played through the game for a second
time, it is a very interesting vehicle.
--
Andrew, contact via interpleb.blogspot.com
Help make Usenet a better place: English is read downwards,
please don't top post. Trim replies to quote only relevant text.
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[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.half-life (More info?)

"GFree" <nickt4001@yahoo.com.au> wrote
> I can't quote my Raising the Bar book (excellent book, get it if you
> can), but the main problem was it's design. It looks like it was capable
> to attacking things on it's own quite effectively, but it was a hostile
> creature to all, including both the Combine and Gordon Freeman. For this
> reason when you try to attack it, it gets very difficult to work out how
> to kill a single blue (and very thin) tenticle, particularly when it can
> impale you with one hit.

Yes, I'm certain I read somewhere it was very difficult to see and
subsequently kill.
--
David
davidfirewater(a)hotmail.com

 

[shawk]

Archived from groups: alt.games.half-life (More info?)

Craig Coope wrote:
> "Rincewind" <rinso@unseen.edu> wrote in message
> newsan.2005.02.10.13.23.57.584516@unseen.edu...
>
>>On Thu, 10 Feb 2005 03:48:05 -0800, Chadwick mumbled something like this:
>>
>>
>>>no gunship actually crashing on to the
>>>coast road
>>
>>I have brought down the gunship on the coast road. I guess it depends
>>where it is and which direction it's heading when you hit it with the shot
>>that finishes it off... Pity you can't steal the weapon from it
>
>
> Yeah but when you brought it down I bet it was in smaller bits and not one
> piece like on the Demo....
>
>

Craig, here's a picture I posted in alt.binaries.half-life back when I
brought one down intact. Have a go - just make sure to take that final
shot when the gunship is approaching down the road (as they must have
done for the demo). ...and dont forget to get out of the way Shaun

http://tinyurl.com/6m2a5

(or in full for those that do not trust tinyurls - dont forget the wrap)

http://www.usenet-replayer.com/cgi/content/framebanner_3?htt
p://www.usenet-replayer.com/8/3/8/6/1102546838.4.jpeg

--
"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always
so certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts"

Bertrand Russell

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.half-life (More info?)

David Firewater wrote:
>
>> I can't quote my Raising the Bar book (excellent book, get it if you
>> can), but the main problem was it's design. It looks like it was
>> capable to attacking things on it's own quite effectively, but it
>> was a hostile creature to all, including both the Combine and Gordon
>> Freeman. For this reason when you try to attack it, it gets very
>> difficult to work out how to kill a single blue (and very thin)
>> tenticle, particularly when it can impale you with one hit.
>
> Yes, I'm certain I read somewhere it was very difficult to see and
> subsequently kill.

Maybe they should have made it so that it couldn't be killed, just distracted so
you could get past it. Hmmm, that seems familiar somehow...

--
Paul

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.half-life (More info?)

Paul Catley wrote:
> David Firewater wrote:
>
>>>I can't quote my Raising the Bar book (excellent book, get it if you
>>>can), but the main problem was it's design. It looks like it was
>>>capable to attacking things on it's own quite effectively, but it
>>>was a hostile creature to all, including both the Combine and Gordon
>>>Freeman. For this reason when you try to attack it, it gets very
>>>difficult to work out how to kill a single blue (and very thin)
>>>tenticle, particularly when it can impale you with one hit.
>>
>>Yes, I'm certain I read somewhere it was very difficult to see and
>>subsequently kill.
>
>
> Maybe they should have made it so that it couldn't be killed, just distracted so
> you could get past it. Hmmm, that seems familiar somehow...

Barney: "Eat Lead you outer-space octopuss!"

As for the Hydra, I wouldn't be surprised if Valve reincorporate it into
a future mission pack for HL2 (there will almost certainly be one).
They've got the material for many things they cut out of HL2, including
weapons, so it may be interesting to use them in an XP.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.half-life (More info?)

"Paul Catley" wrote

> Maybe they should have made it so that it couldn't be killed, just
> distracted so
> you could get past it. Hmmm, that seems familiar somehow...
>
No no no, you have a game with great physics
It has to a trap of some kind, maybe a trap involving lots of gazoline and
.....

Btw where did the molotowcocktail go?
There's soundfiles etc for a molotowcocktail in the game
Swusjjjhh - nice - hehe

- Peter

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.games.half-life (More info?)

GFree wrote:
> James Larkin wrote:
>
>> I'd have loved to crush combine soldiers using a swinging bar
>>
>> James
>>
> Then open up the Hammer editor in the SDK, and make your own.
>
> Not really that hard. Start with a simple map, add a bar on ropes or
> something, stick a few passive Metrocops and perhaps a switch to release
> the bar (or shoot the ropes?). There's plenty of example maps in the SDK.
>
> Also, there is a web site somewhere on the Net that hosts several of the
> E3 demo maps converted for use with the final version of HL2. One of
> them contains the infamous Ravenholm swinging bar map.

Nice idea! I tried to install the SDK but balked a little bit at the 220
meg download... I suppose I could technically get it downloaded in less
than 24 hours if steam allowed resumable downloads. I think I'm going to
have to wait for broadband to come to my area for this one. Damn rural
areas.

I really miss my university-grade internet connection. 100 megs in 8
seconds

Never mind,

James

--
Reverse each word to get e-mail.

 

[Andrew]

Archived from groups: alt.games.half-life (More info?)

On Fri, 11 Feb 2005 11:00:56 +0000, James Larkin
<semaj@bewnikral.oc.ku> wrote:

>Nice idea! I tried to install the SDK but balked a little bit at the 220
>meg download... I suppose I could technically get it downloaded in less
>than 24 hours if steam allowed resumable downloads. I think I'm going to
>have to wait for broadband to come to my area for this one. Damn rural
>areas.

Steam does support resumable downloads, that is one of its advantages.
--
Andrew, contact via interpleb.blogspot.com
Help make Usenet a better place: English is read downwards,
please don't top post. Trim replies to quote only relevant text.
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