Published On This Date

This page displays posts that were published on this date in various years.

TWHL Tower: Source

for Half-Life 2: Episode Two


published: 2024

Born on the forums of TWHL, here comes another collaboration pack – this time on the Source engine! Mappers were restricted to a small footprint for their map, as if each map were a floor in a tower. A full 3 years in the making, here is the result of a lot of hard work from both new and experienced Source mappers.

There’s a lot to love in this long anticipated collaboration! Enjoy the 18 floors in this solid follow-on to TWHL Tower and TWHL Tower 2! Plus don’t miss the handful of unlockable bonus maps!

2
2
1
1

Total Downloads: 1,47119th July 2024
10 Comments and 6 recommendations, 2 say "Play It Later"

Vexko International

for Half-Life 2


published: 2018

“Somewhere outside City 17, near the coast, our intrepid hero has fallen through an unsecured vent in an effort to escape the closing security forces.

Guide Gordon through the underground offices of Vexko International in this player-made single player level for HL2.”

3
4
8
1

Total Downloads: 1,55919th July 2018
21 Comments and 16 recommendations, most really enjoyed it!

I Love Corridors
published: 2018

I am going to take you on a short journey.

I love corridors. Perhaps there is some deeper meaning about wanting limits or restrictions in my life. Perhaps I like the linear feel of doing everything in the correct order.
Anyway, a quick search for “corridors as metaphors” produced nothing of interest, so at least I have the title of my new academic research paper I’ll never write. I think I will keep looking though as I honestly feel there is something deeper here.

It contrasts nicely with my general dislike of arena or large empty spaces, at least from a gameplay perspective. That said, the best memories I have of areas in mods, were places where the enemies were all around me, although not at the same time.

Now, a search for “corridors in video games” produces some more interesting results.

The first is a discussion about How Valve took gaming out of corridors. I’ve yet to read it beyond the intro but it does look interesting.

Another results that is very cool is the “http://scificorridorarchive.com/”Sci-Fi Corridor Archive which certainly deserves further exploration.

And finally, for now at least, I searched for “corridors in architecture” hoping for something unusual and I was not disappointed. Obviously, it brings up lots of links about technicalities but it eventually led me to the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture which sounds totally cool and worth reading some more about.

From its website: “The mission of the Academy of Neuroscience for Architecture is to promote and advance knowledge that links neuroscience research to a growing understanding of human responses to the built environment.”, which totally sounds like code for making better games to me!

So, where are we? Well, I am thinking about how corridors in games represent the “process of change” and how they can be used to greater effect. I’m not planning to write a book or create a tutorial video because I’m not qualified to create either, but I will begin to pay more attention to corridors in games and specifically Half-Life.

Let me know your thoughts.


19th July 2018 1 Comment

Audio Interview with Charles Zhang
published: 2014

Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3

In this audio interview podcast, Charles and I discuss his mods Intrusion and Courage.

We chat about the mods, their creation and the deeper meaning.

Feel free to ask Charles your questions, as he has agreed to stop by and answer any you have.


19th July 2014 4 Comments

Half-Life: Lambda Core
published: 2012

The Replay Experience Experiment: Half-Life: Lambda Core

In this chapter, Gordon arrives at the Lambda Complex, where he believed the science team to be sheltering from the Xenians, only to find that the majority of the complex is now overrun by hostile creatures. He is informed that he must flood the reactor chambers in order to access the core, and that a team of scientists is waiting for him at the tip of the reactor.


19th July 2012 15 Comments

Game Saves, Steam and ModCloud
published: 2011

Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3

I have just launched Osmosis and found it has reset itself back to the beginning, meaning I have lost all my finished zones, in effect my game saves.

The game was a gift and in all honesty, unless it suddenly and miraculously gets its saves back, I won’t play it from the beginning again.


19th July 2011 11 Comments

Project Focus North

for Half-Life


published: 2011

Single Player First Person Shooter Maps and Mods for Half-Life 1, 2 and Episodes 1, 2 and 3

This is the demo of the unfinished mod.

The first section sets the scene and you even get to “play” as Gina, Gordon’s Sister.

The second section is all action, with some puzzling solving required.

8
2
1
2
2

Total Downloads: 1,92719th July 2011
21 Comments and 15 recommendations, most haven't enjoyed it

Toxic Waste Junkies

for Half-Life 2


published: 2007

About This is another mod made by a group of students. These mods, and I will be adding one-a day for the next few days, are appearing more and more. As with many of these types of mods, the “feel” is more about experimenting and testing than actual gameplay. Reader Recommendations Avoid It! Think Twice… Read More

8
1

Total Downloads: 81919th July 2007
44 Comments and 9 recommendations, 1 say "Play It Now!"

Freshman

for Half-Life 2


published: 2005

Story The concept is this: You are Gordon Freeman when he was doing his freshman year at LiTh University. Although many think he studied Theoretical Physics at the MIT that is wrong. He actually studied MedieTechnology with us. And he even was in the same team as us when we were doing a map for… Read More


Total Downloads: 119th July 2005
5 Comments