50-Hour Mapping Challenge – Epistle3Ville

Hello and welcome to the third 50-Hour Mapping Challenge – Epistle3Ville.

Below are the details.

PLEASE READ THEM CAREFULLY.

As always, if you have any questions, you can either post a comment or if you require a private reply, send Phillip an email: [email protected]

Theme Details

For this 50-hour challenge, we would like you to create a map that has been inspired by Marc Laidlaw’s recent Epistle 3 blog post, subsequent fan art based on that piece of writing or any other Episode 3 or Half-Life 3 fan art or concept art. If you use any art as direct inspiration, please link to it in your entry’s readme.txt file.

You only have 50 hours, so what we’re looking for is just a tiny slice of what you think Episode 3 could have included. Maybe there’s a setpiece that you’d love to see in-game, or a specific combat situation you imagined while reading Epistle 3. Did you see some fan art and say “wouldn’t it be cool if…”? This is your chance!

The main point is that what you make must be inspired by the Ep3/HL3 theme AND be recognisable as such. You can’t just say something inspired you but it’s not obvious how it connects to Episode 3.

This theme is perhaps open to interpretation more than other themes, so if you have ANY questions, doubts etc, do not hesitate to ask for clarification.


8th September 2017 33 Comments

Third 50-Hour Mapping Challenge Starts This Friday

Firstly, allow me to apologise for the late reminder. The dates were published weeks ago but I know that people don’t always pay attention and mark them in their diary or tell their secretary.

So, anyway, this Friday at 10pm Central European Summer Time, the third 50-Hour Mapping Challenge starts.

Full details will be announced in a post which will have all the details.

The judges and I are really excited about this theme and I would have loved to have a tease countdown but couldn’t think of a good way to do it.

Yes, the image is a clue and either it’s really obvious, in which case I apologise or it’s so obscure to be worthless and again, I apologise.

Here is the countdown timer for the start of the challenge.


6th September 2017 16 Comments

Monthly Review Giveaway

As I was laying in bed this morning, trying to go back to sleep but knowing I couldn’t, I had this idea.

At the beginning of each month, I will randomly select one review posted in the previous month and send the author a free Steam game.

The game won’t be AAA and it might not be very good but it’s free!

The winner will NOT be able to select the game and if they have it already or don’t want it then they can pass it on t a friend.

My thinking behind this is NOT to encourage people to write reviews because they think they might win a game but to say thank you for supporting the site.

The community and reviews set this website apart from other websites. Imagine I simply had a list of download links instead of what we have. I don’t think it would be very friendly and inviting website to visit.

The winner will be chosen using the Recommendation Wall page, which is currently partially broken, but will be fixed soon. This means that a review MUST use a Recommendation Image. This also means that this giveaway is only open to registered members of RTSL.

I will announce each winner in the monthly General Chat of the following month. So, the winner for August 2017, will be announced in the September 2017 General Chat and Twitter.

I have plenty of games to giveaway, but if you have spare ones you want to donate, please email me the details and any credit you want.

As always, if you have any questions, comments, suggestions or complaints, just let me know.


1st September 2017 2 Comments

September 2017 – General Chat

OMG, I can’t believe that September is here. I did 20% of the things I had planned for August. Oh Well, there’s always next year. HA!

Anyway, we are getting closer to the server move, so that’s good but I am still pretty nervous about it. It’s the first time the site will be self-hosted. The dev site seems really fast, so that’s one good thing.

Due to circumstances, I have been spending some time posting stuff on Twitter, hopefully you have been following me – if not, why not?

RTSL Twitter feed Only 32 more followers needed to reach 1,000.

Besides that, I’ll try to finish Wolfenstein: The New Order and even start Old Blood. YES! I know I said that last month but I mean it this time.

What about you, what do you have planned?


31st August 2017 36 Comments

Quiet Rehabilitation

for Half-Life 2: Episode Two

Localised on the other side of the Coast, the Combine used to run one among other abandoned sections of the block cells as an area to detain citizens who were determined to be a threat to the Combine action.

Later on, these cell blocks were left behind, including countless prisoners and citizens who tried to escape by their own through vents, old offices, maintenance facilities and sewers.

You’ll find yourself stuck in one of those old cells on another side of sector A5 at Nova Prospekt. Be sure to acquire any kind of weaponry and supplies during your escape route, because you’re not alone on this mission.

Many unauthorised and unidentified creatures are wandering around the place. Watch your corners and try not to make any huge noises, you might attract those strange things to hunt you down. Or even worse: the Combine itself.

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Total Downloads: 2,42331st August 2017
24 Comments and 14 recommendations, most really enjoyed it!

BlackMesaDoorVille

for Black Mesa

Welcome to the very first (hopefully of many!) Black Mesa Mapping Challenge.

This release features 9 maps, each based around the theme of “What’s behind that door?”.

Mappers had to create a map that used a previously locked door from the retail game.

Unlike standard Source mods, this release features a special way to install the maps – don’t worry, it’s not difficult, just different. This is due to the game itself, not something I have changed. There are text and video installation instructions.

GO PLAY IT!

This has been updated to version 1.2 – see below.

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Total Downloads: 2,04429th August 2017
61 Comments and 8 recommendations, most really enjoyed it!

Half-Life: Caged Press Release

Future Games Select and Cayle George bring you a prison escape like no other!

Featuring explosive action and a soundtrack from outrun music legend Lazerhawk, Half-Life: C.A.G.E.D. is a return to the golden age of First Person Shooters.

Break from captivity, conquer the facility and discover the secrets of Half-Life: C.A.G.E.D.!

Set for release on 21st September 2017.

C.A.G.E.D. is based on Cayle’s map Caged from 2002’s Project: Quantum Leap – but massively expanded and upgraded with custom content including awesome music from Lazerhawk. It’s got secrets, achievements, an unlockable bonus map, and even a developer commentary mode. It’s a fantastic reimagining of the old PQL map – and it’s not every day that a former Valve mapper releases a Half-Life mod!

Keep reading for a video and screenshots.


29th August 2017 3 Comments

Big Lolly

for Half-Life

Once upon a time, long, long ago, a dreamland of wonder and candy did grow. Its treasure was sweet, and the land was “Big Lolly.”

Welcome to Big Lolly!

Grab some candy and get fraggin’!

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Total Downloads: 2,30127th August 2017
11 Comments and 8 recommendations with no significant bias