Archive for April 2012

Deep Sea Laboratory

for Half-Life

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

This is an unfinished project that Richman has decided to release.

There is no combat and I had to load a couple of maps manually.

The final 4 images were taken with cheats on.

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Total Downloads: 2,5248th April 2012
13 Comments and 4 recommendations, most haven't enjoyed it

Project Hospital

for Half-Life 2: Episode Two

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

Starting in a courtyard area, you must work your way through certain parts of the hospital.

It almost seems alive and aware of your presence.

Can you reach the main exit or will you succumb to the horrors that await you.

Only time will tell.

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Total Downloads: 2,3977th April 2012
20 Comments and 9 recommendations, 3 say "Maybe?"

NewBlackMesaVille

for Half-Life

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

The NewBlackMesaVille theme was pretty simple: Create a map with the feel of Black Mesa but try to make it seem new with new textures or just interesting layout.

This map was the only entry into the NewBlackMesaVille mapping competition. A few others promised to send entries, but circumstance got in the way. They all promised to release their work at some point in the future.

I have included more screenshots than I would normally for a map this size, because I took a good look around and wanted to record all the intersting points.

Be warned, there is no “actual” combat.

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Total Downloads: 3,4483rd April 2012
11 Comments and 10 recommendations, 5 say "Play It Later"

Ground Complex

for Half-Life 2

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

You play an elite soldier, who is sent in to perform a number of tasks on an abandoned research facility.

Your commander is in contact with you via screen text.

He gives you clear instructions for each section.

Can you make it out alive?

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Total Downloads: 4,3962nd April 2012
17 Comments and 8 recommendations with no significant bias

7 Rules for Puzzle Builders – The 7 Series

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

As a level designer I often take a keen interest in the puzzles that others include in their maps. Half Life 2 offers a huge wealth of puzzle possibilities due to the physics engine and the gravity gun. If you ask a player what their favourite puzzle in a game was they could probably tell you immediately (I’d like to know yours by the way) but they may not be able to tell you why.

Equally they may struggle to explain why a bad puzzle doesn’t work, but in reality there are rules to a good game based puzzle and if you follow them, as a mapper you can’t go wrong.

Here’s my rules that I’ve learnt through creating maps and playtesting on how to create a good puzzle.

1st April 2012 13 Comments

Hazardous Course 2

for Half-Life

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

“The Hazardous-Course 2 is a spoof of the original “Hazard-Course” from Half-Life, which resembles the first player training levels. In contrary to this, the Hazardous-Course, as it’s name let’s suggest, is much more dangerous. Although it’s a mod for a first person shooter, the player can only wield a weapon at the designated target range. So it plays more like an adventure.”

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Total Downloads: 7,3501st April 2012
39 Comments and 19 recommendations, most really enjoyed it!

Poll Question 268 – Do you think Portal mods MUST get harder as they progress?

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

It might seem such an obvious answer but I don’t think they should.

Here is how my thinking goes…

Regular first person shooters don’t always get harder as the game or mod progresses.

They tend to get more complicated, because you get better weapons, which means the enemies get bigger or harder. But that in itself doesn’t mean the game is harder.

1st April 2012 13 Comments