Archive for March 2016


The Hammer Cup 16: Challenge 3: BacktrackVille

And so it continues…

Welcome to the third of five mapping challenges as part of The Hammer cup 2016.

Theme Details

One of the staple events in video games is the backtrack sequence. A part of the game where you retrace your steps in the exact location but this time something has changed.

The change can be due to new enemies, a violent explosion, time travel, new vehicles etc.

We would like you to create a map where the player interacts with an area and then has to backtrack through the same area, but the area must have changed.

The reason for the change and the exact change is entirely up to you.

The theme is apropos considering the discussion on the PsychologyVille – Just A Discussion post, where people have started talking about seeing sections of Half-Life games before or after certain events.

We had already chosen this theme, so that is perfect timing.

We will allow remakes of any Half-Life game map but they shouldn’t just be copies – put a little personal touch into them.

Of course, we would be more than happy if you created your own design and have a reason for its change. Any reason is acceptable.

Even though time travel does not feature in any of the Half-Life games (unless you consider Gordon’s stasis – in which case every game features time travel – forwards!) we will allow it for this theme – either forwards or backwards.

You could create a map where you are attacking a Combine Outpost and get knocked unconscious and when you wake up you find that the resistance has been pushed back and you are now behind Combine lines. You must return to join your resistance comrades.

Or you could have been sent on a suicide mission to destroy a facility and find yourself still alive after destroying it. The Combine have sent reinforcements and your objective now is to either die in a blaze of glory or make it back to the rendezvous point.

The main idea is to play the same area twice but the second time must be significantly different from the first.

As always, if you have any questions either ask in the comments or if you require a private answer send Phillip an email: [email protected]


31st March 2016 154 Comments

Poll Question 340 – Do you ever kill NPCs unnecessarily?

Back in October 2006, I asked the very first PP (in case you are new here, this site used to be called PlanetPhillip.com and we always abbreviated it to “pp”) Poll Question was Have you Crowbarred Barney for his ammo?

This poll question is interested in asking whether you ever kill NPCs unnecessarily? Not for ammo or weapons but just because they are annoying you.

I don’t think I do, at least I don’t remember doing it.

Maybe you are more heartless than I am, or just plain crazy, who knows.


31st March 2016 21 Comments

Week 13: Livestream Schedule and Giveaways

Firstly, since there has been some confusion over the exact times of streams, please consider using TimeAndDate.com’s World Clock Converter to ensure you know your local stream time.

Secondly, Darren Weekes AKA CustomGamer will be continuing his event, The Ville Retrospective, where he replays The mapping challenge mods. This weekend it is AlphabetVille. He will be streaming Saturday at 1pm GMT.

During the stream, Dan will be giving away a copy of courtesy of SteamContests.com AKA Aaron’s Giveaways, so a HUGE thanks to Aaron.

Darren will be asking a question during the stream and the answer can be found on the Steam page, so check it out if you want a chance to win.

I will be starting my Mega Miigga event at 10am GMT on Saturday and Miigga himself is hoping to join me live. I will also be continuing on Sunday too, with the exact time to be announced on Saturday.

All streams will be on the RTSL Twitch Channel and announced on the RTSL Twitter Feed.

If you have any questions about the streams, just ask.


31st March 2016 8 Comments

Mega Miigga Event

Over the last few months, I have been streaming more and more, and I have to say I am enjoying it. It’s forcing me to play more, which I always neglect.

So, I have decided to start my own streaming events. The first official one is called Mega Miigga.

Unlike many of the other Events here on RTSL, MegaMiigga takes place over a few weekends, instead of a monthly stream.

During the first, third and maybe fourth weekends of April 2016, I will play and discuss all of the SP releases by Miigga, including his entries into the *Ville mapping Challenges.

It is difficult to estimate exactly how long this event will take, but I will stream for at least four hours each weekend.

Each map will be livestreamed on the RTSL Twitch channel and then uploaded to the RTSL YouTube channel into its own playlist.

The event will be mentioned in the weekend stream and giveaway schedule posts.

Reminders will be posted on the RTSL Twitter and Facebook pages.

The event page, doesn’t have any embedded videos yet, as I haven’t created any.

The Details Table section contains all his releases and if you are a logged in member, the table will show you which maps you have reviewed.

I will also be using the event to update the screenshots and posts.

After that, I will start a new event.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.


28th March 2016 18 Comments

Vengeance At Dusk

for Black Mesa

Your father, mother and brother have been taken and “they” are coming for you next.

Can you escape through the house and attached complex?

Only time will tell.

Good Luck.

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Total Downloads: 82328th March 2016
20 Comments and 4 recommendations, 1 say "Play It Later"

PsychologyVille – Just a Discussion

A few years ago, I read an interesting article on the BBC website about psychology and testing. I emailed the author, a university professor and suggested creating a few maps for testing purposes. I can’t remember the exact details, but video games seemed an ideal medium for the tests. Unfortunately, I never heard back from him which was a little disappointing, but there you go.

And then yesterday I read this BBC article called Why are people so gullible? and it got me thinking again.

I’m not actually proposing this Ville but I would like us to talk about potential ideas. There must be plenty of ways of introducing specific psychological concepts into maps.


27th March 2016 30 Comments

Week 12: Livestream Schedule and Giveaways

Firstly, allow me to apologize for the later than ususal notice of the streams. With this weekend being Easter, things got busy, sorry.

Secondly, Dan Jordan AKA The Rabbit will be continuing his event, Source of Fame, where he replays Source Hall of Fame mods. This weekend it is Riot Act for Half-Life 2. He will be streaming Saturday at 12pm EST, that’s 7pm GMT. That’s SATURDAY. Normally, Dan streams on Sunday, that’s why I am highlighting it.

During the stream, Dan will be giving away a copy of Gun Monkeys courtesy of SteamContests.com AKA Aaron’s Giveaways, so a HUGE thanks to Aaron.

Dan will be asking a question during the stream and the answer can be found on the Steam page, so check it out if you want a chance to win.

I will be streaming at some point, probably Saturday morning and Sunday some time. Most likely I will try to finish Strider Mountain and I might stream soemthing else, I’ll see.

All streams will be on the RTSL Twitch Channel and announced on the RTSL Twitter Feed.

If you have any questions about the streams, just ask.


25th March 2016 7 Comments

Hangover

for Half-Life 2

Gordon Freeman finds himself on the sea shore with a terrible hangover.

He is surrounded by empty beer bottles a few Headcrab corpses and a bicycle.

Does not remember anything about how he got there or what happened there and the night before.

Sets off to find out and as usual gets into a bunch of “fun” activities along the way.

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Total Downloads: 4,70925th March 2016
41 Comments and 11 recommendations with no significant bias

Poll Question 339 – Would you buy a HTC Vive Bundled with Half-Life 3?

Only a fool would think that Half-Life 3 will be a VR exclusive, but that doesn’t mean that some sort of tie-in with VR is impossible.

I’ll be honest and say that I haven’t followed much about Valve’s involvement with the HTC Vive but that’s mostly due to the fact I know I won’t be able to afford to buy it. If, like me, you don’t know much but want to learn more check out the Steam page.

The question is whether Valve will promote both Vive and HL3 at the same time.


17th March 2016 31 Comments