There’s an interesting article over on the FPS Level Design Blog about weapon fatigue. Aazell talks about how players get bored using only one weapon, specifically the sound.

He goes on to say “I’ve learned that if you give the player at least two weapons at any one time their feeling about a map changes dramatically.”

Pay attention – things are more complex than they might first appear. Intrigue, subterfuge, and mystery predominate. An ancient machine tainted with human technology, guarded by a vicious pack of Nihilanthi aliens. There are few answers, but many questions. Will they ever be resolved?

You don’t know much at the beginning.

You can’t remember anything from your previous life or how you came into this cage of glass in which you have been living several weeks and in which these scientists have performed cruel experiments on you.

But what you know is: you want to get out and pay them back!

Your friend and fellow scientist, Bob, is missing. Rumour has it that he fled the country after selling company secrets, but you know he would never do such a thing.

Last time you saw him he was talking of “nearly exposing the administrators’ malpractice” and “preventing an accident that could destroy this world”. He wasn’t very specific about anything but he seemed sincere.”

Author’s Description: “On The Boardwalk is a Half-Life 2: Episode 2 level I designed as a change of pace from the normal combative levels.
In this level, Gordon has made his way down to the beach, and finds himself trapped inside a strange carnival where he must win four non-combat carnival games….”

ETC finished with Freeman heading into the teleporter. Where it took him was not revealed.

ETC 2 continues from this point.

So, where did Freeman go?

Originally, ETC stood for Earthquake Test Centre, but now that’s been forgotten.

All that matters is that you find yourself in a BM-style base with aliens and army trying to kill you.

It’s clear that you need to find a way out.

In fact, there’s a working portal, if only you could reach it!

After proving your skill and cunning by escaping the Black Mesa complex alive, you have been called on by a shadowy organisation – the Alien Counter-Insurgency Bureau – to help protect mankind from the threat posed by Xen.

Tonight, the A.C.I.B. has need of your special abilities to counter a new threat to civilisation. You have been given a rendez-vous in the warehouse district of the city to receive your mission briefing.

I used to be snacking all the time, I was an eating machine. But one thing I never did was snack when I was playing video games. I was too immersed in the game itself and I wanted to keep my fingers clean too, so that I wouldn’t have to clean my keyboard!

But if I were to play something like Nintendo’s Wii with friends then a bowl of chips or similar would all be part of the ritual and fun.

Of course, my gaming sessions don’t last for many hours or into the witching hour, but I suppose you young’uns need all the sugar you can get!

One thing I do always have on my desk is a bottle of water though, certainly couldn’t live without that when playing.