thechineseroom is the name of a development research project I run at the University of Portsmouth, UK. We're interested in first person gaming - particularly, using mods to explore questions about gaming that you can't answer by just analysing commercial releases or theorising about them.

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Dear Esther launch date confirmed!
Dear Esther

Dear Esther launch date confirmed!

Dear Esther 8 comments

We finally have an official launch date! (and new screens!)

Just a quickie
Half-Life 2

Just a quickie

Dear Esther 15 comments

Just a quick update to let you know I have re-uploaded the original mod for you to download (my fault, should have been back up long ago) and that we...

Dear Esther remake to get commercial release
Half-Life 2

Dear Esther remake to get commercial release

Dear Esther 185 comments

The remake of the cult source mod Dear Esther will be released commercially in summer 2011.

Q&A + MODTY and new media!
Half-Life 2

Q&A + MODTY and new media!

Dear Esther 60 comments

So in my last update I asked for your questions regarding the Dear Esther Remake, and today I have been sifting through them and have answered some of...

Slow and Steady – A Brief Update
Half-Life 2

Slow and Steady – A Brief Update

Dear Esther 54 comments

I recently realised how much time has passed since my last update on here and so I thought I’d put together a small update to show a little bit of what...

Yes, it's fixed!
Half-Life 2: Episode Two

Yes, it's fixed!

Korsakovia 8 comments

Korsakovia is back up and running again, thanks to a patch written by Doogie4Ever, who is a complete star.

A Light at the end of the Tunnel
Half-Life 2

A Light at the end of the Tunnel

Dear Esther 97 comments

So it’s been a while, in fact it’s been almost 4 months since my last update, however, during this time I have been tirelessly working on the third...

Yes, it's broken
Half-Life 2: Episode Two

Yes, it's broken

Korsakovia 10 comments

The last update broke Korsakovia. Quite badly, it appears. I'm looking into it (and would REALLY appreciate any pointers / support), but in the meantime...

Halfway there!
Half-Life 2

Halfway there!

Dear Esther 70 comments

So I hit a big milestone today, bringing the second level to alpha and subsequently reaching the half-way point in the project! It took me roughly two...

A quick update...
Half-Life 2

A quick update...

Dear Esther 69 comments

Just wanted to make a quick update to let you know things are progressing nicely with DE. The lack of updates lately was due to me taking a month off...

Live performance project by thechineseroom
Half-Life 2

Live performance project by thechineseroom

Dear Esther 13 comments

If you liked Dear Esther, then you might well like this: Dan Pinchbeck (writer/producer) and Jessica Curry (composer/audio designer) are presenting a...

Postcards from the Hebrides…
Half-Life 2

Postcards from the Hebrides…

Dear Esther 26 comments

Well it’s been a while since my last update, but be reassured I have not been idling during my absence! Today I can finally show you what I have been...

Dear Esther wins Best World/Story at IndieCade 2009
Half-Life 2

Dear Esther wins Best World/Story at IndieCade 2009

Dear Esther 12 comments

The cult Half Life 2 mod picked up the 2009 IndieCade International Independent Game award for Best Story/World at the ceremony in LA last night.

Land, Sea and Air
Half-Life 2

Land, Sea and Air

Dear Esther 22 comments

Time for another update I think, been a while actually (or at least it feels like that!). So here's a brief overview of what exactly has been going on...

Korsakovia released
Half-Life 2: Episode Two

Korsakovia released

Korsakovia 27 comments

Korsakovia, a new mod from the makers of Dear Esther has been released. Billed as an experimental survival horror, this single player Source mod from...

Dear Esther selected for IndieCade2009
Half-Life 2

Dear Esther selected for IndieCade2009

Dear Esther 6 comments

The cult Half Life 2 mod Dear Esther has been selected as a finalist in the 2009 IndieCade awards - Culver City, here we com!

Dear Esther Remake - Update 2
Half-Life 2

Dear Esther Remake - Update 2

Dear Esther 26 comments

Been another slow week this week; however I have managed to finish sculpting and painting the terrain for the first level and am now looking forward to...

Dear Esther Update (remake)
Half-Life 2

Dear Esther Update (remake)

Dear Esther 28 comments

Hi everyone, My name is Robert Briscoe and as you may or may not have heard, I have taken it upon myself recently to ‘re-master' Dear Esther and bring...

Dear Esther: Gamasutra Interview
Half-Life 2

Dear Esther: Gamasutra Interview

Dear Esther 6 comments

A new interview with Dear Esther designer Dan Pinchbeck at Gamasutra

Korsakovia - new launch date
Half-Life 2: Episode Two

Korsakovia - new launch date

Korsakovia 5 comments

Korsakovia is developing, but more slowly than I'd have liked...

Dear Esther - complete overhaul
Half-Life 2

Dear Esther - complete overhaul

Dear Esther 11 comments

Dear Esther is getting a full overhaul and rebuild by Robert Briscoe of LittleLostPoly

Recruiting for Korsakovia
Half-Life 2: Episode Two

Recruiting for Korsakovia

Korsakovia

We're looking for experienced modders to take Korsakovia through to launch...

Korsakovia - promo film released, playtesters wanted!
Half-Life 2: Episode Two

Korsakovia - promo film released, playtesters wanted!

Korsakovia 1 comment

We've just uploaded a promo film for the new mod Korsakovia, and are also looking for people to playtest the alpha. Take a look and drop us a line if...

Dear Esther - Updated Version Released
Half-Life 2

Dear Esther - Updated Version Released

Dear Esther 1 comment

An updated version of the mod Dear Esther has just been released, including remastered sound, fixed terrain issues, extended caves sequence and new audio...

Antlion Soccer released
Half-Life 2

Antlion Soccer released

Antlion Soccer

Antlion Soccer deathmatch mod is now ready for download

new release date part 2
Half-Life 2

new release date part 2

Antlion Soccer

At the risk of sounding like a stuck record... getting a server to test this has taken longer than hoped, so release date back again. Coding is all finished...

New release date
Half-Life 2

New release date

Antlion Soccer

Release for Antlion Soccer has been delayed. Some problems with migrating the code to the Orange Box but it's coming soon.

New version update  + research
Half-Life 2

New version update + research

Dear Esther 7 comments

Details of changes to the new version of Dear Esther; plus how we'd love you to help us with some research based on the project...