Dear Esther v1.1 (fixed)
Jan 22, 2009 Full Version 37 commentsUpdated Dear Esther with fixed link to level 4. This fully replaces v1.0, please delete that and unzip this into your SourceMods folder
Dear Esther is part of a research project, creating experimental game mods, based at the University of Portsmouth, UK. The aim was to use Source to create something radically different from normal: an interactive story that dispensed with traditional gameplay and focused instead on an open-ended, semi-random narrative.
More information about the mod and its aims, and the overall project can be found on the website. Also look out for two more mods coming soon: Conscientious Objector (Doom 3) and Antlion Soccer (Half Life 2 Deathmatch)
Thanks for looking - any feedback would be fantastic.
12 comments by chineseroom on Nov 20th, 2009 digg this super bookmark
The Second Death of Caspar Helendale by Jessica Curry and Dan Pinchbeck has been selected by The Royal Opera House and will be performed live at the Linbury Studio Theatre as part of the Firsts 09 season, "showcasing some of the most talented and genre-defying artists in the UK today."
The performances will be taking place simultaneously at the ROH and in Second Life on 27th and 28th November at 9.15pm GMT / 1.15pm PST
The Second Life avatar Caspar Helendale invites you to attend his death; a funeral service held simultaneously in the real and virtual worlds. He has been exploring mortality since he was first created, and in his last twenty minutes of existence he will share his thoughts with collected mourners. He will be accompanied by his widow-to-be, Trixiebelle Landar, whose requiem will be performed live and streamed back into the virtual world over the course of the service. Via live onstage musicians and a giant projection screen, the theatre audience will join Second Life residents to reflect and mourn, as the real and virtual worlds collide at the point where Caspar's light is forever extinguished.
If you cannot attend in first life then we would be delighted if you and your avatar would join us in Second Life for the duration of the performance. Teleport to http://slurl.com/secondlife/2ND%20LIVE/180/223/23 , on the night, or to book a place, please email, or IM either Dan (dan.pinchbeck@port.ac.uk) or Jessica (jessica@jessicacurry.co.uk) beforehand.
If you want to attend the event in London, tickets are only £5 and are available from the Royal Opera House - Roh.org.uk
And to the Gods I tell you this: we shall outlast you all...
Updated Dear Esther with fixed link to level 4. This fully replaces v1.0, please delete that and unzip this into your SourceMods folder
Jessica Curry's soundtrack for Dear Esther: 8 tracks as MPEG4s.
This pdf contains the script for the interactive story Dear Esther, as requested...
Zip file for the Dear Esther mod. Unpack it into your source mods folder, restart Steam and it will show in the games list.
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Hey guys, great mod. I really love it, even though there isnt any combat at all (thats a good thing) i felt compelled to continue and finish.
I just need to check though, i *think* i have finished but im on a black screen after i have reached the summet and did the fly by.
Is this time for you to sit and think or am i supposed to wait for something?
Great mod again, thanks.
Kais246
No, that's it. More of a question of how the hell do you end it? Credits, titles? Nothing else seemed to fit... just seemed kind of apt, really.. :)
Makes sence now that you mention it.
Might be worth putting a tiny little "the end" in one of the bottom corners. It would fade in then fade out again maybe?
Mind you it doesnt really matter, just suggestions : D
Since the name of the mod is dear esther...you should have something like Love george (or whatever the characters name is) and if you dont want to show the name make it semi erased or blured
I think you made the right choice. It leaves a gap during which you're not pressured to perform any actions and it gives you chance to reflect.
Mod got featured on the PC Gamer disc this month. Just been playing it and it looks really good.
The only problems i have with it are a few of the narratives starting at the same point and overlapping and also the music.
Music is important as it adds atmosphere and the music here is fine, its only flaw is it is sometimes loud. I went in to the settings and reduced music level to zero with no effect which often meant i couldn't hear the narrative. Reduce the volume to background levels or have it cut out when he speaks and this mod will be great.
The images are from a work in progress remake that hasn't been released.
Sprinting would destroy the atmosphere, make more dialogue pieces cue over each other and wouldn't make sense once you get to the caves anyway as you injure your leg.
man, the guy walked pretty far for injuring his leg. >_>
This looks awesome! The only problem I saw in the video is that the waves come to the shore, but they don't recede. Is it possible for you to make the waves recede in source?
That wasn't meant to be a reply to Daz.