Lets get started.
Since December, I've been working constantly on Signal Lost: Uplink. I picked up where I left off, and have gotten a great deal done already in just these past 2 months alone. This article will go over a few things, but first lets kick it off with a brand new gameplay video. Lets take a detour into the ARCHIVAL LABS...
The Archival Labs are a large part of Chapter 2, serving as one of the main locations alongside Data Control, and the dome. A massive neighboring complex to the Communications Center, complete with facility housing & research labs. You'll eventually find yourself at the High Security File Storage, from there, you must retrieve the USNRC "All clear" codes required to align the satellite array, and ultimately transmit the signal.
Gameplay wise, the Archival Labs will play akin to a mixture of Questionable Ethics and Office Complex, containing loads of exploration, interactivity, and secrets to uncover. Its all coming together, slowly but surely. This was one of the first areas I dove back into when work began again in December, I evaluated the entire chapter, eventually cut a level that just wasn't working, and went from there. Since then, this has been shaping up to be one of the most expansive parts of Chapter 2, almost large enough to be a chapter in itself. I feel pretty confident in saying that out of the 3 main areas in Uplink, the Archival Labs will be the biggest part of it.
There's so much more to come in regards to Chapter 2's locations, but I'll touch more on that later!
A major visual upgrade comes in the form of fully 3D skyboxes. 2D skies have been phased out of Signal Lost entirely in favor of model based 3D skyboxes.
The system I've created for these is incredibly hacky, but it allows for each map to have its very own 3D skybox, complete with realistic cloud effects & an absolutely immense sense of scale.
Finishing, and releasing SIGNAL LOST: Uplink is now my main priority.
I won't set a deadline for release just yet, but I'm still hoping to have it at least fully playable by sometime this summer. Progress has been going excellent, and if I'm able to stay in the fight & keep up this pace, then I'm confident that I can do it. Levels are getting finished, and things are coming together piece by piece. There is still a great deal of work to be done, but I'm taking it one day at a time. Remember, I'm just one person, and I can only do so much!
In the next article, I plan to touch on some pretty significant updates that have been made to Chapter 1, as well as some more Chapter 2 stuff! In the meantime, I plan to start updating the ModDB page a lot more frequently, much more akin to how often I post development clips & media over in my Discord server.
Speaking of which, if you want to catch up on what I've been making for Starlight & Signal Lost, I regularly show off development & behind the scenes media over in my community on Discord! Always feel free to stop by & join the conversation! You can show off your work, your art, all that good stuff! I also stream work on my projects every now and then.
Looks absolutely sick.
Thank you tons! ^^
Wonderful update, it really looks great =)
I can't wait for the release of the new chapter, you did a great job, I was especially surprised by the replacement of the 2D skybox with 3D!
Hope you get it all done by summer, good luck.
Fingers crossed! ;}
This project and Black Mesa are my favorites work with the Half-Life IP made by the community. So much love and work put in creating such awe inspiring games.
Things like this give me faith, faith in people, faith in the world - im not kidding XD
Awesome work, you rock! i pray one day we all can see the finished vision of yours.
heh thank you, that means alot ^^
Looking great! I absolutely love this mod's ambience, can't wait to see what else you do with it.
This looks amazing. cant wait for the full release!
Can't wait to play it :3
Impressive as always ! I'm a completely fan of you work ! a reference in goldsrc projects !
Great work as usual, Jane!
Looks great!
I wish you the needful endurance for your project.:)
love you all, thanks so much! <3
Great work! I love the 3D skyboxes you've managed to get working in the GoldSRC engine and the lighting/glow effects in the levels.
- I know it's animated like the old HL Alpha unfinished build, but will you update the MP5 reload, so that the magazine isn't floating magically near the MP5 & the suit gloves? You've put a lot of effort with the attention to detail & art style which looks excellent, so seeing what looks like an unpolished janky reload animation (even though it's how it was reloaded in the Alpha build) is a bit jarring.
Thank you! oh yes, that animation is absolutely going to be updated, this mod isn't really going for accuracy in the slightest & I've wanted to update that animation for eons, that entire model is such a mess (it doesn't even have a fully modelled hand), so it'll be getting a huge facelift at some point ^^
This is looking detailed, interesting, new, but also near the source material. Great work!
👏👏👏
Woah! These weapon models are so sweet.
And this will be standalone? Ok! Mod Subscribed. ^^
Maybe an additional idea for those sweet glowing effects: The glowing stripes on the houndeye's back could slowly fade after they die.
That lobby looks absolutely fantastic, i feel like it has some great retro-style atmosphere! I also like 3D skybox implementation; not many mods try to use or at least simulate 3D skies, even the more modern ones
Wow, this looks great! I hope all is progressing well.