Improved Xen is a modification for Black Mesa game. It gives you an opportunity to immerse yourself into original locations of Xen world from Half-Life, but with improved graphics and optimized geometry. At the moment Improved Xen is supported by me - Vladislav Lisovichenko (zloikot)
You can help this project with a donation. Thanks to this, it will stay alive and I will be able to continue working on it.
Or Webmoney WMZ: Z803063819541
Articles
Do you want to return in "good old days" and experience that true classic - Half-life 1, (xen levels) but with improved graphics, geometry, and gameplay ? You can download it now, on the link below, or in Steam Workshop.
Black Mesa: Improved Xen v1.0
The only difference between these two resources is the way of installing the mod. During 7 years I made 7 versions of Improved Xen, which is a big number for this kind of work. You can see the evolution of the mod since its early version till now, and how Black Mesa influenced it. It was an amazing and exciting experience for me, and I share the result of my work with you, as usual. I tried to take the best materials from Black Mesa 1.0 to bring new spirit into my own mod. However, some things will not be changed because I have my own vision of Xen, and try to fallow the canonical Half-Life style.
New gameplay footage (Trailer)
In my opinion, even the latest version of Black Mesa still has some flaws and it is quite unstable. I faced them while adapting and updating my mod to its new version (1.0). I was surprised, because I expected to see more polished version of BM, than it is now. But the quality of Black mesa is the highest now, compared to all period of its development. I am sure, that all future BM updates will not destruct my mod anymore, and I put a lot of afford to avoid this possible problem. I hope you will enjoy my new Improved Xen. Meanwhile, you can monitor the news about Azure Sheep Remake, I am involved in its development too.
Also I am waiting for your feedback about my mod in the comments below. If you have some problems with it, I'll try to help you If I can. Thank you for your attention!
New Major update for Improved Xen specially for Black Mesa release!
News 5 commentsLatest news about updating Improved Xen to new version.
Updated Improved Xen has been ported to Free Black Mesa 2012!
News 12 commentsLatest news about updating Improved Xen to version 0.51 for Black Mesa 2012. Improved Xen will be published on April 7.
Imroved Xen has received a new update!
News 22 commentsLatest news about updating Improved Xen to version 0.5.
Improved Xen was updated to version 0.4.1
News 2 commentsAs you can see, I updated the mod to v0.4.1, it was necessary because of the detected bugs in the previous version.
Files
Black Mesa 2012: Improved Xen v0.51
Full Version 21 commentsImproved Xen is now compatible with Black Mesa (2012) Free version. Here you can download the mod version 0.51.
Improved Xen Fixes
Patch 7 commentsImproved Xen was a great mod released sometime after the 1.0 release, and it works on the latest version (Definitive Edition), but it does have some flaws...
Black Mesa: Improved Xen v1.0
Full Version 6 commentsBlack Mesa: Improved Xen version 1.0 is now available!
Black Mesa: Improved Xen v0.5
Full Version 6 commentsImproved Xen is now compatible with Black Mesa (2015) Steam version. Here you can download the mod version 0.5
Black Mesa: Xen v0.4.1
Full Version 19 commentsHere you can download the mod version 0.4.1 This is the full version, does not need to install Xen v0.1 v0.11 and v0.4 Attention! This mod is compatible...
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Unfortunately, a modder don't edited the bm_c3a2h.bsp map(last map of BM). So there is only one way to run this mod - via console.
Okay, I edited the xen_c4a1.bsp. So, if someone don't want making love with console to run Xen levels, get the bm_c3a2h.bsp from link below and get the xen_c4a1.bsp from here: Ripe-exe.com
please tell me that the "xen_c4a1.bsp" is from the 0.11 version and not from the 0.1 version ! :D
yes, it's 0.11ver
also, where's the link for the "bm_c3a2h.bsp" ?
Dl.dropbox.com
wait a sec, the name of the map is different from the name of the original bm lc map... do i have to rename it ? or will it just work on it's own ? or what ?
rename xbm_c3a2h_hd.bsp to bm_c3a2h.bsp, then rewrite bm_c3a2h.bsp and xen_c4a1.bsp into your maps folder, thats all
ok, thanks :D i really wanted a smooth transition between the two chapters, also note that this mod can be played via chapter select, go to autoexec.cfg, make a new line and write sv_unlockedchapters 20, then you won't have to use the console anymore...
Can anyone tell - is there some quick way to edit the bm_c3a2h.bsp for auto-loading the xen maps after ending of original Black Mesa story? Maybe it's possible to find and edit some params(for ex. trigger_changelevel, info_landmark) in hex editor like WinHex?
This is surprisingly well done. Good work!
Why not convert the Gonarch Half Life: Source? Sorry my English I used Translate Google.
Gonarch doesn't exist in BM's code, and unlike Nihilanth, there isnt a workaround for it.
Is there a way to create a working level transition from Lambda Core to the first Xen map in this mod? It just doesn't feel right without it.
In the BMS forums thread, there's a download for a version of the last LC map that links to these maps. However, I think issues caused by decompiling weren't fixed, and the map name is different from the actual last LC map, so when you rename it, you have to rebuild the cubemaps so reflections will work.
Anyway, here's the link: Forums.blackmesasource.com
However, the first xen map may not have a transition from LC, so you may have to do some work in entspy, or edit the map and fix all the issues caused by decompiling.
I just closed out of the BM game the second i entered the portal, installed this, and kept going.... but yes, i do agree!
For everyone who's missing textures:
Install the alpha 0.11 update.
For everyone who has g-man not talking at the end:
You most likely installed a mod that overwrites scenes.image (like uplink and STUncut).
To fix this, first set up black mesa for source sdk.(You're smart enough to google it.) Then on the sdk select sdk engine 2007 and then black mesa.Then use faceposer and click rebuild scenes.image. This should update the scenes.image to include all the vcd files and therefore, make gman talk.
( I wonder what implications this has if I could figure this out just from looking at the files and errors in dev console. And I dont even know a thing about Source.)
how do i install it
Copy+Paste+Overwrite.