Half Life 2: Raising the Bar REDUX: May 2023 (Division 3) Update news

Hey folks! Welcome to the May 2023 update for RTBR! We've got something special for you guys today – the first Division 3-focused content update! We've been clocking away at a lot of things for the next release and whilst it's still a ways off, we're already making great progress on what comes next. Worth noting is all content in this update is subject to change, as our Division 3 development cycle is still in its early days. Take it all with a pinch of salt as much may change or be elevated further before the final release!

Combine Energy Gate

Aidan is a new modeller on the team, and his first big task was the Combine Energy Gates. We already had a new texture for the actual forcefield and a new sound effect too, so it was time to go all the way and introduce a new design. Modelled in close compliance with the other Combine assets so far, it's a solid addition to our growing repertoire of original Combine content.

Wasteland Scanner

Now for something we've had under wraps for a while – our Wasteland Scanner model! Implementation still pending, but our Wasteland Scanner is a great interpretation by Andy of the Giger-esque design only seen in concept art and a since-lost skin from a model preview. Expect to see its ominous form hovering around the wasteland, presenting an omen of the Combine presence (but also, a suit battery for when supplies run low).

Wasteland Scanner Gibs

And of course, the gibs for the scanner, which were already teased in Division 2 as part of a makeshift lamp in Eli's den. The inside hints at a far more biological construction than its City scanner counterpart, and will provide plenty of satisfaction when it inevitably ends up in pieces at your hands.

Wasteland Vista

The first map of Division 3 has the unenviable task of tying together the explosive end to Division 2 and introducing the Wasteland of Division 3. Yet to be executed is the wasteland portion of this bridge-between-Divisions, but SordidSpectacle has done a solid job on a premise for the last vestige of an outpost before you emerge into the dried sea beyond.

Antlion Gibs

Antlions were shown some time ago, but now that they're in the midst of gameplay, their gibs are ready for show! Blow 'em up, smash 'em to bits – dispatch Antlions in the right way and their chitinous parts will come flying out of where the four-legged predators used to be.

Antlion Grub

Now we're getting on for content that deserves a bit more attention than the tease it received in our April 1^st Peggle RTBR Edition release – the grubs! Planned for HL2 and then revised for Episode 2, our grubs will function much like the latter's, but with a design inspiration from the former. Pictured here is also a rarer variant based on the rollergrub, which at the time had yet to be confirmed as real, but which we'd decided to implement anyway as a reference. Now we know the true fate of the rollergrub, this alternate skin might not be the only way you'll get to grips with the critter...

Server Cart

Joseph is another new modeller on the team who has been tasked with replacements of some common high-impact props, as we shoot towards our goal of being a total conversion and aim for RTBR to be a game in its own right. His close attention to detail is seen clearly on the server cart, which is used as a great background prop in a number of techy environments, and which will elevate the overall fidelity of the mod in a few fell swoops.

Antlion Caves 01

In Division 3, you'll not only fight antlions on the surface – you'll descend deep into their burrows, clearing the infestation on your way to the burrows. What lurks deep inside these caves may yet prove to be a substantial barrier to the player, and the development of these caves by RzDat, SordidSpectacle, and Amicus with a host of original designs will provide a different feel to Episode 2's iteration of the antlion hive.

Coil Fauna

Teased in a few screenshots for the Anniversary update were our fauna, each modelled after various cut concepts from HL2! We chose to interpret many of these cut designs as alien plants in a similar vein to the xenlight and xentrees, but be warned – these have adapted to the hostile environment and won't hesitate to take a whack at the player! The coil fauna can be found with its long tail burrowed into the dried seabed, its long fingers outstretched and ready to ensnare prey.

Whip Fauna

The whip fauna's our interpretation of yet another cut organism, this one rooting itself in the ground with a sharp and hardy tentacle. The other is ready to whip out at any nearby prey, though its glowing sacks will provide ample opportunities for quelling the threat before it threatens the player.

Shroom Fauna

The final remade addition to our xenfestation roster is the shroom fauna. Not able to directly injure threats, it will instead spew out poisonous gas from its organic nozzles that poison nearby foes. Be on the lookout for these as once you're stuck in the cloud you might find it difficult to find your way out!

Hunter

The Hunter also deserved better than to make its debut in Peggle: RTBR Edition, but now we're giving it a warm welcome into Division 3! Complete with two skins – one based off of the blueish iridescence of HL2, and the other based off of darker alternate concepts for the creature. They'll benefit from an additional variant, depicted by the darker colouration, which will puncture players from afar with a precision pulse bullet attack, whilst its more aggressive sibling will aim to push the player out of cover for a clean shot.

Large Electrical Box

The debut prop of our third new modeller, SirMars, is this classic (and much loved by Hammer level designers) electrical box prop. We're tackling many of the electrical boxes right now as we move towards completing this entire set, but this first step continues to cement RTBR's world as being one altogether familiar, yet different, from HL2's.

Radio

Another general use prop by Joseph is the radio – seen throughout the mod as a go-to for communication between citizen groups. You'll catch it throughout the mod and with a new fancy on-skin for its screen, it'll contribute to the lighting profile of maps to boot.

Wasteland Depot 01

The last map we have up for show today is a few WIP art pass shots from Depot01, the first map set entirely within the depot. You'll head there to free Eli Maxwell, and rendezvous with Alyx as you make sense of this gigantic Combine structure laying claim to the Wasteland.

Finishing Up

And that’s all for our Division 3 content update! Division 2 was a huge leap for us as a team, and the positive response was something we were truly humbled to see; but we're still going full steam ahead, and this ship's not turning around any time soon! Before closing up, here’s a few more roles we’re still on the lookout for:

• Competent level designers – We’re still open to having both additional support in the art pass and blockout departments

• Facial flex/sculptor – We’re still in need of someone comfortable with sculpting head meshes in the context of Source (so creation of VTAs as well)

• Programmers – With the amount of custom content coming in Division 3, additional resources in our programming department would be ideal

If any of these roles look good to you, please add me on Discord at Kralich/David#0901. Thanks everyone, and let's look forward to the future of RTBR in Division 3!