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Alpha version 0.75
Welcome to Xen! We've made it to Half-Life's shortest chapter, only containing one map, a few jumps and a puzzle. Still, I really enjoy this opening scene into the World Beyond.
The scene you see here might look very familiar to you, but I can assure you that 99% of what you see here, wasn't there in Half-Life. I've completely remade the islands to give them a more organic feel. I've used a few tricks to simulate alpha blended textures (as you can see on the top of the big island). Plenty of improved and new details liven up the place a little.
However, the meat of this update of this update lies in the model content this time around. First off, I've completely remade the Barney and Soldier variant of the zombie. I had previously copied over the models from Opposing Force but I really wanted them to have the quality of my own models. These should give the game a more consistent look.
A lot of time has also gone into remaking the Human Grunt models. Next to better textures and higher polies, I had to redo a lot of their animations because I fixed up their body ratios.
If you looked carefully enough, you've seen the Grunts carry a new MP5 model. The MP5 was the first model I updated in alpha 0.40, back when I wasn't sure if I wanted to update the models too. I never was quite sold on the look so I decided to give it another go. I'm quite pleased with this approach.
The Security Guard model has also been updated to now support custom heads. This also gave me the option to add differently pitched voices for each individual Guard. From left to right: Calhoun, Lanucoh and Chan-Lhu.
Next to those models, I've also taken some time to update the WON DLLs. Everything you need to get the WON version working is now in the package file. There are still a few oddities and missing features in this version but it should be fully playable, with exception of the chapter selection map.
There have been numerous bug fixes to older chapters and 'Power Up' has received an update with full detail texture support! Make sure to check it out for yourself or watch the video below if you haven't already.
Thanks for reading and we'll see you up ahead... in Gonarch's Lair!
Here's some feedback:
I would completely texture zombie soldier's arms with the reddish skin/blood-gore just like his hands so it looks uniform.
The classic zombie still has the dislocated arm caused by the model scaling.
The grunts look like they skipped going to the gym a for a year. It looks wonky mainly because the backpack straps are still the same, huge size and it makes the arms look scrawny.
The grunt commander's eyes look a little too close together.
The gasmask grunt's filter is too small.
Gordon is lacking his glove details just like the base game MP5, I suggest you fix Valve's "retexturing the alpha hands with gloves" solution and make the gloves have the same details with every weapon. The actual weapon model looks fine.
Finally, an unrelated suggestion: Make another barney so it would have 4 different headgroups just like the scientists and give him a mustache. Feels like it would be fitting.
The maps look great, nothing to add.
And maybe make that 4th head Hispanic
The NPCs are looking pretty crisp, but the viewmodel weapontextures are kinda bland ingame.
The MP5 could use an additional cocking-handle.
The base zombie (scientist) might have a texture fix, so does the grunts: Imgur.com
The HL SDK also brings some higher-res textures for the pants and boots for those guys aswell.
It'd be interesting to see how you rework the Xen chapters, considering they're the weakest part of Half-Life.
I would say they have both the best and the un-best parts in the game.
Same.
it feels kinda strange seeing no trigger in the mp5 world model
I hope Half-Life: Extended will extend the Xen level. Don't you agree?