Is it really that time, again? Indeed it is! We hope you are all safe and doing well - it has been quite the year! Even though apocalyptic events, we are still busy at work on our games.
(Foxtrot Uniform by Brandon Smith and Chris Onorati)
Much has changed since our last update in November 2019. We are steadily working on all aspects of the game. More levels are nearing completion, and unlike previous years, it's apparent that we are shifting our focus onto actual gameplay. We are thrilled that both Guard Duty and Operation: Black Mesa are now starting to resemble actual games. While we have had some NPCs, weapons, and the like in-game for some time, we are finally about to implement human NPCs. This represents a major milestone as it means we can at long last start to work on scripted scenes and story elements.
(Hazard Course by Brandon Smith)
Some new additions to our team go hand in hand with this progress. We have brought on some very talented voice actors to fill the roles of some old friends, as well as a small handful of new faces. You can hear some voice acting samples attached to this update.
Our audio department has grown significantly. Other than new voice talent, we are pleased to welcome a new composer to the team. While it might be a bit saddening that not all of the older tracks will appear in the final product, fear not! Our new composer is not only producing new tracks, but re-creating some of the fan-favorites to ensure a cohesive listening experience. Alongside this article we are releasing a few new tracks - how do they sound to you? Please share your thoughts.
To give a proper closure to the topic of in-game audio, below are samples of the Security Guard and HECU Grunt. Give them a listen!
Other departments are still hard at work as well. Weapons are being fine-tuned, with playtesting driving them to a near-perfect state. We are now working on a stretch-goal for Operation: Black Mesa and Guard Duty to each have their own unique viewmodel animations that will match the style of each protagonist. Since we started publicly sharing weapon showcase videos, some of you have given us valuable feedback. One point of public concern was our HUD color scheme. While still a work in progress, here are some pictures of the most recent iteration of the HUD for both games. We look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Last but not least, we are excited to share some short gameplay teasers - presenting our take on the Voltigore's nest. We hope to bring you even more videos in the future.
In closing, we would like to encourage any talented individuals to apply to our team and help us finish making these games a reality. If interested in the projects, or if you know someone who might be, please see our "application guidelines" for more detailed information. Current priority positions are:
- 3D Artist (Organics)
- 3D Artist (Hard Surface)
- Graphics Programmer
- Animator
- Various Voice Acting Positions
(The Package by Lander Van Hove) (Welcome to Black Mesa by Chris Onorati)
We will have more to share soon, so stay tuned. In the meantime, there are some more media to please your eyes. We cannot wait to hear your thoughts. To make sure you don´t miss anything, you can go check out one of our social channels.
(Missing in action by Oliver Curtis)
(Crush Depth by Chris Onorati) (last screenshot by Chris Onorati and Brandon Smith)
(Alien flora concepts by Harry Willson)
really looks like you guys are actually going to pull this off, not that I doubted you though. I just simply cant wait. also please tell me those soundtracks are going to uploaded to youtube.
(buried)
oh they won't
Looks really nice, I like your approach more that Black Mesa's, while its titanic work, and have nice map work, for myself there was several things what I disliked which was much better in original Half-Life.
I mean gameplay, in BMS its uninteresting, especially I didn't liked combat with soldiers and what they turned Gargantua and Apache encounters into arcade boss fights, when you can destroy them at one specific point, Garg made to be immortal to player weapons, when I player vanilla HL, I killed them with own explosives and even didn't know what I need to lure him into generators to kill, and you must put alot of rockets into helicopter, while in vanilla game it go down from one rocket or charged Tau Cannon shot, your weapons and their animations are much better, and monster sounds somewhat generic in BMS, Half-Life ones are much better and recognizable, even they have lower quality.
Looks better than Black mesa.
IKR, and the game's not even finished yet!
So nice ! can't wait !
Without a doubt, looks better than Black Mesa lol. But I’m glad to know you guys are making actual progress! Can’t wait for more!
A very exciting summer 2020 update!
Thanks for sharing guys!
My 2-cents: I like the music I heard above and I think both Nick Gikas and Amicus (especially the latter) VO fits quite well.
Keep it up and good luck with recruiting more talents.
Keep it up.
Awesome to see one remake that's still faitful to the original.
Very nice, very exciting, can't wait for more than 10 years)))
Outstanding work like always! The graphics and music are amazing, but the voice acting my favorite part, since it's a very difficult task to find a good voice actors.
All that looks extremely stunning and we also got some lovely ingame teasers.
Without a doubt both mods are going to be epic and I'm particularly looking forward to your Opposing Force port, seeing how I love to map for the original.
The screenshots appeared flawless, the music and voice samples brilliantly executed as well.
Ideas: I'd eventually enhance slightly upon Voltigore's nest. There seems to be even more space now than in the original. Taking that into consideration there could be other minor or larger threats lurking down there. The infestation could grab the player or hurt him if he walks over parts of it. Black Mesa brought us suicidal baby houndeyes. Perhaps try something similar with the baby Voltigores as little extra to their regular babies.
Either way. Outstanding work guys!
You guys are doing some fantastic stuff here, glad the project is still going strong!
After the success with Black Mesa, this project is going to be the next game to try on Steam in future.
Real great progress here :)
I guess the crocodile tears is remaked tho. Hoping you guys remake other old soundtracks as well!
Dont want to catch any visual spoiler but i hope that Voltigore`s Cave will be much like on your concept-art with a lot of budies that are hang on the ceiling which will make a location a lot more felling like a bloody scare place.
Looking good ! Nice to see update for the project :)
Really cool. Keep up the perfect work.
any prediction for a release year? like 2021 or 2022?
No, we do not have anything to say regarding possible release date.
Oh yes I can barely wait!
could add black zombie commandos, so it will give you more zombie variety?
We do have plans for more zombie types, however Black Ops zombie is not among them.
When will there be news ?
Do us a favour and release it commercially like Crowbar Collective did with Black Mesa. Maybe the money coming in will get it done a bit faster!
Great maps, great VAs.
Keep it up.
I was about 26-27 when I first seen this mod. I am now 39 I hope to god I get to see this before I become a grandparent
Uhm. This mod was started developing shortly after Black Mesa's first release as a mod. So 2012. So nine years from now and eight from 2020. So how could u know from any of their mods since u was 26? That was 13 years ago.
Tripminestudios.com take a look at the history of the mod yeah?
What i said. "This project started development officially in 2012"
Bruh it says in the past that it has been worked on by 3 other teams. Meaning this guy probably thought it may have been the same team back in 2007-08. Which it wasn't. That’s why he remembers it 13 years ago and been picked up by tRipmine studios in 2012