Latest News

• Black Mesa: Opening Level Screenshots

  Atomic AU have had the pleasure of playing the first few levels of Black Mesa and been nice enough to post 101 screenshots for us to salivate over
  
  Update - The gallery has since been taken down at Black Mesa's request.
  
  "Wow.
  
  The combination of attention to original detail, and new material provided by the modern team is impressive. If you've ever tried to go back to Half Life you'll know the old engine really isn't aging well; this, however, makes the game fresh and up to date."
  
  

  

  
  
  Check out their article for more impressions of the mod.

  By Blink on Tuesday, August 31st | Comments (60)

• Portal 2: Stephen Merchant as Wheatley

  A HD version of the gameplay video featuring Stephen Merchant was sent out by Valve yesterday:
  
  "An HD version of the Portal 2 Wheatley footage that introduces Stephen Merchant as Wheatley is now available. In addition to introducing Merchant, the footage gives a deeper look into Aperture Science and shows off some of the new rendering effects in the game, which is due for release on Feb 9, 2011 for the Playstation 3, Xbox 360, PC and Mac."
  
  

  By Blink on Wednesday, August 25th | Comments (31)

• Nightmare House 2 Released

  A new horror-themed Source mod has been released, named Nightmare House 2. I've not played the original or followed any of the development of the sequel, but apparently it has quite a following. Here's what the website has to say about it:
  
  "Nightmare House 2 is a free, horror-themed first-person-shooter game, and the direct successor of the first classic horror map pack "Nightmare House". Nightmare House 2 is based on the Source Engine by Valve, also considered a modification (mod) made for Half Life: Episode 2.
  
  The story resumes with the player lost and confused in a hospital known as "Never Lose Hope". With no understanding of how you came to be there, there's only a vague memory of the mysterious, haunting girl from Nightmare House. Soon it will be difficult to determine between a dream and reality. How long will it take you to realize that escape is not an option?"
  
  You can find more info, and grab a download of the new mod, over at the We Create Stuff website.
  
  Thanks to Mr. Chop for the heads up.

  By ad_hominem on Sunday, August 22nd | Comments (76)

• ThinkingWithPortals.com Download Database Returns

  ThinkingWithPortals.com's download database has returned! After a long process of converting it from an older version, the vast library of Portal custom maps is back and waiting for Portal mappers and modders to upload new content, as well as being ready for upcoming custom maps for Portal 2.
  
  "New files automatically generate a new thread in the Release Forum! Instead of having to post a Release thread and link your file there and having a separate set of comments about the download, the new Download Database is fully integrated with the forums. When you upload a new file, it automagically makes a new thread in the Community Release forum, allowing you to centralize feedback. Your thread is linked to on the Download page, and your Download page is linked to on your thread!
  
  Upload Versioning - All versions of files are kept! You only need to keep track of one Download page for each version of your maps. Whenever you upload a new version, the old version is automatically kept in storage. People can download previous versions in case there is compatibility issues, or if you need to roll back to a previous iteration of the map! You also have full control over this versioning, and you can delete any and all previous versions in case you don't want older versions of your works floating around."
  
  Portal mappers - What are you waiting for? Upload your maps there right now!

  By msleeper on Sunday, August 22nd | Comments (3)

• Details On Next L4D DLC Emerge

  While many of us may have forgotten about the promised DLC campaign for Left 4 Dead, Valve clearly haven't. Nor, for that matter, have PC Gamer who have conducted an interview with Chet Faliszek about what we can expect from the update. There're some pretty interesting details featured in the article, including the following snippet:
  "The original plan was to make The Sacrifice for Left 4 Dead only. L4D2 had The Passing, and its counterpart was meant as an exclusive for the original game. Chet explains. “It’s a really fun campaign, it’s got lots of high Hunter leap points and stuff. And we said ‘You know, this would be really cool in Left 4 Dead 2. Some of these locations would be cool for the Spitter and the Charger.’ So we decided we’d release The Sacrifice not just for Left 4 Dead 1, but for Left 4 Dead 2.”
  
  The decision to add No Mercy to Left 4 Dead 2 was simply that it was very popular with players, and Valve like it a lot. “When we first changed them over,” Chet says, “they were brutally hard. Your strategy of holing up in corners just disappears, because the Spitter is going to wreak havoc. The Rooftop of No Mercy now, with Chargers and Tanks, is… you’d better not stand by a ledge.”
  
  They addressed that by giving players the best of Left 4 Dead 2’s arsenal, including several of the mighty M60 machineguns added by The Passing. “You’re playing as the Left 4 Dead 1 characters in Left 4 Dead 1 maps, but you get melee weapons, the new weapons, the defib – all the stuff from Left 4 Dead 2. You get to see Zoe with a chainsaw, Zoe with an axe,” Chet says with ill-hidden lust."
  
  It looks like the upcoming Left 4 Dead DLC, named The Sacrifice, has something for owners of both games, then. You can read the rest of the interview at PC Gamer's website.

  By ad_hominem on Saturday, August 21st | Comments (31)

• Portal 2 at GamesCom

  Valve have revealed more about Portal 2 at GamesCom 2010. Perhaps the most pertinent information is that the game will be released on February 9 2011. They have also revealed that the voice of Wheatley is to be provided by Office star Stephen Merchant.
  
  Here's a video of off-screen footage.
  
  

  By Mess on Thursday, August 19th | Comments (43)

• Soul Destroying Kit

  Pi Mu Rho has posted his concerns with the current state of the SDK over at Halflife2.net
  
  "I've been using Worldcraft/Hammer since 1996, and the Source SDK since its first release, and you know what? It's got steadily worse in that time. Sure, there's been improvements to individual tools - Hammer, most notably, has a lot of new features. Of course, it also has a lot more bugs. Hammer, however, is not the worst culprit. The SDK launcher is."
  
  Read the full article and see if you agree.
  
  Has the SDK steadily declined?

  By Blink on Monday, August 16th | Comments (84)

• Valve Trademarks DOTA

  "It appears the rumor that Valve and IceFrog are working, specifically, on a new version of the popular "Defense of the Ancients" WarCraft III mod has a bit more weight today as a trademark filing for "DOTA" by Valve has surfaced (via Superannuation).
  
  The mysterious IceFrog joined Valve last year and was put in charge of a team. While blog posts made by the developer indicated that his project at Valve would be of specific interest to DotA fans, it was uncertain if the project would retain the name or even be the same type of game. The project could just share the name or could be a full port.
  
  If I had to speculate (I do), I would predict a free-Steam release of DOTA that is a re-balanced, re-tooled version of the WC3 mod with full Steamworks integration. It will be interesting to see if the backend features match those of Heroes of Newerth, which added several desired features like stats tracking, VoIP, and game re-joining.
  
  Shacknews has once again asked Valve for a statement, but has not heard back. They're probably busy playing DotA..." - http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65085
  
  Well they're definitely not lying. The patent is up the US Government's Trademark Applications and Registrations Retrieval website.
  
  DotA has always been treated differently then a normal mod, but if a WCIII engine game is coming to steam and being integrated with SteamWorks like ShackNews speculated, will Blizzard have anything to say about it? Especially considering Steam competes with their new Battle.net 2.0 service.
  
  More importantly, this seems to be Valve's first step out of the shoot-em-up genre. I wonder if Gabe is going to make that MMO for the Wii he expressed interest in awhile ago.

  By Phraggah on Wednesday, August 11th | Comments (63)

• The Interlopers Gentlemen's Club TF2 Server

  It's been a while since I began the Interlopers Gentlemen's Club, but the continued enthusiasm shown by everyone here has been great. In any case, it's my pleasure to announce that we now have our own server to kill each other in. Details below:
  
  Game: Team Fortress 2
  Server Name: The Interlopers Gentlemen's Club
  Slots: 24 players
  IP Address: 85.236.101.5:27115
  
  Of course, it wouldn't be an Interlopers server without a good number of custom maps from our own members. As a result, I need suggestions for maps to include on the rotation (both official and custom). The first official 'lopers match is tomorrow at 10pm UK time. For the time in your time zone, check out the steam event page.
  
  This also opens up the possibility for a competitive tournament/ladder, which would be fun to try out. Would this interest anyone?

  By ad_hominem on Saturday, August 7th | Comments (57)

• Exclusive: Contagion Announced

  It looks like we've got some bona fide exclusive news today. Resident member marks kindly gave me a heads up a bit before he sent the news across the internet, announcing a new Source powered indie game named Contagion. Despite only just being announced, the team have already got some impressive stuff to show off.
  
  

  
  
  Here's the original press release:
  
  "Contagion is a spiritual successor to the hottest Half-Life 2 mod since 2008, Zombie Panic: Source. Eugene and Marcus, icons of the mod return to do what they do best - Survive and stomp out any undead that may cross their path. Contagion will be a story driven, atmospheric experience, throwing you into the middle of a zombie outbreak with a focus on survival. As the player you will not have the luxury of a suitcase of ammo and a trolley to carry along your weapon stash."
  
  

  

  
  
  "Contagion guarantees not to be your average zombie game and will pit you against unique and terrifying enemies, new features, a variety of new weapons to choose from, and a powerful soundtrack that promises to completely immerse the player in the world we've built."
  
  

  

  
  
  "We would like to thank our incredibly loyal community for all their support and point out that it was because of a large number of enthusiastic ZP:S players who asked us to work on a Single Player version that inspired us to move forward with this project. We would also like to thank Valve, who've shown both mod and indie developers a generous amount of support and it is with our trust in them and their ever changing engine that we'll be developing Contagion on the Source Engine. We're also excited to announce that we will be looking for playtesters to test our existing alpha build soon."
  
  

  

  
  
  "We're sure you have many questions to ask or are interested in learning more so visit our forums
  
  -Monochrome LLC"
  
  You can find out more about Contagion at Monochrome Games' website.

  By ad_hominem on Friday, August 6th | Comments (37)

• Firearms Source 1.0 Released

  Hey folks, I hope you have all started enjoying the awesome fragging of Firearms Source. With already filled servers and 2 server patches available, Firearms Source is sure to cure your sweet tooth of FPS ownage. Bringing you back to Quake style gameplay with realistic weaponry content, you are sure to enjoy our first release. Please head over to our website, or download the client on ModDB.
  
  

  
  
  

  

  
  
  Clients (Players): Go to our downloads page and download either the executable if you like to have an installer do the work for you, or if you are an advanced user, you can choose to download the ZIP and install it yourself.
  
  Servers: Go to our downloads page and download the FAS Client 1.0 and patch it with FAS Server 1.0b.
  
  So report in Freshmeat! Now's the time you choose your arsenal and get ready for battle.
  
  (via TheMiede)

  By Blink on Monday, July 26th | Comments (32)

• Natural Selection 2 Alpha : Monday

  It's your last chance to get involved in the NS2 alpha that will be launching on the 26th July. Those that have purchased the Special Edition version will get early access to the game and quite a few features will be present at this early stage:
  
  

  • One of our shipping maps (ns2_tram), plus some smaller "test" maps
  • Marine, with Rifle, Pistol, SwitchAx, Grenade Launcher (oops, and shotgun!)
  • Skulks, Gorges, Lerks and their basic movement abilities and weapons
  • Marine armory "buy" screen for purchasing new equipment
  • Alien evolution menu for choosing your lifeform and upgrades
  • Basic marine and alien commander interfaces including MACs, Drifters
  • Much of our final sounds, artwork, animations, etc.

  
  
  I've just purchased my copy, and you've got just over a day left to get yours.

  By Blink on Sunday, July 25th | Comments (18)

• Valve Announce Alien Swarm

  While not as exciting as Portal 2 or HL2:Ep3, Valve have announced that a new, free, game will be released on steam from a small team of internal developers.
  
  "Alien Swarm is a game and Source SDK release from a group of talented designers at Valve who were hired from the Mod community.
  
  Available free of charge, the game thrusts players into an epic bug hunt featuring a unique blend of co-op play and squad-level tactics. With your friends, form a squad of four distinct IAF Marine classes. Plan your attack using an unlockable arsenal of weapons with countless loadout configurations against a wide variety of aliens. Blaze your way through an overrun, off-world colony, eradicating the alien infestation in environments ranging from the icy planet's surface, to a subterranean lava-flooded mining facility.
  
  Along with the game get the complete code base for Alien Swarm that features updates to the Source engine as well as the SDK. Alien Swarm adds 3rd person camera, depth of field, improved dynamic shadows and a wide variety of gameplay additions to the Source engine."
  
  More info on the new game can be found on the steam page. The game looks set to release in just 3 days.

  By ad_hominem on Friday, July 16th | Comments (136)

• Art Pass Contest on TF2maps.net

  Seeing as you folks are pretty much the exact target audience for this contest, I thought I'd share it with you. TF2maps.net are hosting a contest in which you can have your work included in the next TF2 update.
  
  "It's the ultimate accolade for a custom mapper; to have your work in an official TF2 map. Well, TF2Maps.net and Valve Software have teamed up to give ONE lucky mapper that opportunity. We've got our hands on an unfinished Valve map, and we need YOU to detail it! Think you're up to the challenge?
  
  The winner, decided by the TF2 team at Valve, will have their map included in the next TF2 update! It's a 3 CP attack and defend map, similar to Gorge. You have total creative liberty with this, so we'd love to see what YOU can do!"
  
  Sounds like fun, and could be a nice break from some of the hassle-some aspects of early level development. To get more info and download the map, head on over to the competition page on TF2maps.net.

  By ad_hominem on Friday, July 16th | Comments (17)

• Human Error Co-Op Released

  Human Error Co-Op is a mix of Left 4 Dead's four-player, with Half Life's enemies, and someone playing like a TF2 spy for good measure. It's still in beta but already shows alot of promise. This video explains the basic premise.
  
  

  
  
  You don't need dedicated servers, just host from your own computer if you have a decent internet connection. For media and download links, you can head to the Half Life: Short Stories website or their Moddb page.

  By Mess on Wednesday, July 14th | Comments (10)

• Engineer Update

  The Engineer Update is finally upon us! As is tradition, we will will be teased daily with tidbits of information until the update goes live on Thursday.
  
  

  

  
  
  Day One - The Frontier Justice: Shotgun with crits directly linked to your Sentry Gun's success
  
  Day Two - The Wrangler: A pistol replacement to allow direct control of the sentry. New achievements have also been revealed, and a new map called Upward.
  
  Day Three - Plr_Hightower and a mysterious community-made wrench
  
  Day Four - The Gunslinger: Replaces the wrench and allows engies to build weaker Sentry Guns quickly. Also another payload map, Thunder Mountain.

  By Mess on Monday, July 5th | Comments (99)

• Dear Esther Media Release

  Robert Briscoe has taken it upon himself to re-make Dear Esther with the aesthetics that the gameplay and atmosphere the original deserved. He has once again raised the bar in terms of what Source is capable of.
  
  

  
  
  Head over to his blog to see hi-res screenshots of this sexiness.

  By Mess on Wednesday, June 30th | Comments (32)

• Portal 2 E3 Videos

  This week Valve have begun releasing HD versions of the Portal 2 E3 video. A lot of this stuff is floating round YouTube in varying quality but it's nice to check it out in HD if you haven't already.
  
  They are releasing the segments on different days this week so stay tuned to our YouTube channel and I'll be uploading them as I receive them.

  By Blink on Tuesday, June 29th | Comments (1)