Orion ( Source Mod )

[Praz]

ORION - RELEASE DATE ANNOUNCED / FILEPLANET CLOSED BETA



We are proud to be making this announcement. We have finalized the public beta and are working on the last few changes and making great progress. We are extremely excited to get this out to you guys and cannot wait to start fragging. This has been a long time coming... many versions of the game, having to rebuild the game more than once, and plenty of other obstacles. But we did it. We are here.

The following is the Release Schedule:

Friday, December 4th, 2009.

We will be launching a private beta, available to ALL registered members of FilePlanet (free registration) located here:
https://login.fileplanet.com/login.aspx

The closed beta will take place from December 4th - December 11th (1 week exclusive) on FilePlanet. We are doing this in order to conduct larger-scaled tests and server activity. We'll do the last of the small touch ups and modifications to the game during this week and we'll release it to the public on the following Friday, December 11th, 2009.


PART B.) ORION MAPPER SDK FILES

We will be launching the Orion SDK to EVERYONE on December 4th, 2009. This SDK includes audio (ambiences, items, and more), models, materials, shaders, particles, as well as example maps to show how the level designers on Orion made a few things (as well as for reference and tips).


Friday, December 11th, 2009

The official first beta of Orion gets released on the home web site as well as a majority of the servers. We'll be releasing both Windows builds as well as Linux builds for server hosts.

We have also went ahead and created a brand new compilation of game play segments from our recent Private Beta Test that we just conducted with the folks from HalfLife2.net The test took place on November 22nd, 2009. Enjoy! (I also pulled off a sick headshot in it!)

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VIEW TRAILER:
http://www.moddb.com/mods/orion1/videos

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Friday, December 25th, 2009 - 1 (of 3) Content Updates - Released (WINTER UPDATE)


Shortly after the first release of Orion we plan to release the first of three planned Content Updates. These updates are typically significant and usually as large of a release as the first beta will be.

The first Content Update is planned to have the following:

>> TWO (2) GAME-MODES: DEATHMATCH & TEAM DEATHMATCH
We will be going old school with the Deathmatch in Orion. There will be no player classes and everyone starts with a default weapon (can be modified by server hosts, however its the pistol). Everyone has a jetpack by default and weapons are scattered around the map in a retro-deathmatch style.

>>5 NEW MAPS:
We will be releasing five (5) new levels with the Winter Update. 4 of them are winter-themed (for some holiday awesomeness) and will be for Capture the Flag. The fifth level is called ctf_opposing _bridges which was designed by Daniel Doerksen and developed for Orion by Joe Janet.

We are attempting to include two new DM levels as well as making reincarnations of some current levels for the Deathmatch and Team-Deathmatch game modes.

<h3>>>ALL ALIEN WEAPONS ADDED:


However, don't worry! only a few weeks after the first release we will be including all of the alien weaponry and swapping out the placeholder human counterparts.

For more information regarding the Spring 2010 Update (2 of 3) and the Fall 2010 Update (3 of 3) stay tuned to our website:
http://www.orion-project.net

If you are interested in getting into the beta even sooner, then register on our forums over at:
http://www.orion-project.net/forum/ucp. ... e=register

[cheesemoo0]

I'm curious if the mod team is getting anything from Fileplanet for this "one week exclusive."

[Praz]

No, no money is involved to either party. It's mostly for conducting further tests (on a larger scale) as well as to do last minute bug fixes before it comes out the week after. On top of that is publicity and hype (as it will be featured on PlanetHalfLife.com, IGN and GameSpy.

[Dr. Delta]

Is this just me?

Very interesting & cool though.

[Praz]

Hmm it must be - as its loading for me.. try again, I just flushed it.

[Dr. Delta]

Hmm it must be - as its loading for me.. try again, I just flushed it.

It works now.

[MaK]

I want dinosaurs! Where did they go?

[Zipfinator]

I want dinosaurs! Where did they go?

Into Jailbreak: Source.

[Terr]

If it's closed, why make a big fuss over it?

Needs more spinfusor.

[Praz]

Dinosaurs will be in the Spring Update (along with vehicles).

[Dr. Delta]

Dinosaurs will be in the Spring Update (along with vehicles).

vehicles? :O

[Praz]

Yes. We've rebuilt the game 3 times. Two were for engine related ports and the problems that came with it.
The third time was when we had re-designed the game almost entirely (the weapons, characters, vehicles, and so forth).

The first beta is simply that. A beta. All of the content is definitely not there and will be added through 3 major Content Updates: Winter 2009 Update / Spring 2010 Update / Fall 2010 Update.

We'll be adding new character animations, new sounds, new game modes, features, maps and more. We'll be ridding Orion of any HL2 related content through these phases. Around this time next year the Multiplayer aspect of Orion should be done.

[Praz]

Here is some new media from the soon to be Beta 1 version:

[Praz]

We are sad to announce a slight delay in the Closed Beta event with FilePlanet. Due to some extremely inconvenient circumstances that arose in the last two days involving the flags and grenades (currently being fixed right now), we have to announce a three (3) day delay of the Orion Closed Beta.

It will now be launching on Monday, December 7th, 2009.

However, everything else is ready. We are honestly just waiting on two files (server.dll & client.dll). So we do have some good news as well.

We are releasing the Orion Developer SDK - Release 1 early! This is a compilation of assets and references of Orion. Level Designers can get their hands on it and start messing around and making community Orion maps! We will be announcing a Level Design Competition shortly after the Public release of the game.

The Release 1 of the SDK includes a handful of level textures, world objects, vehicles, trees, our detail objects and foliage, as well as .vmf references to show how we went about and created things for our levels.

These references include:
A.) Capture the Flag demonstration ( entities and more ).
B.) Door functionality.
C.) Keypad functionality.
D.) Structure design.

We will be constantly updating the Orion SDK just like we will the actual Beta. We will be adding plenty of more content (not all of it was included as we need to re-organize a handful of it). Release 2 of the SDK is currently scheduled to release around Christmas of THIS year!

DOWNLOAD THE ‘ORION DEVELOPER SDK’:


Again, we apologize for the slight delay.. But if you are a level designer - go enjoy yourselves!



We also want to thank HalfLife2.net for recently attending a few private playtests of Orion. They have written a hands on preview of the game located here:
http://www.halflife2.net/2009/12/02/orion-mod-hands-on/

I also personally sat down for a 1 on 1 interview with Glenn. You can read about Orion, its roots, and the future and what is coming your way in 2010!
http://www.halflife2.net/2009/12/02/orion-interview/

Sincerely,
The Orion Development Team.

[stoopdapoop]

Hmmm, releasing on a monday?

ah well.

also

However, everything else is ready. We are honestly just waiting on two files (server.dll & client.dll).

I lol'd