mALF-L |e R , STNG TH ESB DHe ACS FB iealek SkeGb vibe Tek () [a jac RAISING THE BAR By Valve With: Contributing Editor: David S) Hodgson Product Manager il Hinckley Senior Project Editor: Brooke N. Hal Ecitorial Supervisor: Crist Seitert Senior Designer: Marc W. Riegel Designer: Melissa Francis Editorial Assistant: Tamar D. Foster PRIMA GAMES Bl A DIVISION OF Hila] RANDOM HOUSE, INC. 3000 Lava Ridge Court Roseville, CA 95661 1-800-733-3000 www rimagames.com The Prima Games logo is a registered trademark of Random House, Inc, registered in the United States and other countries. Pimagames.com is 4 registered trademark of Random House, Inc. © 2004 Valve Corporation. All rights reserved. Valve, the Valve logo, Half, the Half-Life lgo, the Lambda logo, Team Fortess, Day of Defeat, Counter-Strike, and Source are trademarks and/or registered tredemats of Valve Corporation. All products and characters mentioned in this book are trademarks of their respective companies. ISBN: 0-7615-4364-3 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2003108420 Printed in the United States of America 04.05 06 07 LL 10987654321CONTENTS { Foreword by Gabe Newell 05 wl! Investigation 1: Anomalous Materials 0) Half-Life: A Nonstandard Specimen 08 02 Extra Life: The Mod Movement 44 | i? Investigation 2: Unexpected Interference 03. Half-Life 2: Creature Discomforts 70 4. Halt-Life 2: Digital Drama 118 ()5 Half-Life 2: Welcome to City 17 160 6 Halt-Lite 2: Final Sequence 254FOREWORD BY GABE NEWELL 4s | vite this, I have the world's worst case of stage fright. After six years and tens of millins of dollars, after break-ins and lawsuits, after marriages and children and divorces and deaths, we're about to ship Half-Life 2. You, the reaver, now how the launch of Haff-Life 2 went. You have read the reviews, seen the sales figures, heard about awards (or the lack thereof), and best ofall, you've played the finished game. We've done none of these. Did we create a worthy successor to Half-Life? Did we live up to gamers expec- tations? Did we pull it off You know, and | don't, and that seems terribly unfair to me right now. \What also seems teribly unfair to mes the disproportionate credit | receive fr Valve's success. | am part of a team, and part of what Ido is act as a public face for the corporation (for example, writing forewords). One thing | hope you take away from this book is a clearer sense of ust how much work is involved, how much creativity is required to build a game. There may be some games that are created by auteurs, a single driving vision surrounded by an army of obedient servants, but | don't think a game like Half-Life 2 can be created that way. For anyone on the team, | can lista ofthe things that would have been lost if they hadn't been part of the creation of the game, There is a myth that gets told about the solitary writer, the autocratic director, the Napoleonic CEO that just doesn’t ring true to me anymore, having been part of the collaborative process at Valve ‘We are also part ofthe larger game community, One ofthe unique characteristics of games as @ medium is ‘that you have to create it in cooperation withthe audience. A multiplayer game is only as fun as the other people you are playing with. A single-player game is really a movie that you create in cooperation with the player, where the lead actor doesn't have @ copy of the script. A game engine is nat just the platform for the ‘game itself, but a platform for all the MODs that come along to extend the life and enjoyment ofthe experi- ence, While youl see litle evidence of this larger community in Half-Life 2: Raising the Bar, be aware that everyone at Valve is acutely avrare of our role in that larger community, the contributions that community ‘makes to the success of our endeavors, and our deep gratitude for their support over the years. Gabe Newell 8.11.04 Bellevue, Washington 3HL>> Ee Investigation 1: Anomalous Materials Building a world from the ground up is not a task to be taken lightly, but in a sense, that was the challenge facing Gabe Newell and Mike Harrington in 1996. Retired Microsoft developers, Gabe and Mike shared a vision of the future of gaming, but neither of them could have known how far their dream would lead. From the very beginning, their approach relied on maverick risk-taking and a foundation of solid business planning. It was a sound, easily justifiable decision to license the robust Quake engine from Quake and Doom creators, id Software; it was a sensible decision to proceed to work quietly, without any hype whatsoever, in the small Seattle suburb of Kirkland, Washington; and it made perfect sense to start building what was essentially a fast-paced First-Person Shooter with a simple intuitive interface, and plenty of combat with alien monsters. What was not so obviously safe and sane was to hire many of the company’s first employees from the excitable ranks of Quake’s own mod community: young programmers and level designers who spent their days delivering pizzas and their nights cranking out monster-infested nightclubs and rule-bending deathmatch maps. From the very beginning, Valve tapped into the essence of the gaming community, encouraging direct creative input from those who loved games so much that they couldn't help but make their ownHalf-Life: 0) 1 A Nonstandard Specimen m Setting to work, Valve initially staffed two design teams. The project codenamed Quiver was to be a First-Person Se Ue em a Oy ce eA gathered critical mass, it gradually absorbed every member of the company, spelling the demise of Prospero, ae ns eS SU ee SS Valve's founders that Ha/f-Life was just not going to be good enough unless the reconstituted team had time to rethink and rebuild the game from the ground up. In late 1997, Gabe and Mike set back the hands of the clock, giving the team an additional year to develop and refine Ha/f-Life. The additional incubation time made all the CR ALProspero Ge Caomer Prospero was an of ates ist game dss Orally slate came ut Stay aftr HL, te game enh: sie piraton, an intizate stoi, and combat a ‘ssonc” ones. Presper hari (Anon a5 “The bran or “Ap waenrenta sere of ese hanes curing eee dvegmet fhe game Ore iteration rele heauly ce the wee acne psn amas to augment eine abies. ste desig of ar start ta ove some of rsp rl ual, Pospr start chang nb a nasil muilayet ame, Prsce was la ined a be isi, it comactet mit Vate an user-created vrs acesa hough he i-gameitary,”" eae word ‘unig ona torr soner Cnn Stun, a sere ros ted da ote abn intl deen for Pospro never quid, but and ana oe in what ast eel bei HfL, 5 wal a ka.‘uivr Creature Concepts uc eves al.'s irl design n ence to Step igs inet story “The Mist” in which rans swanm out of a itary bse bao as Aone, “his name as sums tet twas rial once as @ nr cousin to Quake. y thee te name MIL was ec, he gare had aad taken nits oun stone pesonaty, qute dsc rom other ares ttm, odenamed Quito, ini dikex 0065 7B primagames.com Half-Life Foes Chuck Jones Four early Half-Life enemies: The Assassin, Brainboy with a ‘mind-gun, Butcher, and the Female Soldier1 very aggressive Aoundeye “ed Bachan Some craton required several tercons, hie tes wer neatly conplet nthe fst ty The Hou was oe menstrtht went ‘italy uncenged om he fist shh “The Houndey was one of the designs ro Haile thet came very ssi, ts anctny was inspired by a hue tres leaped tty cat aed that ved in my weightarced as acl.” Ted ska Usiujoods ple pleyslon) YI 3ieH) > #Bigana & Mud Ted Backman Stongar econ and ces gas were therefor buh of these atures fem the lat bt ie lpoed tbe vty complied det thesia and hon diferent they wee from standar game monster. “ig Mama echnical 2 Gores theta ite phase of thelouyHeacrab. ee Hedcrats eer each ths tae ‘nit is own abot how ard when the tar oss tates place. This was abt atest sgn ‘xound the ofce dng the development of Hai as ery comico tha this was to rahi but lucky the Gant fone charpinin ee ter thn Gabe Inmet” Ted Bekan “Somatines woe ist siting and and wae ted and somebniy comes up wha gaya, Why dit pat giant ste on a 20-ottel amared pie?” and Bi Mama is barn. Whereas atonal, hare ar oiin bast we've cet theugh ae stad of cra ices. crate suh ste Barase was created win the game universe asa way to constict movement in dark zea. Tore simp way a create mons. Gate NovelKingpin Fs lar Ted Bachan Arges f how compeling the character csi sens, wits amaacng Aland ear epmepizy gas, een the Dest of designs can gt put anay ora ute ile. We wanted the Fast Wale bean ally creature wo learnt lve Gréon because of al the es meat aan woud eave provide through combat Tis teat was oie Gordon ces abut what was coming ound the net come, barking alms” Ted Bhan BE ves is '2 2ic Fieny's Phallus Te Backman Cnet Me Fey's propesed tacks was to pound he tpund and ick the payer's weap out of is hand. as ove suggested tat Gorrs sss fy of a ove the player tuck in caret wih uy vis, “rambo early on when Gate had moked out hat sper want to and asd me to ecommend a cencap ais remembered my en's te 12-year-old ster punk rater ho we ta da ad alas hed is wort as alice last and I oars ha jst rau tom the Universty of Vastingon at eprint So Gabe cal im ard 2st odo 2 crupl of sais possible mani. He cain, looking tinge ow | membre tin—be was 0 longa itl Kis e's nw 2°, ttn vo, th ‘various meta bits pking ot of his bo. He then opens up is prt ant stars shonin ravings of thes aly disturbing and unsting loking creatures, a a al what | vas egecing, They sled lad deformed aon ita ‘ocep or this an that kd ie 2 Cthuhesqu og tat hada fly obvious shales, anit eked iit as but ‘to mat somatirg,'m hnking Oh god, wat have | one; is y's freak Than na vr stagoward vay Gabe ass, ‘So, ath what's this underneath the ronsi, Feng” Thee’ a it of pause, he Ted ‘ames back wt ‘That’ his pens’ Ther’ ange: pause, thee Gabe sj, Un hu av siting tee realy staring sui bt have noid hw o top tsi wack. Jus abut a lt outset nd change te subject hen Tt ppes up wh‘, was hiking wat’ Seay tour arg euine? Alt of tem are 1-year boys, they've seo alte tig bts monsters wth ns for has reae}—that wor realy do itso hiking what eal fas do they realy have? So | eid to gp vith something tat ets 2 homophcbic response’ He then starts ino a ng deta tk about om Fenty lures abostin a permanent rpitonsewal spy ping the payer ith tase ng etald as, and paling them toward se url te point of tl option ‘ter fishes up tas acter long pause as Gabe cnn tare atthe nage Gate the ots uated ‘and sys, ‘alent. That's enact what nas oi fc! Hoard Ted then gt ito this exe conversation att psi pych-seual allen betas and ical esr fisted aflscnt seal fantasies and ‘ithe, sor of tnd eng tack an fot etn the to! the thing Oh my gd, what ae | ane From that pit on, | ict now wher it was gig, ut Ane | i want ois it Forme that was the first ay of Vl.” - Hen Biv Panther be Chuck ones!Aagoss wel LavmcweG, soe nate Opt Hal L's que asa fetus a combination of arty and aon neapny, The lian Grn’ Hornet Gun i ore of + test alen weepons change hands in 2 game, ed ter ecm stapl of Hal-Lfe's mtipaycomoeent. OarQ Le (mammary Sef SIL |e (moawer com) i } Ls £ aeee en Concepts ‘Shuck oes & ad Breiman fore itbecme Hat, “ute” went tough a doin hase where stange ideas and oer humor were enate Sie Evrtual the tam stl ona hora-actn thae, wae mares fark uot palace the tension Anan sum of ejected suggestions ranged tom a tertace weapon svted fo a enemy and ele as 2 kn of iy squirt, ant fod ht in ‘he lack Mesa etter,Alon rane Chainsaw ‘ruck ones Anat sec fe Alon Organic Cainaw This creature ‘cu alr become te Aen Gu, sioing heat-sekirg hares.” Mien Sove Shack oes xy try design fr he len Slave ha Gordon seman wining hem oe as lies inthe en sections Heil, ar eating tem in oigh blo. Ts 21 pred inoracial, bt he idea of berening te eztv itn Hai 2.en Concepts ‘ed Behman ‘Unused concept fem Hai: demanic bipeal otra the second version ofthe ginol : : i : Pe Flocking Floater Tad Bachman ‘is ret as a fring balun, al alt by baat tases trapped ints hod membrane. The cn he 0 pecon ofthe mottr was uly arcuate ihe abt ving, ‘ine wit uisonus sine, Focking Fats had eatery atennae, much ie a mat stool sensory ong, Barnacle Ted Bachan oan forts unig ite Baral is an ofthe may creatures that suived the ery ay fH Lie and il camtnus to tiv nay 17. "Th Bera is HleLi's essential seca punch or ‘heap-shot monster You can see ther coming om ile off The are cogil inet an easily avid. Tis rakes tint more hurting when they rab you and bie of yur ea - Dave RetTentacle ilo ely BaieE>} | Gargantua Chuck oes This ag beth storing frChumtoad Chuck Jones The Chumtoad was meant to be the favorite food of many Xen monsters. Team members wanted to test te idea of the player using a Chumtoad as bat to lure a Bulsquie from its den, or distracting it when it was attacking them. The bait gameplay was never developed, but befare the creature was cut from the game, it cycled through a ‘umber of names: from Chubtoad to Chummtoad to the truly nate appellation, Choad. Though the Chumtrad was cut from Harf-Life, it remains a mod c favorite. nitySnark Chuck Jones: The Squeak Grenade was eventually given the Lewis Carrollian nickname, “Snark.” Ht was a creature ‘that evoked both fear and laughter in its victims. The sight ofa player running from a swarm of chittering exploding Snarks was typical of a Half-Life desthmatch. ‘Mion Slave aka Vortigaunt aJoes & Dhabi ng(elioad peELeSUon yeeBullsquie Ted Backman “The Bulsqi,erginalyeubed “The Bloc,” made trem cancagt hth tthe Sina game wh vital no changes ter hans ae, Zamtie Nita Tat Bechnan shed opens pile petals.EBh vvasousve 2 carnGordon Freeman (Chuck Joes & Dhabi Eng "isan ery motel ort vain sions chara above), arate ‘now a ante Space Bit God's ead erate turds toate, hes gests alse went theug several vss. For tre, Spates a pent “ve nent und and nd or rames fr the character | thought should eve some fara scl, so tok he name oe plystistpesapte, Freeman Dyson, and srused his name ogee with tht ofthe French mtteatoan es Her Pica. pou blurted out Dyson iccae. abe iediely cutee wth te far moe ressnatieCardon Freeman, and tat was tat. Le many imgrant game design ds tase ey, ts al happened at etme in Gate's car, en rut Japanese restwan.”- Mac Laden fy hes, fataWhen choosing a name for the game, v be evocative of the theme, avoid clichés i corresponding visual mark. We brainstonmed some ideas, and then ricked Half-Life. We wanted ‘> communicate the science fiction fel, the more mature sense that we were sping ater a game that was not just a shooting gallery. There was going to be 2 richer experience and a more thought-provoking one..nd so a-Life. We thought about tht, and that seemed cool, and we tries to look at Half-ead. We went through hundreds of different names, Half-Life was one that stuck out fairy Gabe Newell guick! = Uauilsedg piepueysuON) ¥ 281! JIEH alSolirs (husk aes Eon with thir avars wining A at some lel the sakes job inthe HalLe wives was to kok busy, nenaza the lye ad iin interasing ways. Vining 2 ever form of an-camo, thse sors were designed lo ‘vba te impression of being carole, bt tthe ame tne te ahve on n-sliton css “Te slr Anas designed to havea en teal responses to tings hat he lyre, to cxbat cxpuriancas ware excting and ite for vats sles ot sly Desiring he sr to ect to teers hes ‘lowed eah layer ta devel sls nd tac fo succeed win towns tink we han ewer on the et wack wen esc ltr ig hings tat sven suprised m= Stee Bandpreven rt Bleck Mesa Seine tin aut Mare aida ned Vat inthe summer of 1987. Presented are Mae's intr . ois on ha name of te researh acy eventual a 2 dubbed, “Back esa” i eet un ta iar aes fr ou creas, and then se them gout if the word and tae on es fei com But am very athe | eid go wth ‘Black Mesa Research acity' rater tha ‘Black Bute Nate aiden Oi TallocdS pepueuon y=)Barney Soon, & G-Man Chuck oes Inia con by A programme bhai By ut esl his experiment nasa eae o aver ho werner ais nor sense of ings This precise des rtcasecaryng Man. Mile the cadena comme use, em exam. The atl name of hs characte is sil opeFUEL piDHAnE AVE - HAND Te HAND | meLee Comber Use. oF Guns Coe CevEE He Sj le ath - Cvtasird meres er i eer epg Black Mess LARNER KEY pm _(penate 2) Ted Bachan ‘The eam rata vat of envionment dug thei seca wind les fom tp: a fuel deol, 2 merge, fgh-suenty hechpomt, ard auch ram, “Final ting of Hal Le maps was someting we ha io hilly ul, te tne om when we rsh a sin ea ad playlest the net teratn was fen 8 tar of fw hus, We were under stitdlnery adie, an don't tik ary of us ad ale stare and ganeniay eas at uch age bf. Several of _s spent most of cur waking hus, foe months, led ita a singe fice ment so-afectntey eee toa ‘the submarine For most of usin the om, itwas cuit time shiping» eae Me pulls on indeant mur of 16 hor days, and twas on ofthe rast fun and evading eerences ve ha tae” = Kel BleyWises pen Veen =>) = Wo wnon7 “SxeW -so sui wHMBEN —— “cath SMI? Tenet Jdossaty sevrmy~ BIALAS WAaM It AAV Lew! B- Hah security area just out or Clevaver ~ = 9/70) povicmys meg) tenmsnng weer omep 79 wile! defector 4 shieldlecl Seeveity canumns gg onthe sane and pekly emotional hora Hae was Te Outs Lts, epi “The Scere, hich ws the sly ofa team of sce to maniguse mage ‘ho fut inns, “Tow ga cone fr Hal Life came tom fs here tinkng about tp ig’ shart stir ‘The Mist lor witha elt dose of es spe cansacy town in” = abn Beier aBohcle accollacibor sccipiips mitelie stipe ify REFOREigneD missLeene - Rese B, mission | yerscoes (G0 #3)Et ft 5 i 4 i i eee * Ted Backman Cocks om tpl isi slo, no views ofa Yn Ccyegncstrage fy trai tunel, anda reactor tent! on. ly Bate an ely hada ested to get the est chamber Gsasterseuene bul. We wore fo 48 hours sigh Merl, hd bath ood ad a coral char tostinbt aly stato ofa wooen sauborse weal {iat cutbe The Than of Woe in ord hep ‘anal, We brletrugh it and ment home fr fon tus fsiep ac came back Monday sii a zbilh state Eveyorin the ofe was all eed abut ‘sumating bt tok itor me tea they hd fen ‘he sequenca and al ayad tru it evenone jst ved ‘it twas just ne of Base reat mart” Jahn Gate TTeauks TWANG 8] SFEICE CAR- ELECTRIFIED“ AcE. lLomubges ey Auk sine eves x. ce Ye I; wa eel 4 42 & 43 Ey mE ae i+ an hy Su Ps dey Q ag t os oh As SM ox Sty < x s PS dy Te eS x “ ay 8 te zy ys “ES 2 Tbiliseds piepuesion vein ien ==>The Test Chamber Mare aidan The ofl sere sip te Black Mesa test chamber sigue Bk Tet Chander Door sevvos shut - not 9 ou” You get LMR cavF - coe bof tf- alien? - | | BUSS | a - I mule pitenad | a Gm te [ook aa Verce | te Gorden - show [df CO coe be tare glee, Ke opetg be ber reetid wen a EB speak', We wil/ wars fe eee ces anti Perens Pen ta ee pa ee ber sienag af F0% “umd! fe canter angel voce 2 Power in ftovee. bane oe (no) FinsT STAGE Hur Whee | frediefable awrayt Very goed. Gorden — vice 3. Mrsfo Freeman, cs pew wht watt f (WH) Stand, back a Se oak Be ae eee Latin Nace, : Saito no fart. BEE You weit amwving err hoon clullyen, : were Your, es a Bh V3 Neeense! Nattuig’s been previa /Wad t Steondevy emitlens, acthvabig new. 22 phate of Mebim 6 SnD vacet It (cots Like Yeo crpbl sample is ready, borde, Leck f He deliny olen” for grr Fpcimen Fises fm Fleer for nonstandard et * wil} Shonda) (nae bynes to Yat ae Qs Ge * it voce? Naat! MCE Gapaciva hone oh Rie percent Li hahng. Black box wessaging vorc€3 What? Voce | Geodon, we're by he onal ev te ae sopereptinal per lnamce» Thins 10 ee het ing he afin comm dale ib = re (omg Yh vending will Jake. Please ev tchaewth.Madiahdiilusidhiih ee ELC aA EM ics a a aaa alae rear MRA A AMA Maal aad TMM ial hit NS Saas bli Mia aaa Saas ihExtra Life: 0 ? The Mod Movement = Se Ue a RRR Um a CUE cd CCU UM TCS cuca Sc a TESCO UR CUMULUS aL ERS aL CTU cue Ue Car Ra UR AT SCM ac oe aCe LCL Ce WRU y Cece Ck Uy Dee UR ac en CUS Mm ea ek | GT MUR OU LCR ceTeam Fors Ital began wth fam Fares, the st tam mca mbt gamepay. Co- creates bin Waar and Jn Cook were hie by Vahe in ety 1988 lp ship Hai Lf and por am Fess to Hat exh. Tris een to bacome a Team Foruess Case which a adion to becoing the umber oe ene actin game of ts ie, aso payed a callin Hlaing Va shape future vrsonsof aie SOK tin or ab tring tatMieRok Warpath ‘sect inial deen cisussions, maps mere sached oui by te des gop, and tren bu by he evel esigrrs, Oeste inal vrsian was completa, regular blest began. Vany changes wae ma throughout ‘he paytstig yl, in resulting case changes to ‘ongnal ln ete map, The map you se eis path, ih was designed a a nee eonl-rne rap. Teams ato pus foward ant tld conto zoe onthe ine. Once secured te tam con push foward and att to cpt the not ona. This waste fist TF map in micn eas respewne in erent tons based upen nich canto zoes hei eam contd, and ‘sled to a lng st rl were espana ois were roed many tes” - Robin WakerTeam Fortress 2 GhucksoesDay of Doteat, Te ay of eta eae 1 ofthe Wl We themed miata in anuary 201. As cst ofthe game eaing a cu foloing tough constant peta, th ea washed by Va and OoD was released atl in ol 2008, "No PC PS game hd eal pul of the fe! end in leo angesaly ‘plane rb" ayer motel hain ond hrs Aston’ Dust eran the most lr map in testa of the gare Count tke In spring 1990, Moh Le and Js Cite began worting on Counter Str sad for Haf. Tha ne, the st Bea as relessed. y 2000, mare pope wore paing Ske ta Vale's commer elased muticiayr gare. Le and Ole wer ofleed jobs by Ven conti wong ot the game fal i. aay, Cooter Siegert mare Inet tra tan the ation tay ve were bath ito snus for a whi and tad bon aking mods in the community yas. had made 3 themod mal for uate cal ary Seal ard wet ord fore levine cur ew ig ich was Crt Sirk Vin Le remembering te Bata 6 lease one eeagei rom Fla hosted th instal leon fs ISPs webspace. The raeae was so hevlySomloted hats systematialy tok his wl ISP for a ay oro, sing the thousands jo usa of lr. The was asad y th poe and spent tine ina jwenle ction center. He was jst yng io sro up same CS ors nds bo st tbo how many people wood donna it and wa the ofr woud te. drt wart magine he por tooc-ieed k's right he hose, but have and saeon inte sarin ors puting oles w or lvnoad was & prety iat of te popula ote eae Hostage Sate Chuck ones Wisuanoy powell nena SSCounter ui: Source a a)aly sista PryDust eaten Pry Wlsueno pon ees] Arist ade bump and he spr naps here pererm- nc butts om 2 up five rentses Ieisten Poy Source 2 seals 25 asd Gown athe esto the ap ate, ew dts cauld be but ono. vere. We coud tuilngs and mosses, or sured te m wih a 3-D sibs mincing a reset sista Poyorane itn Poy Mike Dussau S {UsUlBAOW POW 24s 3) ea@ Chateau, tay, & Ate iste ery ie rakes it pastorate ls, hing our res Uke the much-imprveé st start oan in Cate. vas et un lying wth te tein fetes, tnt the modes wl be seta 0 wi a aranena aii S Dust sen Pry A irfghtin-game abo and cancopt of the Counter Teri pau oi (et “hn west sass corverg the mas, we ceed ‘ofc on mang sure the al had areal sense of location Reasm mas oe of he strong ents of CS ben it are out, and asthe engine's ag neat 0 6d the amount of squinting yo ad to oto paten it locked got te seared elerece We nk rough books and movies an eng ne cel fa, ar led ‘he best lames om ech. Dust se mature a oth fica, Taishan Andalsian nmr. And oc atc ve cual used Meyan reference and if use soar scape reference om animals indigenes tthe area a surouning te anion ty of Terctiten, made day Mos Cio Nogaa Italy & Dust Kasten Pry ance of the tay marta (cbve) ante in-game fal podct et), The Dust matatglece ured te ste (oat. atime phy is one ofthe ost impor nem farts of CSS, ads mare itractvity ad aps to rma the maps mre authentic ard rae he atereln nay When st teak ina 15 smlar ees, hich Fy rong, pig, bncing, creting hast and sound fet. A faa physics, the ei thirg ‘ink we miss 3 huge moxkayon op fhe ne pyramids n Ae trong do bre." Marin Gen ‘eat iary Sea & Phoent Faction Noby France Nodal shel forth ne Count tie Source plae sharers Ss WeUenON PON edi Gena =i ie>> Investigation 2: Unexpected Interference a Half-Life had not been long on store shelves when Valve set to work on Half-Life . The “only” requirement was that it had to be the best game ever made, surpassing Half-Life in every way possible. Fortunately, while the designers had given their all tothe original game, they had no problem coming up with long list of tings they wished they could have done better. But building Half-Life 2 was not to be merely a matter of improving on the previous game, continuing the story where the frst left off, or increasing texture resolution. It would involve an verhaul of every single element of the game, beginning with the most basic: The engine. Piece by piece, the Quate-derived Half-Life engine was discarded as Valve began developing something all its own, the proprietary ngine technology now knowin as Source. In the meantime, a call went out for programmers, level designers, artists, and animators who had seen the promise of Half-Life and wanted to push the medium of games into truly new terain. As a new team formed around the core of original designers, they discovered that the lessons of Half-Life didn't always apply. HaffLife 2 tured out to be an entirely new beast, and the path to completion proved to be much rocker, and far longer, than anyone initially expected,Half-Life 2: 0) 3 Creature Discomforts = If the creatures that stalk the wastelands of Half-Life 2 could fill the City 17 Zoo, those that never made it into ‘the game could provide the ecosystem for a mid-sized Combine planet. For every monster that made it into. SO RCS Cn ca. ame ka mua Boe ee reece enn nee eee or ee eee eA See Co nel aU Una aR I ede) GAR ROT EMEC URS RUM cL essa Ue ARO Cee Pac RR Come RAM Coen aeCremator Drain Eng ply "= Tes Backronid Hoaderats Ted Bochnan The lack Pion Wear is actualy from an towne that was mate during Hal Lie J that we rough back and fished fr Hal Le 2. The ia sry simpli. dest etaly il ou nha it attacks, just eaves yu with one eit of oath ne mater whet. Back Headorats were 2 treat tol fr ating pani inte an eccuntes Oe pases had eamed te disincv sound of he pies cabs ‘nd ew the mpiations, they would sin rw spar ately ching te creature oars of trate fos The mere presence ote that tus mado te cher masta tho sere mere heatening ard intresting Tom LeonardThe lf ast Zombie es wigaly desired oan ned for a secon ofthe game at ever tit fal rdacn. The A was moved io varus pots throuhou the game, evenly ning ts best ft in Raveroin. is promoted a sees of desist ‘ita mate! 2 pre-existing ramewerk—one of vey few morse designed th ayia Hal Life 2 Cheating th stun ees fr ALE was age eo. We have thousands of unique sounds. | ysed combination of rary sun fects, ny ona reece, and sands cretd usr syst sts freeing te tame .usaly start with 2 ew curd and then spend our hoping up and lying wih itt gt someting rie o diferent sound, ve used a variety of hunting cal for elk, onots, er, abi, ese, ducks tty to up wt ferent vacalzatns for mores. fod there's tng ithe sound af bl eb call eching An te hls inte eftarcon wo wake up yeur cours ely Baloybre i Stalker Tod Backon The tah at ero stags of desi acing 2 very ary ds with a rua, ter concepts ith Binders, inal design wth weapn 5I hous the Stir was a reat monster: it was iis nd of lit nptated nen ta the Combine uri a av bore They pot al the eran an rn than onsale saline are saver to ita The Staller ie came from wang someting tat pt xd inthe sha nd then lungs at. Mo tok a hal fal ida ad tured tint soething moe hoi because he rsa he vhs, Whee yo face the, they ae these aol hal-tumas ings that you ca ep bu alost i as ing Suenough hunt e hngs that tras jst a sexy mon stead it was sot the! presented a mr tier every tre you had to deal wiht, which ink is. amore resting elem. is mare rfc te have deal wih an insane fostage ha something tha js wat eat eure. “ed Bakan Source Seen‘on Fauna, Sekt, &eiped Hopper “ed Beckman Acolecton of uusedalen eatesThe Stampede lien aura, & Houndaye Tei BackranTe Hydra Ted Bachan The Hr was made of i tmpans det le. Tre The ya was my pet 4 monster | wate in fam the stat We designed wile rss ofthe gare runt personaly pen about si mts en and geting al tmvoent lets and physics to 2 wring sae Eveyae was pty satical nas Stare, sol hott prety lon pol Tne ery rugh A tas up and ruing people ne int mapa ches cut ad ga 28 este a pushing me a hury us and tisht. Howeve he cs ptt being done, te mae its ata Faw ws becoming clear it was amazing colo watch it ight ter charac tr, OL masz fun pay aanstin isso Went tacked bers, as he lyr you Ol oe his 3 Ne loving gat warm suaing trough te map soothing stu vr and puting ona eat son, ut whe attacked you, the layer, you'd st ee hs nen-descpt ob ing someting vague, ten youd be dot. Cuting was personaly very pin bt had to do en @ design jut int ring iusto marking fi ato seo this inthe Ha mente, yb rehink itl mor along ne ines of en BallCombine Avior Ted Bachan 1a desiring tis arate rotunie humans, ean ta degnt onthe technagy ets uty of ie Over te curse ois elt, be bs no larg ale o supa is own weigh eo bea se vthot a, 2 by nw incapatle a mover, uly dependent onthe tachnog that it eae, as, er yee ints ait reas, invent, nd minal ins and cates foes beings. This dein was as in pt inspired ty the tings of Frank Herr Ted Backman Ss Fiojlloosig eimesig zamsen =Backman ant Carbine Synth stalks ta stots of Cy 17. is enimation feece fr te Ste | used a sgl combo, | waned i capa the pace of gate bu so have the Std stomp and ad iis elbows ie a gtila when be was, cone 2 pow” Bil FecesSmits hain Eng “Toa Sts, seapieating robes tht evhe, mee cet orton ovary he Contre and ensiaved thous tal conuests and wars When approaching es esinng he Combines legr rates twas ces hgp ninth these umbaring war mechns were posi cae aac. creatures that th Contin Nad enslaved and conetd daring prov ines. Three we te to incorporate fenans that ere nee sic rane mur recon, We dc’ ant have part len ces with amar tices orimplents ade, ttintad ted treats fect vation of th characters pase 0 them by tb Conn rather than natura. nth on, te eins into aed ten bstncen nach and animal, in br aoptrance and mare impart tee ‘mein en ow hy reacted oth wert around thom” = Dib EngCombine Holleopter Tikgwen is mid-point in the Combe rrtoet ura sonsites, Bugsy ‘The Bay sound st was crete om a rr reading ofa 138 hii tunes was ging for lize ech ook spate pats, aig together yer fw there's sil ts of ots and there's sila ott cretion he pro the Tn geCreature Discomforts . =Jet Ski Tr Nawyen Tho Mudskipper (Airboat) The Airboat, officially known as the “Mudskipper” was originally a jet ski but did not playtest well Keeping a first person view ofthe world, the jet ski was too much lke running around on ft, and had severe problems with communicating frame of reference when driving in one direction and looking in another. A nev Airboat design addressed these issues while atthe same time being more consistent withthe resistance-built theme, ‘One of the major problems in developing the Airboat was motion sickness. i the player's view was tightly conne to the Airboat, every sight bump was magnified, making some ery playtesters nauseous—in particular programmer Adrian Finol, who actualy threw up after an extended playtest. As 2 result, there was a careful redesie of handlebar, pontoon, and roll-cage visual cues. We mage these adjustments untl the happy day when Adrian declared an illness-free playtast.” - David SpeyrerContin APC or tron and ued by = Siejosig meas canceCombine Dropship Ted Bekman The Drops was ral walk on end sala ane toot nly dap eens, atiBi xx200Combine Gunship Ted Beckman ile ey Gunship concepts wer gute matinee te fl version shows a moe aembigts, sya urs ates were ror ita game of eat nd mouse,0 E ° £ a g 2 a gNeUFaT SENG, Caney ON ED?) TWAREN: ELST VRS. SaAKS WHEN FE9CD PH OUT ON BOT Sue SPOKES EXPAND Rives FeSM THIS (Suojwossig eimyesi 'z ait SS i itt te cen I it ia at is Combine merae binds th layer ube lying his Tea to gourd solders. The ity Seamer design was [ecaly noided af sape and noreent of 2 ~ . . .ton hain Erg Incoming up wit a eign fo the Ato, the min ous ato come up witha intresting enigaraion ote ryt es were seu, Velo ass cos his ote backback lg verdes, "Te Aion were soma fhe st creatures to be creates and wer trough many aug tins and akdtns rhe couse ofthe Projet They wee ely amaretto begin ith, bat tering tits wth ules was sto ruck fn, so tuned th na camen foc ‘en tout aes o dal, th Actions ware tle elit gst dea of ection atc metro layers. Soe peal ved ering tha Atos to pt mauled by he Contre, others would eat the le te pes, ering tem around maps while going” -Jsh WeerThe Aton King Tet Backman Ne ae ou fans had goon up it inbetween HL nd AL and wat ict post, ny respons. Fc the Aton King design, we tok oe part stp ead scl, nw pt dt ail pied soe warty grant on te tap 36 2‘ te is character cance for ths were done, I mae 2 Eee-ot og version in Rama Psins (trata, was ist ate at suting eeslanting characters in ly ard the mage eventually crumble) The Aan wart have 2 tiara saci, mch He ars have aque, bt his nase a creature ‘anagem the Sct Fora ugh ide of scl, inthe magut, Gin stuck between the ‘ues of the best, wc tend some 6D feet During deepen. the tpside Bots stared rg, nd mare and moro te uréecound spaces ware cut, ntl evnvally thee mas ao lace ‘eft forte fing" ed Bachman i i :\ow-oy Aion wh oma map bump map) Low poy Aton i ith arma rap ‘aly we ere having ical autsng bump raping on cur characters, We'd spend weeks and weeks doing tte ‘rational vay of utr and tgh poz mae ca tuget mado sus, Yward thee of he pict ran int Bey Rat at a meting wth Mist onthe feo eras. sy had ruse th claimant fr Cur i The Lor of Rings move sees and oid sculpting on Calum’ head, and Ito him tht we wee hay cut ump apo wich Bay and | hah weld bea huge mista. He vl to tale oe of ou Artion model and using ‘el called ust" sar otriqu tat thy used on The Lat fhe Rings—d a teny-iuts gass ent The ‘eam loved Ata werner a re rumba of dels in the game, acing bung mapingt er, ncding the fas rhe main characters Gary McTaggartAnton Guard “The Gud tare eas 2 nase bul could sfckits nse ita hols inthe wal nok rand {oto payer or charg the aye: and batt, ‘witha citi bese. By tng sm, naxius pods tou (oi eter tue inthe Props Garton ‘woul ely isl the Guard was abet sd the ple ctf hiding adit te open where he sh was veal Fulytenee, ony Aion in engine S Sibillossig simes9 zie SS‘Combine Assassin Te Badan Concept forth sucessr te HoPLie's femal sss, The eat ein funé ts wa nt the Comin te ea. sain in En Cambie len Assassin ow vats 2s the fe and Shck Toner waste arial frm ot he TombCombine Synth Ete Soldier Ted Backman 2 pat-hunan pat Conbine Set le Soi. The al desn ta“dive Combine Soller ei Backman Tis very eat verso th Cin Skier ee ie 2 sake or ween. Eval as iid to ai ary cect eset of uran Sele aan enemies end stead vsvly doit he Canin arr ansparent foe sii SUeilibsig eine Te ESwitha vrs ofthe Combi it, Combine Hemet Ted Baka Ealy Contre ene eign as ifsc byte war of aya a 1A Latham Ted Bachman Asta forthe eral pvtagrist combat suitCombine ite “ee Basan The Gombe Elite was ergy designed as an sing Combine atv sritig ain ta smal ptal Stier, grat eno the proportions cf a hunan sade. Proms wi using an very alien model inthe ai Cate! evenly case cf amore hanetid mos, Overt Soler Ted Bachan The Ove Slr was to weara smart suit The col and pat of the suit 1g constant mach is enviar s SiieG ames eonsen 409Elite Meteo Cap Combine Guard Dhan Eng The norm fr the Comtne Guard asin in per the Geman 8S unformsof Wr aI. Intl eoncept had the weaing kg teed coats. Ove the Wb Cops were desged, 2 sina sje here was dive forthe Conti SakiS Sige snes Son wen Kombine sop J Sonbine So Te Sechan bine em othe game emp The Contne as an rans sucessful boca of ack el specication It's someting at ro cation has ever been able adapt ast eno to because tha so mat ams, o:many diferent atc, and sa any diferent spces nied and i-th sens. As seen inthe Meo Cops and Combine Sofie, humanity het speces to be exo fits negative als Mar lablan aa Combine Soldier Tad Bachan Diferetinsigia, bene, ant uit treatments ‘or the Combine SerSB Halelife 2 Creature Discomions iisCambie Sls Whe Combine has acest infinite eco, what athe roetv mas ingot Ie? sang ee ter games out there where hey us have metal breasts an shoulder pads ls that hin ch sears tome ie hats more lone apoaach to boty amr oth bad. 0 av Suds pads, ich is someting that dort non wy. dont row they hin tat soldiers wl be tacking people. | lv, tro lank at al te conontons ou thar then gout theresa easan far the, rifts jot rmecessary baggage In desiring te casune,| waned someting that made sense and hat cul acl be laste years down te a. “6 Bockran Sisjuioosia oneal te STEHalf-Life 2: 04 Digital Drama Looe see eo ee ao eM Ly Coe ee a a Ee eRe Rac an ed SOS Ce OS maa cL more realistic and complex scenes were impossible given the set of tools and technology available at the time. Fen ee ee ee mi de ae a Un ambitious scenes, and a plot that depended on characters as much as on combat. Drawing on lessons of UMC aC i Cou aD a) Deo Aa CR UCU Oa‘lve fnew carly on that they nant to spend a consi le investment in character facil expen based ot thorlav success of he scr guards and siti in Habe ‘nee we nad lan forth art isues, we ned a way todo facal enprssons. We old tt of difeest thd; thy worth realy ite, realy camp Caled, eal epensive, oust ely ugh. Somatines, al ofthe above. Luckly we und 3 vey single med fom cuts of trationl como epi. nthe eat 70s 2 1 au Ekman was ohn eit he cau dignase etl ess sean faci expressions, ete coal star needed away to describe what he patents were ect ding thie, at i tro igh pression, ut sue or of ical amma he could se to describe te underhing novemenis. What be eae up vith was a st of abut 40 or so erent ‘Facial Acton Unt realy single tings he ase our eto, poche yout shop ya aw’ ir your mots and soon, He wae cial descigtins of exact what each loo ae, and mre gata, he les abot hon thes all contre oer Hs gal wast have cnicans Score to same fia exesion wih he same Facil ation Units, tit uns ut that ou reverse this and bul he sino a compue-generee fee, you can trate foe that at only ors th fll age of human ‘gression, but nerd someting the’ physically impssle Thisis ital fo game, hee ue rv there's some flaw inthe omouter-ererted character the avimals cn catch and fixe problem tefore ever mats te este. Butin 2 gam, ve reget te scene from sate sublet and teste tall crs of exelent each never time You ply, sit ays has io male sense en BicvaSeposer ye Fcepose natn (ight. Fcepose allows oie nt aly of fail xrassns, ut as of tay aioe btu, and lage dewtos for alte ats ute, lof tase inion 2 pass though the gjtem so that fhe game can avionaialy dust Sree inthe game evecnent, a wll ast acon of la ene tat the ony wayne ha a chance to cole cing witout an ay ators was by developing 3 rary of estes and Sess tet ne cout laa in areas i deloped ct lnc us and inuece rays hat enable us sus ular of gestures an posts over adver rau ppeeng end. Each of ur ain cesar ad th un unig bray which estabishet fat personality, Not aly wast esse fom 2 predic- pit tit was eat way te hap ctu. Pei= tikigisid ear rien Bat sor lea Khe Ha Life 2 Mode Reference han casting carat aes, Yai arts searched pepe wt ting lok, Dc Hn tured ut bean acenurat tat word in he firm above Ve’ fe was bldg sgn and looking for wack on testo. Father Cigar waste fate a an fhe moter. Caoge nasa tam menbs's marl ars teacher Barneys aes tha of ahe's C00, Te team di have Sem bute Fading a diversity of fal faces, Ronee, ane ended up posing ana inthe atid ofthe Sate ines: “our Fee na Game” Care! 0 ‘23Doctor Isaac Meiner A ear model version (af and Sra mael ith hands fed bo. Doctor "ier Black Mass survive rug frvard in od fi ut the reriing Selec eam of Vance and uth ssa We thw we had Dr Kline’ malin th bag ent ne ad ye Tad Cae, We are tho lator ith i ane sd, Dh ry ged, thas Decir int We poe with him a he was happy a tus us is fae, a is wo teenage bys war uth aL fas. tas always un ou it 2 Sertucs with eam members tt cc kaw ware we at Kia's fac The jst stat staring ati, tying to ure aut why be oie so faa’ Bil Van Buen lamar ‘ios pet Hoare is named at the 1830s Halyund led Hr Lament, ho jl acing andthe ca-iveton of "raquency hoping” a core tecalgy sed in modem ceptors.Doctor eth Mossman “hs intl version of Dat Mossman ence the decison tat Ha-Life 2 characters nul al ave shat or canstained hate alternate fo wat he eri call “helmet hac” Aitonaly a he eam sis wring with Whee Foe in th vc sesins, Mosman became increasing more sompatete and ruanced, moving fate fam te pxsonaty ype fr ho is rede was eign desgne,One oftte fist gos Vane stor ts was comeing some by Helse characters into he ihe eslton and materia malta ey wat fo aie 2 (nc he ok was atabished, teil was developed so ‘they cub rendre ona wide vaity of hata, remember a 000, wen fis intrviened a Yah, | tek eek at amet von fl ae ne at is ‘was th fit of games and I ware oe pat of We wert fom the sil ioc scents of AL athe very reasticaly model characters in HL2 wi fl fac systems and complex animation vais. An immense anoatof dtl wet ino malng or characters came alve—fom thereat procedural ee moveent, to he responsive Nl systen”- BilThe Yortigants Various ae a veined enrey-vieig slave race, inate berated by Gordon Frama wen be destyed the Milt in te fr Bat ofthe Black esa Incr Rater tan al ued th din of tbe Cambie, these Vorigauns now stand n Eat ave ined with humans at rte eodom a al Barney Calhoun Bama is te start fer ord working undercover a an offer forte Ci Proton Unt of ty 17. agian of thefacttnate stil ves Goran aber, Baers 2 worthy aly ie Hal Lie 2 = = Givig (RES TIEey Colonel Odesa Cudbore The mode fe aol Oeste Cudbge igh, utes commer ofa seaside bel band, egal was enced fr aH characte own a Odl abe ight Cll was the egerfan iach research hip own a the Beats But when Breall bythe veasid may rough HL’ dvlopmo, ta Gal code ent ito fel unl he le of Golan! Cabbage came ita beng Father rigor The ‘mad monk” of avenoim dis best to mii o its eens rout the Contin invasion and occupa tn, ut inthe nd is ei angrgation has fod anew fm of resurectn. Having ered aventln wih ner rps and gas-poered gullies, he meets te ery wth a mad laugh and a bla of sheeg nas ong fh ow stu that want rm te fist Shien stg ina th gan wth lative fo changes to ees Vahe ass ner isp by dassic movie Sens, as Ung nea cousin to Rabi rom Farin PareResistance Fighters Moby Farle & Ted Bacnan ook uli rations by many feet atts to come up wit fn sien for the cen. Ge fhe Digest chalenges was tng to make each citizen oup and each individual within ac group kav a uncue lok “smear that peopl in iy 17 ote Cant weld have a diferent appnarance a fel ean tse fig the rebelion Ao, at nes you can sean interact wth souls atc, so we had tamale sucthat ey ete via enugh fo the ayer to at ppeach the 3s ones ofeach oe bute acaly cfr tha a indviuals”- rel Daz ae teare seat applied to male mdi mel NT = = buieig wisi 2 ase aai Repatated hz aby Fence "We Gesgned tects of He-Lie2nok cppresed tnd dowtads, Ti castunes elected the aan and vine lived in sing standardised cling sive piso amosotere. Aa 2 spans tree ays, and we wate th ctzans to coesgund wth the ‘mean oan of events thoughout te game. izens aypeacin anes etry gp ofthe game, but cult verpner the ply: visually We ware! he corp rant the wn and ct tnt aut” - Mey France (iy 17 Gas Mask hizen Diath EngATM Doctor Wallace Breen Ted Backman & Dhabin Eng This concept sketch shows an early Son of Doctor Breen’s reveal (abave left). The player was to have seen his face on monitors during the course ofthe game, but upon finally meeting Breen, he had begun the process of becoming immrtal through Combine ertfcialIfe-support technology. Breen was originally referred to as “The Consul” (et right) and finaly the “Administrator. reAlok tei th scenes rng Hal ie 2| oduct Ths eal fem Bl Yan Buen asks ate developers hows on tebe of yea aporopiat for aClan Dain Eng Were enomed Aland Tetique ractoner Frank Seldon was onal cans as fone fo Dac ren. Ba Van Buen set ronda hastily Ptoshepped image of telén, th copped hair an a szaled-com, face sage tbe epparntteveyae on te tam tha his was actualy the G-nan instead The rid ram on is fae is sed inal Be 30 esha constt an accurate nd uch rceaton of fail ology en Ben baltte basic model than pasa on Drab Eng no pullin the Coss nc rane he ee sackets tse im he gurt G-Man ot, Anat Doug ood nthe piews fatal the G-Man aia expressions, sper eet in at ol amir pactsng the expressions on ins es. “nating he G-Man was aster joy Mintel Shapiro 1 wonder ang hin 2 mares fg han Pe had ina Life. wanted the payer to never cite iow wat side the G-Man as on. would have i exes an gle ek toward Freeman ashe Yee opt Mi Freenan inthis suato, bt then ge a light smi ot smi teen to aes yu guessing boat ssa. Doug Wns = eueig eiBla ZainA ass oping HL2 stone writen ty Marc Lac SIMELAPSE OPRENG (Proposed 6/2/00) ‘The Baste idea {a to convey the passage of time Between BL and HL? Visually, using our new terrain and shader effects and the teleport Exicks wo used in the original Test chanber Disaster sequence. Ze should be @ dixect continuation of the end of Hl: You are ctill in the G-van’s custody and control, still basteally suspended outelde normal spacetime, which maker st fairly easy co ray chat 10 yesra have passed An what for you 4@ the Blink of am eye. zer. wine game mmapows You fade ip standing on a alight rise in the sidst of beautiful rolling Bilis. ‘The grass ie green) at your feet ie 2 enall flowing brook; the Bille ave crowned with occasional willows. The sky ia blue ana #vashy birds are ringing in the execs. In the distance, on the horizon, if @ sosern city. ies an idyllic scene. Yéu can almost saell the fresh Siz, We ehow our terrain dn all se0 splendor ‘The G-BAM appeere Just Denina youoy perhaps he has been standing there fall along. You are #til} contained is his aphere of influence, meaning Chat you can tush and ove in any direction, but only for s very short Gistance. You cannot leave the crows of the Mill. Holle agein, Me. Freeman. Sorsy to Keep you wasting. Not that the paseage of time has had any meaning for you, but Glnewhere it/a a difgerent story. I’ve been wondering how fo explain wnat the world has Become in your sbeence. I decided to simply show you. There ie an odd quickening, a sense of motanorphosie in the eavionment. The sky begine te darken ominously. The vivid green Secing. The sound of wing begine Eo eveop up. The running vater in the creak sinks into ite bed. eam Don’t blink or you will mi change overnight it. sosetines everything can There ic a flach. Suddenly everything hes changed. The earth is brown) the sky is grey. The streambed i¢ dry and Diack. The tr Gristed skeletons nov. The sound of birds has been replaced with the Aistent cries cf housdeyer and bullequide. A crow crouches in the black willows, caving. On the horizon, the city appears srey, x0 longer Lively. A pall hangs over it. in the sky, streske of deadiy Light, dsck aircraft. Explosions Bloom on the horizon. Lowder: Louder, the explosions coming closer, closer. A Combine dropeni> screano overhead and there ig another explosion, surrounding you Throughout ali the changes, the G-Man continues to calle calmly.don't be nervous, Mr. Freenan. We're sot Feally here. not yee seywey Another flash engulfe you, and an it fades you find the land has aeeeeed agus. fhe earth iz utterly blasted. The streasbed is choked eee eens ne treet ere gone. There ie « new sound in the wasteland eR leads an ugly ineect chirsing. The city ds 2 blackened WASE: Tis Gurviving towere tilted and about fo fall, the sky io choked Elin encke., Prom the center of the city, an alien opire begins to TIN Ttelung over the damaged hunan structures. A light flares cut from the spire, Like « beacon. ten years 1s a long tine for most peoples Lifetine for Gene, zong enough to heal the firet scare of the whip. Eine enough to forget the Little things, ike the taste of fash airs But you remember, don't you, Mr. Freenan? Te wae no ime at all, for you. ‘as he talks, 2 strip of shining rail begins to extend across the lend Ae TLD NE poor potating toward the city. in the distance, you begin SE ESE eke Hoong of a train. re gets louder and louder as he speaks. 1 think that covers Just about everything. ALL that Fensine is £0 put you in the picture. ‘the Wasteland Train sppeare, slicing into view like a rusted knife. | 3¢ Teeanis toa hale directly in front of you, and site there bissing and EESting ax Se costs. A door opens in the side of the rear car, ‘All aboard, Me. Preenan. ‘Time waits for one an. you clinb shoaré the train. There are several passengers on the cer, Bae thoy afe frozen dn their seate, caught in mid-aotion, completely unaware of you cme door hisses shut. A moment later the sounds of movement comence. Tee ee tesine to crawl formard, The G-Man slides out of sight om TRE Eittea sil. ana the other parcengere elewly, then abruptly, Jurch back into life ‘one of chen, Samuel, locke up at you sharply, saxoECaptain Vanco he reas f development a up te cae casmab Ee, led ing the disaster; escaped wit on is young ht, hy, abd afm picture. nthe intervening years ce thence, e and some ofthe othe: sistas ha managed ascape Back Mesa have restive thai eo, cng, ard weapons. Bn Jane ta ante resistance an the othe Corbi. A Blu tok seg. Puleig (eH8IG +2 aIeH >