[Marphy Black]

Greetings, Facepunch. I would like to take this time to share and inform you all of a completed and now released mod/port I worked on on relevant to Half-Life.

As the thread title implies, this project is all about Gearbox Software's ill-fated Dreamcast console port of Half-Life. To put it simply, there's a lot of cool stuff in this game that's pretty much gone unseen for over a decade, so I thought it would be appropriate to port as much content as I could over to the PC and run it as a Half-Life mod on Steam. I began this venture oh so long ago when I released my first DC model ports back in late 2005. Over six years later, I'm happy to say I've kept to my timely schedule and finished converting much of the rest of the game.

Half-Life: Dreamcast is a PC port of the unreleased Sega Dreamcast console version of Half-Life developed by Gearbox Software originally slated for release in late 2000. The Dreamcast version possesses many unique differences compared to the original PC game and Gearbox's later PlayStation 2 port, including modified levels, exclusive NPC models and props not seen anywhere else, adjusted difficulty, and a host of sly Dreamcast references hidden throughout, making it a worthwhile curiosity that any true Half-Life fan would want check out. Prepare to run, think, shoot, and live once again in the Dreamcast experience you've never experienced!

Note: This mod does not include Blue Shift. That would be largely redundant and warez, of course.

Mod DB Profile
http://www.moddb.com/mods/half-life-dreamcast/

Download Mirrors
Mod DB - http://www.moddb.com/mods/half-life-...-dreamcast-v10 (rar, 104.77 MB)
Glitchvid - http://rmcfcdn.glitchvid.com/games/h...e_dreamcast.7z (7zip, 91.3 MB)
Glitchvid - http://rmcfcdn.glitchvid.com/games/h..._dreamcast.zip (zip, 110.2 MB)
AtomicGamer - http://www.atomicgamer.com/files/953...dreamcast-v1-0 (rar, 104.77 MB)
GameFront - http://www.gamefront.com/files/21185..._Dreamcast_rar (rar, 104.77 MB)
MediaFire - http://www.mediafire.com/?r72zj9jr9ubh4ud (rar, 104.77 MB)

Mod Features
• Different Maps - The map alterations range from minor geometry fixes and lighting adjustments to completely overhauled areas. Several locations have been redesigned with performance and gameplay in mind while entirely new rooms have been added in some places to introduce another obstacle or puzzle to overcome. One whole level was even cut! Can you determine the missing map?
• Different Models - The Dreamcast version is host to a number of exclusive models not seen in any other version of Half-Life, including the High Definition pack and the PlayStation 2 port. Can you find the hidden VMU and Half-Life Dreamcast disc?
• Revamped Menu - Included is a new splash screen, menu background, menu color scheme, and menu sounds to closely emulate the Dreamcast version's fancy interface.
• High quality soundtrack - Emulates the CD quality music used in the console version, overriding the crappy default 48kbps mp3s on Steam.
• Tweaked Difficulty - To accommodate the difficulty of playing with a controller, Gearbox suitably rebalanced the monster spawns as well as enemy health and damage values.
• Password Notifications - Although the password system itself cannot be ported, all password notifications that appear through normal gameplay have been brought over.
• The Little Differences - Too small to be noted in bullet points, but true Half-life fans should be able to spot these in a heartbeat when they see (or hear!) them.

Not Mod Features (i.e. things that couldn't be ported)
• Low framerate and long load times - It's no secret that the Dreamcast version of Half-Life suffered exceptionally poor performance, extreme enough to possibly have lead to its entire cancellation. However, you don't have to worry about such matters with this PC port unless your PC is comparatively terrible.
• The fancy main menu - Due to the limitations of the Steam version of Half-Life, it is not possible to convert the animated menu background or many other of the elaborate interface functions, including the password system. The developer console may be used to substitute for this missing functionality.
• Anything that requires code changes - I am unable to do the coding work myself, so a couple of minor things couldn't be ported. Namely, view leaning while strafing (an old feature in the GoldSrc engine that was eventually patched out) and the HUD icon that indicates whether you're standing, crouching, or moving.

Screenshots, mainly comparisons showcasing a small sample of the differences between the PC (with HD pack) and DC versions of models and maps



Video Trailer

[Crash15]

noh my god it looks sexy, also, if you can try to get dreamcast Counter-Strike. yes there was a counter-strike on the dreamcast, it was really just a mod for dreamcast half-life

[t h e]

Haha, loved the ending where he looks at the CD

[Shugo]

This is excellent; I love stuff like this. I hope you get this uploaded soon!

Speaking of this, was there ever a completed port of all the PS2 models? I remember looking around a while ago and I only found unfinished stuff. I always thought the PS2 version looked great. I'd love to play a mod that takes the best of all these versions.

[gav618]

Sweet, I forgot about the DC port.

[3noneTwo]

Holy damn.

Thank you.

[A big fat ass]

*snip I am dumbo*

[noneshallpass]

Marphy Black posted:

Greetings, Facepunch.

sorry, but is you picture reb brown?

[NeoDement]

sweet I'll play this instead of HL1 next time I have a HL marathon

[Starscre4M]

holy fuck
i remember your pack in HIT forums
loved the houndeyes

[.:FoxOnFire:.]

It kind of looks the same as the PlayStation 2 version.

[fear me]

I've always liked the default standard def models over any of the HD ones.

[Shugo]

fear me posted:

I've always liked the default standard def models over any of the HD ones.

They have a sort of nostalgic charm to them, but after HL2 I find it hard to take HL1 anywhere near as seriously as HL2 without the HD models.

[LoLWaT?]

Wow.

The best part about hearing about this out of the blue is that the project is pretty much finished.

It'll be neat going through the game again and spotting any differences in the levels or other things, since i've never even played the PS2 version of Half-Life.
(I'm going to assume that the Dreamcast port was built upon the improvements/changes that were made with the PS2 port)

[Butthurter]

Shugo posted:

They have a sort of nostalgic charm to them, but after HL2 I find it hard to take HL1 anywhere near as seriously as HL2 without the HD models.

i find it hard to take gman seriously when he looks like this

[Shugo]

Butthurter posted:

i find it hard to take gman seriously when he looks like this

Looks fine to me. vv

[mixshifter]

As someone would played Half-Life 2 first, I couldn't take Gman nearly as serious without his wrinkly detailed face.

[[CWG]RustySpannerz]

After years of gmod videos I can't take the g-man seriously anymore. Full stop (period).

[95Navigator]

Finally someone ported those different maps to the PC. Im excited to play through them, it will feel like a new game :D

[mixshifter]

The Gordon in this reminds me of some celebrity or something, can't put my finger on it.

Edited:

Oh right, he looks like Adam from Mythbusters!

Edited:



Aliens are a fucking myth.

[brandonsh]

Oh god I can't wait for the release

[Dusty666]

Looks awesome. A good reason to come back to the original again IMO.

[NeoDement]

mixshifter posted:

The Gordon in this reminds me of some celebrity or something, can't put my finger on it.

Edited:

Oh right, he looks like Adam from Mythbusters!

Edited:



Aliens are a fucking myth.

Whaaat, he even has the nose

[Marphy Black]

Shugo posted:

Speaking of this, was there ever a completed port of all the PS2 models?

All of the PS2 models have been ported for quite some time thanks to the ease of conversion using Jed's Half-Life Model Viewer. However, not all of the PS2 models can be used in the PC version since the PS2 levels replaced some brush-based objects with new models. Other than Decay, no one has stepped up to the task of porting the Half-Life PS2 levels.

However, you likely wouldn't want to use direct PS2 model ports as their texture resolutions are quite low. The best model replacements are a combination of the PS2's meshes and animations, the high resolution textures from the PC's High Definition Pack, and a boatload of tweaking for visual enhancements and better compatibility. Hence, the best model replacements are based on the releases by Ambient.Impact and Romka since they attempted just that.

noneshallpass posted:

sorry, but is you picture reb brown?

Yes, it's from Space Mutiny. My username is also another Reb Brown character.

.:FoxOnFire:. posted:

It kind of looks the same as the PlayStation 2 version.

Aside from the weapon models, very few models in the Dreamcast version resemble their PS2 counterparts (unless the model was left unchanged from its original PC incarnation up through the PS2 port). The Dreamcast's models have far more in common with the PC's High Definition Pack.

LoLWaT? posted:

(I'm going to assume that the Dreamcast port was built upon the improvements/changes that were made with the PS2 port)

The Dreamcast version was built first (just by a little bit, they were mostly developed simultaneously near the end) and laid the foundation for the PS2 port.

Butthurter posted:

i find it hard to take gman seriously when he looks like this

http://hds.newmail.ru/screenshots/01.jpg

Before you make that judgement, you should know that there are, in fact, two different High Definition Pack G-Man models. For some totally inexplicable reason, one variation is used in Half-Life and the other is used in Opposing Force and Blue Shift. But honestly, who wouldn't love either of these faces?

[RedStar]

mixshifter posted:

The Gordon in this reminds me of some celebrity or something, can't put my finger on it.

Edited:

Oh right, he looks like Adam from Mythbusters!

Edited:



Aliens are a fucking myth.

*blows up casserole*

"MYTH BUSTED"

[supersoldier58]

Is it bad I dont like the models? I know everyone else does and its just personal taste but I dont like them sadly enough. Great work though, and what about Half-Life: Blue Shift that came with it?

[GlebGuy]

OH MAN I WANTED TO PLAY THIS THE MOMENT I HEARD ABOUT IT

[SFC3]

Crash15 posted:

noh my god it looks sexy, also, if you can try to get dreamcast Counter-Strike. yes there was a counter-strike on the dreamcast, it was really just a mod for dreamcast half-life

sadly not official

[solid_jake]

I feel the urge to pair this up with the hl1 alpha view models for weapons

[Sharkcheater]

I have this on my dreamcast but i cant find my damn camera to show you guys!

[Maestro Fenix]

That was completely unexpected. Heh, Marphy, you closed the circle of the "HL games". The DC port was the last one who left "behind" (Decay was "ported" with sucesss not much ago, and Uplink has been "released" within Sven Co-op).

Also, the DC models are very interesting, they looks like a mix between the default models and the HD ones.

EDIT: *Forget it, i just looked in the mod pics that doesnt have multiplayer.*

[Cows Rule]

I eagerly await these "changes".

[Slicezorr]

Half-Life is such an old game. We want EP3, not unreleased versions of old games.

[Conro101]

Slicezorr posted:

Half-Life is such an old game. We want EP3, not unreleased versions of old games.

uh-oh Marphy, he either realized you work at Valve and just dug up an old folder with the Dreamcast stuff on it instead of making video games


or is a idiot

[Shugo]

Slicezorr posted:

Half-Life is such an old game. We want EP3, not unreleased versions of old games.

Yeah, Marphy, what the hell? Where is Episode Three? Why are you taking so long on it?

[Conro101]

Shugo posted:

Yeah, Marphy, what the hell? Where is Episode Three? Why are you taking so long on it?

And finish Black Mesa while you're at it!

[Shugo]

On a more related note:

ModDB posted:

The mod you are trying to view is currently awaiting authorisation. Authorisation can take a couple of days during which time a site administrator will check the mod

HNNNNNG, come on, MDB! I need this!

[Altair_PT]

I had this game for my Dreamcast, too bad it broke last xmas :(

[Mio Akiyama]

Altair_PT posted:

I had this game for my Dreamcast, too bad it broke last xmas :(

how could you have it for dreamcast when it was never released

[mixshifter]

Slicezorr posted:

Half-Life is such an old game. We want EP3, not unreleased versions of old games.

Oh wow.

Edited:

I for one absolutely love it when unreleased content manages to see the light of day. Valve tends to scrap so much cool shit that it makes it almost like its an entirely new release.