Black Mesa Science Team
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- "Why do we all have to wear these ridiculous ties?"
- ― Black Mesa scientist[src]
The Black Mesa Science Team constitutes the vast majority of the Black Mesa's population. Alongside the Black Mesa Security Force, it forms one of the most vital components of Black Mesa personnel.[3]
Contents
Overview[edit]
Each scientist at Black Mesa is assigned a specific security clearance based on their duties, with the average clearance level being Level 5. Like other employees, scientists wear a standard uniform, which consists of a blue shirt, white lab coat, red-striped tie, and white (or beige) slacks. In Opposing Force, a variation of the standard uniform featuring a cleansuit is seen in limited areas. HEV scientists are trained in the use of the Submachine Gun as part of Hazard Course training, although the majority of the Science Team have little to no combat experience or skills.
While scientists may sometimes appear cowardly or clumsy, they can assist the player in specific tasks, such as using retinal scanners to unlock doors. However, they tend to be physically fragile, often dying from just a few shots. Scientists possess basic first aid skills and can administer a 25-point health boost to a player whose health is 50 or lower. Cleansuit scientists, however, do not have this ability.
Positions[edit]
Research and Development[edit]
The majority of scientists are assigned to research and development roles, where they conduct experiments and develop new technologies. Their research spans a wide range of fields, from particle physics to biological studies to space travel. Most R&D scientists possess basic first aid knowledge and are capable of treating minor wounds.
Research Associate[edit]
Research Associates work closely with R&D scientists but hold a lower status in the facility's hierarchy. They are typically tasked with performing the more routine or less desirable aspects of experiments. Notable research associates include Dr. Gordon Freeman and Dr. Colette Green.
Hazardous Environment Supervisor[edit]
Hazardous Environment Supervisors play a role similar to that of research associates by assisting with experiments, but their primary responsibility is ensuring the safety of the work environment. Dr. Gina Cross is a prominent example of a Hazardous Environment Supervisor.
Instructor[edit]
Many scientists also take on instructional duties, training employees and running simulations within Sector A. This may involve direct teaching or the use of holographic counterparts to assist in training.
Survey Team[edit]
The Survey Team was formed shortly after the construction of the first teleportation labs at Black Mesa. Their role is the most perilous, as they are responsible for venturing into the border world of Xen to collect samples and conduct experiments. Due to the inherent dangers, Survey Team members undergo extensive training in the use of the HEV Suit and various weapons. Tragically, many Survey Team scientists have lost their lives during missions on Xen.
Notable members[edit]
- Gordon Freeman
- Rosenberg
- Richard Keller
- Gina Cross
- Colette Green
- Wallace Breen (Administrator)
- Isaac Kleiner
- Eli Vance
- Arne Magnusson
- Complete list
Behind the scenes[edit]
Originally, the four original scientist types were simply named Glasses, Einstein, Luther and Slick in the Half-Life model files. When the Half-Life High Definition Pack was released, "Glasses" was named "Walter", a nod to Walter's World, a popular fan fiction set in the Half-Life universe created by Kevin "Fragmaster" Bowen on Planet Half-Life. It had been previously nodded to in Opposing Force, when a scientist using the same model, Walter Bennet, was mentioned, before appearing at the end of Blue Shift. "Einstein" is a reference to Albert Einstein. "Luther", probably a nod to Martin Luther King. "Slick" was named so referring to his slicked-back hair.
All of the idle scientist chatter lines in Half-Life had been written by Kelly Bailey.[4]
Female scientists[edit]
- In the Half-Life introduction, Black Mesa is said to be an equal opportunity employer, while no women other than the Holographic Assistant are seen during the game. Marc Laidlaw stated they all stayed at home that day; they knew there was something going on. This may be a tongue-in-cheek comment, as the real reason is that while the Half-Life team wanted the game to feature a wider range of characters, such as female scientists that would be found scarcely along the journey, they simply didn't have the needed texture read memory. The texture files for the female scientist model can be found in the folder "f_science" in the Half-Life: Source texture folder, but not in that of the original Half-Life.
- Gearbox fixed the "equal opportunity employer" issue in Decay by introducing the first female scientists as Gina Cross and Colette Green and a disabled scientist as Richard Keller (although Cross gave her likeness to the Holographic Assistant and is mentioned in a Black Mesa Announcement System message at the start of Half-Life).
- In Half-Life 2, Valve was able to finally introduce a female scientist the way they wanted to in Half-Life (in a chapter called Communications Center), as Judith Mossman. The whole relationship with her in Half-Life 2 is a scene they tried to do in Half-Life: they had done a lot for this scene where there was a betrayal by a woman scientist; at that point in the story, Freeman was being hunted and the player would think that the scientists were all friends, so this scientist would say she is going to get help and would tell Gordon to stay in the room he was in - and then she would call the guards. They were unable to do that properly in Half-Life - they didn't really have characters on that level, and Half-Life 2 was a good opportunity to finally implement the traitor female scientist concept.[5][6]
- Half-Life 2 also features another yet unidentified female scientist, seen in the photograph in Kleiner's Lab.
Gallery[edit]
Half-Life Alpha[edit]
A scientist in The Portal Device.
Early Screenshot.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Pre-release[edit]
Scientist near a blue Panther Eye in The Portal Device
White Bullsquid about to attack a scientist.
Early Bullsquid eating Black Mesa employees.
HECU soldiers beating up a scientist.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Ichthyosaur attacking a scientist in an early version of the CenCom Reservoir. There are no scientists there in the final version.
Panther Eye about to eat a scientist.
Scientists and crates.
Ironic sign and killed scientist in the same room.
Two scientists run from an early white Bullsquid.
Close-up of one of the early scientist designs with a Tentacle in the background.
A scientist kicking a vending machine.
Promotional art featuring a scientist cowering below a Gonarch.
A scientist looking at himself through a mirror.
A scientist with an early Bullsquid.
Scientist pushing a cart.
Scientist buying a soda.
Ditto, with a censored model.
An image featuring a later scientist design wearing black gloves.
Retail[edit]
Half-Life[edit]
Scientist and security guard in the Anomalous Materials lobby.
Scientists in Sector C.
Scientist and the G-Man discussing behind a window.
Scientists in the upper Anti-Mass Spectrometer Control Room.
Scientist performing CPR.
Eli Vance helping a wounded scientist up after the Resonance Cascade.
Eli Vance using a retinal scanner.
A Headcrab and a dead scientist in the Black Mesa Office Complex.
Tentacle taking away a scientist in Silo D.
Scientists hiding from the HECU.
The shotgun scientist and a security guard, mirrored in Half-Life 2.
Dead Survey Team member on Xen's floating islands.
Ditto, in Gonarch's Lair.
Ditto.
A living scientist stranded in Xen, in one of Nihilanth's chambers.
Half-Life: Uplink[edit]
A scientist and a security guard talking.
HECU soldiers killing scientists.
Half-Life: Opposing Force[edit]
Examining a Headcrab.
Shock Trooper grabbing a scientist and teleporting away.
A scientist fears for his life at the hands of the HECU.
Holographic scientist.
Rescued scientist.
Cleansuit Black Mesa logo.
Half-Life: Blue Shift[edit]
Scientist hindering Barney's ride to work.
Scientists in a laboratory along the Transit System.
Security guard and scientist playing Prax Wars 2: Dante's Revenge in a laundromat along the Transit System.
Scientist in civilian clothes reading The Mesa Times while waiting for his laundry in a laundromat along the Transit System.
Scientist hanging out at cafeteria.
Threatening a guard.
Scientist working on a malfunctioning computer.
Reading The Mesa Times.
A scientist trying to run away from Houndeyes.
Black Mesa SUV, with a dead scientist and security guard.
Dead Survey Team member on Xen.
Survey Team equipment on Xen.
Ditto, with crystal being studied.
Half-Life 2[edit]
The Anomalous Materials team posing in the Black Mesa Anomalous Materials lobby before the Black Mesa Incident, as seen in Kleiner's Lab.
Early version.
Advertisement[edit]
Black Mesa advertisement.
Ditto.
Ditto.
List of appearances[edit]
Main games[edit]
- Half-Life
- Half-Life: Opposing Force
- Half-Life: Blue Shift
- Half-Life: Decay
- Half-Life 2 (As former members)
- Half-Life 2: Episode One (As former members)
- Half-Life 2: Episode Two (As former members)
- Half-Life: Alyx (As former members; only Eli and Gordon appear in-game, and Kleiner is only mentioned)
Other[edit]
- Half-Life: Day One (First appearance)
- Half-Life: Uplink (Non-canonical appearance)
- Half-Life 2: Raising the Bar
- Half-Life 2: Lost Coast (As former member Gordon Freeman) (Non-canonical appearance)
References[edit]
- ↑ Half-Life 2: Raising the Bar, page 34
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Tweet: "First, jowly one is Mike Shapiro (Barney, Gman). The second and terrible one is me." @MarcLaidlaw (Marc Laidlaw) on Twitter (December 7, 2013) (archived)
- ↑ Half-Life Audio Script
- ↑
Post: "Kelly Bailey wrote all these Half-Life scientist lines" @marc_laidlaw (Marc Laidlaw) on X (October 31, 2021) (archived)
- ↑ PC Interview: Marc Laidlaw - Valve Software's plot man and the guy who puts the story in front of the crowbar on ComputerAndVideoGames.com (December 23, 2006) (archived)
- ↑ Old Half-Life section on GameSpot (archived)
