City Scanner
This article is about the Half-Life 2 mechanical Scanner. For its predecessor, see Combot. |
For other uses, see Scanner (disambiguation). |
| |
| Scanner Type I | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Faction | |
| Type |
Mechanical |
| Individual information | |
| Health |
30[1] |
| Weapon(s) |
|
| Game information | |
| Entity |
|
| Designer(s) | |
- "Oh hell, Gordon! Were you followed again?"
- ― Barney Calhoun[src]
The City Scanner, also known as Scanner Type I[1] and often referred to simply as Scanner, is a lightly armored, flying security camera used by the Combine for surveillance in all of their occupied territories, including the cities. Its bio-mechanical counterpart is the Shield Scanner.
Contents
Overview[edit]
City Scanners are identifiable by their unique appearance – they are compact, spherical drones equipped with a central eye-like camera and multiple rotating propellers that enable agile aerial maneuvers. These robotic units are a ubiquitous presence in Combine cities, diligently overseeing various tasks in service of the Combine's objectives, with their primary role being surveillance. Employing advanced scanning technology, Scanners diligently monitor the populace to ensure adherence to Combine regulations, swiftly addressing any signs of resistance. They possess the capability to transmit real-time video feeds and data to Combine forces, thereby supplying them with current insights into city events.
Powered by a single Combine Battery, Scanners may occasionally yield salvageable batteries, suitable for use in HEV Suits, when destroyed. Despite their omnipresence, Scanners are lightly armored and susceptible to destruction through gunfire, collisions, or impacts. A severely damaged Scanner will often resort to a kamikaze dive, accompanied by a spinning maneuver and an alarm. When capturing images, they have the potential to momentarily blind individuals, even if the individual is not looking directly at the Scanner. The severity of this flash-induced blindness lessens if not directly exposed to the light, permitting limited visibility. Furthermore, this flash serves as a versatile searchlight, offering illumination in any direction.
Typically, Scanners are deployed exclusively within urban settings, seldom encountered elsewhere. They are frequently observed patrolling City 17's canals, particularly in search of refugees. Their utility extends to reconnaissance missions and the location of wanted individuals, facilitating the alerting of nearby Combine units when targets are located. In times of crisis, the Citadel can mobilize thousands of Scanners for city-wide, and potentially beyond-city, search operations, exemplified by their pursuit of Gordon Freeman in City 17.
Characterized by four independently moving front flaps surrounding the central camera, the Scanner's design is akin to that of Dog's head, seemingly constructed from the eye and three of the four flaps of a salvaged City Scanner.
Notably, Russell repurposed a Scanner, transforming it into a remote drone used for executing actions from the safety of his laboratory.
Behind the scenes[edit]
Multiple Scanner variations were created by Ted Backman and Dhabih Eng during the development of Half-Life 2, including the Wasteland Scanner, the Recon Synth, an unnamed Scanner, and the Combot, the direct predecessor to the City Scanner, with a design modeled after the shape and movement of a piranha.[3][2]
In the Half-Life 2 chapters Anticitizen One and "Follow Freeman!", the npc_create npc_cscanner console command spawns a Shield Scanner.
Trivia[edit]
- Scanners are not directly met in Episode Two; they are only seen on the route to White Forest.
- The Scanners in Half-Life: Alyx have the letters "XG" written in the Combine alphabet on their movable flaps.
Gallery[edit]
Pre-release[edit]
Unnamed Scanner concept.
Concept identified as the Recon Synth.
The Wasteland Scanner.
The Combot.
Retail[edit]
Half-Life 2[edit]
Model.
City Scanner welcoming Gordon to a brand new dystopian world.
City Scanner following a Citizen.
City Scanner using its searchlight on the Trainstation Plaza.
Scanner in front of the City 17 Trainstation.
The Citadel deploying City Scanners.
Two City Scanners following Gordon after the teleportation mishap.
City Scanner in the Citadel.
A Scanner light seen above in a Citadel shaft.
A Strider in the Citadel, followed by City Scanners.
Scanner above Crab and Mortar Synths.
Truncated red "CMB" Combine logo featured on its body.
Sprite used when seeing Scanners from a distance, for instance, when the Citadel first lights up or when Black Mesa East is attacked.
Ditto.
Ditto.
Half-Life: Alyx[edit]
Model.
Scanners during a Civil Protection sweep in Half-Life: Alyx.
Russell's drone, a modified City Scanner.
List of appearances[edit]
Main games[edit]
- Half-Life 2 (First appearance)
- Half-Life 2: Episode One
- Half-Life 2: Episode Two
- Half-Life: Alyx
Other[edit]
- Half-Life 2: Raising the Bar
- Half-Life 2: Deathmatch (Non-canonical appearance)
- Source Particle Benchmark (Game files only) (Non-canonical appearance)
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Half-Life 2 Prima Guide
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Half-Life 2: Raising the Bar, page 99
- ↑ Half-Life 2: Raising the Bar, page 98
