Rosenberg
| |
| Rosenberg | |
|---|---|
| Biographical information | |
| Homeworld | |
| Function(s) / Belongings | |
| Rank / Occupation |
Level 5 Scientist[1] |
| Equipment |
Glasses |
| Physical description | |
| Species |
Human |
| Gender |
Male |
| Hair color |
Brown |
| Eye color |
Brown (with glasses) |
| Chronological and political information | |
| Era(s) | |
| Faction | |
| Game information | |
| Voiced by | |
| Entity |
|
| Voice sample(s) | |
|
| |
- "Let those fools try and fight a battle they can't win. I just want to get out of here."
- ― Rosenberg
Dr. Rosenberg is a scientist working at the Black Mesa Research Facility. In Half-Life: Blue Shift, Barney Calhoun helps him and two of his colleagues escape from Black Mesa. Along with Dr. Richard Keller, he also plays an important role in the events of Half-Life: Decay, standing by the side of the two main protagonists, Dr. Gina Cross and Dr. Colette Green.
Contents
Biography[edit]
Background[edit]
Rosenberg is assigned to advanced physics research in the Anomalous Materials Laboratory and Lambda Complex. He is at the front of many scientific advances, such as the Anti-Mass Spectrometer, which he designed.[2]
His rank is unknown, but he has the highest level of security clearance, and judging by his habit of automatically issuing instructions to other advanced researchers, it would appear that he has a high level of seniority within the Science Team.
Rosenberg was among the first Black Mesa scientists to work on teleportation and was among those working on the experiment that eventually led to the Black Mesa Incident.[3]
Appearances[edit]
Half-Life: Decay[edit]
When Gina Cross and Colette Green first arrive at the test chamber's Control Room and are receiving instructions from Dr. Keller, Rosenberg interrupts them and voices his concern to Keller over having the Anti-Mass Spectrometer run above 90% capacity, which is past the safety buffer zone for the equipment. Dr. Keller, however, dismisses his concern and states that the administrator's orders for this are clear. Keller then tells Rosenberg that he could either stay and watch the experiment or return to his labs by the train yards. Rosenberg remains, and shortly thereafter the Resonance Cascade occurs. Rosenberg feels a huge amount of guilt over the Resonance Cascade and believes himself to be the most responsible.
Immediately after the disaster, Rosenberg converses with Dr. Keller about what they should do. Rosenberg makes clear that he believes their greatest responsibility should be to maintain the safety of all Black Mesa staff. Although Keller believes that they should attempt to reset the displacement fields first, he eventually comes to an agreement with Rosenberg. They soon come up with a plan to contact the military so that they can help the staff and evacuate the facility as soon as possible. Gina and Colette escort Rosenberg through the Hazard Course to a satellite communications center on the surface, where he is able to transmit a distress signal to the military. Dr. Rosenberg elects to wait there for the army, and this is the last time Gina and Colette ever see him, as they return below to assist Dr. Keller. However, they hear him speak later on.
Half-Life: Blue Shift[edit]
Soon, Rosenberg makes the grisly discovery of the military's ulterior motives of silencing all of the facility's personnel. With the help of fellow scientists Harold, Walter Bennet, and Simmons, he tries to enact an escape plan to get out of Black Mesa. During this time, though, he is captured by soldiers and held captive in a freight car for questioning. Meanwhile, Harold is cornered and fatally wounded. Before Harold dies, Barney Calhoun discovers him and kills the two soldiers who attacked him. Harold then instructs Barney to find Dr. Rosenberg to help him with his plan.
Barney is able to overcome the military occupying the Train Yard and frees Dr. Rosenberg. The latter then informs him that their plan is to use the equipment in the disused Section A-17 Prototype Labs to teleport to safety and, additionally, adds that the scientists have faith in a man named Gordon Freeman. Rosenberg does not share their optimism, however, questioning the validity of putting their resources into Gordon's mission.
He then leads Barney to the Prototype Labs where Walter Bennet and Simmons are already preparing the teleport. Rosenberg instructs him to activate and align a relay device on Xen in order to enable them to accurately set the teleport's destination. Barney then travels to Xen and is successful in accomplishing this task, but after returning through the portal back to Earth, they discover that a power cell is needed to replenish the teleport's power (it is at that point in Decay that Gina and Colette, temporarily caught in harmonic reflux, hear Rosenberg's voice calling Barney through the portal). Rosenberg then directs Barney to venture into hostile territory once again, mentioning that previous attempts by members of the facility have been fruitless and possibly fatal for those involved. Though guilty about sending Barney into such danger, he elaborates that it is integral for the procedure they're partaking in.
Although all men that have previously tried to accomplish the mission died in the process, Barney manages to acquire and charge a power cell from the lab's basement, delivering it to Rosenberg, Simmons, and Walter. Rosenberg then initiates the process and (with Barney's assistance) activates the teleport as they narrowly avoid the military's invasion of the Prototype Labs, teleporting to safety at the entrance of the Black Mesa South Access Tunnel before escaping in an SUV.
As Barney Calhoun survived, it can be presumed that Rosenberg, Walter, and Simmons lived as well, however, their fate remains unknown.[4]
Behind the scenes[edit]
- In Blue Shift, Rosenberg makes his first appearance during the Hazard Course training, long before Barney encounters him in the train yards. He can be seen in an observation room during the duck-jump portion of the training. This may be an error. The Hazard Course levels were originally made for Half-Life, and recycled for the PC version of Blue Shift. The original level has Slick, the fourth scientist variation in the same spot. Rosenberg replaces Slick in Blue Shift.
- The proper spelling for "Rosenberg" can be found in his Blue Shift texture files, as well as his sound folder. In the Decay files, his sound folder and model are also named likewise. In the
sentences.txt, he's called "Dr. Rosenburg".
- Placeholder dialogue for Rosenberg voiced by Harry S. Robins can still be found in the game files.
- In some Decay maps, Rosenberg's entity is named "Rosencrantz". This may be a reference to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, the play that inspired Opposing Force.
- While Rosenberg is using the default scientist model as a base with no changes, he has his own unique head, based on the fourth scientist variation "Slick" with minor changes. Rosenberg also replaces Slick in Blue Shift, which is why Slick makes no appearance in the game.
- Rosenberg has more health than a normal scientist. Furthermore, in Blue Shift he doesn't get angry or scared when he accidentally or intentionally gets shot by the player.[5]
Trivia[edit]
Rosenberg's first name is often referred to as "Stanley". However, this is fanon, as it was coined for the defunct Half-Life mod Half-Life: Escape Velocity.
Gallery[edit]
Half-Life: Blue Shift[edit]
Rosenberg.
High Definition version.
Dreamcast version.
Rosenberg is pleased to see that the Section A-17 Prototype Labs installations are still in good condition.
Rosenberg escaping through the Prototype Labs teleport.
Walter, Simmons, Rosenberg, and Barney on their way to freedom and safety outside the Black Mesa South Access Tunnel.
Half-Life: Decay[edit]
Rosenberg.
Rosenberg and Richard Keller in an argument.
After the incident.
In Hazard Course.
Opening the observation windows of the Hazard Course.
Hiding in an elevator from a ceiling turret.
Opening the door to the train at the end of the Hazard Course.
Opening the fence to the Communications Centre.
Inside the communication centre
Rosenberg sending a message to Dr. Keller to tell him they have the radio set up.
List of appearances[edit]
- Half-Life: Blue Shift (First appearance)
- Half-Life (PlayStation 2 instruction manual only) (Picture only)
- Half-Life: Decay
References[edit]
- ↑ Half-Life PlayStation 2 instruction manual
- ↑ Half-Life: Decay
- ↑ Half-Life: Blue Shift
- ↑ Stephen Bahl as quoted on Marc Laidlaw Vault on the ValveTime Forums
- ↑ Half-Life: Blue Shift - Level Design SDK on Valve ERC (August 31, 2001) (archived)
