Half-Life (Dreamcast port)
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Cancelled |
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Half-Life for Dreamcast is a console port of Half-Life for the Sega Dreamcast developed by Gearbox Software and Captivation Digital Laboratories with the assistance of Sierra Entertainment and Valve Software. It was cancelled only a few weeks away from its projected release date.[1]
Contents
Development[edit]
Half-Life for Dreamcast was announced by Sierra on February 14, 2000 at the Milia trade show in Cannes, France.[2] It was stated that Captivation would be handling the Dreamcast technology while Gearbox would create all of the new content.[2] The port was to feature a new, exclusive mission pack called Half-Life: Blue Shift,[3] along with better visuals and effects.[4] A second disc release would have provided the online multiplayer experience utilizing SegaNet. This second multiplayer-focused game was planned to include Opposing Force's deathmatch and Capture the Flag modes (potentially along with the full singleplayer campaign as a bonus), Team Fortress Classic, standard Half-Life deathmatch, a version of Counter-Strike, and one or more of the popular multiplayer mods.[5][6]
Throughout development, the port's release was delayed several times, early stated to be Summer of 2000,[7] then postponed to September,[8] and later to November.[3] It was at this time some publications received early review copies, most criticizing the port's low and inconsistent framerate, long load times between levels, and no online play.[9][10] The game was subsequently delayed once again well into the next year. Only weeks prior to its expected June, 2001 shipping date, Sierra finally announced that Half-Life: Dreamcast was cancelled due to "changing market conditions" on June 15, 2001.[1][11] A Prima strategy guide had already been printed and was ready to be shipped.[12]
Half-Life: Blue Shift[edit]
Fate[edit]
The Blue Shift mission pack was later released for the PC as a standalone expansion pack. Some of the new models were reused in the Half-Life High Definition Pack, many slightly modified and presented in higher quality than was seen in the port.
In 2003, a late stage build of the Dreamcast version of Half-Life, numbered 1672, was leaked to the public. This build is dated from May 23, 2001, only about a month prior to the game's cancellation. In January 2012, a fan-made port of the unused Dreamcast content was released as a modification for the PC version of Half-Life.[13] On August 28, 2018, another build of the Dreamcast version, numbered 1638, was leaked to the public. It is dated April 20, 2001, a month earlier than the previously known build, and contains minor differences.[14] On February 27, 2023, a build numbered 1659 was leaked. Dated May 15, 2001, it is nearly identical to the 1672 build which dates to only about a week afterwards.[15]
Behind the scenes[edit]
Before Captivation Digital Laboratories' involvement, the Dreamcast port was originally planned to be developed by PyroTechnix, a division of Sierra at the time. Starting in January 1999, only one software engineer had a very short opportunity to begin work on the project, having access to the game's source code for three days, before the company received word that Sierra was closing them down, quickly cancelling this iteration of the port.[16]
Some of the enemies were removed, and most enemies fade out when killed in CPU intensive areas. The enemy and weapon stats were also tweaked. These changes are not documented in the strategy guide. There is no autosave feature. The player can save and load the game from the in-game options.
Cheats[edit]
The Dreamcast port utilizes a unique cheat system. In the main menu's Options, there's an Enter Code screen where three columns of words, comprised of a list of subjects, verbs, and objects, can be selected to form (often humorous) phrases called Access Codes. If a valid Access Code is entered, they'll appear in the subsequent Select Codes menu where they can then be toggled or activated.
Access Codes to warp to a given chapter are provided during the game when the chapter's name is displayed on screen. The Slow Motion code is shown after completing the Hazard Course, and the Invulnerability and Infinite Ammunition codes are shown after the ending credits of Half-Life and Blue Shift, respectively. The Invisibility code is shown after discovering the Chumtoad's Lair.
General[edit]
| Effect | Access Code |
|---|---|
| Slow Motion | Actions Ignore Silence |
| Invisibility | Soldiers Ignore Gordon |
| Infinite Ammo | Dreamcast Gives Firepower |
| Invulnerability | Otis Loves Dreamcast |
| Low Gravity | Gordon Abhors Gravity |
| Lock and Load (all weapons) | Gordon Ignore Explosives |
The Prima strategy guide lists the code "Xen teaches Black Mesa" which is meant to have the effect of "Xen gravity on Earth". However, it does not work in the leaked public build.
Locations[edit]
Half-Life chapters:
| Chapter | Access Code |
|---|---|
| Anomalous Materials | Gordon Goes to Work |
| Unforeseen Consequences | Gordon Teaches Physics |
| Office Complex | Files and Fear |
| "We've Got Hostiles" | Soldiers Visit Black Mesa |
| Blast Pit | Safe And Sound |
| Power Up | Big Is Beautiful |
| On A Rail | Trains And Rockets |
| Apprehension | Fear Finds Gordon |
| Residue Processing | Recycle Or Die |
| Questionable Ethics | Regression Brings Progress |
| Surface Tension | Combat And Death |
| "Forget About Freeman!" | Soldiers Eat Tacos |
| Lambda Core | Scientists At Work |
| Xen | Fear And Gravity |
| Gonarch's Lair | Xenophobia And Firepower |
| Interloper | Panic In Xen |
| Nihilanth | Panic And Die |
| Endgame | Answers Beget Questions |
Blue Shift chapters:
| Chapter | Access Code |
|---|---|
| Insecurity | Barney Goes to Work |
| Duty Calls | Red Is Scary |
| Captive Freight | Combat And Trains |
| Focal Point | Barney Visits Xen |
| Power Struggle | Power Is Progress |
| A Leap Of Faith | Physics Is Beautiful |
Gallery[edit]
Promotional artwork for GamePro magazine.
Magazine advertisement.
The texture file for the startup screen.
Variant.
The texture file for the main menu.
The logo.
Gordon Freeman model.
Zombie model.
Headcrab model.
Alien Grunt model.
Houndeye model.
Bullsquid model.
Vortigaunt model.
Barnacle model.
Gargantua model.
Models of the six soda cans.
Character models.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Not Given Half A Chance: The Cancellation of Half-Life on IGN (June 18, 2001) (archived)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Press Release on Blue's News (February 14, 2000)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Half-Life: Blue Shift Announced on Blue's News (August 29, 2000)
- ↑ Dreamcast Magazine (UK), Issue 13 on Out-of-Print Archive
- ↑ Half-Life Dreamcast Multiplayer on Eurogamer (September 26, 2000)
- ↑ Half-Life Dreamcast Preview on GameSpot (November 15, 2000) (archived)
- ↑
Half-Life: Dreamcast trailer on YouTube
- ↑ Half-Life: Dreamcast commercial on YouTube
- ↑ Dreamcast Magazine (UK), Issue 15
- ↑ Computer and Video Games magazine, Issue 228
- ↑ Half-Life Dreamcast Cancelled on Blue's News (June 15, 2001)
- ↑ Strategy Guide: Half-Life (DC) on Primagames.com (archived)
- ↑ Half-Life: Dreamcast released! on ModDB
- ↑ Half-Life 4/20/01 Dreamcast prototype Found! on ASSEMbler (archived)
- ↑
Tweet: "Release of a new build for Half-Life Dreamcast (May 15, 2001 prototype). This is now the most recent GDI available for this Unreleased game from Gearbox." @CombyLaurent1 on Twitter (February 27, 2023)
- ↑ The other cancelled ports of Half-Life on ValveTime
External links[edit]
- Official website (archived)
Half-Life: Dreamcast on Mod DB- Half-Life Dreamcast trailer on YouTube
- Half-Life Dreamcast trailer on YouTube
- Half-Life Dreamcast commercial on YouTube
