Talk:Development of Half-Life 2

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Link?

I don't know if anyone here would know the answer but here it goes. I found a download of the Half-Life 2 Beta and I was wondering if it would be illegal to download it, even though Half-Life 2 is already released. Erickos 06:33, 27 February 2009 (UTC)

Technically, yes because it is not approved by Valve for distribution. ...Also, can I have link please?Addo554 22:21, 16 March 2009 (UTC)

People, we'll never give a direct link. Just search! ;-) Klow 04:16, 17 March 2009 (UTC)

It's worth asking...

Alright, I realize I may not get anywhere with this, but I need to know if a playable "Alpha" version is even available. The leaked Beta was alright, but now I must quench an insatiable thirst for the original journey maps, which are supposedly included in an Alpha. I realize this content can be found in the WC Mappack, which I have, but the compiling process is a lengthy and complex annoyance on my computer. I found a series of videos on Youtube which include footage of supposedly a genuine Half-Life 2 Alpha version, (I will try to find these videos again and post the links here). It appears to be real, judging by the similarity of the incomplete levels to those of the leak, and the genuine start up screen and menu. However, this could be a version that the video's creator could have made himself. I have searched intensively for a downloadable Alpha, but with no success, and intensive web searching is not one of my favorite or strongest skills, by any means. So I ask you, does a playable Alpha version even exist? And if it does, where might I find it? I realize that most downloads and site links are usually not definite, but I need somewhere to start. Any help is greatly appreciated. Oh, and I am fully aware of the mods such as AirExchange and Missing Information that offer original journey content, but these are not quite what I am looking for at this time. If for some reason, you do not wish to speak over wiki talk, then my email is laytz94@gmail.com and any help, hints, tips, and suggestions are always welcome. Laytz94 17:17, 6 April 2009 (UTC)

Yes, it's worth asking! First off, there is no playable Alpha. The only official, playable games are the Anon and Russian, which contain like 1% of the WC mappack. I personally don't know any complete "Alpha" game. If such a thing were to be made (and many people are working on it, me included, but only on some maps), the person doing it should choose which maps he, themself, consider best, and then make up transition parts, since not all is connected, not all is consistent, since the old maps are all from different stages of the game's development. So the person should assemble the puzzle themself, and create from scratch many missing stuff (even scripts and/or dialogs). It's not as if Valve had a complete game and restarted from scratch, the old concepts were very incomplete when they were dropped. Personally, here's what I've been doing. Since there's no such thing as a complete old HL2, just list the possible cut chapters and locations, like listed here, and try to find existing "fixed" maps of that stuff. It will never be consistent and not that fun to play, but it's just for a behind the scenes purpose, so it doesn't matter (at least for me). So, if you start with the beginning, try to look for fixed maps of the factories. I found a quite buggy E3 Industrial some time ago, but I don't have any link. Then, find an early trainstation plaza. Missing Information provides E3 Terminal, even if it's too customized. You could find on on the HL Beta Project, to play with Anon, which is more faithful to the original. Then, you have the Manhack Arcade. I fixed one myself, and the link is in the article, although it's quite buggy. Then, Kleiner's Lab. GabeN is working on it, but they won't release anything before some time I guess. I also saw a Russian video of a partially remade lab scene, based on old scripts and sound files, with Mossman waiting on the other side of the portal in Kraken Base. I'm actually working on the original City 17 journey, from the trainstation to the lab, but likewise I'm not close to be done, and many things will still be missing in the end. My Manhack Arcade map will be a part of it and will be much better since my mapping skills have improved since then (it'll also include the very first Arcade, since I only included the two last so far). Then there are the canals, and I put a link in the Canals page of a cool map by HGrunt from the HL Beta project. Then Eli's lab, go on the BM East article and you'll find a link to my map, although I'm also working on a much better and more faithul version. Ravenholm then, again there's a link. And you know the E3 maps available in MI. Nothing (yet) for the Coast and the very first, much smaller prison near the Depot. I might fix one one day... Then, I guess you know the AirEx mod from the HL Beta project. For the Borealis, just play MI like everybody else. Then there's a Kraken map link, but it's very different. I started to fix the original maps, but there's not much to see there, so I got bored. There are no Weather Control maps, no C-130. Skyscraper, two links. The complete first version, and some part of the second version. Rooftops, see MI for the first map. Then for the streetwars, I'm working on an old sniper map, but I can't find (yet) why it doesn't compile. Then there are a lot of Citadel maps, which can be easly fixed, but I don't have a link to them. I just put a link to the Consul office in the Citadel article, map that many others have also fixed. I think that's about it. The other alternative would also be fixing the maps yourself, that's what I started doing for the maps that haven't been fixed yet or that I wasn't able to find... Just test what's already done and complete yourself, since it's pointless to fix already fixed maps, especially if it's good stuff. So just assemble the puzzle yourself with the different maps you find. Just know that you will never find anything more complete or faithful than the final HL2, and that any other old map can be freely modified, since they are just work in progress and/or concepts. When you fix a map and think that sth sucks, you can freely modify it, since that's maybe what would have happened if the map had been completed. That's it, I hope I have been exhaustive! Even too much, maybe. And please give links to those vids! Klow 18:41, 6 April 2009 (UTC)

Half-Life 1 Beta?

I know this is only distantly related, but I was wondering if we can get a page up on the HL1 beta as well? Videos exist of it on Youtube, and there's some info in Raising the Bar. A lot of information exists about it, especially about how Barneys were supposed to be enemies, and stuff like that.

On another note, I would very much like a link to the WC mappack (I sincerely can't find it, just anon and Russian), so if someone has a link to a download of it, please email me (abezecny@gmail.com). I know this is illegal, but I sincerely can't find the WC anywhere. 76.113.229.35 21:09, 28 April 2009 (UTC)

Being the one who filled most of the HL2 Beta gaps here, apart from the videos I saw, the models still present in the retail files and RtB, I don't have much to say about the HL1 Beta. And it's pointless to provide info without reliable sources, so I wouldn't venture an article with random unverifiable stuff. Also, the HL2 Beta is legendary in the community, since its leakage, providing an endless goldmine on the subject, helped fans to know the HL2 evolution better, while I don't know how all these genuine HL1 vids came to light, since I guess no HL1 stuff was ever leaked. So anyway even if there's more to say that I already know, feel free to share it, but the fact that there's enough for a single article and that the info is too big to be added to the proper existing articles is yet to be verified. For example, where do all the vids come from??... Klow 23:38, 28 April 2009 (UTC)

The End of the Beta

Just wondering is their an end to the beta. Does it cut off at a certain chapter or does it just always freeze up at a certain point. I know it is unfinished and the original Half Life 2 was suppose to be huge. Could you imagine if Valve tried to make that using Valve time, they would be on eps 47. Back to my original question does the game have an "ending" per say or is it like someone decided to only copy half the files. (because you know half the files, Half life)----Thelastlambda 23:56, 5 May 2009 (UTC)

It's not a game, it's a generic name for all things before the HL2 release. So no, it has no end. And if you are talking about the playable Beta, it has no end either, of course. Klow 00:23, 6 May 2009 (UTC)

In the beta, you can't go past the level that leads to the Citadel because there is no exit and there are no Citadel maps. However, it is impossible to play through the entire game; if you try to play it "legit", you'll crash as soon as you leave the first map (I think because its exit marker points to a map that isn't included with the beta). Darkman 4 01:20, 6 May 2009 (UTC)

Actually maps like trainstation_02 are fixed in the Russian beta, so you can go a bit farther. But it really just a bad and ugly HL2. Klow 10:27, 6 May 2009 (UTC)

Yeah, if you get the wcmappack there are loads of maps and I found a couple which could be canidates for the end of the game. although it is extremly incomplete I'm gonna fix it. The fate though of everything from beta is still questionable.

E3 Videos

Where can I find the original E3 demo videos online? I would love to see them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHH5L39YtDE Enjoy, it's quite the series of videos.--YabbaMyIcing 17:23, 30 August 2009 (UTC)

Here you can find all e3 2003 videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/CombineOverWiki#grid/user/66E45CB21874450A

And here cut e3 2002 ones http://www.youtube.com/user/LLIJIbIK#grid/user/8E76CDAB81840AD2 --ШЛЫК 07:37, September 30, 2010 (UTC)

The Axel Project

Hey there.

Just letting you guys know that The Axel Project has been released. You can download it from here: http://www.theaxelproject.com/

Just thought you'd like to know :) — Unsigned comment by Inevitab13

What is it? Boygenius32 23:02, March 3, 2010 (UTC)

Russian VS Anon VS WC Mappack VS Missing Information

Is ther any difference between the four besides MI being a mod? Which is better, and by better I mean story elements. MI seems to have NPC interaction, but does the other three? Help would be much appreciated, Thanks. — Unsigned comment by 142.68.252.126

Russian beta features some fixes and some removals. The best beta is Anon beta: it is original release. WC Mappack is pack of uncompiled maps that were made by Valve working best on Anon's beta. Missing Information is custom HL2 mod, it is not beta itself, and it features some custom content, but lacks many maps from beta. For best xp, play Anon's beta. >SiPlus -talk -contributions_ 11:30, January 17, 2011 (UTC)

Thank you very much for your reply. I have only been able to find the anon beta in fragmented parts 001 to 100, besides a torrent downloader, is there anywhere that I can get them all in one download? — Unsigned comment by 142.68.252.126

Downloads section at Half-Life: Beta Project, but you have to switch language to English on the website and register on it to access downloads. And, please, sign your comments by typing ~~~~. >SiPlus -talk -contributions_ 19:16, January 17, 2011 (UTC)

Is it just me?

Is it just me, or does the Russian Leak not work at all? I tried new game, selected a map, nothing happened. Created a new server, chose a map, max amount of players: 1. Nothing happened. How can I fix this? --TDIGuy was here! Zoey is... FREAKING AWESOME!!! 22:19, June 1, 2011 (UTC)

Development Timeline / References

1999: "Early plot ideas are discussed and one of these ideas is this: Gordon Freeman is to travel to other planets and destroy the Xen forces on them." Is there a source for this? I'm also noticing a lack of references for the entire page. --69.119.147.218 05:48, September 2, 2011 (UTC)

Found a video with lots of dialogue

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skXBBeO2Kq shows an early version of Black Mesa East, with dialogue more story about the HL universe and the characters. It also hints at an early version of the storyline, with both Ravenholm and the Antlions to come before Black Mesa East. Where should I put all this juicy information? Lilgreenman 01:56, 9 April 2012 (UTC)

I can't view the video. It's a malformed U.R.L., according to YouTube. - Fatt Daddy Inc. ^{Talk! Edits!} 13:25, 9 April 2012 (UTC)