HL2 Update voicing

[night hal 1]

I played this version a bit. The lighting is very nice and the textures noticeably enhanced. The commentary is also great but the familiar voices probably assist with that. I'm happy with it, especially since it was free. If Ross does decide to do Freemans Mind in HL2, this is the version he should play.

There's a very fine line with this. As the creator of an upcoming "Mind" series, I've noticed a lot of things about the production that most people (including me) would overlook.

 

There's a point where the show stops becoming about your character's thoughts on its situations and surroundings and becomes about the situations and surroundings themselves. That's why I'm afraid of continuing my series into Portal 2. Whereas the original Portal usually has one line of dialogue at the start and end of every chamber and plenty of dead air to fill in between, Portal 2 has A LOT more of its own dialogue to fill that dead air.

 

While I'm not saying it'd be an issue that would be brought up with using the update version, it is something to consider with Half-Life 2 in general. There are actual CHARACTERS, and storylines to follow, which makes it a lot different of a process when coming up with jokes and inner-dialogue.

 

I'm sorry, what were we talking about?

[Mr Nutt]

I played this version a bit. The lighting is very nice and the textures noticeably enhanced. The commentary is also great but the familiar voices probably assist with that. I'm happy with it, especially since it was free. If Ross does decide to do Freemans Mind in HL2, this is the version he should play.

There's a very fine line with this. As the creator of an upcoming "Mind" series, I've noticed a lot of things about the production that most people (including me) would overlook.

 

There's a point where the show stops becoming about your character's thoughts on its situations and surroundings and becomes about the situations and surroundings themselves. That's why I'm afraid of continuing my series into Portal 2. Whereas the original Portal usually has one line of dialogue at the start and end of every chamber and plenty of dead air to fill in between, Portal 2 has A LOT more of its own dialogue to fill that dead air.

 

While I'm not saying it'd be an issue that would be brought up with using the update version, it is something to consider with Half-Life 2 in general. There are actual CHARACTERS, and storylines to follow, which makes it a lot different of a process when coming up with jokes and inner-dialogue.

 

I'm sorry, what were we talking about?

I'm fairly certain that Ross has said he thinks Half-Life 2 would be easier to write for. Probably because of said characters, but that part I'm just guessing. But first, HE HAS TO MAKE THE MOVIE!

[BTGBullseye]

Just because it's hard work doesn't mean it deserves praise.

If you can find ANYONE doing what he's doing, only better, then maybe that would be true... But so far as I know, he is the only one to ever even TRY to improve the graphics to levels that compete with modern games.

 

If my job is to dig a 20ft by 20ft ditch and I do 10ft by 10ft and tell my supervisor I'm done, I'm gonna get screamed at. If I tell him "You can just bring in someone with heavy-duty equipment to finish the job off," he's going to yell at me. And possibly can my ass. If I then ran to the CEO (somehow) and complained that my supervisor was harsh, I'm going to get laughed at.

And if you volunteered to dig the hole for someone who want's but doesn't really need it, weren't getting compensated in any way for it, and the person you're digging it for probably wouldn't have had the hole made otherwise, that would be an entirely different situation... It would also be the correct analogy for use when describing the Cinematic Mod. He's digging the hole on his own time, with his own equipment, on his own soil, and lending the hole out to anyone that wants it. Complaining that he needs to dig it bigger, or make the sides slanted to an exact angle is flat out moronic.

 

Wanna know why they ignore you? Because that doesn't make the mod any better.

It doesn't make the mod any better to claim that it does things it doesn't, or that it doesn't do things it does. If you really want to improve the mod, quit saying that it forces you to do anything, (it doesn't) or claiming that it includes stuff it doesn't, (like the Adult Pimper content which isn't even available directly from the main site) and start providing suggestions. If he says no, then so be it. However, if you're nice and don't be a massive dick by saying that what you want is more important than any of his hard work, (like what you just did here) then you'll probably get a positive response.

 

They know they can configure everything, but the problem is that the mod is still bad and that they shouldn't have to.

You still haven't clarified HOW it's so bad, (apart from misinformation/lies, hyperbole, and obsolete data) or why he should default it's customizations to your preference.

 

FF needs to stop acting like a child, and listen to what people tell him, even if it's harsh. Otherwise, if he cannot stand the heat, he needs to stay out of the kitchen. End of story.

As I already said, he is ignoring the dicks. Why should anyone pay any attention to someone that can't even bother to spend 30 seconds customizing their install? Why should anyone pay any attention to someone that can't provide constructive comments? Why should anyone pay any attention to assholes that post like you do? (I do to try and let you know just how dickish you sound, so that you have the opportunity to change)

 

Every time CM is brought up somewhere I see 2 kinds of people: Those that despise it (the vast majority), and valiant white knights who defends its every detail.

What makes you think they are the majority? Statistically speaking, the majority are silent. Another statistic: The ones that have pointless issues (like people that want the defaults customization to be what they want it to be) with the program are far more likely to comment on the program than someone who likes the program the way it is, or someone who has legitimate issues with it, or someone who actually spends a few minutes customizing the program to their liking.

 

FF needs to listen to the majority if he wants them to shut up.

So now you're saying that the loud and obnoxious few know what's best for everyone, and everyone should do what they say? I could go into this topic with you too, but I don't want to... Too many arguments, and not enough logic coming from people on your side of the argument.

 

_____________________________________________________________________________________

 

Just to be perfectly clear, I have taken issue with some aspects of his mod previously, but kept them contained in private correspondence... He implemented one of my suggestions, and decided against the other. I still don't like the other issue, (coincidentally, it's the semi-porn grafitti that you mentioned) but I'm not going to be an idiot and complain about it as loudly and dickishly as possible on his forum, when a 1 minute download and install will correct the issue completely. (or for that matter, a couple file deletions that'd take less than 15 seconds) I'm also not going to allow someone to post libel against him, without countering it.

[night hal 1]

I played this version a bit. The lighting is very nice and the textures noticeably enhanced. The commentary is also great but the familiar voices probably assist with that. I'm happy with it, especially since it was free. If Ross does decide to do Freemans Mind in HL2, this is the version he should play.

There's a very fine line with this. As the creator of an upcoming "Mind" series, I've noticed a lot of things about the production that most people (including me) would overlook.

 

There's a point where the show stops becoming about your character's thoughts on its situations and surroundings and becomes about the situations and surroundings themselves. That's why I'm afraid of continuing my series into Portal 2. Whereas the original Portal usually has one line of dialogue at the start and end of every chamber and plenty of dead air to fill in between, Portal 2 has A LOT more of its own dialogue to fill that dead air.

 

While I'm not saying it'd be an issue that would be brought up with using the update version, it is something to consider with Half-Life 2 in general. There are actual CHARACTERS, and storylines to follow, which makes it a lot different of a process when coming up with jokes and inner-dialogue.

 

I'm sorry, what were we talking about?

I'm fairly certain that Ross has said he thinks Half-Life 2 would be easier to write for. Probably because of said characters, but that part I'm just guessing. But first, HE HAS TO MAKE THE MOVIE!

Like I said, it may not necessarily be any more difficult, but it certainly is very different.

 

Try to think of a Mind series in Half-Life as compared to, I don't know, Bulletstorm.

[kingkolton9]

Extremely long post: 15,000+ characters.

 

 

If you can find ANYONE doing what he's doing, only better, then maybe that would be true... But so far as I know, he is the only one to ever even TRY to improve the graphics to levels that compete with modern games.

 

Being the only one doing it, does not mean it's automatically good and deserves praise, although originality does go a long way. I wouldn't say they compete. He's a competent programmer and he knows his way around modest level design, but there are a lot of fine details that he doesn't seem to catch on to and from what I can tell his map optimization certainly needs work. Pretty textures and models are nice, but part of making them are understanding the environment they're in and how that affects them. He doesn't seem to fully grasp that concept yet. Just because it's pretty and you like it doesn't mean it fits. If I recall, FF has a degree in computer programming, and I think it shows. One of the lessons every great artist, for video games at least, is that you have to not become attached to your art. You have to design with a modest balance of cold logic and creativity, which is ironically hard for a programmer to do. Technical artists are well paid in comparison to their pure-artist counterparts for a reason.

 

And if you volunteered to dig the hole for someone who want's but doesn't really need it, weren't getting compensated in any way for it, and the person you're digging it for probably wouldn't have had the hole made otherwise, that would be an entirely different situation... It would also be the correct analogy for use when describing the Cinematic Mod. He's digging the hole on his own time, with his own equipment, on his own soil, and lending the hole out to anyone that wants it. Complaining that he needs to dig it bigger, or make the sides slanted to an exact angle is flat out moronic.

 

When did I say they didn't need it? It's the foundation for a garage, let's say. It doesn't really matter if it's free, whether I volunteer or I'm...Interning (I don't really think that works here, as I don't think construction jobs really do interning, but I'm going with it.). If I'm going to do it, free or not, it better be done damn right. Otherwise, the blame is on me. I said I was going to do it, someone trusted me to do it. I failed to deliver. He's digging the hole out with his own time, using his and other's equipment (The source engine and models, textures and particle effects that he either bought or took). It can be his own soil, and he can lend it to anyone that wants it, but that doesn't mean that others shouldn't complain. He advertised a 20x20x20 hole, it's 18x18x20. It doesn't have to all be right angles, but his hole has 70° angles.

 

It doesn't make the mod any better to claim that it does things it doesn't, or that it doesn't do things it does. If you really want to improve the mod, quit saying that it forces you to do anything, (it doesn't) or claiming that it includes stuff it doesn't, (like the Adult Pimper content which isn't even available directly from the main site) and start providing suggestions. If he says no, then so be it. However, if you're nice and don't be a massive dick by saying that what you want is more important than any of his hard work, (like what you just did here) then you'll probably get a positive response.

 

I had a few things wrong. I admitted it when I was. The rest was right. When did I say FF forced me to do anything? See, I see these arguments like "It's free," or "You don't *have* to use it" thrown around, sometimes in roundabout ways, and I disagree. Like you said: He's the only one doing this kind of project. So if I want to play an HD Half Life 2, I have to go to him. And for not having an adult pimper on his main site those models are pretty damn lewd. I'm providing suggestions. Just because they're harsh doesn't make them worthless, but if someone says "I don't like your ideas, because I want to focus on tits and ass more than actual content" to me, I'm going to be pretty damn pissed. People have tried to be nice to fakefactory. The only thing that really gets through his skull is brashness. He's like Bill from King of the Hill: Be nice to him, and you'll probably get nowhere. Slap him around, and he'll start listening. I'd bet there wouldn't even be a rather-tame Jamil Mullen based model if it weren't for the fact that people are angry with what he keeps doing. He'd just make more tits and ass models. But he *still* won't just do a recreation of the original without showing some skin. He's going to wait for "episode 3," which shows to me that he really doesn't want to do it.

 

He knows exactly what the community wants with this mod. He has the means to placate them, rather easily. He chooses not to and instead continues doing what makes them angry and then bitches about it. The fault, at some point, rests mostly on his shoulders. You have not begun to see me become a massive dick about it.

 

 

You still haven't clarified HOW it's so bad, (apart from misinformation/lies, hyperbole, and obsolete data) or why he should default it's customizations to your preference.

 

Misinformation? No. Got some things wrong? Yes. Uh, yeah I did. He stole animations, which I don't see you addressing, (or would those be particle effects?), obsolete data means he still did it at one point, and I don't recall hyperbole. I recall metaphors and similes. Was the whole poster and plant thing not enough for you? I see you ignored it, probably because it doesn't fit your narrative, but that's okay. You want more? Okay, let's go for more, but I'll keep my list to bulletpoints:

 

Half Life 2 never exactly tells you where you are. It was intentional. FF just says "Fuck it! Lativa!"

 

Plants cannot thrive like that in an area such as City 17. Plants were intentionally not there to begin with.

 

On that note, grass cannot survive toxic waste

 

More polygons does not equal good level design

 

That means not covering up your view of the citadel with buildings in episode 1 when valve clearly intended for you to see a lot of it without looking all the way up. Or, other things like this.

 

Props are not a substitute for good atmosphere, nor do they need to be everywhere

 

Neither is a shitton of post processing effects

 

Changing the time of levels (Ravenholm being at late dusk instead of deep night or what he's done with the coast before) is changing the pace and atmosphere of the game and is unnecessary

 

Boobs and ass are not a substitute for good character development, optional or not

 

If you want to play CM, you have to download them, as the lite version is rather old, making them only "semi-optional."

 

Jiggle physics aren't a good substitute, either

 

Grime does not need to be absolutely fucking everywhere

 

Dildos are not an essential feature of a character's room

 

Going overboard with features does not automatically make them better

 

Unless it's any of the following: Optimization, attention to detail, precision, bugfixes

 

Making something optional is not necessarily a patch or a fix. It's probably Jerry rigging.

 

If you're going to be placing obscene, non-optional graffiti in a video game, please place it where human hands could reach. Graffiti can not be placed extremely high up on a bridge or building while on the run from an inter-universal police force

 

Being free is not an excuse to sloppily or shittily do something when one has the time, resources, knowledge and money to not do it in such a way

 

Optimize your game. Mipmaps and compression are your friend.

 

When making an HD version of a mod, try to keep the characters the same. They're part of the atmosphere.

 

Changes for the sake of changes leaves everybody mad.

 

When you have help that is able to create amazing, community pleasing characters and models that you are unable to do, it's best to not fire said help over an internet fight.

 

This goes for anything, not just characters and models. It's okay to ask for help.

 

Try not to have your optional music play a lot.

 

Listen to the community sometimes. Even if you don't like it. It gets heat off your back.

 

When doing a remaster of something, try to keep the same atmosphere and setting. Black Mesa did well at this. What BM did not do is add a bunch of damn bridges.

 

When releasing a mod, it's good to do a bit of a playtest all the way through and take notes. You might catch a few things you missed, like naked zombies, naked Alyx's at the beginning of episode 1, or other glaring details.

 

Making a mod for the community and doing things that you know most of the community do not enjoy and will not enjoy will have foreseen consequences.

 

Is that enough for you?

 

As I already said, he is ignoring the dicks. Why should anyone pay any attention to someone that can't even bother to spend 30 seconds customizing their install? Why should anyone pay any attention to someone that can't provide constructive comments? Why should anyone pay any attention to assholes that post like you do? (I do to try and let you know just how dickish you sound, so that you have the opportunity to change)

 

Why should anyone pay any attention to someone that can't even bother to spend 30 seconds customizing their install?

 

Why should I bother discussing this with someone who clearly cannot read? Let me spell it out for you:

 

I

 

Customized

 

My

 

Install.

 

The game is still shit. And so what they're dicks? Big deal. He's what...48 now? He needs to grow the fuck up. If he cannot handle the community at large then he needs to remove himself. The "dicks" are clearly in the majority, and expressing your opinion harshly, especially on the internet, does not degrade its message. Why should anyone pay attention to people like you who refuse to accept that Fakefactory has a bunch of problems with his mod and just say "Optional! Free! Old version!" Excuses excuses excuses and bad ones at that. If you want to criticize others for being a massive asshole, it's best not to start name calling. Especially when you're carrying yourself as such a mature person.

 

What gets me is that the mod is *beautiful* but there's only 2 versions of the mod that have a lite version and that some of his maps have serious problems. If he would release a pack of optimized textures, particle and post-processing effects that you could shove in your sourcemods folder, and use the default Half Life 2 maps he would make so many people happy and take a bunch of heat off of himself. Yet he continues down the path of destruction, causes himself trouble, cries about it, doesn't listen to anything that's said, continues down the path of destruction, cries about... ad infinitum.

 

At this point he has to know what he's doing wrong! If this is truly to help himself learn all of this stuff, then he needs to take all criticisms and sides into account. The answers have been presented to him time after time after time after time and he doesn't listen. I'm sure plenty of people are still trying to be nice but his skull is so mindbogglingly thick! If it's not supposed to be a community project, don't release it to the community!

 

What makes you think they are the majority? Statistically speaking, the majority are silent. Another statistic: The ones that have pointless issues (like people that want the defaults customization to be what they want it to be) with the program are far more likely to comment on the program than someone who likes the program the way it is, or someone who has legitimate issues with it, or someone who actually spends a few minutes customizing the program to their liking.

 

Of those that I see speaking up, from every thread on reddit, facepunch, youtube comments, etc, I see that people agree that his models are terrible and too lewd. Those are not pointless issues. They aren't saying that the default customization should be with Alyx #568348. They're saying that there shouldn't be 568347 lewd Alyx models.

 

You've created a false... quadchotomy. So people who don't like the models can't have legitimate issues? Or they don't spend time customizing the models? Or they don't like it? Because I fit into all 4. I don't like the models, I have legitimate issues, I spent time customizing the models and I love the graphics.

 

You seem to have trouble with this concept: There is no reason to have 40hDD models of Alyx based off of models. None. There is no reason for that to be the default. There is no reason to use a Victoria's Secret model as the base for Alyx. There is no reason that Alyx is one of the only characters this is done to. There is no reason that there shouldn't be a straight-to-HD version of all of the characters. There is no reason for there to be a dildo in her room. There is no reason that all other characters shouldn't have a bunch of fashion choices. There is no reason that the guys in City 17 shouldn't be walking around in short short shorts if he's taken it this far. (Side note: I would play that and love it, if only for the humor. )

 

There is no reason...Except that he gets off of them.

 

So now you're saying that the loud and obnoxious few know what's best for everyone, and everyone should do what they say? I could go into this topic with you too, but I don't want to... Too many arguments, and not enough logic coming from people on your side of the argument.

 

Being loud and obnoxious doesn't make you wrong unless you say that you're not loud and obnoxious. And even then, only about that. I wouldn't say they're the few, either. A glance at every discussion about the mod says otherwise. You're saying that the quiet few know what's best for everyone, and that everyone should do what they say?

 

If you want to get into it: Feel free. I have the time, and energy and am always looking for a good challenge. There's a PM system. Oh, and I could say the same damn thing about your dear side of choices and butterflies and flowers, where grass grows in toxic waste and butts jiggle like jello (but only if you want!)

 

 

Just to be perfectly clear, I have taken issue with some aspects of his mod previously, but kept them contained in private correspondence... He implemented one of my suggestions, and decided against the other. I still don't like the other issue, (coincidentally, it's the semi-porn grafitti that you mentioned) but I'm not going to be an idiot and complain about it as loudly and dickishly as possible on his forum, when a 1 minute download and install will correct the issue completely. (or for that matter, a couple file deletions that'd take less than 15 seconds) I'm also not going to allow someone to post libel against him, without countering it.

 

I am not going to allow someone to post ultra-coddling posts about the dude without countering it because I don't think he deserves it. It's not libel: It's true and his reputation couldn't be damaged any more than it is. If that's true, you better start going through facepunch and reddit, because you have a lot of work to do, apparently. A minute download? Of what? What files should I delete?

 

Or, here's a thought: He could listen to the community. Even if they're the minority. Because, apparently, the minority is causing him more problems than the quiets who want tits and ass.

 

[BTGBullseye]

Extremely long post: 15,000+ characters.

 

 

*a completely unformatted response, made to be as painful to read as possible*

 

You aren't going to gain any friends if your responses to criticism are unformatted walls of text inside a quote section... You reformat that and maybe you might be taken seriously. Formatting matters around here. (unlike some other sites)

 

[BTGBullseye]

This is my most recent issue with the HL Update... The exact same issue I had with the old versions.

 

[Binky The Rabbit]

Fixed it:

--------

Extremely long post: 15,000+ characters.

 

 

If you can find ANYONE doing what he's doing, only better, then maybe that would be true... But so far as I know, he is the only one to ever even TRY to improve the graphics to levels that compete with modern games.

Being the only one doing it, does not mean it's automatically good and deserves praise, although originality does go a long way. I wouldn't say they compete. He's a competent programmer and he knows his way around modest level design, but there are a lot of fine details that he doesn't seem to catch on to and from what I can tell his map optimization certainly needs work. Pretty textures and models are nice, but part of making them are understanding the environment they're in and how that affects them. He doesn't seem to fully grasp that concept yet. Just because it's pretty and you like it doesn't mean it fits. If I recall, FF has a degree in computer programming, and I think it shows. One of the lessons every great artist, for video games at least, is that you have to not become attached to your art. You have to design with a modest balance of cold logic and creativity, which is ironically hard for a programmer to do. Technical artists are well paid in comparison to their pure-artist counterparts for a reason.

And if you volunteered to dig the hole for someone who want's but doesn't really need it' date=' weren't getting compensated in any way for it, and the person you're digging it for probably wouldn't have had the hole made otherwise, that would be an entirely different situation... It would also be the correct analogy for use when describing the Cinematic Mod. He's digging the hole on his own time, with his own equipment, on his own soil, and lending the hole out to anyone that wants it. Complaining that he needs to dig it bigger, or make the sides slanted to an exact angle is flat out moronic.[/quote']When did I say they didn't need it? It's the foundation for a garage, let's say. It doesn't really matter if it's free, whether I volunteer or I'm...Interning (I don't really think that works here, as I don't think construction jobs really do interning, but I'm going with it.). If I'm going to do it, free or not, it better be done damn right. Otherwise, the blame is on me. I said I was going to do it, someone trusted me to do it. I failed to deliver. He's digging the hole out with his own time, using his and other's equipment (The source engine and models, textures and particle effects that he either bought or took). It can be his own soil, and he can lend it to anyone that wants it, but that doesn't mean that others shouldn't complain. He advertised a 20x20x20 hole, it's 18x18x20. It doesn't have to all be right angles, but his hole has 70° angles.

It doesn't make the mod any better to claim that it does things it doesn't' date=' or that it doesn't do things it does. If you really want to improve the mod, quit saying that it forces you to do anything, (it doesn't) or claiming that it includes stuff it doesn't, (like the Adult Pimper content which isn't even available directly from the main site) and start providing suggestions. If he says no, then so be it. However, if you're nice and don't be a massive dick by saying that what you want is more important than any of his hard work, (like what you just did here) then you'll probably get a positive response.[/quote']I had a few things wrong. I admitted it when I was. The rest was right. When did I say FF forced me to do anything? See, I see these arguments like "It's free," or "You don't *have* to use it" thrown around, sometimes in roundabout ways, and I disagree. Like you said: He's the only one doing this kind of project. So if I want to play an HD Half Life 2, I have to go to him. And for not having an adult pimper on his main site those models are pretty damn lewd. I'm providing suggestions. Just because they're harsh doesn't make them worthless, but if someone says "I don't like your ideas, because I want to focus on tits and ass more than actual content" to me, I'm going to be pretty damn pissed. People have tried to be nice to fakefactory. The only thing that really gets through his skull is brashness. He's like Bill from King of the Hill: Be nice to him, and you'll probably get nowhere. Slap him around, and he'll start listening. I'd bet there wouldn't even be a rather-tame Jamil Mullen based model if it weren't for the fact that people are angry with what he keeps doing. He'd just make more tits and ass models. But he *still* won't just do a recreation of the original without showing some skin. He's going to wait for "episode 3," which shows to me that he really doesn't want to do it.

 

He knows exactly what the community wants with this mod. He has the means to placate them, rather easily. He chooses not to and instead continues doing what makes them angry and then bitches about it. The fault, at some point, rests mostly on his shoulders. You have not begun to see me become a massive dick about it.

You still haven't clarified HOW it's so bad, (apart from misinformation/lies, hyperbole, and obsolete data) or why he should default it's customizations to your preference.

Misinformation? No. Got some things wrong? Yes. Uh, yeah I did. He stole animations, which I don't see you addressing, (or would those be particle effects?), obsolete data means he still did it at one point, and I don't recall hyperbole. I recall metaphors and similes. Was the whole poster and plant thing not enough for you? I see you ignored it, probably because it doesn't fit your narrative, but that's okay. You want more? Okay, let's go for more, but I'll keep my list to bulletpoints:

 

- Half Life 2 never exactly tells you where you are. It was intentional. FF just says "Fuck it! Lativa!"

- Plants cannot thrive like that in an area such as City 17. Plants were intentionally not there to begin with.

- On that note, grass cannot survive toxic waste

- More polygons does not equal good level design

- That means not covering up your view of the citadel with buildings in episode 1 when valve clearly intended for you to see a lot of it without looking all the way up. Or, other things like this.

- Props are not a substitute for good atmosphere, nor do they need to be everywhere

- Neither is a shitton of post processing effects

- Changing the time of levels (Ravenholm being at late dusk instead of deep night or what he's done with the coast before) is changing the pace and atmosphere of the game and is unnecessary

- Boobs and ass are not a substitute for good character development, optional or not

- If you want to play CM, you have to download them, as the lite version is rather old, making them only "semi-optional."

- Jiggle physics aren't a good substitute, either

- Grime does not need to be absolutely fucking everywhere

- Dildos are not an essential feature of a character's room

- Going overboard with features does not automatically make them better

- Unless it's any of the following: Optimization, attention to detail, precision, bugfixes

- Making something optional is not necessarily a patch or a fix. It's probably Jerry rigging.

- If you're going to be placing obscene, non-optional graffiti in a video game, please place it where human hands could reach. Graffiti can not be placed extremely high up on a bridge or building while on the run from an inter-universal police force

- Being free is not an excuse to sloppily or shittily do something when one has the time, resources, knowledge and money to not do it in such a way

- Optimize your game. Mipmaps and compression are your friend.

- When making an HD version of a mod, try to keep the characters the same. They're part of the atmosphere.

- Changes for the sake of changes leaves everybody mad.

- When you have help that is able to create amazing, community pleasing characters and models that you are unable to do, it's best to not fire said help over an internet fight.

- This goes for anything, not just characters and models. It's okay to ask for help.

- Try not to have your optional music play a lot.

- Listen to the community sometimes. Even if you don't like it. It gets heat off your back.

- When doing a remaster of something, try to keep the same atmosphere and setting. Black Mesa did well at this. What BM did not do is add a bunch of damn bridges.

- When releasing a mod, it's good to do a bit of a playtest all the way through and take notes. You might catch a few things you missed, like naked zombies, naked Alyx's at the beginning of episode 1, or other glaring details.

- Making a mod for the community and doing things that you know most of the community do not enjoy and will not enjoy will have foreseen consequences.

 

Is that enough for you?

As I already said, he is ignoring the dicks. Why should anyone pay any attention to someone that can't even bother to spend 30 seconds customizing their install? Why should anyone pay any attention to someone that can't provide constructive comments? Why should anyone pay any attention to assholes that post like you do? (I do to try and let you know just how dickish you sound, so that you have the opportunity to change)

 

Why should anyone pay any attention to someone that can't even bother to spend 30 seconds customizing their install?

Why should I bother discussing this with someone who clearly cannot read? Let me spell it out for you:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jJ9sQTX4EE

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jJ9sQTX4EE

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jJ9sQTX4EE

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jJ9sQTX4EE

 

The game is still shit. And so what they're dicks? Big deal. He's what...48 now? He needs to grow the fuck up. If he cannot handle the community at large then he needs to remove himself. The "dicks" are clearly in the majority, and expressing your opinion harshly, especially on the internet, does not degrade its message. Why should anyone pay attention to people like you who refuse to accept that Fakefactory has a bunch of problems with his mod and just say "Optional! Free! Old version!" Excuses excuses excuses and bad ones at that. If you want to criticize others for being a massive asshole, it's best not to start name calling. Especially when you're carrying yourself as such a mature person.

 

What gets me is that the mod is *beautiful* but there's only 2 versions of the mod that have a lite version and that some of his maps have serious problems. If he would release a pack of optimized textures, particle and post-processing effects that you could shove in your sourcemods folder, and use the default Half Life 2 maps he would make so many people happy and take a bunch of heat off of himself. Yet he continues down the path of destruction, causes himself trouble, cries about it, doesn't listen to anything that's said, continues down the path of destruction, cries about... ad infinitum.

 

At this point he has to know what he's doing wrong! If this is truly to help himself learn all of this stuff, then he needs to take all criticisms and sides into account. The answers have been presented to him time after time after time after time and he doesn't listen. I'm sure plenty of people are still trying to be nice but his skull is so mindbogglingly thick! If it's not supposed to be a community project, don't release it to the community!

 

What makes you think they are the majority? Statistically speaking, the majority are silent. Another statistic: The ones that have pointless issues (like people that want the defaults customization to be what they want it to be) with the program are far more likely to comment on the program than someone who likes the program the way it is, or someone who has legitimate issues with it, or someone who actually spends a few minutes customizing the program to their liking.

 

Of those that I see speaking up, from every thread on reddit, facepunch, youtube comments, etc, I see that people agree that his models are terrible and too lewd. Those are not pointless issues. They aren't saying that the default customization should be with Alyx #568348. They're saying that there shouldn't be 568347 lewd Alyx models.

 

You've created a false... quadchotomy. So people who don't like the models can't have legitimate issues? Or they don't spend time customizing the models? Or they don't like it? Because I fit into all 4. I don't like the models, I have legitimate issues, I spent time customizing the models and I love the graphics.

 

You seem to have trouble with this concept: There is no reason to have 40hDD models of Alyx based off of models. None. There is no reason for that to be the default. There is no reason to use a Victoria's Secret model as the base for Alyx. There is no reason that Alyx is one of the only characters this is done to. There is no reason that there shouldn't be a straight-to-HD version of all of the characters. There is no reason for there to be a dildo in her room. There is no reason that all other characters shouldn't have a bunch of fashion choices. There is no reason that the guys in City 17 shouldn't be walking around in short short shorts if he's taken it this far. (Side note: I would play that and love it, if only for the humor. )

 

There is no reason...Except that he gets off of them.

 

So now you're saying that the loud and obnoxious few know what's best for everyone, and everyone should do what they say? I could go into this topic with you too, but I don't want to... Too many arguments, and not enough logic coming from people on your side of the argument.

 

Being loud and obnoxious doesn't make you wrong unless you say that you're not loud and obnoxious. And even then, only about that. I wouldn't say they're the few, either. A glance at every discussion about the mod says otherwise. You're saying that the quiet few know what's best for everyone, and that everyone should do what they say?

 

If you want to get into it: Feel free. I have the time, and energy and am always looking for a good challenge. There's a PM system. Oh, and I could say the same damn thing about your dear side of choices and butterflies and flowers, where grass grows in toxic waste and butts jiggle like jello (but only if you want!)

Just to be perfectly clear, I have taken issue with some aspects of his mod previously, but kept them contained in private correspondence... He implemented one of my suggestions, and decided against the other. I still don't like the other issue, (coincidentally, it's the semi-porn grafitti that you mentioned) but I'm not going to be an idiot and complain about it as loudly and dickishly as possible on his forum, when a 1 minute download and install will correct the issue completely. (or for that matter, a couple file deletions that'd take less than 15 seconds) I'm also not going to allow someone to post libel against him, without countering it.

I am not going to allow someone to post ultra-coddling posts about the dude without countering it because I don't think he deserves it. It's not libel: It's true and his reputation couldn't be damaged any more than it is. If that's true, you better start going through facepunch and reddit, because you have a lot of work to do, apparently. A minute download? Of what? What files should I delete?

 

Or, here's a thought: He could listen to the community. Even if they're the minority. Because, apparently, the minority is causing him more problems than the quiets who want tits and ass.

 

 

--------

END OF TRANSLATION

[kingkolton9]

This is my most recent issue with the HL Update... The exact same issue I had with the old versions.

 

 

That, uh, shouldn't be happening. Are you sure everything installed correctly? Are your graphics card drivers old? Try verifying Half Life 2's game cache.

 

By the way: Are you playing on 2 4:3 monitors? Because your crosshair isn't exactly at the center.

 

 

 

 

 

Let me fix that for you:

 

You aren't going to gain any friends if your responses to criticism are unformatted walls of text inside a quote section... You reformat that and maybe you might be taken seriously. Formatting matters around here. (unlike some other sites)

 

You aren't going to gain any friends if you talk to everyone like that, but just for you I reformatted my post. How is this one, my liege:

 

Extremely long post: 15,000+ characters.

 

 

If you can find ANYONE doing what he's doing, only better, then maybe that would be true... But so far as I know, he is the only one to ever even TRY to improve the graphics to levels that compete with modern games.

 

Being the only one doing it, does not mean it's automatically good and deserves praise, although originality does go a long way. I wouldn't say they compete. He's a competent programmer and he knows his way around modest level design, but there are a lot of fine details that he doesn't seem to catch on to and from what I can tell his map optimization certainly needs work. Pretty textures and models are nice, but part of making them are understanding the environment they're in and how that affects them. He doesn't seem to fully grasp that concept yet. Just because it's pretty and you like it doesn't mean it fits. If I recall, FF has a degree in computer programming, and I think it shows. One of the lessons every great artist, for video games at least, is that you have to not become attached to your art. You have to design with a modest balance of cold logic and creativity, which is ironically hard for a programmer to do. Technical artists are well paid in comparison to their pure-artist counterparts for a reason.

 

And if you volunteered to dig the hole for someone who want's but doesn't really need it, weren't getting compensated in any way for it, and the person you're digging it for probably wouldn't have had the hole made otherwise, that would be an entirely different situation... It would also be the correct analogy for use when describing the Cinematic Mod. He's digging the hole on his own time, with his own equipment, on his own soil, and lending the hole out to anyone that wants it. Complaining that he needs to dig it bigger, or make the sides slanted to an exact angle is flat out moronic.

 

When did I say they didn't need it? It's the foundation for a garage, let's say. It doesn't really matter if it's free, whether I volunteer or I'm...Interning (I don't really think that works here, as I don't think construction jobs really do interning, but I'm going with it.). If I'm going to do it, free or not, it better be done damn right. Otherwise, the blame is on me. I said I was going to do it, someone trusted me to do it. I failed to deliver. He's digging the hole out with his own time, using his and other's equipment (The source engine and models, textures and particle effects that he either bought or took). It can be his own soil, and he can lend it to anyone that wants it, but that doesn't mean that others shouldn't complain. He advertised a 20x20x20 hole, it's 18x18x20. It doesn't have to all be right angles, but his hole has 70° angles.

 

It doesn't make the mod any better to claim that it does things it doesn't, or that it doesn't do things it does. If you really want to improve the mod, quit saying that it forces you to do anything, (it doesn't) or claiming that it includes stuff it doesn't, (like the Adult Pimper content which isn't even available directly from the main site) and start providing suggestions. If he says no, then so be it. However, if you're nice and don't be a massive dick by saying that what you want is more important than any of his hard work, (like what you just did here) then you'll probably get a positive response.

 

I had a few things wrong. I admitted it when I was. The rest was right. When did I say FF forced me to do anything? See, I see these arguments like "It's free," or "You don't *have* to use it" thrown around, sometimes in roundabout ways, and I disagree. Like you said: He's the only one doing this kind of project. So if I want to play an HD Half Life 2, I have to go to him. And for not having an adult pimper on his main site those models are pretty damn lewd.

 

I'm providing suggestions. Just because they're harsh doesn't make them worthless, but if someone says "I don't like your ideas, because I want to focus on tits and ass more than actual content" to me, I'm going to be pretty damn pissed. People have tried to be nice to fakefactory. The only thing that really gets through his skull is brashness. He's like Bill from King of the Hill: Be nice to him, and you'll probably get nowhere. Slap him around, and he'll start listening. I'd bet there wouldn't even be a rather-tame Jamil Mullen based model if it weren't for the fact that people are angry with what he keeps doing. He'd just make more tits and ass models. But he *still* won't just do a recreation of the original without showing some skin. He's going to wait for "episode 3," which shows to me that he really doesn't want to do it.

 

He knows exactly what the community wants with this mod. He has the means to placate them, rather easily. He chooses not to and instead continues doing what makes them angry and then bitches about it. The fault, at some point, rests mostly on his shoulders. You have not begun to see me become a massive dick about it.

 

 

You still haven't clarified HOW it's so bad, (apart from misinformation/lies, hyperbole, and obsolete data) or why he should default it's customizations to your preference.

 

Misinformation? No. Got some things wrong? Yes. Uh, yeah I did. He stole animations, which I don't see you addressing, (or would those be particle effects?), obsolete data means he still did it at one point, and I don't recall hyperbole. I recall metaphors and similes. Was the whole poster and plant thing not enough for you? I see you ignored it, probably because it doesn't fit your narrative, but that's okay. You want more? Okay, let's go for more, but I'll keep my list to bulletpoints:

 

• Half Life 2 never exactly tells you where you are. It was intentional. FF just says "Fuck it! Lativa!"
   
  Plants cannot thrive like that in an area such as City 17. Plants were intentionally not there to begin with.
   
  On that note, grass cannot survive toxic waste
   
  More polygons does not equal good level design
   
  That means not covering up your view of the citadel with buildings in episode 1 when valve clearly intended for you to see a lot of it without looking all the way up. Or, other things like this.
   
  Props are not a substitute for good atmosphere, nor do they need to be everywhere
   
  Neither is a shitton of post processing effects
   
  Changing the time of levels (Ravenholm being at late dusk instead of deep night or what he's done with the coast before) is changing the pace and atmosphere of the game and is unnecessary
   
  Boobs and ass are not a substitute for good character development, optional or not
   
  If you want to play CM, you have to download them, as the lite version is rather old, making them only "semi-optional."
   
  Jiggle physics aren't a good substitute, either
   
  Grime does not need to be absolutely fucking everywhere
   
  Dildos are not an essential feature of a character's room
   
  Going overboard with features does not automatically make them better
   
  Unless it's any of the following: Optimization, attention to detail, precision, bugfixes
   
  Making something optional is not necessarily a patch or a fix. It's probably Jerry rigging.
   
  If you're going to be placing obscene, non-optional graffiti in a video game, please place it where human hands could reach. Graffiti can not be placed extremely high up on a bridge or building while on the run from an inter-universal police force
   
  Being free is not an excuse to sloppily or shittily do something when one has the time, resources, knowledge and money to not do it in such a way
   
  Optimize your game. Mipmaps and compression are your friend.
   
  When making an HD version of a mod, try to keep the characters the same. They're part of the atmosphere.
   
  Changes for the sake of changes leaves everybody mad.
   
  When you have help that is able to create amazing, community pleasing characters and models that you are unable to do, it's best to not fire said help over an internet fight.
   
  This goes for anything, not just characters and models. It's okay to ask for help.
   
  Try not to have your optional music play a lot.
   
  Listen to the community sometimes. Even if you don't like it. It gets heat off your back.
   
  When doing a remaster of something, try to keep the same atmosphere and setting. Black Mesa did well at this. What BM did not do is add a bunch of damn bridges.
   
  When releasing a mod, it's good to do a bit of a playtest all the way through and take notes. You might catch a few things you missed, like naked zombies, naked Alyx's at the beginning of episode 1, or other glaring details.
   
  Making a mod for the community and doing things that you know most of the community do not enjoy and will not enjoy will have foreseen consequences.

 

Is that enough for you?

 

As I already said, he is ignoring the dicks. Why should anyone pay any attention to someone that can't even bother to spend 30 seconds customizing their install? Why should anyone pay any attention to someone that can't provide constructive comments? Why should anyone pay any attention to assholes that post like you do? (I do to try and let you know just how dickish you sound, so that you have the opportunity to change)

 

Why should anyone pay any attention to someone that can't even bother to spend 30 seconds customizing their install?

 

Why should I bother discussing this with someone who clearly cannot read? Let me spell it out for you:

 

I

 

Customized

 

My

 

Install.

 

The game is still shit. And so what they're dicks? Big deal. He's what...48 now? He needs to grow the fuck up. If he cannot handle the community at large then he needs to remove himself. The "dicks" are clearly in the majority, and expressing your opinion harshly, especially on the internet, does not degrade its message. Why should anyone pay attention to people like you who refuse to accept that Fakefactory has a bunch of problems with his mod and just say "Optional! Free! Old version!" Excuses excuses excuses and bad ones at that. If you want to criticize others for being a massive asshole, it's best not to start name calling. Especially when you're carrying yourself as such a mature person.

 

What gets me is that the mod is *beautiful* but there's only 2 versions of the mod that have a lite version and that some of his maps have serious problems. If he would release a pack of optimized textures, particle and post-processing effects that you could shove in your sourcemods folder, and use the default Half Life 2 maps he would make so many people happy and take a bunch of heat off of himself. Yet he continues down the path of destruction, causes himself trouble, cries about it, doesn't listen to anything that's said, continues down the path of destruction, cries about... ad infinitum.

 

At this point he has to know what he's doing wrong! If this is truly to help himself learn all of this stuff, then he needs to take all criticisms and sides into account. The answers have been presented to him time after time after time after time and he doesn't listen. I'm sure plenty of people are still trying to be nice but his skull is so mindbogglingly thick! If it's not supposed to be a community project, don't release it to the community!

 

What makes you think they are the majority? Statistically speaking, the majority are silent. Another statistic: The ones that have pointless issues (like people that want the defaults customization to be what they want it to be) with the program are far more likely to comment on the program than someone who likes the program the way it is, or someone who has legitimate issues with it, or someone who actually spends a few minutes customizing the program to their liking.

 

Of those that I see speaking up, from every thread on reddit, facepunch, youtube comments, etc, I see that people agree that his models are terrible and too lewd. Those are not pointless issues. They aren't saying that the default customization should be with Alyx #568348. They're saying that there shouldn't be 568347 lewd Alyx models.

 

You've created a false... quadchotomy. So people who don't like the models can't have legitimate issues? Or they don't spend time customizing the models? Or they don't like it? Because I fit into all 4. I don't like the models, I have legitimate issues, I spent time customizing the models and I love the graphics.

 

You seem to have trouble with this concept: There is no reason to have 40hDD models of Alyx based off of models. None. There is no reason for that to be the default. There is no reason to use a Victoria's Secret model as the base for Alyx. There is no reason that Alyx is one of the only characters this is done to. There is no reason that there shouldn't be a straight-to-HD version of all of the characters. There is no reason for there to be a dildo in her room. There is no reason that all other characters shouldn't have a bunch of fashion choices. There is no reason that the guys in City 17 shouldn't be walking around in short short shorts if he's taken it this far. (Side note: I would play that and love it, if only for the humor. )

 

There is no reason...Except that he gets off of them.

 

So now you're saying that the loud and obnoxious few know what's best for everyone, and everyone should do what they say? I could go into this topic with you too, but I don't want to... Too many arguments, and not enough logic coming from people on your side of the argument.

 

Being loud and obnoxious doesn't make you wrong unless you say that you're not loud and obnoxious. And even then, only about that. I wouldn't say they're the few, either. A glance at every discussion about the mod says otherwise. You're saying that the quiet few know what's best for everyone, and that everyone should do what they say?

 

In fact, you could apply that argument to any group you don't like that's in the majority.

 

If you want to get into it: Feel free. I have the time, and energy and am always looking for a good challenge. There's a PM system. I could say the same damn thing about your dear side of choices and butterflies and flowers, where grass grows in toxic waste and butts jiggle like jello (but only if you want!)

 

 

Just to be perfectly clear, I have taken issue with some aspects of his mod previously, but kept them contained in private correspondence... He implemented one of my suggestions, and decided against the other. I still don't like the other issue, (coincidentally, it's the semi-porn grafitti that you mentioned) but I'm not going to be an idiot and complain about it as loudly and dickishly as possible on his forum, when a 1 minute download and install will correct the issue completely. (or for that matter, a couple file deletions that'd take less than 15 seconds) I'm also not going to allow someone to post libel against him, without countering it.

 

I am not going to allow someone to post ultra-coddling posts about the dude without countering it because I don't think he deserves it. It's not libel: It's true and his reputation couldn't be damaged any more than it is. If that's true, you better start going through facepunch and reddit, because you have a lot of work to do, apparently. A minute download? Of what? What files should I delete?

 

Or, here's a thought: He could listen to the community. Even if they're the minority. Because, apparently, the minority is causing him more problems than the quiets who want tits and ass.

 

[BTGBullseye]

That, uh, shouldn't be happening. Are you sure everything installed correctly? Are your graphics card drivers old? Try verifying Half Life 2's game cache.

 

By the way: Are you playing on 2 4:3 monitors? Because your crosshair isn't exactly at the center.

Everything corrected itself after saving and loading... It's a problem I've always had with the HLU versions. (I have been using them since the earliest test releases) It's something deep in the code, because nothing changes except for loading from a save.

 

As for the other, I cut off the unrelated parts of the screenshot so save on overall size... I seriously doubt there are any combination of monitors that run a total of 1532 x 672 for a resolution. (cropped from 1600 x 900)

 

If you can find ANYONE doing what he's doing, only better, then maybe that would be true... But so far as I know, he is the only one to ever even TRY to improve the graphics to levels that compete with modern games.

 

Being the only one doing it, does not mean it's automatically good and deserves praise, although originality does go a long way. I wouldn't say they compete. He's a competent programmer and he knows his way around modest level design, but there are a lot of fine details that he doesn't seem to catch on to and from what I can tell his map optimization certainly needs work. Pretty textures and models are nice, but part of making them are understanding the environment they're in and how that affects them. He doesn't seem to fully grasp that concept yet. Just because it's pretty and you like it doesn't mean it fits. If I recall, FF has a degree in computer programming, and I think it shows. One of the lessons every great artist, for video games at least, is that you have to not become attached to your art. You have to design with a modest balance of cold logic and creativity, which is ironically hard for a programmer to do. Technical artists are well paid in comparison to their pure-artist counterparts for a reason.

 

And if you volunteered to dig the hole for someone who want's but doesn't really need it, weren't getting compensated in any way for it, and the person you're digging it for probably wouldn't have had the hole made otherwise, that would be an entirely different situation... It would also be the correct analogy for use when describing the Cinematic Mod. He's digging the hole on his own time, with his own equipment, on his own soil, and lending the hole out to anyone that wants it. Complaining that he needs to dig it bigger, or make the sides slanted to an exact angle is flat out moronic.

 

When did I say they didn't need it? It's the foundation for a garage, let's say. It doesn't really matter if it's free, whether I volunteer or I'm...Interning (I don't really think that works here, as I don't think construction jobs really do interning, but I'm going with it.). If I'm going to do it, free or not, it better be done damn right. Otherwise, the blame is on me. I said I was going to do it, someone trusted me to do it. I failed to deliver. He's digging the hole out with his own time, using his and other's equipment (The source engine and models, textures and particle effects that he either bought or took). It can be his own soil, and he can lend it to anyone that wants it, but that doesn't mean that others shouldn't complain. He advertised a 20x20x20 hole, it's 18x18x20. It doesn't have to all be right angles, but his hole has 70° angles.

 

It doesn't make the mod any better to claim that it does things it doesn't, or that it doesn't do things it does. If you really want to improve the mod, quit saying that it forces you to do anything, (it doesn't) or claiming that it includes stuff it doesn't, (like the Adult Pimper content which isn't even available directly from the main site) and start providing suggestions. If he says no, then so be it. However, if you're nice and don't be a massive dick by saying that what you want is more important than any of his hard work, (like what you just did here) then you'll probably get a positive response.

 

I had a few things wrong. I admitted it when I was. The rest was right. When did I say FF forced me to do anything? See, I see these arguments like "It's free," or "You don't *have* to use it" thrown around, sometimes in roundabout ways, and I disagree. Like you said: He's the only one doing this kind of project. So if I want to play an HD Half Life 2, I have to go to him. And for not having an adult pimper on his main site those models are pretty damn lewd.

 

I'm providing suggestions. Just because they're harsh doesn't make them worthless, but if someone says "I don't like your ideas, because I want to focus on tits and ass more than actual content" to me, I'm going to be pretty damn pissed. People have tried to be nice to fakefactory. The only thing that really gets through his skull is brashness. He's like Bill from King of the Hill: Be nice to him, and you'll probably get nowhere. Slap him around, and he'll start listening. I'd bet there wouldn't even be a rather-tame Jamil Mullen based model if it weren't for the fact that people are angry with what he keeps doing. He'd just make more tits and ass models. But he *still* won't just do a recreation of the original without showing some skin. He's going to wait for "episode 3," which shows to me that he really doesn't want to do it.

 

He knows exactly what the community wants with this mod. He has the means to placate them, rather easily. He chooses not to and instead continues doing what makes them angry and then bitches about it. The fault, at some point, rests mostly on his shoulders. You have not begun to see me become a massive dick about it.

 

 

You still haven't clarified HOW it's so bad, (apart from misinformation/lies, hyperbole, and obsolete data) or why he should default it's customizations to your preference.

 

Misinformation? No. Got some things wrong? Yes. Uh, yeah I did. He stole animations, which I don't see you addressing, (or would those be particle effects?), obsolete data means he still did it at one point, and I don't recall hyperbole. I recall metaphors and similes. Was the whole poster and plant thing not enough for you? I see you ignored it, probably because it doesn't fit your narrative, but that's okay. You want more? Okay, let's go for more, but I'll keep my list to bulletpoints:

 

• Half Life 2 never exactly tells you where you are. It was intentional. FF just says "Fuck it! Lativa!"
   
  Plants cannot thrive like that in an area such as City 17. Plants were intentionally not there to begin with.
   
  On that note, grass cannot survive toxic waste
   
  More polygons does not equal good level design
   
  That means not covering up your view of the citadel with buildings in episode 1 when valve clearly intended for you to see a lot of it without looking all the way up. Or, other things like this.
   
  Props are not a substitute for good atmosphere, nor do they need to be everywhere
   
  Neither is a shitton of post processing effects
   
  Changing the time of levels (Ravenholm being at late dusk instead of deep night or what he's done with the coast before) is changing the pace and atmosphere of the game and is unnecessary
   
  Boobs and ass are not a substitute for good character development, optional or not
   
  If you want to play CM, you have to download them, as the lite version is rather old, making them only "semi-optional."
   
  Jiggle physics aren't a good substitute, either
   
  Grime does not need to be absolutely fucking everywhere
   
  Dildos are not an essential feature of a character's room
   
  Going overboard with features does not automatically make them better
   
  Unless it's any of the following: Optimization, attention to detail, precision, bugfixes
   
  Making something optional is not necessarily a patch or a fix. It's probably Jerry rigging.
   
  If you're going to be placing obscene, non-optional graffiti in a video game, please place it where human hands could reach. Graffiti can not be placed extremely high up on a bridge or building while on the run from an inter-universal police force
   
  Being free is not an excuse to sloppily or shittily do something when one has the time, resources, knowledge and money to not do it in such a way
   
  Optimize your game. Mipmaps and compression are your friend.
   
  When making an HD version of a mod, try to keep the characters the same. They're part of the atmosphere.
   
  Changes for the sake of changes leaves everybody mad.
   
  When you have help that is able to create amazing, community pleasing characters and models that you are unable to do, it's best to not fire said help over an internet fight.
   
  This goes for anything, not just characters and models. It's okay to ask for help.
   
  Try not to have your optional music play a lot.
   
  Listen to the community sometimes. Even if you don't like it. It gets heat off your back.
   
  When doing a remaster of something, try to keep the same atmosphere and setting. Black Mesa did well at this. What BM did not do is add a bunch of damn bridges.
   
  When releasing a mod, it's good to do a bit of a playtest all the way through and take notes. You might catch a few things you missed, like naked zombies, naked Alyx's at the beginning of episode 1, or other glaring details.
   
  Making a mod for the community and doing things that you know most of the community do not enjoy and will not enjoy will have foreseen consequences.

 

Is that enough for you?

 

As I already said, he is ignoring the dicks. Why should anyone pay any attention to someone that can't even bother to spend 30 seconds customizing their install? Why should anyone pay any attention to someone that can't provide constructive comments? Why should anyone pay any attention to assholes that post like you do? (I do to try and let you know just how dickish you sound, so that you have the opportunity to change)

 

Why should anyone pay any attention to someone that can't even bother to spend 30 seconds customizing their install?

 

Why should I bother discussing this with someone who clearly cannot read? Let me spell it out for you:

 

I

 

Customized

 

My

 

Install.

 

The game is still shit. And so what they're dicks? Big deal. He's what...48 now? He needs to grow the fuck up. If he cannot handle the community at large then he needs to remove himself. The "dicks" are clearly in the majority, and expressing your opinion harshly, especially on the internet, does not degrade its message. Why should anyone pay attention to people like you who refuse to accept that Fakefactory has a bunch of problems with his mod and just say "Optional! Free! Old version!" Excuses excuses excuses and bad ones at that. If you want to criticize others for being a massive asshole, it's best not to start name calling. Especially when you're carrying yourself as such a mature person.

 

What gets me is that the mod is *beautiful* but there's only 2 versions of the mod that have a lite version and that some of his maps have serious problems. If he would release a pack of optimized textures, particle and post-processing effects that you could shove in your sourcemods folder, and use the default Half Life 2 maps he would make so many people happy and take a bunch of heat off of himself. Yet he continues down the path of destruction, causes himself trouble, cries about it, doesn't listen to anything that's said, continues down the path of destruction, cries about... ad infinitum.

 

At this point he has to know what he's doing wrong! If this is truly to help himself learn all of this stuff, then he needs to take all criticisms and sides into account. The answers have been presented to him time after time after time after time and he doesn't listen. I'm sure plenty of people are still trying to be nice but his skull is so mindbogglingly thick! If it's not supposed to be a community project, don't release it to the community!

 

What makes you think they are the majority? Statistically speaking, the majority are silent. Another statistic: The ones that have pointless issues (like people that want the defaults customization to be what they want it to be) with the program are far more likely to comment on the program than someone who likes the program the way it is, or someone who has legitimate issues with it, or someone who actually spends a few minutes customizing the program to their liking.

 

Of those that I see speaking up, from every thread on reddit, facepunch, youtube comments, etc, I see that people agree that his models are terrible and too lewd. Those are not pointless issues. They aren't saying that the default customization should be with Alyx #568348. They're saying that there shouldn't be 568347 lewd Alyx models.

 

You've created a false... quadchotomy. So people who don't like the models can't have legitimate issues? Or they don't spend time customizing the models? Or they don't like it? Because I fit into all 4. I don't like the models, I have legitimate issues, I spent time customizing the models and I love the graphics.

 

You seem to have trouble with this concept: There is no reason to have 40hDD models of Alyx based off of models. None. There is no reason for that to be the default. There is no reason to use a Victoria's Secret model as the base for Alyx. There is no reason that Alyx is one of the only characters this is done to. There is no reason that there shouldn't be a straight-to-HD version of all of the characters. There is no reason for there to be a dildo in her room. There is no reason that all other characters shouldn't have a bunch of fashion choices. There is no reason that the guys in City 17 shouldn't be walking around in short short shorts if he's taken it this far. (Side note: I would play that and love it, if only for the humor. )

 

There is no reason...Except that he gets off of them.

 

So now you're saying that the loud and obnoxious few know what's best for everyone, and everyone should do what they say? I could go into this topic with you too, but I don't want to... Too many arguments, and not enough logic coming from people on your side of the argument.

 

Being loud and obnoxious doesn't make you wrong unless you say that you're not loud and obnoxious. And even then, only about that. I wouldn't say they're the few, either. A glance at every discussion about the mod says otherwise. You're saying that the quiet few know what's best for everyone, and that everyone should do what they say?

 

In fact, you could apply that argument to any group you don't like that's in the majority.

 

If you want to get into it: Feel free. I have the time, and energy and am always looking for a good challenge. There's a PM system. I could say the same damn thing about your dear side of choices and butterflies and flowers, where grass grows in toxic waste and butts jiggle like jello (but only if you want!)

 

 

Just to be perfectly clear, I have taken issue with some aspects of his mod previously, but kept them contained in private correspondence... He implemented one of my suggestions, and decided against the other. I still don't like the other issue, (coincidentally, it's the semi-porn grafitti that you mentioned) but I'm not going to be an idiot and complain about it as loudly and dickishly as possible on his forum, when a 1 minute download and install will correct the issue completely. (or for that matter, a couple file deletions that'd take less than 15 seconds) I'm also not going to allow someone to post libel against him, without countering it.

 

I am not going to allow someone to post ultra-coddling posts about the dude without countering it because I don't think he deserves it. It's not libel: It's true and his reputation couldn't be damaged any more than it is. If that's true, you better start going through facepunch and reddit, because you have a lot of work to do, apparently. A minute download? Of what? What files should I delete?

 

Or, here's a thought: He could listen to the community. Even if they're the minority. Because, apparently, the minority is causing him more problems than the quiets who want tits and ass.

Much better.

 

And my responses:

 

This will not necessarily be in order, but will cover as much as possible...

 

First, you specified "He forces you to use the new, poorly composed music" and then ignored me when I said very clearly that you are completely wrong. If you had looked at the Configurator for long enough to configure ANYTHING at all, you wouldn't be able to miss the option, or the fact that it isn't on by default.

 

This counters your later statement that you had customized, and then complained that certain customizations were not only present, but forced on you in the default mod. Either you did customize it, and are complaining illogically and falsely about them, or you didn't customize and have no experience to back up your claims.

 

Now on to your 'analogy'... You're still focussing on him doing something that is required, not something that isn't. The game wouldn't cease to function at all without the mod, and therefore your analogy is not accurate. Just because it doesn't fit what you want, that doesn't mean that it's bad, or that it's designer deserves to be ridiculed like you're doing. If you dislike the mod, then fine, but don't go around spreading lies and misinformation about it.

 

You're also still (incorrectly) saying that the large breasted models are included in the default mod. There are plenty other issues you still claim that have no basis in reality, (some which I even countered) and you somehow claim to have somewhere in a previous post admitted your 'mistake'. If you made a mistake, and admitted it, you wouldn't be back claiming the same nonsense in a later post.

 

Because he's the only one to do it, it does mean it's better than all the rest. Saying that it's bad requires a point of comparison, and when there are none, bad is still the best. If you're claiming it to be bad objectively, you would first have to be objective. (your statements in your posts here have proven that you aren't even close to objective)

 

If you're providing suggestions, it won't be phrased like "there's too much porn in this mod, you need to remove it or I'm going to post hateful comments about you and all of your work for the rest of my life". Try something at least a little constructive, like maybe "could you make an option in the Configurator to switch between the default and HD graffiti please". Providing a solution, and being polite will go a LONG ways when you're talking to normal people, or asking for something that you're not paying for. As will not demanding that customizations be defaulted to what you want. If you can customize to the default models, you have no foundation for complaining that the new models are too 'racy'. (especially when they are no more 'racy' than the defaults when looked at objectively) As for the 'no reason', yes there is a reason... He wanted them, so he made them, used them, and put them as default because he's making this mod primarily for himself, not you. Get over it, you're not that important.

 

Concerning the plantlife in the mod, you obviously know very little about botany. Many plants not only can survive, but thrive on pollution. I know of 2 types of crab grass (I don't know their names though) that can quite easily survive industrial waste products, especially if those wastes don't include excessive amounts of synthetic oils. Also, if you think there was a low amount of plant life in the original game, you need to take a closer look at it... Most plants were not only there and growing, but even had leaves on most of them. That there isn't an excessive amount of vegetation is typical of most cities, but once depopulated, plants begin to reclaim the cities.

 

That he made the location more definite than the original game, doesn't really matter when you are actually playing the game. The game doesn't require the location to either be defined or obscured to the player, and doesn't affect a damn thing. As for changing the time cycle of Ravenholm, he went for a bit closer realtime progression of the timing, instead of 1 hour being a full day. This affected the entire game after the first section, yet you only recognize the Ravenholm section because you think that night time made it more suspenseful.

 

The vast majority of the issues you appear to take with the mod are that it isn't exactly like the original game, and though you are correct, that doesn't make it bad. He specified very early on that he was designing it based on his interpretation of what was going on in the game, not on what others thought. You're still essentially complaining because he is trying to make it look like a more modern game... If you don't want that, don't download a mod specifically designed to do that. (and quit complaining that it does what it says it does)

 

I'll make this perfectly clear, he wasn't trying to gain mass appeal... He was making the mod for himself, and put it out on the internet so that anyone who wanted to could use it too. He's not listening to other's opinions because he's not making it for them. If you want to use it, then fine. If you don't want to use it, that's also fine. If you want some other feature to be optional or added, be nice about it, and it might be implemented. What you shouldn't do is be a total dick about the very existence of the author, or spout libel against him. In some countries it is a felony to do so, so hopefully you either don't live in one of those countries, or nobody takes you seriously enough to report you. Regardless of where you live, it's extremely bad form to do so.

 

Lastly, if you can't find the files you need to change or delete to get rid of the new graffiti in less than 5 minutes, you aren't trying.

 

 

Regardless of everything else, you are being a dick about the mod, and to anyone who actually likes the mod. You should know that being a dick around here can get you banned from the forum. (see forum rule #1) I may or may not respond to you again, it'll depend on my mood, and what level of nonsense you're spreading.

 

PS:

You aren't going to gain any friends if you talk to everyone like that

You're mistaken, as I have plenty of friends... They all have at least some level of understanding of reality, unlike you apparently.

 

[kingkolton9]

Everything corrected itself after saving and loading... It's a problem I've always had with the HLU versions. (I have been using them since the earliest test releases) It's something deep in the code, because nothing changes except for loading from a save.

 

As for the other, I cut off the unrelated parts of the screenshot so save on overall size... I seriously doubt there are any combination of monitors that run a total of 1532 x 672 for a resolution. (cropped from 1600 x 900)

 

I thought it was a 21:9 screenshot that was reduced in size, but the ratio was wrong, and it looked like both halves were squareish. I didn't know if it was some weird side effect of something like stretching the image over 2 monitors. I imagine on any monitor set in multiples of 2 that would be painful as your crosshair would be dead center between 2 monitors.

 

Regarding bugs: In HL2: Update, do CPs seem a bit...Sluggish? Their actions seem to be a bit delayed when they first see me.

 

I'll try to keep a calm, rational head this time 'round.

 

 

And my responses:

This will not necessarily be in order, but will cover as much as possible...

 

First, you specified "He forces you to use the new, poorly composed music" and then ignored me when I said very clearly that you are completely wrong. If you had looked at the Configurator for long enough to configure ANYTHING at all, you wouldn't be able to miss the option, or the fact that it isn't on by default.

 

And afterwards I did admit that, yes, I was indeed wrong on that. While I have it installed, I tend to choose to play the originals because of the loading times. It's one of the reasons I tend not to play Portal 2. It was a memory problem.

 

When I installed CM I thought a new soundtrack would be refreshing and I didn't really look into the mod.

 

This counters your later statement that you had customized, and then complained that certain customizations were not only present, but forced on you in the default mod. Either you did customize it, and are complaining illogically and falsely about them, or you didn't customize and have no experience to back up your claims.

 

I did customize. However, even with customizations there's still what I consider glaring problems on his end. For example, I'd like to use a new soundtrack. HL2's soundtrack relies too much on electronic instruments for me. With FF's soundtrack, music either doesn't really fit, or is played too much for the music to serve it's purpose. I never claimed that he forced me to do anything, but if you want something, you're essentially forced to use his way. Most settings in his configurator don't allow complete control over the degree of the effect. I'm not complaining falsely and illogically, just expressing myself incorrectly.

 

Now on to your 'analogy'... You're still focussing on him doing something that is required, not something that isn't. The game wouldn't cease to function at all without the mod, and therefore your analogy is not accurate. Just because it doesn't fit what you want, that doesn't mean that it's bad, or that it's designer deserves to be ridiculed like you're doing. If you dislike the mod, then fine, but don't go around spreading lies and misinformation about it.

 

He's not required to make the mod. That's correct. However, if one wants an "upgraded experience" with Half Life 2l, there's no other place to go. It's a problem with the analogy, not the underlying argument.

 

I did more research on a few of my claims: The naked zombie, asian man with his dick hanging out and Naked Alyx *were* in the game. However, they weren't there intentionally. The naked zombie was a pre-skin model that he falsely included, as was the Asian man, I believe. The Naked Alyx was there as well, and was a bug that was fixed. Screenshots of these things exist, you can find them, but I cannot link them. Poser models were used after version 4 before he could try and make his own models (I believe there's a few still being used as placeholders for the rebels. Don't quote me on that one.) Whether they were free or not and whether or not he followed licensing is a different story altogether. Stolen muzzle flashes were used in CM, and unless he's made changes to them recently they are still in the game.

 

You're also still (incorrectly) saying that the large breasted models are included in the default mod. There are plenty other issues you still claim that have no basis in reality, (some which I even countered) and you somehow claim to have somewhere in a previous post admitted your 'mistake'. If you made a mistake, and admitted it, you wouldn't be back claiming the same nonsense in a later post.

 

For Alyx, I'd call the ones included in the mod rather prominent, but not large. Add that to the fact that, on many of them, it looks like she's standing in 20 degree weather.

 

Because he's the only one to do it, it does mean it's better than all the rest. Saying that it's bad requires a point of comparison, and when there are none, bad is still the best. If you're claiming it to be bad objectively, you would first have to be objective. (your statements in your posts here have proven that you aren't even close to objective)

 

He's not the "best." Best implies that there's other people doing the same thing and competing for it. There is not. You can say something is bad and look at its individual aspects, and compare those to something similar. For example: Compare his models to Valve's originals. Either way: I think it's time someone raises the bar... Again. I'm not claiming it to be bad objectively. That's impossible in this circumstance. Subjectively, I look at his models and compare them to what I think similar projects/people do, and I'm sorry, but they really aren't up to my standard.

 

Neither of us is close to objective. This is not an objective thing. We aren't talking about the color of the sky here (barring the perception of those who are colorblind.)

 

If you're providing suggestions, it won't be phrased like "there's too much porn in this mod, you need to remove it or I'm going to post hateful comments about you and all of your work for the rest of my life". Try something at least a little constructive, like maybe "could you make an option in the Configurator to switch between the default and HD graffiti please". Providing a solution, and being polite will go a LONG ways when you're talking to normal people, or asking for something that you're not paying for. As will not demanding that customizations be defaulted to what you want. If you can customize to the default models, you have no foundation for complaining that the new models are too 'racy'. (especially when they are no more 'racy' than the defaults when looked at objectively) As for the 'no reason', yes there is a reason... He wanted them, so he made them, used them, and put them as default because he's making this mod primarily for himself, not you. Get over it, you're not that important.

 

I've never said anything such as that. The rest of my life would be way too long, the dude will probably die before me. [/sarcasm] I've more nuance than you give me. By constructive, do you mean like my speech on technical artists and their art? Again, this free argument. Something being free has no relevance to its quality. Again with this defaulted to what I want crap, too. I'm going to say it, right here, right now:

 

I want the default customization to be nothing. That is to say, nothing is changed and you pick and choose every single detail before starting the first time.

 

If he's making this mod primarily for himself, I don't think he needs a website or forum. And you know what? I'm going to pull a fakefactory here: Someone's telling me something reasonable in a harsh way, so I'm going to blindly do the opposite. I am more important than fakefactory, his wishes or beliefs, and am entitled to a mod that is exactly the way my side wants it and that anyone that disagrees can just be quiet because I'm quitting. Waah.

 

It sucks being on the listening end of that argument, don't[sic] it?

 

Concerning the plantlife in the mod, you obviously know very little about botany. Many plants not only can survive, but thrive on pollution. I know of 2 types of crab grass (I don't know their names though) that can quite easily survive industrial waste products, especially if those wastes don't include excessive amounts of synthetic oils. Also, if you think there was a low amount of plant life in the original game, you need to take a closer look at it... Most plants were not only there and growing, but even had leaves on most of them. That there isn't an excessive amount of vegetation is typical of most cities, but once depopulated, plants begin to reclaim the cities

 

Correct: There is vegetation that thrives in harsh environments in Eastern Europe. One needs to look no farther than Russia, specifically Chernobyl, for a prime example: Mushrooms. Most plantlife, like vines and trees are damaged by things such as radiation, pollution, lack of water (food), bio-hazards and lack of sunlight. I know from firsthand experience that excess pollution will absolutely destroy trees, so far as the worst trees being turned completely white. In areas where those things thrive, generally other life cannot thrive. In City 17 plants were not abundant, which is mostly where I was talking about. However, the farther one gets from City 17, the more and more plants there are, with White Forest packing hundreds of trees. Less people, less combine control, less pollution, less bio-hazards.

 

In Half Life 2, the toxic waste sets off your Geiger counter. 24/7, that's going to do damage to the crabgrass, especially growing straight out of the material with much of your food being tainted with it as well. I don't think the combine would be using much natural of anything, though that's getting into headcannon now.

 

I'll do something constructive: FF actually did do a good job with the foliage at one part of City 17: The near abandoned area far away from the heart of the City, as you're coming out of Ravenholm. Vines would almost certainly be growing there, perhaps even starting before the Combine invasion while whatever country/countries City 17 is in was under communism. It's a case of where he nailed something that Valve couldn't.

 

That he made the location more definite than the original game, doesn't really matter when you are actually playing the game. The game doesn't require the location to either be defined or obscured to the player, and doesn't affect a damn thing. As for changing the time cycle of Ravenholm, he went for a bit closer realtime progression of the timing, instead of 1 hour being a full day. This affected the entire game after the first section, yet you only recognize the Ravenholm section because you think that night time made it more suspenseful.

 

I was using it to accentuate my point that FF can be hit or miss with his understanding of atmosphere. There are times when he blows you away with his understanding of the environment, hitting the nail on the head better than Valve did. For example, the very 1984ish propaganda he added in City 17. Then, there are areas where it's fairly obvious that he completely misunderstood why a design choice was made and/or did not see it at all. I'll be honest here: If you're going to pinpoint the exact location of City 17, Lativa is an excellent choice. It's very deep in Eastern Europe, close to Russia, has lots of water near by, beaches, lots of forests, and it's seen it's fair share of hell over the past 100 years.

 

I mentioned Ravenholm because, yes, the nighttime does make it a bit more suspenseful. It was an intentional design choice by Valve that I think changing is a bit stupid. However, the areas afterwards seem to be at the exact same time to me. Maybe it's because Ravenholm is more noticeable.

 

The vast majority of the issues you appear to take with the mod are that it isn't exactly like the original game, and though you are correct, that doesn't make it bad. He specified very early on that he was designing it based on his interpretation of what was going on in the game, not on what others thought. You're still essentially complaining because he is trying to make it look like a more modern game... If you don't want that, don't download a mod specifically designed to do that. (and quit complaining that it does what it says it does)

 

No, I'm not complaining because he's trying to make it look like a modern game. I'm complaining because His interpretation is a bit off. I wouldn't download or complain about his mod if there were alternatives. In fact, for what it's worth, HL2: Update is making me exceptionally happy for the number of changes that have been made. It's how everything was done because the details are more precise.

 

There is a mod that, once it releases, I think will give FF a run for his money: MMod. The developer is doing what FF is doing, but better, I think. He allows you to customize and tweak everything as well, but his art and execution seem more on par and consistent with the original.

 

While I do have my gripes with some of his execution, he tends to avoid most, if not all, the mistakes that I and certainly others think FF makes. Both mods have their share of similarities. It's all in the execution.

 

However, it's far from completion, so CM is still all we have.

 

I'll make this perfectly clear, he wasn't trying to gain mass appeal... He was making the mod for himself, and put it out on the internet so that anyone who wanted to could use it too. He's not listening to other's opinions because he's not making it for them. If you want to use it, then fine. If you don't want to use it, that's also fine. If you want some other feature to be optional or added, be nice about it, and it might be implemented. What you shouldn't do is be a total dick about the very existence of the author, or spout libel against him. In some countries it is a felony to do so, so hopefully you either don't live in one of those countries, or nobody takes you seriously enough to report you. Regardless of where you live, it's extremely bad form to do so.

 

He gained mass attention. It's fairly obvious he wasn't going for mass appeal. However, he needs to advertise as that, too. Advertise to that very specific niche of people who want Alyx to look like that. The problem is that his advertising seems to appeal to a well-broader range of people than he intended. The problem with putting things on the internet is that you're opening up the floodgates. He does say that he's not making it for some people. However, it comes off as a "Fuck you." That whole presentation thing is a two way street. If it's libel, then FF can sue me. However, what I'm saying isn't libel, so I think I'm fine. If they do take me seriously enough to report me, they'd probably get laughed at by the authorities. For multiple reasons.

 

Lastly, if you can't find the files you need to change or delete to get rid of the new graffiti in less than 5 minutes, you aren't trying.

 

I repeat: I maintain that I shouldn't have to and he should put that configurator to work.

 

Regardless of everything else, you are being a dick about the mod, and to anyone who actually likes the mod. You should know that being a dick around here can get you banned from the forum. (see forum rule #1) I may or may not respond to you again, it'll depend on my mood, and what level of nonsense you're spreading.

 

You're mistaken, as I have plenty of friends... They all have at least some level of understanding of reality, unlike you apparently.

 

If we're going to throw around the rules here, I'd say that calling me a dick and an asshole who has no understanding of reality falls under the same rule.

 

 

I did my best job at staying level headed and reasonable and added more...constructive criticism. I hope it's enough, because I want to keep discussing this.

[BTGBullseye]

Your latest post is a lot nicer to read... It doesn't come off as someone who wants this forum to become as uncivil as certain other parts of the internet. (areas the vast majority of us regulars here avoid like the plague due to their uncivil dialogue)

 

First off, I can't afford a dual-monitor setup at this time... I'm stuck with my Lenovo G780 laptop as the best computer in my family. (though I do keep up with modern technology and their interactions, it's part of my primary skill set) If you come across a few thousand you don't need, I could use it... lol

 

For the sluggishness of the CPs, I haven't noticed that very much, it was just as hard to dodge the 'pick up the can' cop when I threw the can at him as it is in the original. I will admit it's a lot harder to make it into the trash off his head though. (he also comes after you again after he returns to his starting position after chasing you, twice at least)

 

On to the long responses...

 

Soundtrack: True it doesn't really fit all that much, but it's no worse than most A movie soundtracks for the most part. I have music disabled myself... (I prefer listening to something like Focus - Hocus Pocus while I'm playing)

 

Alyx models: Yes, the nips do protrude, but that's mainly because of the people he likes to model... There are females with those particular permanent attributes IRL. He does realize many people don't like that style though, hence why he included the option to use default models. However, your assumption that the breasts are still very large is unfounded, as C cup (the largest size included in the pack) is barely average sized. Most of the models have B cups.

 

Best, and objective: Best concerns one particular area, and unless you count the HL2U mod as an attempt to bring the graphics up to modern standards, (I don't) he is the only, and therefore the best, the worst, and the average of that entire mod category. You can't argue the definitions of words, there's the dictionary to contend with. Also, I will readily admit I'm not an objective commenter, but I am very close to it. I have this amazing gift that allows me to see all aspects, and take my opinion out of the equation. (if you want my complete and total opinion on the mod in it's current form, [CM2013 update 1 which turned it into the 'final' release] I would be happy to make a run through it, and list my pros and cons for you)

 

Opinion on the defaults: It is fine to have that opinion, but I seriously doubt anyone anywhere would consider it logical to expect him not to push his work. He worked hard on the assets, so naturally he's going to make them default. Fortunately for everyone he had the foresight to include fairly comprehensive customization capabilities into the mod, and even made them remarkably easy to use.

 

About the Geiger counter: Though I can't find any information on it, the toxic waste doesn't appear to actually be radioactive in any way other than to the suit's 'Geiger counter'. It is entirely possible that the suit is using that clicking as an unobstructive way to remind the user that they are approaching something that the suit can readily identify as a hazard, despite not actually being radioactive. (especially since floating on a lake of radioactive material would be 99%+ as damaging as swimming in the lake) Also, there are plenty of plants that are able to withstand radiation that far exceeds the lethal dose for humans, and most of those are grasses. (my searches for what the specific types are are getting inundated with junk 'popular' results, so I'll let you research it yourself if you really want)

 

Atmosphere: True that Ravenholm is more suspenseful at night, but I would argue that the later sections that are now at night are more menacing to the character than Ravenholm was at night. It may not help the Ravenholm atmosphere, but it helps the rest, and adds realism to the passage of time. (which to me improves the immersion massively)

 

Interpretation: That's just it, your opinion differs from his, that's what it comes down to over and over. You have a different opinion, and that's all right, but don't go around complaining that he didn't use your opinion instead. I like the fact that someone has a different interpretation of what the game is doing, or what it should be. (even if it is radically different from my own, and possibly [we aren't actually sure on this one until they personally comment on it] even the original devs)

 

Mass appeal: So because it was popular, he can't continue to make his mod the way he wants to? Just because he released it for others to use, it doesn't mean they suddenly own him, or have the right to force him to include/remove/change whatever they want, his decisions be damned. It's still his mod, he can do whatever the hell he wants with it, he has every right to say what he wants about it, or change his mind about stopping production. (which after further research, he never actually said he would do, he just said he would "no longer participate in the HL2 community", which could simply mean he wasn't going to use the Steam Community section anymore) He has every right to not tell people what's in the mod, and let them not do any research at all for their 15GB+ downloads. He doesn't have to do a damn thing. The masses are perfectly free to either not download it, or go make their own version, or mod his mod all they want. It's still moronic to complain about ANY free mod that you aren't forced to download.

 

The graffiti files: Again you want him to do free work for you, and you're not even willing to be nice about it? Dickish much?

 

Your final comment: Calling someone out on being a dick, or unrealistic, or whatever else they might be posting isn't against the rules. I was doing that and nothing else. (you're free to look back and see if I did anything else, and even ask the mods if I was violating any rules with what I posted)

 

[Space Hunter M]

lol the only version of HL2's that's playable is the pre-Mac version

[Blightmare]

This forum has this crazy ability to be off topic and on topic both at the same time.

 

On the subject of demanding changes to the mod, if you had payed a sizable mount of money to gain access to the content of this mod, then these arguments would be a lot more understandable than they are. But as it stands, the mod is free so this level of entitlement by an apparent large group of community members (going off what I've read here as I haven't followed this mod any) is very much unfounded. It's like going to a potluck and throwing a fit because someone brought potato salad instead of macaroni. And even then that would have more merit since you'd at least have been invited. With this however, you chose of your own free will to download it.

 

If you're unhappy, then say there are parts that you don't like, and maybe drop some suggestions. If the author doesn't want to implement the suggestion, well I'm sorry but tough shit. Move on with your life it doesn't end with this.

[Mr Nutt]

Judging from the Zero Punctuation review, Yahtzee doesn't seem impressed with anything this added.

[HLPrincess]

Judging from the Zero Punctuation review, Yahtzee doesn't seem impressed with anything this added.

Pfff.... he sounds more like super- annoyed complaining person (and I know what I'm talking about) than a reviewer... It's probably his style but it doesn't impress me at all. I smiled once and the whole video felt tiring...

[kingkolton9]

Judging from the Zero Punctuation review, Yahtzee doesn't seem impressed with anything this added.

Pfff.... he sounds more like super- annoyed complaining person (and I know what I'm talking about) than a reviewer... It's probably his style but it doesn't impress me at all. I smiled once and the whole video felt tiring...

 

Yeah, I know I don't have much room to talk, especially in this thread, but...

 

This guy talks way too fast, jumps around too much, is somewhat hypocritical, and I agree with one of the commentators in particular:

 

"So after yammering about how little games lately have anything close to a story, he ignores one of the few story driven games that have come out lately? Yahtzze i know you are a picky person but come one, if you wish for something at least have the decency to acknowledge it when you get it, instead of saying "yawn, too much text. NEXT""

 

I think when I'm annoyed by shit like this, you've gone a tad too far.

[Binky The Rabbit]

Yahtzee isn't a proper reviewer - he's a critic. The fast talking is part of his gimmick. It's his job to put games through the wringer, because

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL8SB1YHzFU If you get offended by him, then you're taking what he says too personally.

 

But the thing is, kudos to everyone who takes the time and effort to make these kinds of mods, but I just don't think it's all that necessary. Half-Life 2 doesn't need to be made to compete with modern-day games, because it's a game of its time. But hey, don't let me discourage any of you from getting HL2: Update. If you like it, g'ahead!

[night hal 1]

Yahtzee isn't a proper reviewer - he's a critic. The fast talking is part of his gimmick. It's his job to put games through the wringer, because https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zL8SB1YHzFU If you get offended by him, then you're taking what he says too personally.

 

But the thing is, kudos to everyone who takes the time and effort to make these kinds of mods, but I just don't think it's all that necessary. Half-Life 2 doesn't need to be made to compete with modern-day games, because it's a game of its time. But hey, don't let me discourage any of you from getting HL2: Update. If you like it, g'ahead!

This. The guy's just supposed to be funny. He brings up a couple decent points, but overall I'm sure he still enjoyed playing the game.

[[sk]lebowsky]

I played this version a bit. The lighting is very nice and the textures noticeably enhanced. The commentary is also great but the familiar voices probably assist with that. I'm happy with it, especially since it was free. If Ross does decide to do Freemans Mind in HL2, this is the version he should play.

There's a very fine line with this. As the creator of an upcoming "Mind" series, I've noticed a lot of things about the production that most people (including me) would overlook.

 

There's a point where the show stops becoming about your character's thoughts on its situations and surroundings and becomes about the situations and surroundings themselves. That's why I'm afraid of continuing my series into Portal 2. Whereas the original Portal usually has one line of dialogue at the start and end of every chamber and plenty of dead air to fill in between, Portal 2 has A LOT more of its own dialogue to fill that dead air.

 

While I'm not saying it'd be an issue that would be brought up with using the update version, it is something to consider with Half-Life 2 in general. There are actual CHARACTERS, and storylines to follow, which makes it a lot different of a process when coming up with jokes and inner-dialogue.

 

I'm sorry, what were we talking about?

Upcoming "mind" series? Tell me more!