Happy birthday, Half-Life! To celebrate, we all get to buy Black Mesa.
Black Mesa, the fan-made Half-Life remake that was released last year, has always been a totally free mod, but today, the folks behind the project announced that they’ve got plans to start selling a paid version, too.
“Our decision to sell Black Mesa rests on two key points,” writes project leader Carlos Montero. “One is we believe we can make the game even better by having full access to the Source engine. This lets us tackle and fix limitations instead of working around them. The second is because frankly, our team could really use the financial help.”
To quote Montero:
The Plan:
Soon you’ll see Black Mesa available on Steam for a relatively low price. But we aren’t dropping all support for the free version. In fact shortly after the Steam release there will be a completely new free version of the game. We also plan to open source our maps and some game assets to the modding community!
Purchasing the Steam version of Black Mesa is more about supporting the team and our efforts than anything else. However, the Steam version will include features that the free version simply can not have. We will be paying careful attention to feedback, and you’ll have a very real say in how the final game turns out.
No word when this premium version of Black Mesa will go on sale. This is one of those late birthday present deals. In the meantime, take a few minutes to think about the fact that holy crap Half-Life is 15.
Comments
15 responses to “Half-Life Is 15. Buy Its Modded Re-Release On Steam Soon”
I was really excited when I first installed it. Started playing it.
And I got bored. Its been years since I did all that stuff. But I got the jumping around in vents part with the roof vaginas trying to eat me and I just couldn’t be bothered anymore.
I think that’s why Half Life 3 isn’t happening. People remember loving it, but look how bad Duke Nukem Forever was received which was the same game it originally was..
I’ll probably buy it anyways and just not play it because I am an idiot.
You think Valve are unable to make a high quality modern shooter (HL3) because you got bored playing a remake of a 15 year old game made by a group of modders? There is no developer that makes better shooters than Valve. More commercially successful maybe, but not better.
I agree, mostly, but Duke Nukem Forever was not Duke Nukem 3D. If it was Duke Nukem 3D, I could’ve been happy in the face of all the reviews.
“The second is because frankly, our team could really use the financial help.”
Honesty. That’s awesome.
I’ll be paying for it, it looks good, they’re honest about the finance and I’ve been looking forward to it.
I sure hope they are not having Zen as an exclusive for the paid version! That would REALLY suck!
I was reading the forums and came across this bit of information
And this by it’s lead developer when asked was the engine from Valve.
Whether it means they are using an updated version of the Source engine or the rumoured Source 2 engine it remains to be seen.
I loved Black Mesa. It was exactly what I was hoping for, except, somehow … more so.
I’ll be happy to pay for a retail release if it helps the team stay eating, because they’re a motivated and talented bunch of motherfuckers who I’d be happy to support.
How is this legal? Isn’t it technically VALVE’s Game (and no, I don’t mean to sound ignorant or anything, I’m just curious).
I imagine Valve will be recieving a healthy royalty payment from each sale too.
Bugs got to me during my black mesa play through, so I didn’t play much. I would love to buy this and have my hopes high for a better experience. It really did feel like a budget version of the source engine.
Half-Life is (8 + 1 + 12 + 6) – (12 + 9 + 6 + 5) = -5
-5 + 15 years = 10.
10 + 27 (half) + 32 (life) = 69.
69 / 23 (which we all know is the mysterious number of all numbers) is equal to… 3!
Which means… Bad math is confirmed! Hooray!
15 years… 1+5=6. Half-Life the number 6, it leaves you with 3.
Running gag confirmed!
This game was Greenlit a long time ago, I wouldn’t be surprised if Valve themselves tapped these guys on the shoulder and said “We’ve got a proposition for you…” Whatever that is I don’t know, but it may be we see some official recognition for this project above and beyond the initial acceptance by Valve after they requested the team change the name of the mod from Half Life Source to Black Mesa Source. Otherwise they would have given a cease and desist right there and then.
I want them to get some money in, but it seems questionable to me to ask for money for a still incomplete mod. Those Xen levels are likely years off!
And the race is on: HL3 vs BM: Source Full Edition
I never played the original half-life, but I loved Black Mesa (despite the constant crashing), the soundtrack is incredible. Now all I’m waiting for is for them to finish it (it ends when you jump into the portal), and I’ll definitely pay for a complete version.