For those of you that don't know, Black Mesa is a full conversion mod of Half-Life 2, developed by a team of dudes who thought that Valve's Half-Life: Source simply wasn't good enough. Their goal is to re-create the original Half-Life, from scratch, polygon by polygon, brick by brick, using the full capabilities of the Source engine. In short, they want the graphics, environments, and character AI of Half-Life 2 retrofitted onto the original.
And that's awesome. And it might be the best-looking fan game ever.
If Valve were smart (and they are), they'd hire these guys. I seem to remember some Half-Life mod selling a metric asston of copies -- Counter-Strike, or something? Don't people still play that today? Then there were those DigiPen kids that did that Narbacular Drop game. I think Valve called it Portal, though. Sound familiar?
Anyway, the Black Mesa project started in 2004 and should be ready to go sometime next year or "when it's finished," says the Black Mesa team. If you own any Source engine game, you'll be good to go. Until then, feast your eyes (and ears) on the first official trailer for the game.
Well, I really don't know what else there is to say. The Black Mesa trailer is simply stunning. Came buckets, do want, new pair of pants, sex with face, etc. ...
[Via Black Mesa -- thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Contest:
11:44 PM on 12.01.2008
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So yes, DO WANT.
Do it Valve.
Do it.
Now.
I know the Source engine is aging, but I still think it looks really nice. It's got this soft feel that all the super-shiny current games can't do.
He won't show me anything special but he keeps assuring me that it looks amazing, and the trailer's telling me the same thing
and they made it prettier.
can't wait. don't want to wait. wont wait. dammit!
No, seriously. This represents the apex of human civiliztion.
I missed out on the original Half-life and have had the Orange Box for a while now, but I've restrained myself from playing anything but Portal because I didn't want spoilers before playing Half-life 1. But, alas, all I've managed to find is a playstation2 port yet it feels somehow... incorrect that way. Now I can play the whole series it all it's unfettered current-gen glory!
*continues to be happy for some time...
Valve supports this project as it's been running for 4 years now, and the most they did was get them to remove ":Source" as people kept mistaking it for an actual Valve project.
AND MAKE A CONSOLE PORT!
Too bad Valve will sue when they catch wind of this.
I might finally be able to actually get through Half-Life 1...I enjoyed playing the original, but it was just hasn't aged too well for me and I couldn't finish it.
Step 1. Valve buys / hires this team and project when its complete.
Step 2. They release "The Black Box" for PC and current gen consoles. Said "Black Box" contains Black Mesa, Episode 3 and Portal 2.
Step 3. Profit!!!