An outsider's point of view on Black Mesa Release

[Zen609]

They should make a sticky called ’ The Hate Thread’ for these kinds of comments, and adopt a zero-tolerance policy for those posts in any other thread.

Then the haters have a place to hate, trolls have a place to troll, flamers have a place to flame, and everyone else doesn’t have to scroll through all the shit spread throughout every other thread (especially the ‘Questions about the Mod’ & ‘Ask the Devs’ threads - hate to see that shit in these threads).

[_rot_fodder]

@Zen609

They should make a sticky called ’ The Hate Thread’ for these kinds of comments, and adopt a zero-tolerance policy for those posts in any other thread.

You are brilliant. I support this so much.

[Zen609]

Sounds like fun, doesn’t it?

[Grief_Reaper]

Good idea, mods you listening…?

[Omega_Absolute]

@chriscshunter

Also that’s actually a load of shit, check your facts… quoted from the site itself…

No major update disqualified it from the top 5, however you can’t deny the game is beautiful… BUT with no real timeline or schedule of any sort ever released, a complete lack of official updates for over a year, on the official dev blog no updates for almost 3 years (with an announcement of “updates coming soon” almost a year ago), and no new release date for almost 2 years…

And this brings me to a serious question… how the hell do you announce a release date 8 months before you plan to release and then wait until that release date to announce a delay with no real explanation why, but not without some great optimism… timeless classics like: “we didn’t quite make it” and “we have come very close” and who can forget “you can expect a complete, polished game to hit your hard drives in the near future.”… then to top it all off and take an additional 2+ years after that announcement and still not even have a new release date beyond “when its done.” Since when is “the near future” justified as a 50%+ production time frame extension. I have an odd suspicion that if this mod does release it will probably not be for at least another year. Honestly I would rather hear that too. I would much rather hear release expected late 2012 then that “when its done” bullshit.

@jdankens

I’m almost convinced this whole entire thing is one giant troll attempt. (Please prove me wrong)

But seriously… They are wasting all the time put into the mod by whacking off at the finish line. It would be cool if was released, but I don’t care too much if it isn’t. The people who SHOULD be the most irate are the people who put the most time into this game (the developers), because they practically wasted all their time on a mod that’s never going to be released.

This is the Duke Nukem Forever of HL2 mods.

@Itssimple

I don’t know what fucked up world you guys live in, but providing an update on the progress of any project, is not in the least bit hard difficult or too time consuming to do. Quit sucking up to the modders like if you don’t get fucking the least bit pushy that they’ll just take the project and throw it in the trash. If they weren’t going to fucking update the thing, they wouldn’t have created a decked out website with quotes from other websites about how great it is to begin with. It would’ve remained unknown. No one would care. The modders at one point obviously wanted the public to know about it. At one point, they must’ve been confident that it would be finished. Now, not so much. This might as well be vapor ware with the way these people are. Even the project head of the goldeneye mod shot himself in the fucking face, they still finished it, and gave us fucking updates. At least have the decency to tell us it’s on hold.

Ban me if you want, you people still need to be told. Fuckers need to get back on planet earth.

[chriscshunter]

@Raminator

We deliberately keep this information to ourselves because if we share anything, it will be used against us. People (un)intentionally misunderstand or misconstrue any kind of information about progress in the most bizarre ways. If we say we’ve finished working on one particular aspect and have moved onto another, someone will find a way that this is “evidence” that the mod will be released next week, while someone else will find a way that it is “evidence” that the mod is dead. It’s more beneficial to our productivity to just say nothing and ignore the inevitable complaints; anyone who says that they won’t play Black Mesa when it’s released because of how long it took is either a liar or principled to the point of stupidity.

Criticism is a part of every creation or idea shared with the public. By proposing this as a reason for not releasing updates is a conundrum within itself, and thus to use that as an excuse is unworthy of even expressing to begin with.

However I assure you that a simple 5-30 minute monthly/bimonthly ‘official update’ will remove a great majority of the criticism you receive (this is not including criticism of not having a release date yet). But failing to even do a quarterly or even yearly update, is very unforgiving to your loyal community and the overall effort of your work. The critical acclaim you would receive for your updates would massively outweigh that of not giving updates at all, and should be otherwise silenced in comparison.

@Raminator

It’s more beneficial to our productivity to just say nothing and ignore the inevitable complaints; anyone who says that they won’t play Black Mesa when it’s released because of how long it took is either a liar or principled to the point of stupidity.

I can’t deny the fact of the matter, but to put it plainly; that is to ‘ignore’ and remove from the morality of the project, supporters, and overall community. It doesn’t make sense how nobody here seems to get it… These are legit facts. Ignore the rest of my post if you don’t want to read my venting…

@(rot)(fodder

You don’t like it here, we don’t like you being here. Just go away already.

I like it here just fine… I have some long overdue venting after watching no considerable progress being shown over the last 3 years… just put the last 3 years next to the first 3 years of progress and you will understand (aside from your biased fanboy perception anyway). And I’m not breaking any rules besides asking for some interesting insight that should have been brought to light a long time ago, but instead of getting any new insight I’m receiving some crybaby bullshit along with the same shit I’ve heard and have well known as well as everyone for the last 2 years.

[_rot_fodder]

@chriscshunter

I like it here just fine… I have some long overdue venting after watching no considerable progress being shown over the last 3 years… just put the last 3 years next to the first 3 years of progress and you will understand (aside from your biased fanboy perception anyway). And I’m not breaking any rules besides asking for some interesting insight that should have been brought to light a long time ago, but instead of getting any new insight I’m receiving some crybaby bullshit along with the same shit I’ve heard and have well known as well as everyone for the last 2 years.

[ShadowNate]

@chriscshunter

I have some long overdue venting after watching no considerable progress being shown over the last 3 years… just put the last 3 years next to the first 3 years of progress and you will understand (aside from your biased fanboy perception anyway).

Mod development works like that. You would know, if you were involved in any mod’s development. It has nothing to do with fanboy perception, and everything to do with your egocentric perception.

Many (some very promising) mods have died before being released. This is a fact. As is, that some mods were released many years after they were initiated.

Black Mesa, albeit called “mod”, is the remake of an entire (and quite lentghy and quite good overall) game. I personally would justify a “mod” development time of any number of years, with a decade being closer to an initial estimate.

[chriscshunter]

@(rot)(fodder

@ShadowNate

Mod development works like that. You would know, if you were involved in any mod’s development. It has nothing to do with fanboy perception, and everything to do with your egocentric perception.

Many (some very promising) mods have died before being released. This is a fact. As is, that some mods were released many years after they were initiated.

Black Mesa, albeit called “mod”, is the remake of an entire (and quite lentghy and quite good overall) game. I personally would justify a “mod” development time of any number of years, with a decade being closer to an initial estimate.

@chriscshunter

Ignore the rest of my post if you don’t want to read my venting…

Its funny how the ONLY part of my post that I asked you to avoid if you didn’t like it, is the ONLY part that you both bothered to read and comment on… Great Job!

[danielsangeo]

@chriscshunter

Look it has been noted “development team does have an internal release date” but I wonder how many times that has been pushed back over the last 2 FUCKING YEARS since their last open release date WAS NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING MET (at least 2-4 times I can imagine). The fact that they don’t have any recent updates, an open release date, and absolutely no schedule or time line; makes it seem as if this mod has no direction as it once did when the developers had a drive simply because they had a fresh reasoning of being such big fans of HL that they felt HL;S was a let down and wanted to give the original the respect it deserved. Now there is no real motivation or goal pushing them to actually release… because once they do release they get no reward beyond a pat on the back, as opposed to the current reward of having the attention of an unreleased mod… so I guess best hold out as long as you can BMD, take your sweet time. Your couple hundred BM fanboys will keep you company, because they could give a fuck less when you release it… they have already waited 7 long years (almost a 3rd of my life) for this way overdue release… whats another couple years without a release date now? Where do you draw the line??? At this point they are stuck on the very principles that you feed them.

I dunno. I draw the line nowhere. I’m not OWED a free game created by unpaid people in their spare time. Even if it takes another 10 years, it’s not like I’m going to get upset. I may find something else to do instead of hanging out on these forums but, eventually, the game will come out. I will eventually get to play it.

Or I won’t.

Even if it NEVER comes out, I’m not going to get butthurt. I have contributed NOTHING to this game. I posted on the forums, voted in any MOTY things that come up, but that it. I created no textures, I created no models, I created no sounds, I created no animations. Nothing. And, after release (when it happens), I will not be sending them ANY money to play what looks like one of the best things to hit the PC in a long time.

So, sit down, STFU, and wait. It’ll come out when it’s done. If you don’t like that, there’s the door. No one is forcing you to follow this mod.

But, I’ll bet you’ll be back to download the mod when it’s released and won’t even say “thank you”.

[chriscshunter]

@danielsangeo

But, I’ll bet you’ll be back to download the mod when it’s released and won’t even say “thank you”.

Heck yeah, and its going to be a good day, but I will say thank you… Why wouldn’t I? I’m not paying a dime out of pocket, in fact there should be a way to donate out of good will.

I just wish I knew where the mod stood. After 7 years and a missed release date 2 years prior you would hope for a rough estimate of completion. What a shame.

[ShadowNate]

@chriscshunter

is the ONLY part that you both bothered to read and comment on…

See it as you like. It was also the only part where you were not directly commenting on Raminators quote, and where you actually expressed the reason behind your frustration. That reason is invalid, and you won’t even try to read what others have said to you to make you get this.

[danielsangeo]

@chriscshunter

Heck yeah, and its going to be a good day, but I will say thank you… Why wouldn’t I? I’m not paying a dime out of pocket, in fact there should be a way to donate out of good will.

I just wish I knew where the mod stood. After 7 years and a missed release date 2 years prior you would hope for a rough estimate of completion. What a shame.

I, too, wish I knew where the mod stood. However, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride. So…

dealwithit.gif

[_rot_fodder]

@chriscshunter

Its funny how the ONLY part of my post that I asked you to avoid if you didn’t like it, is the ONLY part that you both bothered to read and comment on… Great Job!

Oh sorry, here:

@chriscshunter

I can’t deny the fact of the matter, but to put it plainly; that is to ‘ignore’ and remove from the morality of the project, supporters, and overall community. It doesn’t make sense how nobody here seems to get it… These are legit facts. Ignore the rest of my post if you don’t want to read my venting…

[popsUlfr]

Here are the things to consider: Black Mesa may or may not be released. It’s a project being worked on by a bunch of generous guys in their free time. At any time one of them may drop out of development for various reasons. They’ve no obligations towards anyone or anything. They’ve no deadline and they may take as much time as they want to work on it. Any other mod of this size with any less dedicated members on board would’ve been dead by now. It doesn’t matter if 1 million, 100 or just the devs end up playing the mod.
Everyone should get this through his/her head and compute it thoroughly. After understanding that I can’t possibly get it how anyone is complaining, hating, whining, even sometimes trying very hard to get the mod to die (yeah it happened). Why anyone would wish the mod to fail is beyond me. Jealousy?
Sure it would be a disappointment if the mod were to die but it’s a reality you have to accept. Right now the mod is well in development so, not dead.
Now ask yourself: Isn’t that a great thing? Isn’t that fact alone worthy of a big grin on my face? Hey! Look! It’s a bunch of guys working on a huge free project in their spare time! And I’ll get to play it for free! That’s totally rad!
Pick out the positive things and go with it instead of feeling down in the dumps.
Don’t be silly chumps
Just purse your lips and whistle - that’s the thing.
And…always look on the bright side of life…
Always look on the light side of life…
etc…

[chriscshunter]

@(rot)(fodder

Oh sorry, here:

deal with it

[_rot_fodder]

I’m glad you can read. I bet you even saw a crab and a cigarette, too.

[CoffiNail]

Hey, first time posting. I have also followed the Mod since around 2006 or so very lightly, on and off. Half Life is one of the TOP games in my book. One of the few games that I have finished, and one of the only games I have gone back to a dozen times and played again… (I have adult ADHD) Looking over this forum and wiki has made me want to pick it up again.

I do agree about an update on the front page… Even a Hey, it is 2011 and we are nearing/on our last bend, keep checking back… SOMETHING so the average person who isn’t going to go to the wiki, or the forums has something to go on.

Hell I just came on here today for some random reason. I had been told by people in other chats that this mod was dead, there hasn’t been an update in a year, etc.

I am active in another Beta, Mechwarrior: living legends for Crysis (though that is purely multiplayer so they have a playable beta which helps feed the starving fans). They made your 2009 error of saying 0.4 will come out the end of Sept 2010 at the start of august… was not until during the Holidays that the update came out. They even tossed us a few ‘here is what we are working on’… Main thing is they let us know they were alive.

Just toss up two dozen good pictures on the front page stating hey we wrote this 2011, the mod is doing great and is very much alive!

All you fan base would like

I have been looking forward to this for a number of years, the two hours of wiki browsing i did today was well worth it!

-CoffiNail

[Skaevola]

What you’re asking for, CoffiNail, isn’t unreasonable. But they’ve been doing that very thing consistently over the last year on the Wiki.

And yes, the average person may not think to look on the Wiki, but it’s the same number of clicks as it is to the forums (one). Anyone capable of posting, “MEDIAZ PLS” (which you haven’t done, it’s just an example) is equally capable of finding the very media they seek, and with much less effort than it takes to complain.

I said it yesterday and I’ll say it again: Why is everyone so worked up about the release date lately? You’re gonna know when it comes out, it’ll be all over the internet. It’s not like you have to have it preordered and you don’t have to save your change for it. So who cares when it’s released? I mean, what difference does it make?

[chriscshunter]

I thought the mod was dead for about 2 years until a week ago. Had to dig through the forums for little hints from the devs that they were still working on it.

Once they took down the front news page for the site I figured they stopped working on it.

I don’t know if anyone remembers it but when you came to the homepage of this site it used to show news. Is there still a news page I’m not aware of? Normally mod sites have a news page on the front page of the site. Even older mod sites I visit have news pages. If its still an active mod why is there no news page? News pages can be informative of letting people know there’s something going on. I think it would be very helpful to everyone who frequents or is just visiting if there was a news page on the front.