To the blizzard response, the only thing I like from them is Starcraft. I’ve never been a Warcraft fan, and I’m less of a fan of their super-massive MMO, not the least for what it’s done to many of my friends.
Otherwise, call me what you like, but I’m most certainly no troll, and I absolutely believe in what I’ve said. I feel hurt and betrayed, as if bitten by my own dog. I’ll still love the dog, but I’d only be encouraging such behavior if I didn’t scold him and lock him in the backyard for a while, only to invite him back inside, scratch him behind the ears, give him a reassuring hug and toss him a snausage.
What we must understand is that while the developers of Black Mesa are certainly in it for the nostalgia, whether they’ve said so or not, you can’t put in this level of dedication without hoping your work gets you a job somewhere.
And whoever said Black Mesa never stated any intention to look and be treated as professional, then I’m going to have to roll up my newspaper and give YOU a swift bop across the bonce as well, because you’re being pretty damn stupid. BMS didn’t NEED to state the intention at all, I think any idiot can look at any sampling of their released media and come to that conclusion. They’re obviously set FAR apart from even the most successful of mods, and have been on the tipping point between “spectacular mod” and “great game” since about the first media release. And I think the time has long passed since BMS needs to be treated like a retail game remake.
I don’t say that lightly, mind you, I say that because IN the sub-genre of retail game remakes, Black Mesa has already surpassed most, if not EVERY game in that class just based on what we know about it. It’s to the point that comparing it to other mods is like comparing the talents of Daniel Day Louis to that of a college theater major. This is fine, if you wish to remain unchallenged, but a worthy competitor needs worthy opponents, and so I reserve, nay, INVOKE the right to judge Black Mesa accordingly.
Gabe Newell has said, “a game is late for a little while; a game will suck forever”, and I agree with him fervently, but that will FAR from stop me from cursing out his name in the tone Lex Luthor would curse out Superman should The Orange Box be delayed (spoiler: it was) or even if the Solider Update for TF2 gets postponed. “They’re doing it for free” is a bit of a cop-out. It either gives a developer free-reign to make his content shit just because we didn’t have to pay for it, or it means that you cannot critique it, and therefore improvement can only come from inside opinions.
Plus the “free” excuse is also suspect, mainly because it technically isn’t. In fact, no mod truly is. Because you have to have BOUGHT a copy of a game using the mod’s engine or the mod’s content in order to play. I understand people wanting to play Black Mesa will likely already own everything Valve has ever made (like me), but this is a big assumption to make. I, for example, convinced a kid last week who had never HEARD of Half Life to get the series, and even teased the BMS trailer to him, which got him even MORE excited. Then there are also the console fans, who will have to buy the PC version of the Orange Box to play. And so the “free” thing really doesn’t hold up, and so in point of fact, ANY mod that CONVINCES someone to follow it and play it, DOES in fact owe their potential players for the potentially costly preparations they’ll have to undergo to enjoy it.
Look at me however you like, but that’s what I stand by, and I think if you don’t see SOME truth in what I’m saying, then you’re really not being honest with yourself, much in the same way as those poor sods who defended Resident Evil 5 against racism claims, though not nearly as dire.
I personally had a need to fire my 12-bore and J-Dud just happened to be standing where I was aiming (in my dreams!)
I just hope that the game is going to be as good as it can possibly be no matter how long it takes for it to come out. Though a media release would be a good idea.:3