Community Project - Xen Fan-made remake

General Development Source 1
#1

Hello everyone ! First, I want to show you my own Xen map made in Hammer. Here it is : link

But don’t forget it’s just alpha. I wanted to make these maps well … maybe just for fun :smiley: I hope it’s good because it’s my first mapping project. I’m going to remake all chapters from Xen to End game. If anyone wants to help with anything , I’m sure there is something you could do. Tell me what you think. I’m working on it because I just can’t wait (and I don’t know for how long) for the developers to finish real xen remake. I’m not saying they won’t release it, I just want to share it with the rest of the community so they’re waiting for original xen will be less painful.

[COLOR=‘SandyBrown’]DOWNLOAD SECTION :

[COLOR=‘Red’]XEN FIRST CHAPTER ALPHA VERSION RELEASED : CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
TO PLAY THIS MAP OPEN YOUR BLACK MESA CHEAT CONSOLE BY GOING INTO OPTIONS, KEYBOARD, Enable developer console and then type this in console : map bm_c4a1

[COLOR=‘Red’]XEN FIRST CHAPTER BETA VERSION RELEASED - CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD [COLOR=‘Magenta’]NEW !!!
CHANGED THINGS FROM APLHA VERSION :

  • new water shader in water lakes
  • more particles
  • improved texture quality
  • more xen details
  • few reflections
  • new menu system ( optional )
  • added “secret locations”
  • scientists replaced with hev suit scientists

[COLOR=‘sandybrown’]VIDEO AND MEDIA :

VIDEO STAGE 2 HERE (17.11.2012)

ALPHA VERSION VIDEO HERE (09.12.2012) :
This is alpha version of my xen map and it means that it’s still not so well designed. It needs much development yet. But already I did much more than in the last version. I added custom gravity, improved ligting, changed skybox (requested), added more background sounds, I also improved displacements in my map so it’s less squarish now, and I added more details. Hope you enjoy, I hope so because I put much work into this one.

EARLY BETA VERSION VIDEO - CLICK HERE

UPDATE (09.12.2012) Here are some new screenshots of Alpha release. Old ones were deleted because there’s no point in keeping them anymore in this thread :

#2

Did Dky started something similiar like this already?

#3

Yes, but he is porting original half life xen maps and I’m creating my own maps from scratch.

#4

I don’t know which direction you are taking in detail, but if you choose Black Mesa detail for it I wish you the best of luck.

#5

Thanks a lot ! Yeah I’m trying with Black mesa detail, and I hope I will achieve my goal.

#6

I’ve seen the video, seems interesting
You have to work on the Skybox :slight_smile: .

I want to ask you something:

How do I setup Source SDK/Hammer to use BM assets?
Has something to do with write the path of BM in gameinfo.txt located in Source sdk 2007???

Edit: Has come to my mind(thanks dragunov2!)that has already been posted a tutorial about this topic.
Thanks anyway!

#7

Use this guide, that’s how I did it using the same guide :
https://clicktokill.info/blog/2012/09/setting-up-source-sdk-for-mapping-with-black-mesa-source/

#8

I’ve written a tutorial here which seems a bit shorter.

Anyway, good luck with your Xen maps!

#9

to square

#10

It’s still early prototype.

#11

Sorry Hecu I used Hezus’s tutorial.
It’s working so far

#12

New video update. You can watch it here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=biVfAWXJNZU&feature=plcp

It’s just current progress, not alpha release. I hope you like it so far because I already spent few days on it and really worked hard.

I think you noticed that this map is still too squarish, that will be fixed ( I hope ) in alpha release of the map.

Changes required for alpha version :

  • reduce squares in textures
  • add water supplies
  • add more scripts
  • ?hev scientist?
  • (Probably) transitions from lambda core to my xen map instead of credits but not sure if I do it in this alpha
  • more places in my map ( it’s not yet finished )
#13

I think I know what’s missing, LOWER GRAVITY. In the platform part in the vid, you could die before you could even reach the portal.

#14

Indeed, u loose too much health on the path u NEED to follow!

#15

Just few questions

-Can you upload a video with better quality?
If you don’t have a good internet connection you can use xvid codes+virtual dub(they are both free).

  • Where did you take the textures of the floating islands?
    Are BM assets or HL :s ource assets?
    They seem a bit low res but because of your video low quality I can’t judge well.

  • You have some experience with mapping and other stuff and you mess with BM files.
    can us you give an insight about the quality and % of work done by BM Devs on Xen?
    How many assets are already in BM?
    Are you using only BM assets?

-Obviusly you have to tweak the jumps but that’s just a matter of testing.

-About that flower that hit you with a purple beam?
Are the model and the AIcode BM assets?

-Just one last thing I’d take time and efforts to make an awesome skybox, as you can guess, It’s more important to do it well than with an average map sets on earth.
I’d take inspiration from Opposing force skybox of xen https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpzgLEUgCRY&feature=BFa&list=PL04D7BF13494AA427#t=12m58s.

Edit: about the gravity…did you modify it in order to have zero-grav effect?

#16

I know. I’m working on it. In alpha release you won’t lose health when jumping from platform to platform.

#17

Anwsers :

  • They are just progress video. With alpha release maybe I will upload video with better quality.

  • Textures are not made by me. They were made by user vlad16051997. I wouldn’t use them but he said he has no problem with using his textures in other projects, proof : https://forums.blackmesasource.com/showthread.php?p=521616&posted=1#post521616 ( Look at PAGE 9)

  • I’m not working with Black Mesa developers in any way. I don’t know how much progress they made with their maps. Besides textures, I’m using only black mesa models and materials. The only required model is dead scientist in HEV suit.

  • Yes

  • Nope, I ported it from Half Life source. I don’t know what to do about it yet.

  • You mean for my map ? Yes you can make this skybox if you like. As I said before, everyone is welcome in my project. But don’t forget that skybox must be in HDR ( If you know what I mean ) just like the rest of black mesa skyboxes.

  • No, I didin’t modify it. At least not yet.

#18

Ooops misunderstanding! :slight_smile:
When I said :
I’d do it this or that…
I meant if I was in your shoes, I would do this or that.
I’m not so good with photoshop.
Sorry!

I meant this:
How many xen assets that you’re using are BM assets?
How many xen assets that you’re using are HL :s ource assets?
Anyway, It seems interesting!

#19

Map is done in 100%. Now I just need to polish details and platforms. Problem is that I don’t have HEV scientist model and that’s a big problem because I have completely no experience in modeling so If there’s some kind person who could give me the model or can share a tutorial of how to make models for black mesa I would be really glad. It’s VERY required because without it I can never make the next xen map ( Gonarch’s lair ), because I don’t have gonarch model for black mesa or Nihilanth, and that’s a huuuuge problem.

#20

If you have G-Mod you can download the Gordon Freeman model by DP Films
Just Google it! It has a helmet bodygroup!

With some minor adjustments, you could find someone to put it into a “dead” pose and then just put it on the map, right?

Founded in 2004, Leakfree.org became one of the first online communities dedicated to Valve’s Source engine development. It is more famously known for the formation of Black Mesa: Source under the 'Leakfree Modification Team' handle in September 2004.