Dynamic Muzzle flashes/ artillery

Black Mesa Archive Suggestion Box
#1

I’m liable to get shit for this, but I thought It was worth discussing. After playing L4D (mostly due to its darker maps, comparable with much of BM’s) I think a worthy addition to the gun fights would be said muzzle flashes. They definitely add an intensity to combat, and it really creates a more dramatic effect when you’re firing a weapon, imo adding to the immersion of the action.


I don’t know how it affects performance, but if there’s no negative impact, it would be a cool addition.

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After L4D, i feel it was sorely missing in much of HL2.

on a smaller note, I think the blast created by heavier artillery such as the TOW should create a heat haze effect, as this was incorporated in ep2 on numerous occasions, such as magnusson/strider deaths and hunter flechettes. The TOW test’s explosion didn’t look much more powerful then the Rpg (which is more maneuverable anyways). The black smoke in the explosions and Rpg trails also seems unrealistic.

https://pcmedia.ign.com/pc/image/article/814/814876/gc-2007-the-orange-box-20070822044748956.jpg
^ something like this would clearly define the power of the tow explosion compared to the C4 and Rpg, also reinforced by the larger, more prominent cloud of smoke.

#2

I agree. This would be an awesome addition to this awesome mod.

#3

All good ideas. Really nothing negative to say here.

#4

You mean like this:

#5

Actually, I see no illumination from the muzzle flash in that screenshot :brow:

#6

Maybe because the room isn’t pitch black?

#7

But why did you post it as an example then? Or am I missing something?

#8

I thought that’s what you meant by muzzle flash :expressionless:

#9

The question is not if muzzle flashes will be included, but if they will light up dark areas like in L4D, because they didn’t do that in Episode 2 :wink:

#10

yeah, obviously the guns already make muzzle flashes. :stuck_out_tongue:

Anyways, I don’t think it is as necessary for NPC’s to have this feature, although I remember in some beta vids of HL2, NPCs firing clearly cast a dramatic flash around their proximity (which looks pretty cool). A similar effect is also introduced in the orange box, with exploding grenades, so i see no reason why it can’t be included for the player at least.

#11

muzzleflash_light 0 or 1 in the console.

#12

I have just played “A Vortal Coil” of Episode 2 and tried the “muzzleflash_light 1” command, but even in the dark Antlion tunnel at the beginning there was no lighting effect when firing a gun. So I assume it’s not a feature in the orange box engine?

#13

i dont like muzzleflash brightening rooms,
especially not with pistols !
its just not authentic

#14

:facepalm:

#15

Dynamic muzzle flashes seem to be fairly reasonable. I agree with Ballsopt’s idea.

#16

It’s not a huge deal to me, but I’d still like to see it.

#17

The effect has existed in Source long before Left4Dead, it’s in Counter-Strike: Source, albeit not quite as pretty. Why it was not implemented into HL2 is a mystery.

#18

I thought it was always in HL2, just not to the extent of the Left 4 Bread series. I always remember pistol flashes lighting up tunnels in Route Kanal and LowLife.

Looked alright too, the flash in Ballsopt’s screenshot looks way too bright for the tiny SMG flash. (plus that dodgy torch model taped onto the gun makes it look silly)

#19

They light up player models/viewmodels but not the environment.
Like in Team Fortress 2.

If the muzzleflashes in BM lit up the environment it would make this sexy mod even sexier :jizz:

#20

wat

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.