Steam Early Access release questions

Black Mesa Archive The Cafeteria
#1

First off, Hooray Steam release! I was disappointed to see it’s not the full release yet though.

Having said that, what has actually changed from the initial release? The store page had hardly any information on it regarding this stuff.

And speaking of the store page, there is this -

Can we get some clarification about what the price will be AFTER Early Access? Because as it stands that tells us nothing we can’t see from the price on the storefront.

Also, do you still intend to release a new version of the free mod? It was stated a while ago that there would be an updated free version shortly after the steam release.

And finally, no matter what the project, developers posting rave reviews the moment a product hits the store page is kind of bad form guys, come on.

#2

Earlier today that said “Yes. Black Mesa will be $19.99 USD during the Early Access phase. This will be bumped up to $24.99 USD when in retail.” so I guess they changed their minds after viewing the feedback.

#3

Originally the Early Access dialogue said $24.99 post early-access, but it seems they’re reconsidering.

I don’t see why they’d change that plan, but they’ll probably be giving us more details on that and everything else soon.

#4

I would also like to know what has been updated since the original release about 2.5 years ago?

I just finished a playthrough of black mesa about a month ago and in order to attract old players like me to purchase and replay the game once again I would suggest at least some hints to what development has been done during the last 2.5 years? The devs are evidently superb at making games but maybe not so good at selling their own product! :wink:

#5

Better performance, better AI, MULTIPLAYER, updated viewmodels + gun balancing, better quality maps, and the list goes on.

#6

Here is our dev press kit which contains some details of the improvements made. There’s plenty more, too!

#7

If you are waiting for Xen before buying…everything released, Xen MP additional SP changes etc…will be included with the “early access” when its released.

As a comparison the wolfenstein game that released today is 2 hours shorter than BMS and is the same cost

#8

Quick question, it says that Xen will be added as a free update for the paid version, but will it be added to the free version as well, or will the free version be forever unfinished?

#9

Mod version is complete except for bug fixes. Xen will be steam only.

#10

I have already purchased it as a payment for the free version and all the fun I have already gotten from it, I was just wondering if it is worth playing through again :slight_smile:

#11

I think so, lots of subtle things (and not so subtle).

#12

The new marine voices would be enough for me.

#13

pls bump the price to 30 pounds sterling, I want to witness the butthurt.

#14

oh… so Xen’s not there yet? Well… maybe I’ll buy it now and wait for it before I play. Or maybe I’ll buy it when it’s complete. I was hoping with the detail of the teaser countdown it was all complete! Part of me says wait for Xen at the extra $5 cost rather than $20 now and the risk it is never finished.

#15

If you buy it now, you get it for the Early Access price and get Xen for free when it comes out.

#16

Wait, seriously?

I could have sworn you guys said Xen would be released for both the retail and mod versions.

#17

Well… I don’t know when that is and unfortunately I’ve been a little burned on early access and (not directly related) kickstarter things over the last few years, so I don’t always assume that something promised is going to come to fruition. I realize that the team has spent several years working on rebuilding the core game and getting it into Steam, and that’s certainly a good thing. But the old FAQ said Xen was a “long way off” and I don’t know that there’s any update on its progress. I don’t think we’ve even been told it’s being worked on yet. I get the impression that the first order of business is going to be stabilizing the game on Steam. Who knows what will happen between now and then? Who knows when, if, the Xen levels will be completed?

Based on the information available, I’m willing to wait to buy it until the SP experience is completed. If I knew that Xen was coming in a timeframe rather than “when it’s done”, I’d have to think that over.

#18

I thought so too, but don’t see any details on it. And anyway, I’d buy it. I just might not buy it until Xen’s there. If the whole SP campaign was completed and offered both free and paid, I’d buy it. If the whole SP campaign was completed and offered only retail, I’d buy it. But as long as the whole SP campaign is not complete…

#19

The mod isn’t compatible with the current retail engine.

#20

By which I assume you’re meaning that the planned development of Xen would rely on things in the new engine that wouldn’t be possible in the old mod-compatible version, and therefore you’d have to build two completely different versions of Xen to put it in both the Free and Retail versions. That makes complete sense.

I’ve read the argument that buying now helps fund the development of Xen, and without it there’s less reason to expect it to be done, and it’s a good argument. I did think that over for awhile. Still thinking it over, actually.

So far I’ve seen a few gameplay bugs listed as planned to be fixed, either soon or later, and that’s good. But will development of the Xen levels only come after a majority of discovered bugs in the current release are fixed? That could take a while, bugs have a way of piling up.

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.