Half-Life (Dreamcast)

Half-Life
Developers: Gearbox Software, Captivation Digital Laboratories Platform: Dreamcast This game has unused areas. This game has unused graphics. This game has unused models. This game has unused cinematics. This game has debugging material. This game has revisional differences. This game has a prototype article

This game was never completed and/or given a public release. As a result of this, keep in mind that the developers might have used or deleted some of the content featured here, had the game actually been released.

  This prototype is documented on Hidden Palace.

  This prototype is documented on Sega Dreamcast Info.

To do: Additional information on Sega Dreamcast Info Make videos of the unused levels and intro as running on Dreamcast hardware. Sort out the version differences into the respective Proto namespace pages. Even more information on Sega Dreamcast Info

The Dreamcast Half-Life is a port of the Windows original (also including the then-exclusive Blue Shift expansion) that was canned shortly before its planned release in 2001 - though not before its Prima strategy guide had been shipped to some retailers (who in turn practically gave them away to anyone interested in a copy).

Four builds have been found, dated between September 10, 2000 and May 23, 2001 (Final). This page primarily covers the last of these, labeled as Build 1672, which had initially been released on January 10, 2003 by the warez group Xanadu (who touted it as "the final gold version" of the game) as a raw dump in Nero's NRG format. As it was not compatible with the console in that form, it required manual work to be made bootable. A CDI rip by the group MUDS followed soon after, but with downsampled audio to minimize file size. Over time, working, bootable repacks were released in CDI and GDI formats, repurposing the bootstrap of Crazy Taxi to launch the game.

Sub-Pages

Prototype Info

Debug Features

Developer Console

With a keyboard plugged into the console's B port, a developer console can be toggled by pressing the ~ key.

(Source: Sega Dreamcast Info)

Debug Menu

This needs some investigation. Discuss ideas and findings on the talk page. Specifically: Still need to find out what exactly some of these options do.

In all versions, entering the command menu debug enables access to a special, separate menu with quick access commands for debugging. Functions are as follows:

• Developer Mode/Texture Logs: Enables developer mode; sets developer variable to 1.
• Export Dicts/Savegames: Unknown. Accompanying text says "Export save games and HL1 dicts".
• Allow Cheats: Allows cheat protected commands to be used; sets sv_cheats to 1.
• Activate Half-Life: Forces the next loaded game to be Half-Life. Selecting this returns to the start menu.
• Activate Blue Shift: Forces the next loaded game to be Blue Shift. Selecting this returns to the start menu.
• Console: Toggles the developer console.
• λÀÆÇÉÎĐÑÖØÞß©: Unknown. Accompanying text simply says "Lookie!". Selecting this returns to the console.
• CØdeZ: Unlocks every valid Access Code in the main menu.
• Dump VMU: Unknown. Accompanying text says "Dump VMU data to dev system".
• Cancel: Returns to the pause menu.

(Source: maximqad)

Unused Maps

Deathmatch Office

This page or section needs more videos. There's a whole lotta words or pictures here, but not enough videos. Please fix this. Specifically: Footage of the map running on Dreamcast hardware. The current video's uploader was playing this map under the Steam version of Half-Life.

Present in the Half-Life directory is a map file called dm_office.bsp. This is an office-themed deathmatch map based on one of the levels in Office Complex.

While multiplayer functionality on the Dreamcast port was planned at some point according to game magazines and the Prima guide, it was either cancelled or not implemented at the time of the available builds, leaving this map as the only remnant of new multiplayer content.

The map was reimplemented in a more finished state into the Head-To-Head mode of the PlayStation 2 port.

(Source: Marphy Black)

Intro

This page or section needs more videos. There's a whole lotta words or pictures here, but not enough videos. Please fix this. Specifically: Footage of intro on Dreamcast hardware. The current video's uploader was not only playing this map under the Steam version of Half-Life, but was using his own custom models.

Present in the Blue Shift directory is a map file called cam1.bsp. This is a short non-interactive introductory cutscene, showing off the beginning of Barney Calhoun and Gordon Freeman's day prior to the incident.

(Source: Marphy Black)

Multiplayer Maps

All of the eight original default deathmatch maps have been left in the port's PAK file. Remaining unchanged, these are likely just leftovers overlooked during the porting process.

Similarly, the default map cycle list is also present, unmodified.

Unused Models

Floater

Despite the Flocking Floater still going unused in the port, its model was subtly upgraded.

(Source: Marphy Black)

Gasbag

The also unused Gasbag was remade, receiving new textures and having its top part removed.

Player (Gordon Freeman)

Although this iteration of Gordon Freeman's model is well-known, it doesn't actually ever appear in the game, as even during Blue Shift's ending the original Gordon model is still used.

Multiplayer Models

Half-Life's model directory has two entries in the player folder reserved for multiplayer models: hgrunt and scientist. They appear to be the same models used in single-player.

Unused Graphics

For Blue Shift-specific differences, see the April 20, 2001 prototype page.

Miscellaneous

A miscellaneous grid texture that doesn't appear anywhere.

• 

Revisional Differences

Weapons

In the April build, the Tau Cannon and Gluon Gun aren't influenced by autoaim, thus lacking their "target locked" crosshair.

April 20 build	May 15 & 23 builds

Maps

To do: Half-Life's campaign needs to be covered here. List of differences between April & May builds: c1a1b, c1a2b, c1a3a, c1a4i, c2a2b1, c2a2e, c3a1b, c3a2a, c4a1d

For Blue-Shift-specific changes, see the the April 20, 2001 prototype page.

Models

In the April build, one of the random tech gibs may be a Japanese disc of Sonic Adventure. Later builds changed this to be Half-Life's own Dreamcast disc.

April 20 build	May 15 & 23 builds

Text

In both of the May builds, the game over message that displays when any essential NPC dies fades in a whopping 0.01 seconds faster. It's strangely the only text change done here.

April 20 build	May 15 & 23 builds
$fadein 0.03 $holdtime 9 GAMEOVER { SUBJECT: FREEMAN STATUS: EVALUATION TERMINATED POSTMORTEM: Subject failed to effectively utilize human assets in achievement of goal. }	$fadein 0.02 $holdtime 9 GAMEOVER { SUBJECT: FREEMAN STATUS: EVALUATION TERMINATED POSTMORTEM: Subject failed to effectively utilize human assets in achievement of goal. }

Oddities

The headcrab zombie model is slightly different depending on which campaign is being played, most notably having a different arm/claw texture.

Half-Life	Blue Shift

(Source: Teajai)