Half-Life 2 and Episodes I & II (New Hi-Res Textures)

[Offender_Mullet]

A pc gaming forum with only 1 HL2 thread. For shame!

Looks like I'll be dusting off my copy after reading about the link below. One of the greatest games ever is getting some life pumped back into it by this German dude. Apparently he's been releasing HL2 texture mods for a while, but I just came across this site last night. Looks like he's re-vamped just about every texture in all 3 games with hi-res ones.

Has anyone downloaded this "cinematic" mod yet? It's 10GB I'm downloading it now from his ftp site. My usual download speed is 3mb/sec, but I'm only getting around 20kb/sec now. lol.....this is going to take a while.....

I'd post screen comparisons, but they're 1920x2400 in size.

Here's the link: http://www.cinematicmod.com/cm_10.php

The gallery is on that page. Looks sweet to say the least! Das ist prima!

[molson1138]

The new textures look really nice. Not that I needed a reason to replay this game.

Let us know how you like it.

[Offender_Mullet]

Oh for the love of God! The download just canceled out with only 3GB done. Ugh! He has rapidshare links, which I'll try next.

[Toptube]

he definitely fills in the landscapes pretty well and lays the textures smoothly.

But I don't like how he saps the color out of most everything. I wonder if someone out there has a config file the retains color, but employs all of his other enhancements.

[Trogdor2010]

Ok when is Episode 3 coming out ? It been late 2007 since episode two, what's the hold up?

[Offender_Mullet]

Originally Posted by Trogdor2010

Ok when is Episode 3 coming out ? It been late 2007 since episode two, what's the hold up?

Yeah no kidding right! I haven't seen any news on the Steam forums. I really hope they're updating the Source Engine, as the graphics are in dire need of an upgrade.

Originally Posted by Toptube

he definitely fills in the landscapes pretty well and lays the textures smoothly. But I don't like how he saps the color out of most everything. I wonder if someone out there has a config file the retains color, but employs all of his other enhancements.

It definitely makes the game have a more 'bleak' appearance, which could enhance the mood of the story a bit. I hate the free rapidshare links. This is annoying.

[tootall82103]

[QUOTE=Offender_Mullet;2959657]Yeah no kidding right! I haven't seen any news on the Steam forums. I really hope they're updating the Source Engine, as the graphics are in dire need of an upgrade.
QUOTE]

The source engine has been out for 6 years. It looks very good considering the skimpy hardware needed to run it. I see no need for an upgrade.

[Steve]

Originally Posted by Trogdor2010

Ok when is Episode 3 coming out ? It been late 2007 since episode two, what's the hold up?

There are rumors now that there may not be an Episode 3, but rather a full out Half Life 3.

Game Informer: No Half-Life 2: Episode 3 for you in 2010
by Justin McElroy { Jan 19th 2010 at 3:00PM }

Now this is just demoralizing. According to a report in the rumors section of the Feb. 2010 issue of Game Informer (which doesn't name its source) there won't be "any game from the [Half-Life] franchise in 2010." As if that weren't crushing enough, the magazine says it's not even sure there will be a Half-Life 2: Episode 3, postulating that the next Gordon Freeman adventure might be Half-Life 3 proper.

Alright, listen, Half-Life: You take as long as you need, but we know you're holding Portal 2 in there somewhere. Just let GLaDOS go unharmed and you can develop until 2020 for all we care. Please, if not for us, think of the preteens waiting to record painful cover versions of "I'm Still Alive (Again)" on YouTube.

Source

[Nielsb90]

Originally Posted by Trogdor2010

Ok when is Episode 3 coming out ? It been late 2007 since episode two, what's the hold up?

It's the new DUke Nuke'em!!!

Really have to play this game! I've got the Orange Box but never gotten around to play it

[GLaDOS]

Originally Posted by tootall82103

The source engine has been out for 6 years. It looks very good considering the skimpy hardware needed to run it. I see no need for an upgrade.

Times are changing, and I have to agree that Source is getting old and tired. Water effects are bland and plain, the HDR lighting is impressive but sub-par and the foliage is fake making up for bland environments.

But Cinematic Mod seems to do the Source engine quite well. You gotta love CM 10.

[tootall82103]

Originally Posted by kotsedriver

Times are changing, and I have to agree that Source is getting old and tired. Water effects are bland and plain, the HDR lighting is impressive but sub-par and the foliage is fake making up for bland environments.

But Cinematic Mod seems to do the Source engine quite well. You gotta love CM 10.

Exactly, the source engine has plenty of tweaking left in it to improve graphics.

[GLaDOS]

I think Cinematic Mod 10 is pretty close for Valve games to becoming bigger competitors to other graphical giants such as Killzone 2 and Crysis. I find it interesting, but I think this video is a clear prediction to what Source 2.0 would be like:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-uB7Goc1wk

[Trogdor2010]

Originally Posted by Nielsb90

It's the new DUke Nuke'em!!!

Really have to play this game! I've got the Orange Box but never gotten around to play it

And yet Valve makes two zombie action games that have non existent stories. One of the reason I enjoyed the Half Life franchise, but if Valve insists making these Zombie games, can't they atleast put Counter Strike on the PS3?

[GLaDOS]

Originally Posted by Trogdor2010

And yet Valve makes two zombie action games that have non existent stories. One of the reason I enjoyed the Half Life franchise, but if Valve insists making these Zombie games, can't they atleast put Counter Strike on the PS3?

They still think that the PS3 is too complicated to develop for, let alone hiring any PS3 developers (in fact, why don't they want to spend the money for that?)

However, this is a PC thread not a PS3 thread. Still, I would prefer Left 4 Dead 2 on the PS3 rather than CounterStrike.

[XXXBoY88]

I really dont like the new textures. ( it look at me horrble sorry for my bad english)

[Offender_Mullet]

I gave up at trying to download it, but after my new build gets done I'll try again. I want to see in-game how it affects the overall feel of the game's atmosphere.

[dvs1270]

been waiting on episode 3 or even the black mesa project to finish/be released. just want to get another piece of the story. i refuse to invest anymore money in a gaming rig. this mod is nice, but i'm below spec to use it.

[Offender_Mullet]

They added a new high-speed download link. I'm getting it now. Will let you know how it is.


Also, here's a new interview with Gabe Newell of Valve about Episode 3. Check it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbjmMGiYW3w

[Darkhawk9587]

That looks really nice. I'm still holding out for one giant box that includes HL2, all the episodes and whatever else they make (Portals, etc.). Someday hopefully, someday.

[Offender_Mullet]

So far this mod is epic. Had to download the Source SDK from Steam though, because Valve's recent HL2 update made something buggy in the game. Works fine after that though. There's also a handy configuator so you can turn some options on or off, like the new soundtrack or keep the original one. Sweeeeeeeet.


Also, look at this.....http://blackmesasource.com/ Some guys are re-vamping Half-Life 1 with the Source engine. The hi-def trailer looks great.