Is it really that time, again? Indeed it is! We hope you are all safe and doing well - it has been quite the year! Even though apocalyptic events, we are still busy at work on our games.
(Foxtrot Uniform by Brandon Smith and Chris Onorati)
Much has changed since our last update in November 2019. We are steadily working on all aspects of the game. More levels are nearing completion, and unlike previous years, it's apparent that we are shifting our focus onto actual gameplay. We are thrilled that both Guard Duty and Operation: Black Mesa are now starting to resemble actual games. While we have had some NPCs, weapons, and the like in-game for some time, we are finally about to implement human NPCs. This represents a major milestone as it means we can at long last start to work on scripted scenes and story elements.
(Hazard Course by Brandon Smith)
Some new additions to our team go hand in hand with this progress. We have brought on some very talented voice actors to fill the roles of some old friends, as well as a small handful of new faces. You can hear some voice acting samples attached to this update.
Our audio department has grown significantly. Other than new voice talent, we are pleased to welcome a new composer to the team. While it might be a bit saddening that not all of the older tracks will appear in the final product, fear not! Our new composer is not only producing new tracks, but re-creating some of the fan-favorites to ensure a cohesive listening experience. Alongside this article we are releasing a few new tracks - how do they sound to you? Please share your thoughts.
To give a proper closure to the topic of in-game audio, below are samples of the Security Guard and HECU Grunt. Give them a listen!
Other departments are still hard at work as well. Weapons are being fine-tuned, with playtesting driving them to a near-perfect state. We are now working on a stretch-goal for Operation: Black Mesa and Guard Duty to each have their own unique viewmodel animations that will match the style of each protagonist. Since we started publicly sharing weapon showcase videos, some of you have given us valuable feedback. One point of public concern was our HUD color scheme. While still a work in progress, here are some pictures of the most recent iteration of the HUD for both games. We look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Last but not least, we are excited to share some short gameplay teasers - presenting our take on the Voltigore's nest. We hope to bring you even more videos in the future.
In closing, we would like to encourage any talented individuals to apply to our team and help us finish making these games a reality. If interested in the projects, or if you know someone who might be, please see our "application guidelines" for more detailed information. Current priority positions are:
3D Artist (Organics)
3D Artist (Hard Surface)
Graphics Programmer
Animator
Various Voice Acting Positions
(The Package by Lander Van Hove) (Welcome to Black Mesa by Chris Onorati)
We will have more to share soon, so stay tuned. In the meantime, there are some more media to please your eyes. We cannot wait to hear your thoughts. To make sure you don´t miss anything, you can go check out one of our social channels.
(Missing in action by Oliver Curtis)
(Crush Depth by Chris Onorati) (last screenshot by Chris Onorati and Brandon Smith)
(Alien flora concepts by Harry Willson)
(Foxtrot Uniform by Brandon Smith and Chris Onorati)
Much has changed since our last update in November 2019. We are steadily working on all aspects of the game. More levels are nearing completion, and unlike previous years, it's apparent that we are shifting our focus onto actual gameplay. We are thrilled that both Guard Duty and Operation: Black Mesa are now starting to resemble actual games. While we have had some NPCs, weapons, and the like in-game for some time, we are finally about to implement human NPCs. This represents a major milestone as it means we can at long last start to work on scripted scenes and story elements.
(Hazard Course by Brandon Smith)
Some new additions to our team go hand in hand with this progress. We have brought on some very talented voice actors to fill the roles of some old friends, as well as a small handful of new faces. You can hear some voice acting samples attached to this update.
Our audio department has grown significantly. Other than new voice talent, we are pleased to welcome a new composer to the team. While it might be a bit saddening that not all of the older tracks will appear in the final product, fear not! Our new composer is not only producing new tracks, but re-creating some of the fan-favorites to ensure a cohesive listening experience. Alongside this article we are releasing a few new tracks - how do they sound to you? Please share your thoughts.
To give a proper closure to the topic of in-game audio, below are samples of the Security Guard and HECU Grunt. Give them a listen!
Other departments are still hard at work as well. Weapons are being fine-tuned, with playtesting driving them to a near-perfect state. We are now working on a stretch-goal for Operation: Black Mesa and Guard Duty to each have their own unique viewmodel animations that will match the style of each protagonist. Since we started publicly sharing weapon showcase videos, some of you have given us valuable feedback. One point of public concern was our HUD color scheme. While still a work in progress, here are some pictures of the most recent iteration of the HUD for both games. We look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Last but not least, we are excited to share some short gameplay teasers - presenting our take on the Voltigore's nest. We hope to bring you even more videos in the future.
In closing, we would like to encourage any talented individuals to apply to our team and help us finish making these games a reality. If interested in the projects, or if you know someone who might be, please see our "application guidelines" for more detailed information. Current priority positions are:
3D Artist (Organics)
3D Artist (Hard Surface)
Graphics Programmer
Animator
Various Voice Acting Positions
(The Package by Lander Van Hove) (Welcome to Black Mesa by Chris Onorati)
We will have more to share soon, so stay tuned. In the meantime, there are some more media to please your eyes. We cannot wait to hear your thoughts. To make sure you don´t miss anything, you can go check out one of our social channels.
(Missing in action by Oliver Curtis)
(Crush Depth by Chris Onorati) (last screenshot by Chris Onorati and Brandon Smith)
(Alien flora concepts by Harry Willson)
) . It looks properly creepy, and I think the texture is made more detailed in this one due to limited color and lighting. Love that cool moment when the Volti just out of view and its projectile just fly pass your head. I think it fit the section well.
