FAQ

What is Operation Black Mesa?

Operation Black Mesa is a Half Life 2 modification; the second installment of the award winning Half Life. Utilizing the immense array of features of the Source engine, the Operation Black Mesa team plans to remake Opposing Force in all it's glory in the Source engine. What we plan to do is remake everything from the 3D models to the maps, so that Opposing Force can once again be praised as one of the best expansion packs for any game to date. We here at the Operation Black Mesa team wish to comprise both single-player and multi-player elements into our modification. We may be adding a Capture the flag mode, but don't quite count on it at the moment.

What is Half-life: Opposing Force?

Half-life: Opposing Force is a expansion pack to the award winning Half Life created by Gearbox Software and published in November 1999.You play as U.S. Corporal Adrian Shephard, from the Hazardous Environment Combat Unit (HECU), sent in mission during the fictional Black Mesa incident. There are 11 chapters :

  • Welcome To Black Mesa
  • "We Are Pulling Out"
  • Missing In Action
  • Friendly Fire
  • We Are Not Alone
  • Crush Depth
  • Vicarious Reality
  • Pit Worm's Nest
  • Foxtrot Uniform
  • "The Package"
  • Worlds Collide

Will you release a public beta ?

When the time comes for beta testing we will have a closed beta, however we may make the multiplayer part be a public beta.

Will you contact the Black Mesa modifcation ?

We have been in contact with part of the Black Mesa team. At this point in developement, the Black Mesa team does not wish to work with us, but we will strive to make the best ourselves.

Will Operation Black Mesa be available via Vapour ?

It depends. If vapour gives us the best tools to share our modification then it may be an option.

Can you give a release date ?

We wish to release our first playable version as soon as possible. Follow the updates to check if a official date is announced.

Will the rope climbing feature from the original be incorporated into this mod ?

Half-life: Opposing Force allowed the player to climb ropes to continue in their escape of the facility, as this is a re-creation, it would be hard to make it the same without that aspect.

What's about the Level Design in Operation Black Mesa ?

Using the Source engine, map dimensions will become bigger and bigger with an impresive environnement than the work created by Gearbox on Half-life. Consequently, the developpement team is thinking to elarge the time of the game with less "loading" on maps. Finaly the Level Designer could take a decision to change a bit the gameplay to earn in realism.

What's about Bots and NPC ?

Operation Black Mesa will use the orginal AI used in Half-life 2 for the singleplayer mode. The developers will be looking into creating their own Bots for the Multiplayer mode.

Will you add vehicles to make a new experience ?

No way. The game will keep the original gameplay created by VALVe and Gearbox software.

Will the High Dynamic Range be inclued on the mod ?

The High Dynamic Range will be include in our future version. Only the Single player mode will give you the experience for the moment.

Any cheats available on Operation Black Mesa ?

Of course the basic cheats commands will be available in our modification...

What's about the characters voices ? About the sound ambiance tracks ?

We aren't far enough into development to truthfully answer that question...

Do you have the VALVe Software and Gearbox Software's authorisations ?

We have received a responce from Gearbox stating "While we created Half-Life Opposing Force, Valve owns the intellectual property." We have not received any responce from VALVe at the moment.

Who are you ?

Our team is composed of amature dev-members. The French Team "Dark Elve Studio" is helping us to create the audio.

How to join the team ?

You want to contribute the the Operation Black Mesa Team? In order to join us you can apply, post position in our Forums along with a presentation of yourself, portfolio and such.

I want to test your modification.

Right now, only the developement team is allowed to test the alpha of the modification.

I have a question.

Contact us (elevalkary@hotmail.fr) for futher information.