Recycling and cut content...

Posted 2 weeks ago2024-11-27 03:54:20 UTC
Suppose that you need something, but don't have the time to do it. Maybe it's just too good to leave it archived, maybe it took considerable effort, and you even made a labor of love on it. Maybe you simply want to get rid of it, publish it, let the world know it, etc.
I'm pretty sure everyone (or most of us, at least) have recycled content in some form. It can range from a simple idea to an entire map, a whole model, pehaps even the mod itself!
But, is it ethical? Is it correct? Are you not commiting any "modding sins" by reusing content? Why am i even bothering to question such banalities?
I guess it's not a bad thing, but from my experience, it could be frowned uppon by some modders. Maybe because it shows a lack of effort, or it can break the vision of the whole thing.

For example, my submission for Make Black Mesa Come Alive was no exception.
For starters, this miniwarehouse section was recycled from another mod that i never finished (and will never bother to do so). It was heavily modified, so only its essence remains.
blusquidblusquid
The grenade models were recycled from a cancelled deathmatch mod i was working on too (Can't remember it's name, but it had a Mod DB page somewhere).
'nades'nades
A character that you only get to see once is this guy (during the short vent sequence). He was supposed to take a more prominent role in the maps, being required to unlock doors and disable security systems.
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Another character that was also supposed to appear at the very beginning was this unnamed security guard, who was not in a very good shape. Similarly to other games, he would have served as a companion that taught you how to work in teams (like at the start of Black Mesa). You were the brains, he was the brawn. His model (and concept) was recycled from my cancelled entry for The Buddy System.
Gordon was to take this role too at some point, tho you would have followed him instead, and helped him to open doors and such. Gordon's model comes from an unfinished mod of an alternate universe.
"John Doe", and Gordon"John Doe", and Gordon
Both the security guard and the scientist had scripted arguments and dialog that made them feel more alive, making the player forget just for a small second that one is a bullet-spitting machine and the other one is a living keycard. They also had animations for jumping over ledges and railings, climbing rooms and ladders, a concept that came from this awesome mod.
Finally, there was also supposed to be this small sequence where you entered some random lab and freed a vortigaunt. The model was reused from yet another cancelled mod. The purpose was to show that vortigaunts are slaves, and constantly being forced to participate in an invasion they probably don't want to take part in.
vortvort
Most of these stuff were cut, but it just amazes me how much content i have been trying to reuse lately (i also wanted to display these models because i consider them too good to be archived).
It also makes me think, how much unused or never-seen-before content has been made by the community, and how cool it would be if people posted every single thing they made. Something like TCRF but for Half-Life mods.
Sure, it would probably lead to a massive flood of mediocre/unfinished content. But it could also give us some uncut gems. It could serve as inspiration. Imagine, a map you never finished serves as an inspiration for the next "They Hunger"! That would definitely be cool to see.
Just a tought.

1 Comment

Commented 2 weeks ago2024-11-28 01:49:23 UTC Comment #106532
Since I always think of logistics, I strongly feel that reusing your unused stuff (even used, sometimes) is one of the best situations you can find yourself in. If you have a library of reusable stuff, and cut stuff, you are only saving yourself time.

Anything that helps you get the map/mod quicker into the hands of players - that is legal and still offers a unique experience, isn't just low-effort reuse - is ultimately good. Plus, you can still tweak the stuff you've reused.

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