Half-Life: C.A.G.E.D.

Dallas

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-01 20:25:48 UTC Post #337223

Hello everyone,

Just wanted to introduce the modification I am releasing on Steam September 21st:

Half-Life: C.A.G.E.D.

It is an action packed prison escape in a fully featured expansion of a small map I made years ago.

Some features:

Full single player campaign.
Unlock-able bonus content.
Music from artist Lazerhawk.
Developer commentary mode.

There is a trailer up here:
https://youtu.be/TTDFnds75Y4

And you can find it on Steam here:
http://store.steampowered.com/app/679990

And a couple relevant links:

www.caylegeorge.com
www.futuregamesselect.com
https://lazerhawk.bandcamp.com/

Thanks for taking a look!

-cAyle

Dallas

23-down

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-02 09:37:14 UTC Post #337229

Looking forward to it... I partially remember the original and it was a good mod.

23-down

Windawz

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-02 15:56:37 UTC Post #337240

This looks so good... The levels remind me of Max Payne for some reason.

Windawz

Strider

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-03 00:47:12 UTC Post #337247

Very cool. Synthwave is an odd choice for a brutalist concrete prison, but if it works, it works!

StriderTuned to a dead channel.

Notewell

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-03 01:43:38 UTC Post #337249

Looks neat - make sure to post again on the release date, because I don't want to risk missing this one!

NotewellGIASFELFEBREHBER

Alberto309

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-04 12:05:27 UTC Post #337280

Hey Cayle! Good to see you here!

You already know what I think about HL:C and I can't wait to play it.

I actually forgot to reply to your e-mail for whatever reason; sorry. I'll reply as soon as possible.

Alberto309weapon_spaghetti

Dallas

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-04 13:58:42 UTC Post #337282

No worries mate

@Jeff, definitely will post again on release day.

Dallas

Renato

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-04 20:01:16 UTC Post #337287

Those screenshots look damn promising, added to wishlist. Gl with the release!

Renato

Qwertyus

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-21 17:39:38 UTC Post #337456

So, it's time to play! Thank you, Cayle!

Qwertyus

Notewell

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-21 18:48:12 UTC Post #337458

That was a fun half-hour. Really like the 80s action-flick style.
Now to see if I can get all the achievements...

NotewellGIASFELFEBREHBER

Dallas

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-21 20:03:31 UTC Post #337459

Hope you guys enjoy, game is released.

The "Achievements" unlock bonus content for those wanting more

And, there is some juicy easter-egg content few have yet found.

Dallas

Trempler

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-22 00:23:44 UTC Post #337460

Lovely! I really like the changes and the reworked areas.
Gameplay was also great.

Still need to replay, 2 Achievements missing >:)

Oh and donÂ´t worry, I wonÂ´t convert this to Sven Co-op, like I did in the past as a big mistake, were I was young and stupid. Still feel dirty about that.

Anyway. Thanks a lot for sharing this experience

Trempler

Strider

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-22 06:52:32 UTC Post #337461

That was a glorious little bit of outrun. Incredible mood, and so many great little details.

I played on hard and it really was hard. Also, normally I don't care for achievements, but having only six, and them being locked to a single playthrough I think actually makes it worth going back for another run.

Thanks also for including the source files, they're going to be interesting to peek at. I'm real curious what scale you built those terminals at for the intro cinematic, they look real swish for Goldsource.

StriderTuned to a dead channel.

Dallas

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-22 12:35:15 UTC Post #337463

I'm real curious what scale you built those terminals at for the intro cinematic, they look real swish for Goldsource.

I think the technical term is Friggin Huge. ;D

Dallas

The303

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-22 23:43:27 UTC Post #337484

That was actually incredibly clever, I expected a model-based intro but it was just gigantic brushwork so you got them lightmap scale. Well done.

Also got that Executive plunger

The303

monster_urby

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-23 17:57:38 UTC Post #337495

There already several examples of prop models being used in the maps, I don't think things like vent covers really need to be modelled. You don't see bullet impacts / decals on models which is why I prefer to not use them for scenery.

monster_urbyGoldsourcerer

Admer456

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-23 19:10:16 UTC Post #337497

Short, but sweet. Very sweet.

I was nicely surprised by the fact that the lowest framerate I could get was actually 17fps. It only happened in the area where the prison control van came:

I checked the system requirements and thought "Okay, I can run it, I passed the minimum requirements. Let's hope it will stay above 15fps most of the time."; but I totally didn't expect it to be above 40fps most of the time.

(though, I did disable r_dynamic because of the explosions)

Admer456If it ain't broken, don't fox it!

Windawz

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-23 19:55:48 UTC Post #337498

That's an amazing mod, Cayle. I'd even pay for it if I had any money.

I'm quite surprised by the fact that no single func_detail is used in any of the maps. All small details are either tied to func_wall or func_illusionary. And what really impressed me are the crazy entity setups standing behind the intro and the final cutscenes. Awesome job.

Windawz

Admer456

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-23 20:44:00 UTC Post #337500

@SourceSkyBoxer
I am sure that Cayle has heard of it before and probably used it many times. But, I think that the lack of func_detail was done intentionally. Hmm...

Admer456If it ain't broken, don't fox it!

Trempler

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-23 23:26:56 UTC Post #337503

lol.

Trempler

2muchvideogames

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-24 00:12:14 UTC Post #337504

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCPddbNWsjA

Played on hard. Very tough challenge even though I played the old version before. Love the makeover, it's got a tf2 or portal feel to it. Took a look at the files. There was a mix of hd and ld models and loads of extraneous files for some reason. Doesnt matter, though, mod was pretty cool, I liked the extra area at that end, went into that one completely blind.

2muchvideogames

The Mad Carrot

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-24 00:18:34 UTC Post #337505

This guy, man, I'm telling ya... User posted image

You really think Cayle punched in that date himself? It's probably a glitch where Steam was unable to retrieve the correct date.

Nothing to make such a big deal about.

The Mad Carrot

James Luke

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-24 02:24:01 UTC Post #337506

Probably doesnâ€™t realize the importance of 1/1/70 anyways.

I see it a lot in Steam DLCs though, Valve might wanna look into that.

James Luke

Strider

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-24 02:26:19 UTC Post #337507

I think the technical term is Friggin Huge. ;D

I checked it out, boy you weren't kidding! Amazing.

I ran through this again with commentary, and got all the achievements. I even found V.A.T.S, the website, and got the secret achievement. It was so worth it for Judgement-Bot 9000. I can't imagine how confusing it was to script those two machines in Goldsource.

I think this is my favourite room in the whole mod. It looks exactly like the kind of slick, anesthetised future backdrop you'd see in something like Robocop or Demolition Man. I love it.

StriderTuned to a dead channel.

Tetsu0

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-24 17:24:52 UTC Post #337512

This showed up in my google feed this morning!! Grats. I have to grab it when i get my desktop up and running.

Tetsu0Positive Chaos

Dallas

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-25 07:49:32 UTC Post #337515

Thanks for the nice notes guys

...Yeah as some noted, I used ZHLT for this project on purpose. Yes there are lots of more modern options, but I wanted the mod to retain the older feel, yet try and push the visuals with the older tech.

JB9K and V.A.T.S. have some pretty involved scripting. It is probably confusing to step through with not much context. If anyone ever has specific questions about how something was done or why feel free to ask or email me - happy to chat about it

Dallas

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-25 07:53:25 UTC Post #337516

@Admer glad it ran good enough on your system

You should have had faith, it does say potato acceptable in the steam system requirements.

Dallas

Admer456

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-25 11:07:09 UTC Post #337518

Having played quite a few HL mods, I can safely say that there's a handful of them that ran badly. C.A.G.E.D. being optimised truly shows that some people still care for us people with bottom-end hardware. And that's why I'm thankful.

Though, my laptop isn't a potato. It's a bean.

Admer456If it ain't broken, don't fox it!

Renato

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-25 11:24:38 UTC Post #337519

Loving the 80s theme at the end, shame it wasn't too obvious during most of the gameplay time since, well, we were in a prison. But would most definitely look forward to some sort of story pick up in the future with that 80s vibe and my executive plunger by my side

Renato

monster_urby

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-25 12:24:36 UTC Post #337522

This really is quite a stunning mod. I've not finished it yet as my daughter kinda dictates my playing hours. I will be grabbing the plunger next month when I stick some birthday cash into my steam wallet.

monster_urbyGoldsourcerer

satchmo

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-28 17:42:07 UTC Post #337579

I am playing through it right now. Very impressive gameplay design.

Have you ever played my map, Escape from Black Mesa?

satchmo“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better. -- Samuel Beckett”

Dallas

Posted 7 years ago2017-09-29 07:24:25 UTC Post #337586

have not played it Satchmo, but I'll give it a whirl at lunchtime some day. Looks neat

Dallas

kruk

Posted 7 years ago2017-10-05 16:31:38 UTC Post #337705

Goint at it today ;] btw was it difficult to release it on steam like this?

kruk

Dallas

Posted 7 years ago2017-10-06 06:37:37 UTC Post #337715

btw was it difficult to release it on steam like this?

Bit of a learning curve and just a chunk of time. Going with steam pushed the release date back, say, 2 months, but the mod then received maybe say 20 times or more the players on the platform. So well worth it for the community I think.

Main roadblocks is that the back-end is not automated to handle "mods" so once you are ready to go, you need to get directly in touch with a Valve developer to flag your game correctly.

Dallas

Posted 7 years ago2017-10-13 09:00:20 UTC Post #337761

Oh and donÂ´t worry, I wonÂ´t convert this to Sven Co-op, like I did in the past as a big mistake, were I was young and stupid. Still feel dirty about that.

Re: trempler

Lol! I just stumbled across that old sven coop thread where you had converted the original caged and i gave you crap about it. Good lord, how young I was XD. You have my apologies. I could care less about it now, and shouldn't have cared then. Keep on mappin' my friend <3

Dallas