Operation: Ask Me Anything (Part 1)

30 apr
7 minuten om te lezen

We’re back as promised and starting our AMA update series with a brief look at what we’ve been working on behind the scenes. Our team is currently focused on two major goals — one of them being a fully playable build of the game from start to finish. We’re well on our way toward achieving this milestone. Alongside that, we’ve begun a cleanup of our source code and have been addressing several issues hidden within our improved version of the Source engine.

Today we’re sharing two new screenshots showcasing additional level work by our talented Lead Level Designer, Lander Van Hove, known as The Comedian. These images reflect our ongoing efforts to push the game forward and meet the internal goals we’ve set for the project.

We’d also like to highlight that we’re actively hiring. To accelerate development, we’re looking for more programmers, animators, and organic artists to join our team. If you’d like to contribute to Operation Black Mesa and help us reach our goals even faster, feel free to check out our open positions. If you would be interested in joining us, but the desired position is not on the list, don’t worry — we’re still considering candidates for other positions as well.

Now, let’s get to the main reason we’re here. We’re finally answering the first batch of questions you submitted on our Discord channel. Antonín Žoha (Project Lead), Lander Van Hove (Lead Level Designer), Brandon Smith (Level Designer & Artist), and Harry Willson (Concept & 3D Artist) will be answering some of the questions you asked in the AMA. And this is just the warm‑up — stay tuned for more.

Questions and Answers:

Bob asked: What are you guys focusing on in the development?
- Antonín answers: We’re working on many things at once. Our primary goal is to make the entire game fully playable from start to finish. In addition to that, we aim to bring the first half of the game as close to a complete state as possible.

Alongside these long‑term objectives, we’re currently focusing heavily on implementing NPC characters and ramping up our voice‑acting department so we can begin working on scripted scenes with our amazing cast of NPCs.Lander answers: I can maybe give more details on what I'm working on. This month I was working on adding different volumetric clouds. Those volumetric textures really add an extra layer of atmosphere to the levels. You will see them in upcoming media updates

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Fleechin asked: Will it have controller support?

Brandon answers: Absolutely!

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Dr. Fritz Ludwig asked: Do the weapons feel good?

Antonín answers: That’s of course very subjective, but we always do our best to make the weapons feel great. Our goal is to capture the classic Half‑Life feeling that so many fans expect and love. You can expect something very similar in spirit, yet modernized. To achieve this, we use everything at our disposal — animation, sound design, particle effects, and high‑definition visuals — to make each weapon feel distinct, useful, and satisfying to use against anyone who stands in your way.

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ZC asked: Will the boss fights in the OBM get completely overhaul/redesigned? (compare to OG OP4) For example: The Gonarch fight in Black Mesa is starkly different from the OG HL.
- Harry answers: Absolutely. These are iconic moments in the game, so while we want to retain the essence of the originals, we also want to make them more fun, intense and better utilizing the new engine to be memorable. Don't expect to find any Gargantuas tethered to the ground in our version.

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Ferhat Çavuş: Will we be able to see the world of Race X?

Brandon answers: That is highly classified.

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RomRojal274 asked: Will there be Zombies wearing HEV suits? since there are likely going to be zombies wearing PCV's as well as regular Scientist and Guard Zombies.

Brandon answers: Yes, there will be many different zombie varieties to test out your weaponry on.

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Infamous💙Val💜O5:Will the alien NPCs keep their special AI quirks from the original Half-Life? like Houndeyes' pack system and dynamic attack damage/color, or the smell mechanic where certain NPCs will react to smells produced by carcasses and such, etc.?

Brandon answers: Yep! These small features are very important to us. The houndeye pack system has been implemented for many years already.

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CrusaderTheFirst asked: Will the Xen parts be inspired by how Black Mesa did things? Both visual and level design?

Harry answers: We're planning on trying something a little different- aiming to make something just as spectacular, but more disturbing and strange.

Lander answers: we started on basic layout and different puzzels for the chapter we are not alone. It's a lot of fun to playtest it. We are also working on the different displacer locations of the different levels. And I want to start soon on the skybox. That will be a lot of fun.

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RomRojal274 asked: Will you be able to switch between the classic weapons (MP5 and Glock) and the HD weapons (M4A1 and Beretta M9) or would it just be the MP5 that can be swapped to an M4A1 (though keeping it's stats as it's a skin)

Brandon answers: We have no plans for this. The Steam Workshop should be sufficient for finding many weapon alternatives to suit player preferences.

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Kenny asked: How is Tripmine Studios' work structure like(level design)? People can work on different chapter however they want, or the team have a work schedule like "this week we focus working on this chapter, etc.

Antonín answers: Each level designer is primarily assigned to a specific chapter, or sometimes multiple chapters. In fact, most level designers are
responsible for more than one chapter. Of course, beyond working on their assigned chapters, level designers are free to collaborate with each other on various maps or individual parts of them.

Lander answers: I'm working on different levels at once: Missing in action, We are not alone and The Package. I'm blocking out the teleportroom of the Lambda Complex as we speak. For The Package, I'm updating some textures and models.

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Zuliano en guerra asked: If I had to ask something, i dont recall in the original there being the earthquakes from the airstrikes, those wil be here?

Antonín answers: Some airstrikes will indeed make your screen shaky-shaky a little bit :)

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Amorkat96 asked: Squad Command: "Adrian Shephard relies heavily on NPCs like Medics and Engineers. Have you updated the AI to be more proactive in combat, or are you sticking strictly to the 'follow/stay' commands of the original?"

Antonín answers: Our current goal is to have basic combat mechanics that you know from the original, while improving the behaviour. We want your comrades to be valuable companion that will help you in any situation and don´t get in your way too much. Playtesting phase will decide about possible additional features regarding the squad commanding.

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totallynotbug [HECU] asked: Will the sun leak?

Antonín answers: Yes, we use Source Engine, and it´s totally possible. It´s a feature, not a bug.

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Amorkat96 asked: Custom Assets: "Will the custom models and textures created for the remake be made available for the SFM community to use in their own animations or 'Source horror' projects?"

Antonín answers: We do not want to restrict the use of our content, as long as it gets properly credited and isn´t used in a commercial product without our consense. Quite contrary, we are eager to see what the community can do with the content that we deliver :).

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Darkbomb14 asked: Is there a chance that operation black mesa and guard duty might release seperately? (like one getting finished sooner so it comes out first)

Antonín answers: Yes, we definitely don´t want to hold back the release of either one. If Operation Black Mesa got ready to be released, we would deliver Guard Duty as an update.

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A. ShephardⓊ¹⁹²⁴ asked: Female black ops will have 2 pistols or one pistol? will be more variants of race X (similar to spore trooper of hl op4 enlightened)?

Antonín answers: The female Black Ops will use a single suppressed 9mm pistol. As for Race X, we don’t plan to expand it significantly beyond what was established in the original Opposing Force. Our goal is to stay faithful to the source material rather than introduce entirely new variants.

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Dragonuid asked: Are we gona get freanking cool old school multiplayer plus Capture the Flag?

Antonín answers: We plan to remake multiplayer, including the capture the flag. Single-player is highest priority though, and multiplayer might not be available right at the release

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Jeff asked: Will you be able to eat crayons?

Lander answers: It depends on the color/flavour.

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Multiverse of Madness: what system requirements you targeting?

Antonín answers: We target for similar system requirements as CS:GO, maybe slightly higher.

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Spoochie Bogel asked: will there be an a.i demonstration of the buddies system/other npcs you encounter along the game

Antonín answers: We do not have such a plan, but this might change in the future. You just have to wait and see :).

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Dragonuid asked: Are we getting COOOOP? Because I don't wana be the only one R A P E D by the pitdrones...

Antonín answers: No, co-op is not planned. Sorry, you will be dying alone.

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MyGamepedia asked: Will the team try asking Valve for permission on creating SDK similar to Source SDK SP/MP in the future for "the better mods" after the game is done (yes, this is possible legally with Valve's agreement?

Antonín answers: We would love to create the SDK tools to support modding as much as possible. Although we will share more on this after the first release.

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Bwass451 asked: Can Marine medics heal fellow npc’s like in the original OpFor?

Antonín answers: Yes, we want to keep this feature.

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RomRojal274 [TF27] asked: Will there be pain grunt sounds for when the character (Barney or Adrian) gets injured?

Antonín answers: Definitely yes.

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kaiserwilhelmii0369 asked: will OBM sauce 2?

Antonín answers: It will only Tar Tar Sauce.

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MyGamepedia asked: AFAIK the Fubar dev team aren't friendly to Tripmine Studios, if it's true, why?

Antonín answers: Some of the former members, who later formed Fubar, shared their own views about why they chose to leave, including comments about Brandons misconduct on social media and the team ´s organization. These statements represent their personal perspective, and we accept them as such.
The situation that led to their departure was tied to an internal disciplinary case, which we have already explained in detail in our public statement. The disagreement was about how to handle that situation.
We are focused on maintaining a respectful, stable environment for the people who have chosen to stay and continue working on Operation Black Mesa. Our priority is the project and the community support , not conflicts or drama. From our side, there is no hostility toward Fubar or anyone who left our team, and we sincerely hope they hold no hard feelings towards us either.

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Randomdude asked: Is Barney gonna have some unique or new weapons that he didn't have in the og hl campaign or is he gonna stick with what he gets there?

Antonín answers: There might be one exception, but we do not plan to add any new weapons so far.

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We do our best to answer everything, so keep your eyes peeled for the coming second part. We have more up our sleeves.

Operation: Ask Me Anything (Part 1)

Questions and Answers:

Bob asked: What are you guys focusing on in the development?

Fleechin asked: Will it have controller support?

Dr. Fritz Ludwig asked: Do the weapons feel good?

ZC asked: Will the boss fights in the OBM get completely overhaul/redesigned? (compare to OG OP4) For example: The Gonarch fight in Black Mesa is starkly different from the OG HL.

Ferhat Çavuş: Will we be able to see the world of Race X?

RomRojal274 asked: Will there be Zombies wearing HEV suits? since there are likely going to be zombies wearing PCV's as well as regular Scientist and Guard Zombies.

Infamous💙Val💜O5:Will the alien NPCs keep their special AI quirks from the original Half-Life? like Houndeyes' pack system and dynamic attack damage/color, or the smell mechanic where certain NPCs will react to smells produced by carcasses and such, etc.?

CrusaderTheFirst asked: Will the Xen parts be inspired by how Black Mesa did things? Both visual and level design?

RomRojal274 asked: Will you be able to switch between the classic weapons (MP5 and Glock) and the HD weapons (M4A1 and Beretta M9) or would it just be the MP5 that can be swapped to an M4A1 (though keeping it's stats as it's a skin)

Kenny asked: How is Tripmine Studios' work structure like(level design)? People can work on different chapter however they want, or the team have a work schedule like "this week we focus working on this chapter, etc.

Zuliano en guerra asked: If I had to ask something, i dont recall in the original there being the earthquakes from the airstrikes, those wil be here?

Amorkat96 asked: Squad Command: "Adrian Shephard relies heavily on NPCs like Medics and Engineers. Have you updated the AI to be more proactive in combat, or are you sticking strictly to the 'follow/stay' commands of the original?"

totallynotbug [HECU] asked: Will the sun leak?

Amorkat96 asked: Custom Assets: "Will the custom models and textures created for the remake be made available for the SFM community to use in their own animations or 'Source horror' projects?"

Darkbomb14 asked: Is there a chance that operation black mesa and guard duty might release seperately? (like one getting finished sooner so it comes out first)

A. ShephardⓊ¹⁹²⁴ asked: Female black ops will have 2 pistols or one pistol? will be more variants of race X (similar to spore trooper of hl op4 enlightened)?

Dragonuid asked: Are we gona get freanking cool old school multiplayer plus Capture the Flag?

Jeff asked: Will you be able to eat crayons?

Multiverse of Madness: what system requirements you targeting?

Spoochie Bogel asked: will there be an a.i demonstration of the buddies system/other npcs you encounter along the game

Dragonuid asked: Are we getting COOOOP? Because I don't wana be the only one R A P E D by the pitdrones...

MyGamepedia asked: Will the team try asking Valve for permission on creating SDK similar to Source SDK SP/MP in the future for "the better mods" after the game is done (yes, this is possible legally with Valve's agreement?

Bwass451 asked: Can Marine medics heal fellow npc’s like in the original OpFor?

RomRojal274 [TF27] asked: Will there be pain grunt sounds for when the character (Barney or Adrian) gets injured?

kaiserwilhelmii0369 asked: will OBM sauce 2?

MyGamepedia asked: AFAIK the Fubar dev team aren't friendly to Tripmine Studios, if it's true, why?

Randomdude asked: Is Barney gonna have some unique or new weapons that he didn't have in the og hl campaign or is he gonna stick with what he gets there?

Questions and Answers:

Bob asked: What are you guys focusing on in the development?

Fleechin asked: Will it have controller support?

Dr. Fritz Ludwig asked: Do the weapons feel good?

ZC asked: Will the boss fights in the OBM get completely overhaul/redesigned? (compare to OG OP4) For example: The Gonarch fight in Black Mesa is starkly different from the OG HL.

Ferhat Çavuş: Will we be able to see the world of Race X?

RomRojal274 asked: Will there be Zombies wearing HEV suits? since there are likely going to be zombies wearing PCV's as well as regular Scientist and Guard Zombies.

Infamous💙Val💜O5:Will the alien NPCs keep their special AI quirks from the original Half-Life? like Houndeyes' pack system and dynamic attack damage/color, or the smell mechanic where certain NPCs will react to smells produced by carcasses and such, etc.?

CrusaderTheFirst asked: Will the Xen parts be inspired by how Black Mesa did things? Both visual and level design?

RomRojal274 asked: Will you be able to switch between the classic weapons (MP5 and Glock) and the HD weapons (M4A1 and Beretta M9) or would it just be the MP5 that can be swapped to an M4A1 (though keeping it's stats as it's a skin)

Kenny asked: How is Tripmine Studios' work structure like(level design)? People can work on different chapter however they want, or the team have a work schedule like "this week we focus working on this chapter, etc.

Zuliano en guerra asked: If I had to ask something, i dont recall in the original there being the earthquakes from the airstrikes, those wil be here?

Amorkat96 asked: ​​Squad Command: "Adrian Shephard relies heavily on NPCs like Medics and Engineers. Have you updated the AI to be more proactive in combat, or are you sticking strictly to the 'follow/stay' commands of the original?"

totallynotbug [HECU] asked: Will the sun leak?

Amorkat96 asked: ​Custom Assets: "Will the custom models and textures created for the remake be made available for the SFM community to use in their own animations or 'Source horror' projects?"

Darkbomb14 asked: Is there a chance that operation black mesa and guard duty might release seperately? (like one getting finished sooner so it comes out first)

A. ShephardⓊ¹⁹²⁴ asked: Female black ops will have 2 pistols or one pistol? will be more variants of race X (similar to spore trooper of hl op4 enlightened)?

Dragonuid asked: Are we gona get freanking cool old school multiplayer plus Capture the Flag?

Jeff asked: Will you be able to eat crayons?

Multiverse of Madness: what system requirements you targeting?

Spoochie Bogel asked: will there be an a.i demonstration of the buddies system/other npcs you encounter along the game

Dragonuid asked: Are we getting COOOOP? Because I don't wana be the only one R A P E D by the pitdrones...

MyGamepedia asked: Will the team try asking Valve for permission on creating SDK similar to Source SDK SP/MP in the future for "the better mods" after the game is done (yes, this is possible legally with Valve's agreement?

Bwass451 asked: Can Marine medics heal fellow npc’s like in the original OpFor?

RomRojal274 [TF27] asked: Will there be pain grunt sounds for when the character (Barney or Adrian) gets injured?

kaiserwilhelmii0369 asked: will OBM sauce 2?

MyGamepedia asked: AFAIK the Fubar dev team aren't friendly to Tripmine Studios, if it's true, why?

Randomdude asked: Is Barney gonna have some unique or new weapons that he didn't have in the og hl campaign or is he gonna stick with what he gets there?

Amorkat96 asked: Squad Command: "Adrian Shephard relies heavily on NPCs like Medics and Engineers. Have you updated the AI to be more proactive in combat, or are you sticking strictly to the 'follow/stay' commands of the original?"

Amorkat96 asked: Custom Assets: "Will the custom models and textures created for the remake be made available for the SFM community to use in their own animations or 'Source horror' projects?"