This is the first mod in the 3×10 Mapping Competition Series.

Mapper were tasked with creating an ambush scene.

“The winning map will be the one that sets up the ambush in the best way, paying attention to the atmosphere, the surprise and the general gameplay. If a map sets up the ambush beautifully but is then boring to play, it won’t win.

Attention to detail is very important in this competition. I would much prefer smaller but highly polished maps than larger, less polished maps.”

These short 2 maps came second in TWHL’s Test Chamber Mapping Competition back in November 2005.

You play no part in the introduction of the sample at the beginning but once the shit hits the fan, it’s up to you to find a way out.

I accept that there is no combat in these maps and therefore technically they shouldn’t be listed on the site, but I felt there was enough puzzle elements ad the fact that it’s set in Black Mesa was justification to include it.

For this competition, you must create a senario where you are ambushed by Combine Forces.

There are no limits to map(s) size or playtime. You can set the map in any environment that you want.

Please see the rest of this post for full details.

This short map won TWHL’s Test Chamber Mapping Competition back in November 2005.

Here is the original brief: “For this competition, you must build a functioning and original test chamber, similar to the one in HL where everything goes wrong. There should be a specimen of some description being tested, and then everything should go horribly wrong (again). You can include other sections in the map if you wish, but you shouldn’t let that detract you from making a detailed and original test chamber.”

Believe it or not but we have come to the end of The Replay Experience Experiment.

Here is the seventh and final podcast, where Don and I discuss the event and our favourite moments.

Please feel free to post and discuss yours.

Both Don and I will respond to any comments you may make, so please don’t hesitate to comment.

You play as Ivan, who after “drinking too much Vodka and dancing with bears”, wakes up in an unknown location.

Clearly, you can’t just sit there and wait for life to come to you – go out and experience it!

The question is “Can you escape and get back to your Vodka?”

SCRAM is a modification to the original Half-Life single player game. It does not have any new content such as enemies, weapons, or maps.

The intent is two-fold:

1) Make HL more challenging, Enemies are tougher, faster, and smarter. Although your weapons are just as strong as in normal HL, you can’t carry as much ammo for most weapons, particularly on the higher difficulty levels.

2) To offset some of the increased challenge, the real heart of SCRAM is a reward system. In each map (after the tram ride) there are 3 lambda nuclei that can be found. Finding the nuclei can earn you rewards (ammo, health, armor) at the very end of each map. Find one and you might be rewarded – find two or all three and you’ll definitely get a nice gift at the end of the level.

In this short map, you have to work your way through a variety of caves until you Meet Barney.

He seems to be held captive. Once released, he is supposed to open a door that you hope leads to freedom.

However, things don’t work out as expected. Good Luck.

Here is a very comprehensive walkthrough of Half-Life 2: Episode Two, written especially for PlanetPhillip.Com.

It was made possible by the writing and research of Stanley E. Dunigan and the formatting skills of William Barnard.

Together, we have created a PDF version that can be viewed both online and printed.