The technical term for this is Speed Running and some people take it to extreme, like this Portal Done Pro. Less than 9 minutes 30 seconds for the WHOLE Portal game!!!

Now, as I say that’s an extreme and it uses exploits and holes in the map, but the concept is still the same as mere mortals like you and me, when we try and get through a map as quickly as possible.

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The Rising looks a pretty cool mod and I’ll definitely be reviewing it for me new website but one thing that struck me was the overlay maps.

I know it’s a multiplayer mod but it got me thinking why mods include them. I can’t decide if I like them or not.

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There’s a cool video making the rounds of website links called Unfinished 1st person test (new footage at end) by thejazzman9475, yes, he of those TF2 dance videos. Highly recommended BTW. Got me thinking about whether this was something I wanted to see in EP3

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This type of question can be hard to answer because it depends on so many things: the type of mod, the video editing ability, the attention to detail of the screenshots etc etc.

Try to imagine that both the screenshots and videos are both perfectly created.

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Not the most interesting poll question on PP, but I am hoping the results prove interesting. As you would imagine I have played all of them but I suspect that HL2 and EP2 will be the “winners” here.

I have to admit I am curious as to how many players have play BS and OP.

Anyway, get voting and let’s see what the results are.

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I’m not sure what got me thinking about this but I know that a lot of players are really interested in different types of weapons. I’m not. I’ll take whatever the mapper gives me and use that.

I wonder if players would like more “load-out” style rooms before certain sections of mods. I understand that it gives mods some replay value by adding more variables but just feels too artificial for me.

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I was thinking about what Jasper said about Barney dying in Strider Mountain and the whole “canon” thing.

One of the great things about mods is that they are not limited by some of the constraints that games are. Modder can go crazy and let their imagination run wild.

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As I was seating on the sofa at 7:20am this morning, laptop on my lap and TV on with Formula One on, I logged into Stem Friends and started to go through my emails.

To my surprise I was messaged by somebody who was in-game. I’m happy to talk to anybody at any time but I have to admit that when people interrupt me when I am playing it’s a little annoying.

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On episode 104 of Podcast 17 (which was our 2 year episode birthday!), Dave, the executive Editor of ModDB said something about mods not targeting players in the same way retail games do. I immediately made a note in my diary because it is an interesting comment.

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It’s easy to pick your least favourite character but think about story development. if there ever is another Half-Life game after Episode Three, who would be missed the least?

Personally, I say kill them all…

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