Don't know if anyone else has come across this (couldn't see it on a search of the forums) but I'd just heard about the Cinematic Mod for HL2 and have to say it's the best thing since sliced bread (for heavy exaggeration). The actual mod seems to go back a long way, but the newest build (v10) was released last September and there was an update for it in February.

Basically it ports the original Half Life 2 and Episode 1 game over to the Episode 2 engine for an enhanced graphics base and then improves on that further with higher resolution textures and improved scenery. Don't get me wrong, this doesn't make the game look like Crysis or any of the latest games, however it's definitely a noticeable improvement.

The mod also changes some player models to... different ones so it loses a bit of the feel of the original, however it comes bundled with a character model selector so you can change back to the original models.

Aside from the graphics however the other big changes are the inclusion of an orchestral soundtrack which works rather well... some of the pieces are from Batman Begins and are quite recognisable.

The next big change is to the weapons, my first and foremost issue with Half Life2 was how all the weapons felt comparatively weak, especially the default pistol. The mod turns this all on its head with much better feeling weapons and increased damage scaling, the first pistol is probably my favourite weapon now (i swear it's from another game but i can't think of it at the moment) and it packs quite a punch... unfortunately it now seems to make the magnum next to useless however since the latter although blows people away, has much higher recoil to the point where i find it un-useable after the first shot.

Anyhow, there's more information on the mod here.

Be warned, it's quite an investment however since the mod itself is just under 12GB for the base version and the 10.3 patch weighs in at 3GB as well. In my opinion it's definitely worth it however.

i have also heard many good things about this mod, unfortunately i have no interest in royally pissed off my already angry ISP by downloading 15gigs of game files still, amazing work for a mod team, maybe when its done they will lend a hand with Black Mesa?

I always wanted someone to update the old Half Life multiplayer mod Firearms. I remember at one point two rival camps were working on a HL2/Source version but I dont know if it ever came to be.

I took the "they can go screw themselves" mentality to Sky (my ISP) with regards to download limits.

They started it all off last year by rearranging the packages by increasing the cost by £5 and reducing the download cap to 10GB (from 40GB) all for an "increase" in download speed from up to 10mbps (from 8mbps - which i never got anyways ).

Anyhow, it's not like i couldn't be bothered in the first place, i did try to sort things out... however when i wanted to upgrade to the Unlimited download package whilst out-of-contract they said they could only offer me another 12 month contract... not very useful when i'd be graduating from uni after 6 months.

They also said they'd automatically upgrade me if i went over my download limit two months in a row so i just left it alone thinking i'd deal with it when it came about. The main point is 4 months of continuous download limit breaking hasn't moved them one bit so i'm not particularly bothered by sticking to it anymore (it started off close to the 10GB then went up each month).

+ Back to the topic at hand .

Not quite understanding the first statement, was that you have no interest in pissing off your ISP more, or no interest in the mod? lol. I'd say it changes the Half Life 2 FPS enough to warrant anyone trying it since it feels more like a modern day shooter as opposed to an arcade-y one.

+ AFAIK, what makes it more amazing is that it's not a mod team but a single person (or at least you're led to believe) who was trying to learn modelling, texturing and coding - clicky.

As for Black Mesa, i'm still really looking forward to that, actually looked up the trailer for it (again) today and it was supposed to be released last year ... guess they fell behind at bit (to be expected though, especially with what they're doing).

This reminds me... I must get round to trying to install HL2 on my Windows 7 rig... after I (re)install Windows 7 on the Windows 7 rig!

I'll need to buy Episode 2 first. But the screenshots look amazing.

sorry, i should have made that statement clearer, i meant i have no interest in waiting for the whole thing to download, 18gig in all is huuge it sounds like a great mod, and i think my brother might have used an older version at one point, it looks very nice shame about the massive file size though

Downloaded and installed this yesterday and played up until I got the crowbar. It is very, very impressive. It is quite like the Complete 2009 MOD for Stalker.

Gah, I may have to hook my PC up to my Mac's internet connection to download this!

I haven't played my PC in a while as the wireless is poo but this is turning me again now!

LOL!

Can you play all three episodes with the mod?

Yes, I have started a new game of HL2, it installs shortcuts for each episode into the start menu but you do need all 3 HL2 games installed.