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Black Mesa: Improved Xen v1.0

Improved Xen is a modification for Black Mesa game. It gives you an opportunity to immerse yourself into original locations of Xen world from Half-Life, but with improved graphics and optimized geometry. At the moment Improved Xen is supported by me - Vladislav Lisovichenko (zloikot)

I am very pleased to tell you the news that I have prepared a new Improved Xen update specially for Black Mesa 1.0 release.

You can try the fixes for version 1.5 (Black Mesa Definitive Edition) suggested by XRGM1267:
https://www.moddb.com/mods/black-mesa-xen-improved-maps-from-half-life/downloads/improved-xen-fixes

Release date: April 23
(available on Steam Workshop and Moddb)
Moddb: https://www.moddb.com/mods/black-mesa-xen-improved-maps-from-half-life

How to install the mod, if you downloaded the mod from the Workshop:

1. Subscribe (if you were previously subscribed to it, then unsubscribe and subscribe again).

2. Open the Steam\steamapps\workshop\content\362890\894282258\ folder.
You will see the "XEN" folder and the "Improved Xen - Run.bat" startup file

3. Transfer this folder and file to the Black Mesa directory: Steam\steamapps\common\Black Mesa\

4. Run the mod through the file "Improved Xen - Run.bat",
or go to Steam and add the following parameters to the Black Mesa launch parameters: -game xen
and run Black mesa

Improved Xen 1.0 is compatible with Black Mesa (2020) Steam version.
Before installing the modification, check your version of Black Mesa, it should be update:
Go to Steam and Black Mesa properties, go to the BETAS tab and select the "NONE - Opt out of all beta programs".
If you have not selected it before, the game should be updated.

Currently, I’m the only one supporting this modification and this work has taken more than one year of my life. In any case, I am pleased with the support and interest of the players in my work.
I hope that the modification will not be broken after the next Black Mesa update.

At this moment I can tell you what is already done in my mod.

- Thanks to Black Mesa Xen release I could use its new G-man and Nihilanth voices, particles and scenes.
- The soundtrack is also updated, so you can enjoy the new Xen OST and feel its atmosphere.
- Minor cosmetic improvements have touched all locations. Some other things have been updated too, because they worked better in the official Xen.
- Cascading Shadow Maps are more optimized now.
- The corpses of Hev-scientists give you an energy cell. Moreover, I added a new sound and visual effects to the healing water.
- Vortigaunts became absolutely friendly and they attack only when they are affected by the controllers.
- The new “Xog” fog is graphically better than the old one and gives a different feeling of depth and volume. I still want to polish it in the next updates, but even now it looks impressing.
- I left falling damage, because it is an important gameplay element of initial Xen, in order to keep the player in suspense.
 
More details about the chapters:

Xen: more details on the islands, the old turrets are replaced with the new ones.

Gonarch’s lair: yes, now fully functional NPC Gonarch is engaged and all my previous work with him is removed. But despite this fact, it feels like it was created for this location, it fits perfect. More shallow vegetation. You could also notice it in Xen location in Azure Sheep Remake, because I worked on that mod too.

Interloper: Finally, an option for passing with a stealth is added to the c4a1b map. It is similar to the way it was implemented in HL1. Some scripts are changed due to the adding of friendly vortigaunts, and also you will meet less controllers than before, for the balance. Because they use new attacks now, they became a real powerful enemy.

Nihilanth: I did not implement the NPC of the main boss, because I wasn’t sure that this would work here. On the contrary, I spent a lot of time replacing the model and adapting the environment for it.

Endgame: The main change is a different lighting and dark skybox.

I also announce that for the first time in all my content maker career, I need your support. If you want to give life to this mod, and my further projects, I will be glad for your donations. In addition, I have several unreleased projects, but the difficult financial situation forces me to do other work. If you donate, I will write your name in thanks-giving credits for sure and you will receive a personal greetings letter from me. I wrote my WebMoney requisites. Also you can donate in the PayPal or Patreon (HECU Collective account is indicated there, because PayPal doesn’t work in my country and I can't upload much content on Patreon personally), so leave a comment to let me know about your support.

DONATE

https://funding.wmtransfer.com/improved-xen/donate

Webmoney:
Z803063819541 or R818041974971