Nightwatch stops development on HL version...

[Taylor]

I stopped following progress a while ago because it was being such a tease. I kind of assumed it was finished and was on my list of things to check out.

Well, I guess they had their reasons, but I'm kind of disinterested now though.

[dux]

I can say my interest in nightwatch has now dropped radically, unfortunately. The source screenshots look attractive but quake in the shadow of their Half-Life 1 originals. I'm waiting to be impressed again, but this first new batch that has been released hasn't particularly filled me with much anticipation, sadly. You can't help but feel dissapointed when you look at the wonderfulness of the screenshots from the Half-Life 1 engine, and then think all that accumilated to absolutely nothing.

[Taylor Swift]

I can say my interest in nightwatch has now dropped radically, unfortunately. The source screenshots look attractive but quake in the shadow of their Half-Life 1 originals. I'm waiting to be impressed again, but this first new batch that has been released hasn't particularly filled me with much anticipation, sadly. You can't help but feel dissapointed when you look at the wonderfulness of the screenshots from the Half-Life 1 engine, and then think all that accumilated to absolutely nothing.

Almost all feel as you do..

But i didn't think that they would change the engine..?!

It's just a waste of time.. Don't feel bad, it wont go downhill it's just..

[Campaignjunkie]

I think PV went over the problems pretty well in the NW forums, but I'll give my perspective on it anyway:

- Interest in HL1 was clearly waning. People didn't want to mod for HL1 anymore, so it was difficult to find new members to replace the older ones. Some of the most important members had left by then: KFS, Ken, MrBen, BadMofo, TommyD, Ferret, Melkior, as well as others. Their productivity was never really matched again - I don't mean to belittle the newer members, but it just wasn't the same.

- The design was too ambitious, including a new race of NPCs and ~80 BSPs. Although we eventually cut it down to something more managable, it was still too much. We could have cut our losses and polished what we had, but we discussed it and dismissed that as a cop-out, so we didn't.

- Too elitist. Or maybe that was just me. But seriously, I think we scared away some great talented people at times. I also didn't like the somewhat bureaucratic approach of development, but I sure can't think of a better way so I'll just shut up.

Well, hindsight's 20/20, yeah? I clearly have regrets over the whole thing, as do many other members, but oh well, this is how it turned out. I'd be interested in polishing what's left of the HL1 version, but that would involve more work than people are willing to do: finishing the codebase, animating the NPC models, solving the crazy map errors, etc.

And that's why I think Nightwatch on HL1 probably will/would've never been finished. It was too much work then, and it's too much work now.

[von*ferret]

good points

[kleinluka]

see this is what i dont understand. 80 BSPs? Jesus people, you are making mods... not commercial games... Keep your game size small so you can actually release something.

[Skjalg]

I fail to see why you couldnt just polish what you have and go "Well, it didnt turn out as we had really hoped, but something is better than nothing."

And from what I've seen in the screenshots, you could basically just tossed in a few grunts here and there and you'd have a really fun and exciting single player.

I dont think I would've even cared if the thing followed one story or had any connection from one bsp to another.

Besides, what are you guys gonna do with all the bsp's now?

[teeluu]

see this is what i dont understand. 80 BSPs? Jesus people, you are making mods... not commercial games... Keep your game size small so you can actually release something.

I completely disagree. I hate the fact that there's not that much singleplayer mods out there. And if you find something which is worth playing, it's too short. Of course these are just mods, but still i'd like to see some longer ones. I have a dream about making a SP mod with dev team at least over 20 leveldesigners, desent amout of modelers, one or few coders and a very good story. It should take something like 10 hours to play the game trough. I know it could become a huge disaster but maybe that could be prevented with good leadership. But hey, i can dream right :roll:

I fail to see why you couldnt just polish what you have and go "Well, it didnt turn out as we had really hoped, but something is better than nothing."

And from what I've seen in the screenshots, you could basically just tossed in a few grunts here and there and you'd have a really fun and exciting single player.

I dont think I would've even cared if the thing followed one story or had any connection from one bsp to another.

Besides, what are you guys gonna do with all the bsp's now?

Yea, release something

[von*ferret]

a bunch of incoherent bsps that a handful are even playable with NPC's that can tell a story? It would be more like a collage of environments for you to explore.

[Taylor Swift]

I think PV went over the problems pretty well in the NW forums, but I'll give my perspective on it anyway:

TommyD,

That's right he is one of my biggest mapping fans.. sight.. grief..

he putted his site down and i were hoping to talk to him..

If he just did know

[Belgarion]

Besides, what are you guys gonna do with all the bsp's now?

no kidding. just release them and say "they're pretty. look at them." It'll be a tribute to NW that the hardcore fans who've been following it for a long time will really like. Release them as a bonus with the finished mod later, or if that never happens.. just throw us the bsps as they are without even making it a mod. just give us bsps wads and models.

[von*ferret]

TommyD will always be a pimp

[kleinluka]

see this is what i dont understand. 80 BSPs? Jesus people, you are making mods... not commercial games... Keep your game size small so you can actually release something.

I completely disagree. I hate the fact that there's not that much singleplayer mods out there. And if you find something which is worth playing, it's too short. Of course these are just mods, but still i'd like to see some longer ones. I have a dream about making a SP mod with dev team at least over 20 leveldesigners, desent amout of modelers, one or few coders and a very good story. It should take something like 10 hours to play the game trough. I know it could become a huge disaster but maybe that could be prevented with good leadership. But hey, i can dream right :roll:

Yeah that sounds nice on paper but the reality is a bit different. Sure you can pull it off but you might as well set your aims lower and deliver an amazing experience that is not 10 hours long and actually RELEASE it rather than waste two or three years of your life working on something that was unlikely to ever see the light of day to begin with. Or you can keep dreaming.....

[Zacker]

Yep a large quality SP mod is just very unlikely, as the dead of HL1 NW also shows. You don't just get 20 mappers for a mod. If it you manage to do they will most likely suck and/or loose interest after few months. I might sound pessimistic, but unfortunately I speak from experience...

[RD]

Yep a large quality SP mod is just very unlikely, as the dead of HL1 NW also shows. You don't just get 20 mappers for a mod. If it you manage to do they will most likely suck and/or loose interest after few months. I might sound pessimistic, but unfortunately I speak from experience...

Thats not what happened with NW.