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Xen still isn't available in Black Mesa, but this latest update brings it a step closer for the fan-made re-imagining of Half-Life.

This latest update, which they're saying is mainly to give Black Mesa the latest version of their "Xen Engine" is mainly a bug-fix release along with performance improvements. The developers say the will do more more "Engine" release after this, but then the big Xen levels release should be upon us. I'm quite excited to play it through in full and see what they do with the end.

Here's what's changed:

  • Fixed screen freezes / crashes on Radeon RX 3XX 4XX 5xx cards!
  • Fixed most dynamic shadows flickering and improved the overall quality and performance
  • Fixed most dynamic lights flickering on lower quality levels Nvidia GPUs (and some AMD GPUs)
  • CSM quality and perf improvements
  • Fixed CSM not working on some AMD cards
  • Fixed decals flickering in some maps
  • Fixed full screen blur when using dynamic light godrays
  • Fixed zombie headshots with the crossbow. Now when you headshot a zombie using the crossbow, they will no longer spawn a live headcrab.
  • Fixed assault points for Houndeyes
  • Added texture scrolling for dynamic light cookie textures
  • Fixed tilemap animation bug in light cookie textures.
  • Fixed rim lighting not working with old light entities
  • Fixed Phong/skin shader specular not working on static props
  • Flashlight intensity and range increased
  • Settings optimization for new deferred lighting and shadows

Sadly though, they seem to have broken the Linux version! They're aware of this and they're looking into a fix, hopefully it won't be too long. I was hoping to jump in and see if the bug where it crashes after the test chamber had been fixed, but seeing it completely broken now was a bit of a let-down. Still, it's Early Access and issues are to be expected.

Find Black Mesa on Steam, they've also put it on sale with 60% off although the sale won't last for much longer.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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20 comments
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This used to be a FREE mod...
Now you have to pay for it... If they want to charge me, at least they can add non-english voiceovers.
Vash63 May 2, 2018
View PC info
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I don't know about crashing during gameplay but it's completely broken for me at this point. Even the very first screen at launch is broken - all of the models are black and I get a message saying it's out of memory and to lower texture settings. I have an 8GB GTX 1080 and 16G of system RAM, neither of which show as being low on resources when the error pops up... so I think they've got an issue somewhere. I'm not lowering settings for a Source 1 engine game on a GTX 1080.
coeseta May 2, 2018
I can confirm that it is broken on Linux since the last update. But the developer is already looking into the problem.
https://steamcommunity.com/app/362890/discussions/0/312265327168384714/?ctp=14


Last edited by coeseta on 2 May 2018 at 6:52 am UTC
slaapliedje May 2, 2018
I kept wondering what Xen was, when I see it I think of this; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MagicWB

There are mods working on Half-Life VR, would be awesome if Black Mesa got the support for VR as well!
razing32 May 2, 2018
Honestly i even forgot i had this in my library .
Hopefully GOL reminds me when it is out in full :D
Dunc May 4, 2018
Quoting: Vash63I'm not lowering settings for a Source 1 engine game on a GTX 1080.
It doesn't help anyway. My system's not quite as beefy as yours, but it still gives me that OOM error on the very lowest settings.

Quoting: slaapliedjeI kept wondering what Xen was, when I see it I think of this; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MagicWB
Oh, don't! You'll set me reminiscing again. :)
slaapliedje May 4, 2018
Quoting: Dunc
Quoting: Vash63I'm not lowering settings for a Source 1 engine game on a GTX 1080.
It doesn't help anyway. My system's not quite as beefy as yours, but it still gives me that OOM error on the very lowest settings.

Quoting: slaapliedjeI kept wondering what Xen was, when I see it I think of this; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MagicWB
Oh, don't! You'll set me reminiscing again. :)

Ha! Love my Amiga, and love MagicWB, I actually bought that before I even owned an Amiga. Full MagicWB and MUI license.

I should try Black Mesa again. I started playing it on Windows, then when they finally said they were going to release for Linux (they initially said no way), I started playing it there, but never did finish it.
razing32 May 4, 2018
Quoting: slaapliedje
Quoting: Dunc
Quoting: Vash63I'm not lowering settings for a Source 1 engine game on a GTX 1080.
It doesn't help anyway. My system's not quite as beefy as yours, but it still gives me that OOM error on the very lowest settings.

Quoting: slaapliedjeI kept wondering what Xen was, when I see it I think of this; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MagicWB
Oh, don't! You'll set me reminiscing again. :)

Ha! Love my Amiga, and love MagicWB, I actually bought that before I even owned an Amiga. Full MagicWB and MUI license.

I should try Black Mesa again. I started playing it on Windows, then when they finally said they were going to release for Linux (they initially said no way), I started playing it there, but never did finish it.

Stupid question.
Is it possible to get a AmigaOne X1000 on the cheap ?
Just as an experimental thing ?
Or am I better off with a VM or AROS ?
Now that is an standalone game, I think they must get rid of the Source Engine an replace it with another modern multi-platform engine.
slaapliedje May 5, 2018
Quoting: razing32
Quoting: slaapliedje
Quoting: Dunc
Quoting: Vash63I'm not lowering settings for a Source 1 engine game on a GTX 1080.
It doesn't help anyway. My system's not quite as beefy as yours, but it still gives me that OOM error on the very lowest settings.

Quoting: slaapliedjeI kept wondering what Xen was, when I see it I think of this; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MagicWB
Oh, don't! You'll set me reminiscing again. :)

Ha! Love my Amiga, and love MagicWB, I actually bought that before I even owned an Amiga. Full MagicWB and MUI license.

I should try Black Mesa again. I started playing it on Windows, then when they finally said they were going to release for Linux (they initially said no way), I started playing it there, but never did finish it.

Stupid question.
Is it possible to get a AmigaOne X1000 on the cheap ?
Just as an experimental thing ?
Or am I better off with a VM or AROS ?

I think they are still in the 5k area... the one to look for is the AmigaOne A1220. Supposed to be 400~
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