the cutting room mirror

September 2019 Build

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This is a sub-page of Prerelease:Half-Life: Alyx.

'This page or section details content from theSeptember 2019 Half-Life: Alyx Leak.'''

HLAproto_menu.png

In April 2020, Tyler McVicker (formerly known as Valve News Network) received a leaked build of Half-Life: Alyx through ProtonMail, provided by an inside source. A few days later, he streamed the build online to his audience. Less than an hour after the stream ended, McVicker was contacted by Valve's legal team. According to him, he had to attend a Zoom meeting with Valve legal, veteran Valve director Greg Coomer, and other members of the Half-Life: Alyx development team. While no legal threats were made, Valve did demand that he delete the build.

The leaked build, dated September 2019 (roughly six months before the game's official release), featured numerous unfinished scenes, remnants from early development, placeholder assets, and voice work by the original actress for Alyx, Merle Dandridge. Although McVicker deleted the VOD from Twitch, archives were saved and can be accessed via the Internet Archive. He went on record stating he wasn't the only one who received the build, so there's a possibility it could resurface in the future.

Interface#

In this stage of development, the game used an unfurnished version of Alyx's Hideout as the background level for the main menu. It features a strong blur filter, which is not used anywhere in the final game.
The interface is significantly simpler, using images to represent the chapters instead of the holographic overview map featured in the final game.

HLA_Main_Menu_Leak.webm

Early Loading Screen#

The loading screen uses a 2D texture that simply reads "Loading" when entering a level. This texture is encased inside a cube, allowing it to be visible from all angles.

Early Pause Menu#

Aside from the visuals, the pause menu remained largely unchanged, with the only addition being an option to access the Developer Menu. HLA_ProtoPause.png

Development Assets#

Developer Menu#

Throughout many times during the steam, McVicker can be seen using a Developer Menu.

It offers the following options:

  • Enable Dev Teleport - Likely allows the player to teleport anywhere they want.
  • Quick Save and Quick Load
  • Turn Left and Turn Right
  • File Bug - Likely a bug reporting system.
  • Swap Hands - Likely swaps the dominant hand.
  • Main Menu - Takes the player to the main menu.
  • View Maps - Allows the player to select an assortment of levels.
  • Game Menu - Brings up the default pause menu.
  • "Cheats" section:
    • Impulse 101 - Assuming it works in the same vein as Half-Life 2, it should give the player 25 health (if the player's health is less than 100) with suit and weapons with full ammo.
    • Impulse 102 - Likewise, if it behaves as it does in Half-Life 2, it should spawn a VPhysics human skull (models\Gibs\AGIBS.mdl) from inside the player.
    • NoTarget - Deactivates the detection system, making enemies ignore the player.
    • God - Activates god mode, which will render the player invincible.
    • Restart - Likely utilizes the "retry" command, which reloads the current map.
  • "Dev" section:
    • ent_message_draw 2 and ent_message_draw 0
    • ent_text - A debugging tool for examining an entity's internal state
    • TOG mat_fullbright - Switches the map lighting between on and off.

Gameplay#

To do:

  • The original call with Eli has different dialogue and visuals, create a comparison between the two.
  • Add the original ending, and transcribe the dialogue.
    • The animations for this ending are still present in the files of the game, albeit somewhat broken.

Original Intro#

The intro text is substantially longer than in the final game.

HLA_Early_Intro.webm

Proto

Final

 
Fifteen years ago Doctor Eli Vance led a failed experiment on a remote research facility, It drew the attention of a ruthless alien race:
the Combine.

They invaded Earth, defeating humanity in less than seven hours, 
and became a permanent occupying force.

It is now five years before the return of Gordon Freeman, and the death of Eli Vance.
 
It is five years before the collapse of the Citadel, and the death of Eli Vance.

Characters#

Doctor Breen's Model#

At this stage of development, many files related to Breen were still present in the game:

  • breen_monitor.vmd - Breen's character model
    • breen_newspaper_frame - A static animation, likely intended for a newspaper picture.
  • breen_head.vmat - Breen's face texture
  • breen_upperbody.vmat - Breen's body texture