A prototype build of the Half-Life expansion, Blue Shift, from the year 2000 has found its way onto to internet.
YouTuber MarphitimusBlackimus has shared footage from a prototype build of Half-Life: Blue Shift that is apparently from a Dreamcast port of the game. Dated September 10, 2000, this debug version (Build DC 1417) was compiled roughly eight months before the latest known near-final version (Build DC 1672), dated May 23, 2001.
The content creator’s video highlights a majority of the most significant differences in the included Half-Life: Blue Shift footage from the Dreamcast port, which is understandably in an incomplete state, missing its final chapter and replete with exciting cut content, including the long lost G-Man ending speech.
The aforementioned differences and cut content include the following:
- Different character models (specifically their heads)
- Cut flashlight weapon
- Cut Otis voice lines
- Cut lobby turrets
- Altered locker room entrance
- Altered console scene geometry
- Changed crowbar position
- Altered scientist vent area
- Changed power switch placement
- Altered surface ladder lighting
- Modified captive scientists
- Train yard map optimization
- Early teleporter map
- Modified guard vs alien fight
- Altered military door breaching
- Modified vent grunts
- Altered generator bridge room
- Modified coolant pit battle
- Cut black ops assassin
- Unfinished dying guard and power cell
- Missing final chapter
- Unfinished outro
For the uninitiated, Half-Life: Blue Shift is developed by Gearbox Software and published by Sierra On-Line. Initially intended to be part of a canceled Dreamcast port, it was eventually released as a standalone product for Windows on June 12, 2001, and later made available on Steam on August 24, 2005. Similar to Gearbox’s earlier expansion, Opposing Force, Blue Shift revisits the events and setting of the base game. The story is told from the perspective of Barney Calhoun, a security guard at the Black Mesa Research Facility, who must explore the chaos and survive an alien invasion. The expansion also introduced a graphics pack that enhanced the models and textures of the base game.
