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Did you know that the Desert sections of Surface Tension used to not be connected to the other maps of Surface Tension?

These Desert maps used to be known as "Geo," and were developed by Dario Casali. The chapter was developed around the time they decided to start redoing large parts of the game (around October of 1997) likely intended as a replacement for the alpha version of Surface Tension. Ultimately, it was just merged into Surface Tension instead of outright replacing it. 

There were 4 maps to the "Geo" chapter. Only the Desert maps survive in the final game, the inner military camp was scrapped in favor of the original Surface Tension military camp (with severe modification.)

"Geo" can also be seen in the Half-Life: Preliminary Findings "INDEEP" footage. 

It is unknown to how much of Surface Tension was changed compared to the alpha version, but what is known is that the first map used to be different and was retained until April of 1998. 

The later alpha version of the chapter (around E3 1998 and before "Geo" was merged in) seems to be quite like the retail chapter sans the "Geo" integration. It is unknown to how much C2A5F was changed, and C2A5E is mostly unknown beyond a non-descriptive screenshot from late in development. 

By April of 1998, the original boot camp-like map was replaced with the Dam map that we see in the final game (with slight differences) and sometime after E3 1998 the "Geo" map set would of been integrated into the chapter.
Did you know that the Desert sections of Surface Tension used to not be connected to the other maps of Surface Tension?

These Desert maps used to be known as "Geo," and were developed by Dario Casali. The chapter was developed around the time they decided to start redoing large parts of the game (around October of 1997) likely intended as a replacement for the alpha version of Surface Tension. Ultimately, it was just merged into Surface Tension instead of outright replacing it. 

There were 4 maps to the "Geo" chapter. Only the Desert maps survive in the final game, the inner military camp was scrapped in favor of the original Surface Tension military camp (with severe modification.)

"Geo" can also be seen in the Half-Life: Preliminary Findings "INDEEP" footage. 

It is unknown to how much of Surface Tension was changed compared to the alpha version, but what is known is that the first map used to be different and was retained until April of 1998. 

The later alpha version of the chapter (around E3 1998 and before "Geo" was merged in) seems to be quite like the retail chapter sans the "Geo" integration. It is unknown to how much C2A5F was changed, and C2A5E is mostly unknown beyond a non-descriptive screenshot from late in development. 

By April of 1998, the original boot camp-like map was replaced with the Dam map that we see in the final game (with slight differences) and sometime after E3 1998 the "Geo" map set would of been integrated into the chapter.
Did you know that the Desert sections of Surface Tension used to not be connected to the other maps of Surface Tension?

These Desert maps used to be known as "Geo," and were developed by Dario Casali. The chapter was developed around the time they decided to start redoing large parts of the game (around October of 1997) likely intended as a replacement for the alpha version of Surface Tension. Ultimately, it was just merged into Surface Tension instead of outright replacing it. 

There were 4 maps to the "Geo" chapter. Only the Desert maps survive in the final game, the inner military camp was scrapped in favor of the original Surface Tension military camp (with severe modification.)

"Geo" can also be seen in the Half-Life: Preliminary Findings "INDEEP" footage. 

It is unknown to how much of Surface Tension was changed compared to the alpha version, but what is known is that the first map used to be different and was retained until April of 1998. 

The later alpha version of the chapter (around E3 1998 and before "Geo" was merged in) seems to be quite like the retail chapter sans the "Geo" integration. It is unknown to how much C2A5F was changed, and C2A5E is mostly unknown beyond a non-descriptive screenshot from late in development. 

By April of 1998, the original boot camp-like map was replaced with the Dam map that we see in the final game (with slight differences) and sometime after E3 1998 the "Geo" map set would of been integrated into the chapter.
Did you know that the Desert sections of Surface Tension used to not be connected to the other maps of Surface Tension?

These Desert maps used to be known as "Geo," and were developed by Dario Casali. The chapter was developed around the time they decided to start redoing large parts of the game (around October of 1997) likely intended as a replacement for the alpha version of Surface Tension. Ultimately, it was just merged into Surface Tension instead of outright replacing it. 

There were 4 maps to the "Geo" chapter. Only the Desert maps survive in the final game, the inner military camp was scrapped in favor of the original Surface Tension military camp (with severe modification.)

"Geo" can also be seen in the Half-Life: Preliminary Findings "INDEEP" footage. 

It is unknown to how much of Surface Tension was changed compared to the alpha version, but what is known is that the first map used to be different and was retained until April of 1998. 

The later alpha version of the chapter (around E3 1998 and before "Geo" was merged in) seems to be quite like the retail chapter sans the "Geo" integration. It is unknown to how much C2A5F was changed, and C2A5E is mostly unknown beyond a non-descriptive screenshot from late in development. 

By April of 1998, the original boot camp-like map was replaced with the Dam map that we see in the final game (with slight differences) and sometime after E3 1998 the "Geo" map set would of been integrated into the chapter.

Did you know that the Desert sections of Surface Tension used to not be connected to the other maps of Surface Tension? These Desert maps used to be known as "Geo," and were developed by Dario Casali. The chapter was developed around the time they decided to start redoing large parts of the game (around October of 1997) likely intended as a replacement for the alpha version of Surface Tension. Ultimately, it was just merged into Surface Tension instead of outright replacing it. There were 4 maps to the "Geo" chapter. Only the Desert maps survive in the final game, the inner military camp was scrapped in favor of the original Surface Tension military camp (with severe modification.) "Geo" can also be seen in the Half-Life: Preliminary Findings "INDEEP" footage. It is unknown to how much of Surface Tension was changed compared to the alpha version, but what is known is that the first map used to be different and was retained until April of 1998. The later alpha version of the chapter (around E3 1998 and before "Geo" was merged in) seems to be quite like the retail chapter sans the "Geo" integration. It is unknown to how much C2A5F was changed, and C2A5E is mostly unknown beyond a non-descriptive screenshot from late in development. By April of 1998, the original boot camp-like map was replaced with the Dam map that we see in the final game (with slight differences) and sometime after E3 1998 the "Geo" map set would of been integrated into the chapter.

(Edited)
John Freeman
John Freeman
Aug 18, 2022

The concept art is so intricate. It's interesting to imagine what it could have looked like in the final game. Thanks for sharing!

λlex
λlex
Aug 18, 2022

Interesting post!

Theuaredead`
Theuaredead`
Aug 18, 2022

Preliminary Findings In Deep footage: youtube.com/watch?v=OAjFcMneaI8

Theuaredead`
Theuaredead`
Aug 18, 2022

also, Combine Overwiki hid a Quake Ranger in the concept art of "Geo."

kimilil
kimilil
Aug 19, 2022

So that's where Field Intensity got the kingpin hangar fight idea from!

λlex
λlex
Aug 18, 2022

I have never seen the concept art you posted. Where is this from?

Theuaredead`
Theuaredead`
Aug 18, 2022

Its from several sources, but Combine Overwiki spliced them together. A few of the images were in the HL manual.

Reply to Theuaredead`
λlex
λlex
Aug 18, 2022

Damn, I have this but never noticed