Difference between revisions of "Black Mesa Security Guard (Evolution)"

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==Version 4: Wide Eyes==
 
==Version 4: Wide Eyes==
 
[[File:Wideeyes techdemo.png|thumb|left|300px]]
 
[[File:Wideeyes techdemo.png|thumb|left|300px]]
This version arrived in roughly mid 1997. There isn't a lot of info on this version as there is a lack of images featuring him. His most noticeable feature outside of his face is his helmet which changed from Being white with a blue stripe, to being full blue. The lack of information on this version makes him absolutely perplexing; as we don't even know the time frame as to where he was used. It's assumed that he appeared in between the MP and Ted groups.
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This version arrived in roughly between the 0.52 alpha (september 8, 1997) and the preliminary findings advertisement disk (October 16, 1997). On the preliminary findings disk is an interview with Ken Birdwell which features a video of a group of security guards sporting the same features as this version attacking an alien grunt. His most noticeable feature outside of his face is his helmet which changed from Being white with a blue stripe, to being full blue.
 
===Gallery===
 
===Gallery===
 
<gallery hideaddbutton=true widths="200" orientation="none" spacing="small" position="center" bordersize="none" captionsize="small">
 
<gallery hideaddbutton=true widths="200" orientation="none" spacing="small" position="center" bordersize="none" captionsize="small">
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Panthereye snack.jpg
 
Panthereye snack.jpg
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
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==Version 5: All pupils==
 
==Version 5: All pupils==
 
[[File:Ted Entityguide pupils.png|thumb|left|300px]]
 
[[File:Ted Entityguide pupils.png|thumb|left|300px]]

Revision as of 01:42, 25 April 2019

The BMS Trio.png

The Black Mesa Security Guard, also known as Barney (not to be confused with Barney Calhoun) are friendly entities found throughout almost the entirety of Half-Life. They are the quintessential partner to the player throughout the game, and are one of the only friendly forces you face. The Security Guard went through several different looks throughout Half-Life's development, changing both posture and faces before ending up with the man we all know and love.

Version 1: Chuck Jones Concept Art

Panthereye Jones CA.jpg

Commonly overlooked by most people, the earliest appearance of the Security Guard is within Chuck Jones's concept art for the Panthereye. His design is quite odd, as he is shown donning a pair of thick lens glasses and a much more elderly appearance, something that no modeled version of the character ever had. This makes it very easy to overlook and assume he is a scientist. however the overturned security guard helmet near the hind legs of the creature is all the proof needed. He also appears to be reaching for an M4, a weapon also wielded by early iterations of the Human Grunt.








Version 2: Pre 0.52 Alpha

Earliest Barney.png

The Earliest in game image of the security guard appeared in a PC Gamer article from July 1997; predating the 0.52 build by two months. This design shares many design traits with the 0.52 version of the model, including a white helmet with the letters "MP" on the front (presumably standing for Military Police), a bug-eyed, frightened expression, and a hunched posture. Many traits consistent with later models, such as a black vest and blue pants and trousers, were established with this version. Judging from the few images available of this model, it had many rigging issues and was clearly unfinished at this point of development.

Gallery

Version 3: 0.52 Alpha

MP.png
Don Knott's character of Barney Fife has been cited by Marc Laidlaw as the inspiration and namesake for the Security Guard.

The version commonly referred to as The first one, MP, or famously Freeze, is shown in most if not all of early 1997 media of Half-Life, including the 0.52 press build. The model is named barney.mdl, and is the first known time the name Barney is used in relation to the character. The origins of this name can be traced back to the character of Barney Fife (played by Don Knotts) from The Andy Griffith Show, which this model has a similar appearance of. His face texture and animations differ slightly from the previous version - his face is much less sunken in, and while still having a hunched appearance, his animations and rigging appear to be different as well. Interestingly the model was reskinned into the cut Construction Worker entity.

Original intentions

Originally, Half-Life had no companion entities within it - Barney originally was a low tier enemy withing Half-Life. However, this all changed when Valve developer Steve Bond wanted to test out enemy squad behavior. Using Gordon as a leader he linked him to several MPs who were forced to follow the player and not immediately attack. He unexpectedly created the first companion character in Half-Life. This revelation caused a massive shift in thought within Valve leading to the first restart in Half-Life's development.

Gallery

Texture Gallery

Version 4: Wide Eyes

Wideeyes techdemo.png

This version arrived in roughly between the 0.52 alpha (september 8, 1997) and the preliminary findings advertisement disk (October 16, 1997). On the preliminary findings disk is an interview with Ken Birdwell which features a video of a group of security guards sporting the same features as this version attacking an alien grunt. His most noticeable feature outside of his face is his helmet which changed from Being white with a blue stripe, to being full blue.

Gallery

Version 5: All pupils

Ted Entityguide pupils.png

The earliest version of the Ted family of Security Guards, named and modeled after modeler Ted Backman. He made his only appearance in the Half-Life Entity Guide that was released on October 29th 1998, one month before the release of Half-Life. While at the time of the guides release, the "Ted" model had been replaced the guide uses a variety of early models as example images of the many things you can use in your maps. There are two images seen for the security guard the one highlighted here is the only known image of this version of the Ted model. The only difference being that the eyes on the model are beady and black, no white to be seen.

Version 6: Zombiefight

Barney Zombiefight.jpg

Insert details here







Version 7: Final Ted

Barney dead zombie.jpg

This is the final Ted will go into more detail soon

Gallery

Version 8: Weird Face

Barney weirdface.jpg

Another overlooked version of the security guard. This guard only appears in a single screenshot from (insert here). This is the first appearance of the final body and helmet of the guard. The most noticeable (and only) difference being the face texture. The texture is completely new and appears nowhere in the game. Contrary to popular belief it is not the Slick or G-man face texture.








Version 9: The Final

Final BMSGuard.png

And now we reach the guard featured in the retail release of Half-Life.