Citizen (Evolution)
The Citizens of City 17 have gone through many design revisions throughout the game's development. Over time, most of these citizen iterations have been witnessed or leaked in some form, allowing us to have a detailed insight into the evolution of the outfits seen in City 17 and beyond.
Contents
- 1 Main Citizen Versions
- 2 Miscellaneous Citizen Versions
Main Citizen Versions
Version 1: Gasmask Citizen
This version of the Citizen is the earliest iteration we have information about, used from 2000 to as late as mid 2002 (although other citizen models had been introduced by this point). It's defining features are the gasmask and green hazmat suit it wears along with a red armband, black leather gloves and a desaturated brown apron.
In shown media, the citizen has been depicted stealing television sets (Shown in the infamous Get Your Free TVs demo) and running away from an attacking strider. It is very likely that the same model was used to depict both casual citizens in the early sections of City 17, and as rebels during the Uprising.
Internal file naming conventions imply this model to be named Citizen.mdl, although the materials folder refers to this citizen as "citizen_17". The model itself for this citizen has never leaked, although it's textures can still be found in the leaked 2003 build and the HL2 materialsrc repo. Certain pieces of the model seem to have been re-used on other characters (such as the legs being used on Cohrt.mdl).
Renders
Recreated model, aiming to be as authentic as possible.
Screenshots
Running by with a TV.
Being attacked by a strider.
Textures
"arm"
"rarm"
"hand"
"palm"
"torso"
"leg"
"hood"
"valve"
"glass"
"face"
See Also
Version 2: Orange Collar Citizen
The Orange Collar citizen (referred to as "city" by the location of it's textures in the 2003 leak) is interpreted to be the first known citizen iteration to make use of multiple heads, with each model being incremented as "Male#.mdl" in the maps it's known to appear in. This iteration of the citizen was likely made around late 2001, and continued to be used until some point in 2002.
The citizen's outfit consists of an olive green coat on top of an orange undershirt with a large collar, lighter olive green pants and brown shoes (very similar shoes to those of the Gasmask Citizen).
In the 2003 leak, the only remnants of this citizen are it's textures found inside the citizen materials folders. Luckily, the Male2 "Ted" iteration of it's mesh was discovered in the "statue_breenbust.smd" file found in the HL2 modelsrc repo's props_c17 model. Thanks to this, we have been able to fully restore this version of the citizen.
Renders
Body found in "Breenbust" file, rigged to Valvebiped.
Ditto, with original file's head.
Textures
"torso_front"
"torso_back"
"r_arm"
"l_leg"
"r_leg"
"shoe"
"head"
"Hand"
"Hand_dark"
"palm"
Version 3: Blue Coat Citizen
The 2002 "blue" citizen is most famously seen in the e3_terminal screenshots used to promote Half-Life 2 during it's pre-release media, although it is likely that this citizen design was first made in early 2002 and phased out at some point after the E3 2002 presesntation was cancelled.
The outfit consists of a dark prussian blue coat with a red emblem on the back, black gloves, cedar brown pants, black shoes and a seemingly tan undershirt.
In WC Mappack maps, it's assumed that the missing "c17_male#.mdl" series of models were using this design iteration.
In the 2003 leak, most of this citizen's textures were replaced by their next iteration's colours, however remnants of the blue outfit can be found on models such as in the classic zombie's folder (used for the 2002 zombie and later the Leak's current zombie further modified). The original textures for this version can be found in the HL2 materialsrc repo.
Luckily, a few citizen models using this outfit were found inside of the Counter-Strike Source repo's XSI scene files. From this, we have been able to fully preserve this citizen iteration in it's original form.
Renders
Original body mesh found in the CSS repo's XSI files.
Screenshots
Danger Ted
Two rebels on a roof in E3 Terminal.
Textures
"arm_cyl"
Ditto, height map.
Ditto, normal map.
"leg_cyl"
Ditto, height map.
Ditto, normal map.
"leg2_cyl"
Ditto, height map.
Ditto, normal map.
"torso_cyl"
Ditto, unfinished version found in repo.
Ditto, height map.
Ditto, normal map.
"neckbase"
"hands_uvw"
Ditto, height map.
Ditto, normal map.
"shoe_cyl"
Ditto, env map mask.
Version 4: Green Coat Citizen
The green citizen shares many of the same features as the previous blue iteration, with the model's mesh being completely unmodified from Version 3. This design seems to have lasted from some point after E3 2002 up until early 2003. This is also the first design that we have direct evidence of female variants existing for.
The coat is now shaded moss point green, the back emblem now uses a Combine logo instead of the emblem of unknown origin seen on the blue version, and the pants are now a darker brown.
Renders
Original body mesh found in the CSS repo's XSI files.
Screenshots
Waiting in line and being arrested in a modified E3 Terminal.
Ditto, visible in bottom left.
Standing and cheering at the shore.
Ditto.
Textures
"arm_cyl"
"leg_cyl"
"leg2_cyl"
"torso_cyl"
Version 5: Leak Citizen
This is the citizen type that is used in the 2003 Half-Life 2 leak, and seems to have lasted from E3 2003 to February 2004. This citizen was most famously seen during the E3 2003 conference for Half-Life 2, and appears in many different promotional screenshots of the game.
This outfit sports a beige long-sleeve shirt with a maroon red armband on the left arm, desaturated green pants, and grey shoes.
Notably, this citizen is the first main iteration since the Gasmask Gitizen to include an "identiband" armband on the left arm. It is also the first version of the citizen to include a medic version, as well as an unused "ammo" version, implying that only specific rebels could supply Gordon with ammunition at one point (as opposed to final, where any non-medic citizen can give Gordon ammo). This is also the first citizen version to make use of the final citizen head order (removing old obsolete heads and re-arranging the sequence of male0# heads).
Strangely, the Male06 version of this citizen iteration (Which is missing in the 2003 leak files) was officially released by Valve as part of the Source SDK example modelsrc. Meaning that it is the only pre-release citizen outfit to officially release outside of leaks.
Renders
Original body mesh from Source SDK files.
Ditto, medic variant.
Ditto, ammo variant.
Male01 from the 2003 leak.
Ditto, Male02.
Ditto, Male03.
Ditto, Male04.
Ditto, Male05.
Ditto, Male07.
Ditto, Male08.
Ditto, Male09.
Ditto, Cheaple.
Male06 from Source SDK files.
Render of Female01 from the 2023 leaks.
Screenshots
Being arrested in an alley in d1_trainstation_02.
Being attacked by Striders in e3_c17_02.
Ditto, with one being impaled.
Ditto.
Fighting alongside Barney in e3_c17_01.
Fighting Manhacks.
Textures
"citizen_sheet"
"medic_sheet"
Ditto, scribbled version in repo.
"ammo_sheet"
Ditto, scribbled version in repo.
"Male_cheaple_sheet"
Version 6: Straight Jacket Citizen
Although not lasting very long, this citizen somewhat survived into the final game as a slightly modified version of it's outfit lives on in corpse1.mdl. This citizen design lasted from February 2004 up to just before E3 2004.
We thankfully have an exact timeframe on when this citizen lasted thanks to the file "Male_body_NEW_feb04.scn" being present in the Counter-Strike Source repo's XSI files. And the citizen being present in the trailer for Half-Life 2 seen at E3 2004 (despite the actual demos showing the final citizen design).
This outfit sports a particularly strange shirt, complete with a corset on the back somewhat resembling a straight jacket, green shoes, a fingerless glove on the right hand, and black pants. Interestingly, the texture used for the corpse model appears to use an altered texture as its base, as the pants on the corpse are grey, the shoes are black, and the shirt is slightly more saturated.
The texture sheet for this model was leaked back in the 2016 Facepunch Leaks and is also found in the HL2 materialsrc repo. The mesh of the citizen was found (although unrigged) in one of the XSI files present in the Counter-Strike Source repo too.
Renders
Original body mesh found in the CSS repo's XSI files, rigged to Valvebiped.
Corpse1 from the final game.
Corpse1 comparison:
Febuary 2004 Body
Corpse1
Textures
"citizen_sheet"
"corpse1" (Removed unsettling face)
Corpse1 comparison:
Citizen Texture
Corpse1 Texture
Version 7: Metrocop Promo Image
Although going mostly unnoticed by the community, the blue eyed Metrocop concept art, which is painted over an in-game screenshot, includes five separate citizens in the background using a slightly different model than that of the final version. It's unknown as to exactly when this artwork was made.
Although the shirt appears to have been finalized at this point in time, the pants appear to be the grey version of the pants found on the previous citizen, as they contain large back pockets that are not found on the final design, but are found on the previous's textures. In addition to this, the pants appear to be a distinctively different, more monochromatic color to the pants, whereas the final citizens wear pants with a near identical color to their shirts. It is unknown what shoes of these citizens may have looked like.
Artwork
Full HD art of the metrocop, showing all 5 citizens.
Zoom in on the left 3 citizens.
Zoom in on the right 2 citizens.
A Citizen seen from behind with the contrast raised and lightness lowered in order to make out details.
Ditto from the front, showing off the shirt that is seen in the final game.
Ditto, wearing gloves. These gloves are found in the type 7 corset citizen's sheet.
A cleaner view of the left 3 citizens.
Ditto, right two.
Version 8: Final
This is the final version of the citizen, and the iteration that is used from E3 2004 and stayed until the final release of the game. This version's main outfit was conceptualized by Moby Francke.
The outfit consists of matching blue jackets and pants, along with brown shoes. Some refugees substitute the blue jacket with a tan one. They also come in rebel and medic variants. Rebels wear either dark green or lighter blue jackets, and all of them wear various pieces of Metropolice outfits, including armor, and boots, as well as beanies. Medics forego much of the armor, save for one belt and the main chestplate, and wear dark, tan pants and either grey or light blue jackets with red cross armbands on each arm. Some also elect to wear gloves.
The cheaple version of this citizen, although partially re-UVed, has an identical mesh to the 2003 leak iteration.
Renders
Male01 from the final game.
Ditto, Male02.
Ditto, Male03.
Ditto, Male04.
Ditto, Male05.
Ditto, Male07.
Ditto, Male08.
Ditto, Male09.
Ditto, Cheaple.
Ditto, Female01.
Ditto, Female02.
Ditto, Female03.
Ditto, Female04.
Ditto, Female06.
Ditto, Female07.
Screenshots
All 9 male citizens seen in the final game.
Ditto, Refugee versions.
Ditto, Rebel versions.
Ditto, Medic versions.
All 6 female citizens in the final game.
Ditto, Refugee versions.
Ditto, Rebel versions.
Ditto, Medic versions.
Textures
"citizen_sheet"
"citizen_sheet" (Female)
"Male_cheaple_sheet"
Artwork
Concept art.
Ditto.
Model ref sheet for final citizen design.
Model ref sheet for final rebel design.
Concept art for rebel designs.
Miscellaneous Citizen Versions
Wasteland Citizen/Samuel
The Wasteland Citizen is theorised to be one of the earliest renditions of the citizen model after the Gasmask Citizen. It is presumed that the model "wastelandcitizen1.mdl" once used the same outfit that Samuel.mdl wears in the 2003 leak, although the exact appearance of this model is unknown as no screenshots of it exist, nor are there any leftover textures of note in it's materials folder.
It is assumed that the Wasteland Citizen was to be seen with a brown shirt, grey pants, brown shoes, and a dark brown armband similar to that of the Gasmask Citizen.
By the time of the leak, all original "wasteland citizen" models are removed from the game. The model "Samuel.mdl" still exists within the files, using a different version of Art's head mesh and facemap than the final, and allows for users to take a look into how the Wasteland Citizen may have looked in game. A modified set of Samuel textures can be found in the "old" zombie texture folders.
Renders
Samuel as he appears in the 2003 leak.
Textures
"base" (The only texture inside the Wastelandcitizen folder)
"torso"
"left_arm"
"right_arm"
"left_leg"
"right_leg"
"shoetop"
"sole"
"Hand"
"palm"
"shoetop" (Samuel)
"shoetop" (Wasteland Zombie)
"sole" (Samuel)
"sole" (Wasteland Zombie)
"left_leg" (Samuel)
"left_leg" (Wasteland Zombie)
"right_leg" (Samuel)
"right_leg" (Wasteland Zombie)
"left_arm" (Samuel)
"left_arm" (Wasteland Zombie)
"right_arm" (Samuel)
"right_arm" (Wasteland Zombie)
"torso" (Samuel)
"torso" (Wasteland Zombie)
Factory Sitting
Also referred to as "c17_citizen_minimal.mdl" in it's model name, the Stenographer's Chasm Worker would have... well... worked as a stenographer in a chasm. Presumed to have been used in 2001 and a bit further into 2002.
It shares the head texture found in the citizen "city" folder, indicating that it presumably used Cheaple's head. It is also seemingly a modified version of the Orange Collar Citizen (With a wireframe of the model being slightly visible on the front and back textures). It's model is referenced in a few versions of c17_01 and d1_garage_01 and it's textures are left over in the 2003 leak's files, however no sign of a mesh is left behind.
The outfit of the Chasm Worker is presumed to be the same of the Orange Collar Citizen, although instead having a blue attire and a City 17 logo visible on their back.
Renders
Recreated model, made using the Orange Collar model as a base.
Sitting down on a chair.
Ditto, back view.
Textures
"front"
"Back"
"head"
"Desk02"
"Desk03"
"Desk04"
"paper"
Artwork
Concept art.
Workers
Referred to as "worker.mdl" and "borealis_worker.mdl", these two models are identical except for their colors. A "dead" version exists for the Borealis Worker. The worker models in the leak use the male_07 "Mike" head mesh and textures. Although the purpose of the Borealis Worker is obvious, it is unknown with any amount of certainty what the normal worker would have been used for.
Interestingly, the HL2 materialsrc repo has a slightly different "body" texture than what can be found in the 2003 leak. The "dead" variants of the textures are also missing from the repo.
Renders
Worker, rigged to Valvebiped
Borealis Worker as he appears in the 2003 leak.
Dead Borealis Worker as he appears in the 2003 leak.
Textures
"body"
Ditto, from repo files.
"collar"
"undershirt"
"arm"
"gloves"
"shoes"
"body"
Ditto, from repo files.
"collar"
"undershirt"
"arm"
"gloves"
"dead_body"
"dead_undershirt"
"dead_arm"
Temp Female
Textures for an unknown temp female model can be found in the "extras" folder. It is speculated they may have been used for the model "c17_female1.mdl", but this is unknown.
Textures
"female_front"
"female_back"
Orange Jumpsuit
Appearing only in concept art, this citizen is seen wearing an orange jumpsuit. In one piece of art, said citizen is also seen with an unknown emblem on his back.
Artwork
Concept art for Citadel prison cells.
Concept art of a Combine gate.
Alien Swarm Colonist
The colonist model found in Alien Swarm uses a modified version of the 2003 citizen.
Renders
The Colonist model in an idle stance.
The same model using the 2003 citizen textures instead of the dedicated skin.
Textures
The Colonist model's skin. Everything has been changed except for the hands.
Citizen Model Evolution Comparison
Gasmask Citizen (Remake)
Samuel
Orange Collar
Factory Sitting (Remake)
Blue Coat
Green Coat
Leak
Straight Jacket
Final
Additional points of note
- Child workers have unique clothing textures. It is unknown if adults used these at one point or not.
- In addition to Trav and Warren, a number of female heads have been cut for unknown reasons.
