Lets get one thing straight, that was somewhat badass if but a little abtsract. However I'm not so sure thats a viral marketing scheme for Episode 3. But it does really seem to resemble the same style as that other HL2 "movie trailer" that appear not so long ago, perhaps its another part?
"However I'm not so sure thats a viral marketing scheme for Episode 3."
The first conclusion I drew from the video is that it was, since it's pretty damned close to GDC. I'm not sure though, but yeah, it's an awesome video.
"However I'm not so sure thats a viral marketing scheme for Episode 3."
The first conclusion I drew from the video is that it was, since it's pretty damned close to GDC. I'm not sure though, but yeah, it's an awesome video."
You could be right, I didn't actually think of that. It would make sense for them to start the hype train now before GDC, then E3 etc.
One thing I noticed was that black box with the red ring, is that a subtle jab at te 360? (Elite is black, red ring etc).
Also mentioning it as a Black Box, is that reference to the version of the Orange Box that didn't quite get released (atleast here in the UK I never remember seeing any Black Box for retail sale).
Oh god you've got me started and I'm mean't to be food shopping in 10 minutes.
It's not a viral video imo, if you go on the guys profile it says he's Dutch and if you look when he goes through the electronic doors, I'm pretty sure there's Dutch on there, and since Valve is an American company..........Also if you watch his other video "storm chasers" the man in that is wearing the same white outfit as they are in that video.
Hype over, go home, nothing to see here =D
EDIT: If it was a samsung commercial why would they open with a phone that has a dead battery? Not really playing to your strengths.
I'm going to say no. It's just a video that uses HL2 sound effects. Were it made by Valve they'd have had Black Mesa and Aperture, not Babel research. Inspired by Half Life, but not actually Half Life.
"I'm going to say no. It's just a video that uses HL2 sound effects. Were it made by Valve they'd have had Black Mesa and Aperture, not Babel research. Inspired by Half Life, but not actually Half Life."
From 2:00 - 2:40 in the bottom in the ticker it says, "Largest single collapse in history since Black Mesa." Every ten seconds or so.
"It's not a viral video imo, if you go on the guys profile it says he's Dutch and if you look when he goes through the electronic doors, I'm pretty sure there's Dutch on there, and since Valve is an American company..........Also if you watch his other video "storm chasers" the man in that is wearing the same white outfit as they are in that video.Hype over, go home, nothing to see here =DEDIT: If it was a samsung commercial why would they open with a phone that has a dead battery? Not really playing to your strengths."
I cant remeber where half life 2 is set (poland?) but its definetly not america.
Well, there is this TF2 clan called What's in the box.
And check the official website. When you mouse over the box some of the letters below get replaced by ?'s. Maybe the letters form some sort of anagram?
EDIT: A comment on YouTube said:
"That was sweet, and you used the LOST soundtrack! Well done, it's great!"
I don't think Valve would use the LOST soundtrack, and I don't think that parts of their video would seem home made.
"It's not a viral video imo, if you go on the guys profile it says he's Dutch and if you look when he goes through the electronic doors, I'm pretty sure there's Dutch on there, and since Valve is an American company..........Also if you watch his other video "storm chasers" the man in that is wearing the same white outfit as they are in that video.Hype over, go home, nothing to see here =DEDIT: If it was a samsung commercial why would they open with a phone that has a dead battery? Not really playing to your strengths."
I cant remeber where half life 2 is set (poland?) but its definetly not america."
/film said it was filmed in the netherlands at a university there. as for a connection to lost and JJ abrams, He has done a lecture at the TED conference on why he loves mysteries and how he has a box with a question mark on it that he never opens to keep him inspired. the lecture was called The mystery box if you like lost and jj abrams check out the lecture its pretty good. Plus the dude loves his viral marketing and first person videos ( lost viral campaigns, cloverfield, and cloverfields ad campaign) i am guessin a student project but it would be cool if this was something more interesting. pretty thought out with the website and all. there is a picture in the website as well at (http://www.whatsinthebox.nl/anti.jpg )
Part of me wants it to be a viral video from Valve to promote Episode 3, or heck, even Half-Life 3. But part of me also thinks it may not have anything to do with Valve, but a tribute or something to the Half-Life series.
All in all, I found it to be a very good video. I'm tempted to watch it again. Plus that whole "what's in the box?" site and the box itself are pretty interesting. There's no doubt it's promoting something. It's just a question of.....what?
Is image tracking technology for amateur users this advanced already?
The tracking and impact effects quality and professionalism is waaay beyond what I would expect from amateur / student films. ._.
And then, if you're such a pro at this stuff, why cheaply use sound and music from other sources, and well-known sources for that matter?
I don't expect viral videos to use unlicenced sound and music from two completely different sources, but I don't expect student films to have effects that professional, either.
I doubt it's by Valve. It didn't feel like Valve or seem like their style.
TMThomsen said:
"It's a Samsung commercial as far as I can see."
How do you gather that? Because the phone that wasn't dead just happened to be a Samsung? The first phone he grabbed was Samsung too (which he promptly threw to the floor). Besides, if it was a commercial for a phone, they wouldn't be using sounds from Half-Life 2 or TV shows.
That, and it's too elaborate to be a cellphone commercial.
"Is image tracking technology for amateur users this advanced already? The tracking and impact effects quality and professionalism is waaay beyond what I would expect from amateur / student films. ._.And then, if you're such a pro at this stuff, why cheaply use sound and music from other sources, and well-known sources for that matter?I don't expect viral videos to use unlicenced sound and music from two completely different sources,but I don't expect student films to have effects that professional, either."
I think it's quite blatantly meant to seem like it's part of the HL2 universe, which is why HL2 sound effects were used. There're direct references to Black Mesa in the video, and that huge tower is so similar to HL2's citadel and the way it breaks down in the add-on episodes it cannot possibly be coincidental. We already known there're multiple citadels around the world.
As for taking music from other sources... well, that's pretty much what students do. :E
As for the technology, students typically have access to the same software that professionals use — even if not always legally. I see absolutely no reason to believe this couldn't be the work of a student or amateur. The visual effects industry wants people who can produce material at a similar level to someone who does it for a living. They don't hire people who can't make stuff that looks reasonably professional.
I don't think Valve would use the LOST soundtrack, and I don't think that parts of their video would seem home made.