What's in the Box?

[Saggy]

http://www.whatsinthebox.nl/

IU_reTt7Hj4


An amazing 9-minute long film on YouTube has Half-Life fans shouting viral teaser. Is "What's In The Box" teasing something new from Valve, or is it just a damn fine homage?

Half-Life 2 sound effects, references to Black Mesa, and music from the television show Lost lead many Half-Life fans to believe that this first-person "demo film" is something more than a fan-made homage to the game, and the movie's website certainly lends itself to that idea.
Source: http://kotaku.com/5175355/is-there-half+life-in-the-box

I, personally, don't know what to believe. I'm leaning more towards something NOT related to Half-Life. It's still damn cool either way. What do you guys think? What's in the box?

[BobtheGreatII]

Hmm... the website seems like it hints at more than meets the eye... I don't know... weird.

[Jean-Luc]

I, personally, don't know what to believe. I'm leaning more towards something NOT related to Half-Life. It's still damn cool either way. What do you guys think? What's in the box?
Well, looking through the video, I saw several references to Black Mesa, and the large cyclone looking phenomenon looked very similar to the breakdown of the Combine portal, or the eruption of a super-portal. I'd say this would have to be a fan-video of what the 7-hour war would be like.

That's just my $0.02

[Cortexian]

Either way, the effects are amazing for amateurs.

[Heathen]

Very badass.

Definitely not amatuer.

[Advancebo]

:O video goggles or something. As I am sure that is all not rendered.

[CodeBrain]

OTON TS ST WHAT IS IN THE BOX TI CRE TE O CTO PH BAU MSM S TH IMS EEU S DI MS C C MI T ITI R ERE U OOS DR

WHATISINTHEBOX.NL

Thats what I can get from the ??? marks and all.

[Saggy]

Well, looking through the video, I saw several references to Black Mesa, and the large cyclone looking phenomenon looked very similar to the breakdown of the Combine portal, or the eruption of a super-portal. I'd say this would have to be a fan-video of what the 7-hour war would be like.

That's just my $0.02I agree that there are alot of refrences to Half-Life in the video, but what I meant in my post was that I don't think this video is anyway affiliated with the Half-Life name, nor have any connection with Valve. I guess I should have made that a little clearer in my first post. So basically, I have the same view as you. Still, if it happens that this is related to Half-Life than hell yeah, that would be awesome! Maybe we'll find out next week at GDC.

[Limited]

Well what do we know about the film?

Its shot in Holland, easy to tell.
It takes part in an industrial location at the start, then in an built up area, budget definitly isnt too thin. Sound effects are of course from Half Life 2, leading to conclusion it has alot to do with Hl2.

Only thing that puts me off it being official from Valve is the Lost ripped music. You'd think they would use their own.

Whatever it is, its amazing and a great piece of film.

[Cojafoji]

I garuntee this is viral marketing of some kind.

[Corndogman]

Only thing that puts me off it being official from Valve is the Lost ripped music. You'd think they would use their own.

Unless they plan to advertise during an episode of lost or something.

[Saggy]

Only thing that puts me off it being official from Valve is the Lost ripped music. You'd think they would use their own.Actually, I have an explanation for that. Valve and the creators of Lost do have some sort of "relationship". If you remember from an earlier episode of Lost were Sayid must trick his friend into a suicide bombing (or something along those lines), he visits his friends place and a couple of his buddies are playing Half-Life on the PS2. Now, in Half-Life: Episode 2, Valve payed homage to Lost by putting a few easter eggs resembling the Dharma Initiative logo, as well as a computer that resembled the one in the Swan Hatch.

E: More info here: http://lostpedia.wikia.com/wiki/Outside_references_to_Lost#Half-Life_2:_Episode_Two_.28Video_Game.29

The more I start putting the pieces together, this does look like something viral for Half-Life. Just have to wait and see.

[Advancebo]

"Whats in the Box?"
Jacks in the Box.

XD

[BobtheGreatII]

"Whats in the Box?"
Jacks in the Box.

XD

:picsorstfu:

[Saggy]

:picsorstfu:
http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/1730/jackinthebox.png

[BobtheGreatII]

http://img21.imageshack.us/img21/1730/jackinthebox.png

Oh my god.

:lmao:

+rep

[Sever]

I believe that my user title says it all:

H λ L F L I F E ²: The 7 Hour War

[legionaire45]

What's in the Box?

My dick of course.

(PS. this looks quite shiny and pretty).

[BobtheGreatII]

UPDATE: It turns out that the video is not officially connected with Valve in any way. It may be well put together, but Doug Lombardi, Valve's Vice President of Marketing, talked to GameSpy via email (http://www.gamespy.com/articles/964/964493p1.html), saying, "The Box video was a cool piece from the community. Two in just a few weeks. I hope there's more on the way." The other video he's referring to, a short film series called "Escape from City 17," is another fan made internet feature set in the Half-Life universe.
The lack of new official Half-Life news may be disheartening, but I'm excited to see where this dialog-lite feature from the Netherlands goes next. :nsmug:

[Pyong Kawaguchi]

I found something interesting in the page source.


<!-- Every medium, as its ancestors -->
<!-- Every pro, has his anti's, now you think about that -->

[Saggy]

:nsmug:Well, that was expected, but still can't wait to see what's in the box.

[Abdurahman]

Well, that was expected, but still can't wait to see what's in the box.

It's probably Jack :eyesroll:

[Saggy]

It's probably Jack :eyesroll:Ahem... (http://www.modacity.net/forums/showpost.php?p=375979&postcount=15)


If you don't watch Lost, you might not get it.

[Abdurahman]

Ahem... (http://www.modacity.net/forums/showpost.php?p=375979&postcount=15)


If you don't watch Lost, you might not get it.

Wow, I was right on the money!

I didn't read the fist two pages.

[BobtheGreatII]

Love to bump this. But go check out the website.

http://www.whatsinthebox.nl/

It's updated. I don't care if this is fan made. I'm still liking it.

[Limited]

So what was in the box, fan made video?

[Saggy]

http://wikibruce.com/2009/04/a-big-box-of-babel-research/

Holy crap, this "ARG" is HUGE! There is so much stuff to it, and it is so well put together. This has to be something more then just an indie-made "ARG", no?

[Limited]

Wow, props for the Lost shout-out :)

This goes pretty deep. I'm leading to the fact its a game up for release...or perhaps Black Mesa?