Hiroshima Dome cameo in Ep. 1?

[nokori3byo]

Hey gang, I'm new here. Actually, I'm new to the Half-Life franchise. Just started playing Half-Life 2 a week ago and I'm hooked.

Just a quick question about a scene in Episode 1 (at least, I think it's in Ep. 1--I haven't player it yet).

Anyway, I stumbled across this screen shot a moment ago:

http://ep1.half-life2.com/img/screens/screenshot_3.jpg

I was struck by how much the ruined, dome-like structure in the distance resembles the "A-Bomb Dome" in Hiroshima.

I couldn't find an image that illustrated the resemblance very well, but when viewed from the right angle, it's uncanny:

http://www.ics.uci.edu/~ihler/photos/Travel/Japan/raw/2001-10-09%20Hiroshima%20Dome%2001.jpg

Has anyone ever heard anything about this?

Considering that the architect of the original building was a Czech named Jan Letzel, I guess it's also possible that it's simply a coincidence. It would make sense for the eastern European architecture that formed such an integral part of the game's artisitic design to show up again in the ruins of City 17. On the other hand, it it was meant to resemble Hiroshima Dome, it would be a nice little, post apocalyptic subtlety to insert into the game.

[Operational]

I definitely see what you mean.
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/131/simularju7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
I suppose it's just similar architecture. I am currently replaying Episode One when I get up to that part I'll do some noclipping and check it out more closely.

Oh and Welcome to HL2.net! Glad you are enjoying the game. I'd try to avoid any more Episode One content if I were you - spoilers are evil.

[Reginald]

I wouldn't put it past Valve to take influences from already ruined cities when they were constructing Ruined 17. I bet they took a look at Chernobyl, various earthquake-struck cities and other such places too.

[Jintor]

But for a firstposter, you kick ass.

I hadn't noticed that before.

[Hectic Glenn]

Very good observation and points made, I agree that we can't say definitively that they included it as reference to the Hiroshima dome, and it is more likely it's based on the similar architecture. Hugely impressive how they really captured it so perfectly. I've seen people on holiday in eastern Europe posting here & being completely taken back by HL2's firm grip on mapping the architecture so precisely of those areas.

[Solver]

Well I live in Eastern Europe and am amazed at how well HL2 captures it all. In some places, City17 even feels really familiar to me, the architecture and feeling is so well done.

[nokori3byo]

Thanks to everyone who responded.

Currently, I'm leaning (about 65/35) toward the opinion that it was deliberately designed to resemble Genbaku Dome. I showed the pic to two of my friends who, like me, have visited the actual site in Hiroshima, and they both said they were sure that's what it was meant to be.

Of course neither of those guys has played Ep. 1, and so would not be aware of the frequent appearance of neo-classical domes in City 17. Indeed, the Overwatch Nexus has a similar dome, as do one or two buildings visible in the plaza at the beginning of Half-Life 2.

Here's a before and after picture of the historical bomb site for anyone who's interested: http://www.pcf.city.hiroshima.jp/kids/KPSH_E/question_box/question1.html

[Para]

The before picture looks like the Nexus Overwatch and the after picture looks like what this thread is about...

For your first post this is way beyond the normal "I'm new ololol you can blind alyx with flashlight" crap people usually fling around :D

[Chabo]

I'm new lololol you can blind alyx with flashlight!!!1

;)

[Qonfused]

Very nice screenshot.

[highlander]

nice spotting there good old chap

[Acepilotf14]

:0!

[nokori3byo]

Okay, so I finally got around to playing Ep. 1. But when I made my highly anticipated arrival at the spot discussed in this thread, I was shocked to see that the Hiroshima Dome-like building wasn't there:

http://img85.imageshack.us/img85/2603/ep1c17010006bd1.th.jpg (http://img85.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ep1c17010006bd1.jpg)

This befuddled me a bit. I still have no idea why the dome would be absent from my copy of the game.

[Jintor]

It's behind the pole, far in the distance. I think your draw distance prevents you from seeing it fully.

[nokori3byo]

It's behind the pole, far in the distance. I think your draw distance prevents you from seeing it fully.

Ah...could that be it? My card is a fossil. I've often sensed there was stuff I wasn't seeing...

[xirow]

It's behind the pole, far in the distance. I think your draw distance prevents you from seeing it fully.

No, it`s not. The dome is in the game a couple of times though. Just not in this place (but in the menu it is there...)

[nokori3byo]

See the first link in the original post. It's the same area, no doubt about it.

[99.vikram]

Hey gang, I'm new here...I couldn't find an image that illustrated the resemblance very well, but when viewed from the right angle, it's uncanny.

Considering that the architect of the original building was a Czech named Jan Letzel... It would make sense for the eastern European architecture that formed such an integral part of the game's artisitic design to show up again in the ruins of City 17. On the other hand, it it was meant to resemble Hiroshima Dome, it would be a nice little, post apocalyptic subtlety to insert into the game.

Of course neither of those guys has played Ep. 1, and so would not be aware of the frequent appearance of neo-classical domes in City 17. Indeed, the Overwatch Nexus has a similar dome, as do one or two buildings visible in the plaza at the beginning of Half-Life 2.

Okay, so I finally got around to playing Ep. 1. But when I made my highly anticipated arrival at the spot discussed in this thread, I was shocked to see that the Hiroshima Dome-like building wasn't there.

This befuddled me a bit. I still have no idea why the dome would be absent from my copy of the game.

My card is a fossil. I've often sensed there was stuff I wasn't seeing...
You are hereby banned from the internetz on account of -

a) Spelling properly.
b) Using perfect grammar.
c) Having a good vocabulary.
d) Being intelligent.

Have a nice day...

-Thought Police.

[Jintor]

No, it`s not. The dome is in the game a couple of times though. Just not in this place (but in the menu it is there...)

Have you checked? I havn't, yet, but I can sort of see the outline behind the pole.

[Van_Halen]

Have you checked? I havn't, yet, but I can sort of see the outline behind the pole.

AAAAAAAAAAAH! HE MESSED UP!!!! :D

Nice find though... that's pretty cool...

[Tagaziel]

You are hereby banned from the internetz on account of -

a) Spelling properly.
b) Using perfect grammar.
c) Having a good vocabulary.
d) Being intelligent.

Have a nice day...

-Thought Police.

You forgot that he'll be lobotomized to drag his level down to the one of the general populace...

[xirow]

Have you checked? I havn't, yet, but I can sort of see the outline behind the pole.

Yeah I`ve checked. In the menu screen the dome building is there, but in the actual game it`s gone. Later on in the game you can still see the dome building a couple of times though, just not in this vista area.

Behind the pole is an outline of another building.

[nokori3byo]

Yeah I`ve checked. In the menu screen the dome building is there, but in the actual game it`s gone. Later on in the game you can still see the dome building a couple of times though, just not in this vista area.

Behind the pole is an outline of another building.

That would mean this screenshot is a misrepresentation of the scene as it appears in the game: http://ep1.half-life2.com/img/screens/screenshot_3.jpg

[nokori3byo]

You forgot that he'll be lobotomized to drag his level down to the one of the general populace...


Lobotomized? Whatever it was I did, I promise I won't do it again.

[xirow]

That would mean this screenshot is a misrepresentation of the scene as it appears in the game: http://ep1.half-life2.com/img/screens/screenshot_3.jpg

Yep. But that happens all the time. Early screenshots never are 100% representative.

When this screenshot was released I was extremely excited because I thought we were going to travel through the rubble towards the dome building :P Pretty foolish.

Nothing like that happened, it was only a vista :sleep: And not even half as good looking as this screenshot.

[Jintor]

Mmmmm... dissapointment.

[Samon]

Are we sure the dome building isn't there? I could have sworn it was.

[Van_Halen]

Lobotomized? Whatever it was I did, I promise I won't do it again.

No, I think he means someone will piss you off, and then you'll yell at them, and get into a fight, and if they mispell you'll start to mispell the same words, and then become one of those "LOL OMG U KIK AZZ!!!" type people. Not a fault of your own... we've all had that happen. You'll have it happen soon enough, but I'm sure it won't be here cause you're already obviously famous among the forum surfers. :D

No further input on the dome though... But isn't that where the nexus was?

[TCfromBN]

Are we sure the dome building isn't there? I could have sworn it was.

It is. You just cant see it very well in that pic.

http://s25.photobucket.com/albums/c96/NeoFyte/th_city17_2.gif (http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c96/NeoFyte/city17_2.gif)
Click to enlarge.

The building should be in that red rectangle. You can faintly see the outline of that building.

[Samon]

I knew it was. ^_^

[xirow]

That`s not the same building. It doesn`t even look like the dome building. Trust me, it`s not there.

[Samon]

I'll have a look later.

[CyberPitz]

That`s not the same building. It doesn`t even look like the dome building. Trust me, it`s not there.

Awesome points. Dually noted.

[nokori3byo]

Hmmm...well, it doesn't appear to be visible in this clip either:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o33vZkNepEU

Looks like xirow's right.

[Candy art]

dang you made me install Ep1 one again ^_^

[xirow]

menu:
http://members.lycos.nl/xyrow/ep1dome1.jpg


game:
http://members.lycos.nl/xyrow/ep1dome2.jpg

2 domes in the street in front of City 17 hospital
http://members.lycos.nl/xyrow/ep1dome3.jpg

http://members.lycos.nl/xyrow/ep1dome4.jpg

[nokori3byo]

Many thanks, xirow. I just went and had a look at those scenes for myself.

I'll sleep better now.

[Ophiguris]

Has anyone gone no-clip yet and gotten close to it yet? Because the angles look as though the building was 'painted' into the sky to look really far away.

[Samon]

Yeah, it isn't the dome building.

[Ophiguris]

You mean it doesn't look like it from no-clip, or it's painted to an invisible wall or something?

[Jintor]

He thinks it might be skybox texture, i think.

[ríomhaire]

He thinks it might be skybox texture, i think.
I'm not paying you to think damn it! *cracks wip*

[Mesz]

I wouldn't put it past Valve to take influences from already ruined cities when they were constructing Ruined 17. I bet they took a look at Chernobyl, various earthquake-struck cities and other such places too.

yeah i looked at chernobyl and i thought, "Ravenholm much?"

[Jintor]

I'm not paying you to think damn it! *cracks wip*

Whip?

*ducks for cover*

[Ophiguris]

*Pulls out P90*

*Shoots Jintor's ankles, holding him in place*

He's all your's Riomhaire!

[ríomhaire]

Whip?

*ducks for cover*
DON'T QUESTION ME BOY! When I say I'm cracking a work in progress, I'm mother-****ing cracking A WORK IN PROGRESS!

[Samon]

......

[Jintor]

Yeah, uh, so. About the Hiroshima dome...

[ríomhaire]

The what now? *whips for good measure*

[:Suzake:]

soo... you guys are into that hardcore Dominatrix stuff huh? :P

But I see the connection, the angles seem a bit off though, so it must be a sky text, or whatever Samon said it was/could be. Atleast Valve did their research.