Adrian Shepard

[momma_snark]

Do you think Shepard will return?I hope so.I felt for him when I beat Opposing Force.:cat:

[_Z_Ryuken]

I don't think he ever left.

[Ashitaka]

Is he even cannon? =/

[_Z_Ryuken]

Yeah, a loose cannon.

(canon)

[TollBooth Willie]

Yes.

And there will be an apocalyptic hl2.net Samonsploshen.

[Flyingdebris]

in before samon

[Samon]

No.

[Gordon-Shepherd]

I personally only want shepherd to return so samon can pour beans on his head.
(pics too :P)

[Rapstah]

There was no Adrian Shephard.

[Evo]

Yes.

And there will be an apocalyptic hl2.net Samonsploshen.

Shh!

[Shift]

On that day, Satan will be scating to work

[Atomic_Piggy]

Yes, I think he'll return. And no, I don't like him.

[Piers89]

Yeah i wish he'd return, i dont think he will though.

[TollBooth Willie]

Shh!:ssh:

SHEPHERD IS AWESHENS!

[Que-Ever]

On that day, Satan will be scating to work

My lord. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scatology)

[Bacons]

Oh good lord, another Shepard thread.

Dear New Guy,

Most of the users here at hl2.net, have a strong dislike for the shepard. We have seen many threads praising The Spepard and that he should return for no reason whatsoever. I've even seen most Shepardites request that the G-man should unleash Shepard upon the Freeman and that they fight to the death; Or even more cheesy "Shepard teh Combine lolololol!!11111one111eleven11"

I don't intend to be harsh, just telling my point of view, that's all. :)

[Darkside55]

Shephard will return. Shephard WILL return. I do not believe this to be debatable any more. Call Gabe and ask him and he will tell you.

[Samon]

Go back Darkside you've no idea what you are doing!

[Jintor]

Damnit! Samon, the portal's opening! SOMETHING'S COMING THROUGH!

[AHA-Lambda]

HE SHALL NEVER RETURN!!! (I hope)

[kupocake]

He will return.
He shouldn't return.

[Ophiguris]

Shephard MUST return!

[ríomhaire]

I doubt he will return unless Valve commision Gearbox to do an episode (unlikly IMO)

[TollBooth Willie]

Go back Darkside you've never idea what you are doing!He will return.

[Stene]

He'll be back.

[CyberPitz]

I voted yes because I WANT him to return...

But what does "canon" mean when talking about this subject?

[kupocake]

But what does "canon" mean when talking about this subject?
Canon comes from the Arabic word "Qanuun" which essentially means "rule", "law", "standard", and has come to mean "generally accepted" or "authoritatively correct."
The usage of 'canon' grew out the context of the religion. Used to mean what laws were officially adopted by the church, but also started to refer to the religious text officially adopted by the church as true (so what goes into the bible, as opposed to 'apocraphal' texts on the various acts of God which aren't). The word is now applied to modern stories and series of stories, to describe what is actually part of the 'official' timeline.

The problem in the modern would with large and successful productions is that they spawn many imitators, spin-offs and tributes. The larger the franchise, the bigger the problem of working out what the official version of events is, since the original creator may have less control over what gains affiliation with their product than the company they work for. Basically, companies will whore out a name to any old product if it'll make them money.

The best example I can think of would be the Gundam (japanese anime) franchise. The original series was spawned in 1979 and was remade into a trilogy of movies a few years later. But when they did that, events were cut and details were changed (certain characters never die, the characters never make it to a major battle, one of the characters pilots a different machine) When the sequel series, 'Zeta Gundam' appeared in 1985 (and it was subsequently followed by several more series also), it therefore wasn't clear whether the series was in the aftermath of the original series, or the movies. This series itself was remade as a trilogy of movies in 2004-5, and the ending was changed so that at least two sequels could have never logically happened. That creates ambiguity over whether 'ZZ Gundam' and 'Char's Counterattack' ever happened. On top of that, there are countless officially sanctioned side-stories to each of the series, that contradict each other and their source-material. And there are novel and manga adaptations of each series that change the stories as well. With so many different authors contributing to the work, fan confusion over just what is part of the story that informs every subsequently added work is a big issue.

Thankfully, the Half-Life case is a lot less complicated. A list of every property based on Half-Life would look like this:

Codename Gordon by Nuclear Vision
Half-Life by VALVE (INCLUDING Half-Life Deathmatch)
Half-Life: Uplink by VALVE
Half-Life: Opposing Force by Gearbox (Including Deathmatch and CTF)
Half-Life: Blue Shift by Gearbox
Half-Life: Decay by Gearbox
Half-Life 2 by VALVE
Half-Life 2: Deathmatch by VALVE
Half-Life 2: Lost Coast by VALVE
Half-Life 2: Episode One by VALVE
Half-Life 2: Episode Two by VALVE
Portal by VALVE

Of these, it would be reasonable to assume that Codename Gordon, Half-Life 1 and 2 Deathmatch, Op4 multiplayer and Half-Life: Uplink fall outside of the Half-Life canon. The events described in them (the loss of third dimensional space, the endless battle of magically respawning combatants, and the unresolved fate of Gordon Freeman in a time-span that could not have taken place within Half-Life itself) are outlandish and unlikely to describe events that inform later titles in the series. It would be reasonable also to assume that all other work created by valve is canonical, as they are the creators of the work and have the right to dictate in which direction it heads. Gearbox however, are a grey area. Their work was created with an emphasis on cashing in on the success of Half-Life on behalf of Sierra and Valve. The degree of control Valve exercised over Gearbox doesn't appear to be particularly large, and because Valve have only on a single occasion alluded to the Gearbox titles (Barney Calhoun), it isn't entirely clear whether the games are 'canonical', i.e. whether the events in them inform the events in the Valve games we play.

Personally though, I think Opposing Force, Blue Shift and Decay did happen. Valve has never outright said that Gearbox's contribution to the Half-Life saga are void, and have emphasised that Marc Laidlaw had a hand in their creation, even if most of the Valve team did not.

[Darkside55]

Laidlaw for his part wrote some of the OpFor story, and the nuking of Black Mesa by the G-man is an event that he attributed to himself--"I gave him the orders." Blue Shift occurred, but the Barney you play was not Barney Calhoun, just a Barney. Decay doesn't conflict with Half-Life or HL2 in any way I can think of, therefore it is also likely canon. Marc Laidlaw is very lenient about canon in Half-Life; anything that doesn't directly contradict what he says seems fine with him.

Because of this, Adrian Shephard exists in canon. He in no way interferes with HL or the HL2 plotpoints, and Gabe has confessed to liking the character, being among the "pro-Adrian" crowd. He's also stated that Adrian WILL be mentioned again ("We'll get around to him") though no word on the extent of Adrian's involvement. He may be no more than a passing mention by another character (I would love to hear someone in-the-know inform you that the G-man left him to rot and subsequently die, in a very matter-of-fact tone), to being an NPC, to another full-blown expansion. We WILL hear of him again, though. And knowing that Valve's head honcho likes the character, it will unfortunately probably not be the first scenario.

[Zaffino]

Adrian Shephard > Freeman, he didnt need no HEV Hi-Tech suit! Just some combat gear, and he was good to go.

[Tairoku]

I really don't like how any of the Half-Life main carachters ever talk so, no, don't think Sheperd will come back.

[Adabiviak]

I say no only because he was the creation of a third party. If they (Gearbox) were creating another expansion, he may very well return.

[GreatEmperor]

For his voice they could just tone down the voice of the soldiers of 1 like they did with Barney, but he wont return for this game

[Rapstah]

Adrian Shephard > Freeman, he didnt need no HEV Hi-Tech suit! Just some combat gear, and he was good to go.

Just a PCV and a Displacer.

Adrian Shephard sucks.

[momma_snark]

I hope he does.

[off topic] notice that in opposing force,after the credits,if you go to the console and type Brightness 999999,well....just see for yourself.

[momma_snark]

And you do play as Calhoun in Blue Shift.At the beginning titles,it says"Subject:B.Calhoun" and many security guards simply call you Calhoun.

[Piers89]

Yeah Bob Calhoun, or Bert Calhoun, or Bernie Calhoun, not barney calhoun!

[Rapstah]

Valve's Steam page for Blue Shift says Barney.

[Frentzen]

Yeah Bob Calhoun, or Bert Calhoun, or Bernie Calhoun, not barney calhoun!
Whoa Whoa, Barney's got a Brother?:rolleyes:

[ríomhaire]

I hope he does.

[off topic] notice that in opposing force,after the credits,if you go to the console and type Brightness 999999,well....just see for yourself.
I don't have Opposing Force installed ATM and when I did have it installed the console never worked properly. Could you post a screenshot please?

[Piers89]

Valve's Steam page for Blue Shift says Barney.

link

[Rapstah]

link

http://www.steampowered.com/v/index.php?area=game&AppId=130&cc=SE

"Made by Gearbox Software and originally released in 2001 as an add-on to Half-Life, Blue Shift is a return to the Black Mesa Research Facility in which you play as Barney Calhoun, the security guard sidekick who helped Gordon out of so many sticky situations."


Although that implies that you play as every Barney in the entire game...

[ríomhaire]

The HL2 credits name the character as Barney Calhoun BTW.

[Darkside55]

No matter what Blue Shift or the Steam page says, Laidlaw has said that the Barney you play isn't Calhoun. Or at least he doesn't consider it to be Barney Calhoun.

[Piers89]

Yeah darkside, thats what i go by. I dont get why people want to die by the word that calhoun in bs in barney calhoun in hl2, it doesnt make sense, and just fux up everything to do with barney.

[ríomhaire]

All barneys are the HL2 Barney. Including Calhoun. /crazy theory :rolling:

[Frentzen]

No matter what Blue Shift or the Steam page says, Laidlaw has said that the Barney you play isn't Calhoun. Or at least he doesn't consider it to be Barney Calhoun.

Oooh. I wanna have a quote if you'd be so kind.:stare:

[Darkside55]

Gearbox took our Barney and did their own best version, but I'm not sure that Barney is the same Barney I'm picturing when I picture Valve's Barney. In the time BS was created, there were many Barneys. Only gradually have the redundant creature and character types slowly settled into iconic individuals... I only take the games created by Valve into consideration when I am working on the story...there are more than enough potential contradictions in our own designs without me worrying about contradictions in the inventions of other developers who were not part of our initial creative meetings.

You can read the whole thing in this thread (http://www.halflife2.net/forums/showthread.php?t=114535). First post, under "BARNEY + BLUE SHIFT + EXPANSION INVOLVEMENT."
So Gearbox might've called him Calhoun, but it isn't. It's just one of those random Barneys you meet along the way. I could swear there was a post where Laidlaw said he specifically didn't want Gearbox to call him Calhoun, but I might be imagining that and I don't feel like looking it up. :p

[Frentzen]

Ok, got it.
Interisting enough, Gearbox DID obey Laidlaw on what BS is concerned. They never call Calhoun as Barney. (Laidlaw didnot want Calhoun be called as Barney...or viceversa :P) Apparently then, B. Calhoun is not the same Barney Calhoun from the future.(HL2)
Blue Shift did happen. Only that the security guard is someone else. Roles are fitting somewhat though.

[GreatEmperor]

You can read the whole thing in this thread (http://www.halflife2.net/forums/showthread.php?t=114535). First post, under "BARNEY + BLUE SHIFT + EXPANSION INVOLVEMENT."
So Gearbox might've called him Calhoun, but it isn't. It's just one of those random Barneys you meet along the way. I could swear there was a post where Laidlaw said he specifically didn't want Gearbox to call him Calhoun, but I might be imagining that and I don't feel like looking it up. :p

That is ridiculous, why not? The character in BS was just a floating pair of eyes, no detail into character was given. For a guy who gave his approval of everything Gearbox did he drags his feet around simple stuff

[Frentzen]

I dont see a problem of having the BS guard as the HL2 Barney Calhoun.
But for now lets just sit and wait for EP2:P

[GreatEmperor]

[QUOTE=Frentzen;2202874]I dont see a problem of having the BS guard as the HL2 Barney Calhoun.
But for now lets just sit and wait for EP2:P[/QUOTE

too long to wait, complaining passes time until i play Episode 1 again

[hot564231]

I personally only want shepherd to return so samon can pour beans on his head.
(pics too :P)

Damn right!

[99.vikram]

So Gearbox might've called him Calhoun, but it isn't. It's just one of those random Barneys you meet along the way.
I dont care what Laidlaw hinted at there, the two Barneys are the same. :p
Otherwise the story becomes ridiculously convoluted. I do not approve..

[mastag]

No











I mean yes.

[Atomic_Piggy]

All barneys are the HL2 Barney. Including Calhoun. /crazy theory :rolling:

Goverment cloning comspiracy! Its happeneing again!
D:

[ríomhaire]

No shit. It's quite obvious that most of the employees of BM were clones of Barney, Otis, Kleiner, Eli, Einstein and the g-man.

[TollBooth Willie]

Why does everyone keep forgetting Slick? D:

[ríomhaire]

Slick is the g-man clones you silly banana.

[Piers89]

If you all love barney so much go marry him.

Quite frankly, the way barney speaks to gordon during hl2 makes it seem as though he was with gordon all the way through the bmrf incident, et voila! that means all barneys in hl1 are barney in hl2.
However, the beautiful part of it, b. calhoun from BS never meets gordon during the bmrf incident, thus he is not (part of) barney in hl2, thus he is not barney, thus he is irrelevant, thus the memory of him can be wiped from our memories, thus i am right, no questions or complaints please. Case closed.

[mastag]

If you all love barney so much go marry him.

Quite frankly, the way barney speaks to gordon during hl2 makes it seem as though he was with gordon all the way through the bmrf incident, et voila! that means all barneys in hl1 are barney in hl2.
However, the beautiful part of it, b. calhoun from BS never meets gordon during the bmrf incident, thus he is not (part of) barney in hl2, thus he is not barney, thus he is irrelevant, thus the memory of him can be wiped from our memories, thus i am right, no questions or complaints please. Case closed.

What a douchebag.


am i right? am i right?

[Spoonoop]

Shephard will be back... as Gordon Freeman's enemy! *gasp*

[Frentzen]

Not without killing you first :p

[Xendance]

I hope he does.

[off topic] notice that in opposing force,after the credits,if you go to the console and type Brightness 999999,well....just see for yourself.

When I did that, it showed a picture of his crotch.

[Piers89]

When I did that, it showed a picture of his crotch.

Beware... hl2 expansions may see the return of Adrian Shepherd's genitalia...

[Xendance]

Beware... hl2 expansions may see the return of Adrian Shepherd's genitalia...

Im not joking either. I'll get a screenie. 2 minutes.
I'll just get them off my xfire profile since I cant find it in my gearbox folder...

http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/large/89c8a99b64c5b92cf388d1e93daf5bc7399445be.png

http://screenshot.xfire.com/screenshot/large/21a605bcb7fee028f0c421886eb38a23291734d1.png

[kupocake]

Beware... hl2 expansions may see the return of Adrian Shepherd's genitalia...
So long as Adrian isn't there with them, that's ok with me.

[Frentzen]

Then you wouldnt know those were his. ;)

[Piers89]

Ah so the gonarch testicle is actually adrian shepherds!

[Jack Thomas]

Well if Gabe has also shown interest to the character and stated that they might get back to him soon, I see a possibility of him returning.

I myself just cannot deny what kind of plothole it might leave atleast in my mind if Adrian would be forgotten from the storyline. What else of point there would have been in publishing any of the expansion for Half-Life unless they would be somehow involved in the official story? And seeing Barney's cameo in Half-Life 2 and Episode 1 from Blue Shift, I hold my hopes pretty high.

(( heh my first post in 2 months ))

Just my humble opinion. :)

[kupocake]

Ah so the gonarch testicle is actually adrian shepherds!
Of course. The ropes introduced into Opposing Force were a metaphor: they were well hung, just like Adrian himself.
What else of point there would have been in publishing any of the expansion for Half-Life unless they would be somehow involved in the official story?
$,?,?,₣,R$,₢,元,₡,kr,?,₠,₣,₯,圓,₨,₪,₩,₭,₮,₦,₩,S/,руб,₧,฿,₫ and 令吉?

[Jack Thomas]

Well I dont think we were just talking about money here.. but I guess your right.

Atleast they were GOOD expansions all of them. I even liked Blue Shift to be honest, it was just abit too short imo.

EDIT : also they were well fitten into the storyline for future characters in the continuation like Barney Calhoun and maeby perhaps Adrian but we'll see about him hopefuly

[Rapstah]

Can anyone link me to where Gabe said he likes Shephard?

Thanks.