this post was submitted on 30 Sep 2024
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Anyone Else been following the countdown at blackmesa.com? (blackmesa.com)
submitted 2 days ago by foggy@lemmy.world to c/pcgaming@lemmy.world
42 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

The bottom of the page there is a countdown that will expire at midnight Eastern standard Time tonight.

This company claims to be in Boston. They've received federal grants. I've done a small amount of digging, but it would be entirely within valves resources to set up such a company. They have a LinkedIn, but it doesn't really seem like anyone really works there? It seems like a viral marketing campaign.

There was a Reddit thread. A while back. Some people noticed classes in the HTML that referenced other half-lifey things. But, some people in that thread shut it down as nothing out of the ordinary.

Then, there have been recent leaks with regard to a new game being developed. Someone found a resume suggesting that a person had done voice-over work for an unreleased project with Valve in 2023.

There was also a leak of some files with .hlx file types, and I guess prior to the half-life alyx release some .hla files leaked.

In the .hlx file leak, I guess there was found references to things like the EV suit.

Here's a YouTube video that touches on all of this.

all 43 comments
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[โ€“] Tramort@programming.dev 6 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

We love the Half Life community. In the last couple of days we've received a ton of messages of support and curiosity about Black Mesa. It's heartening to see that the internet can still be a place where people send inquisitive messages while staying respectful - thank you. Thank you as well to those who sent the thousands of fake inquiries on our website, they made us laugh. We loved seeing the creative messages.

As many of you correctly assessed, we're actually a real company in the Boston area. We're working hard to assure and secure vaccine and other biological manufacturing production. As much as we would be honored to be part of any Valve game - we do not work in this sector at all. We are not secretly working on Half Life 3, Project White Sands (whatever that is/may be) or any other Valve title - we're just nerds working to secure the global bioeconomy.

We <3 all of you, you've made us laugh quite a bit this week at a time when we needed it. We might put up a couple fun challenges and send the first solvers some swag. That is Black Mesa - the Boston biotech company swag.

Our love, The Black Mesa team.

PS: Gabe, call us. You know where we are. PPS: KingPotatoVII please reach out, we've been trying to send you some swag for cracking the cipher a while back ๐Ÿ™‚

[โ€“] Abnorc@lemm.ee 2 points 1 day ago

There's going to be a real resonance cascade in Massachusetts.

[โ€“] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 17 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

If this was truly a real start-up, they'd have information for investors to invest.There would be something about what they do other than just "biotech." There would be some kind of contact information besides an email. There would be names associated with it.

But they don't.

I don't, however, believe it was actually made by Valve. Either a modder hyping some mod or just a prankster.

If it is a real company, I'm pretty sure they're breaking copyright using that trademarked logo.

[โ€“] foggy@lemmy.world 15 points 2 days ago (2 children)

The domain was previously owned by the people who did the half-life remake.

My thought is that Valve poached them.

[โ€“] catloaf@lemm.ee 6 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Prior to Nov 2022, the domain just had a spam page. After that, it just had this: https://web.archive.org/web/20221105002601/https://blackmesa.com/

And it was like that until recently.

The Black Mesa team has support from Valve, but I don't think they're actually employees or anything.

Edit: yeah the more I look into this, the more certain I am that it's an ARG.

Wait.

Black Mesa Technology, Inc. is a real, registered company in the state of Massachusetts: https://corp.sec.state.ma.us/CorpWeb/CorpSearch/CorpSummary.aspx?sysvalue=_HQ3ku.qlnLpl8nUgbgbwS_ZHmpGWTQOFgh1PxfQUAs-

Current business address is 9 Alfred Cir, Bedford, MA 01730. Google Maps has that as Lexington Alarm Systems, but their site says they moved out of that building in Jan 2019, which somewhat lines up with Black Mesa turning up.

Maybe they really are a real company? But if they are, they're doing a real good job of making it look like they're not. Maybe for free advertising.

[โ€“] foggy@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

I am also capable of registering a company, though. Dig further. You'll find that they indeed secured a grant. But again, all this takes is a reasonable application for that grant as a part of a budget for a viral marketing campaign. I want to reiterate that this is absolutely within the means of valves resources.

This is what viral marketing campaigns do.

I WANT TO BELIEVE

[โ€“] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 9 points 2 days ago (1 children)

That would fit their MO. ๐Ÿค”

[โ€“] foggy@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

They did it for Portal 2!

[โ€“] setsneedtofeed@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

Black Mesa is working with select public and private-sector partners to evaluate and test the technology. If you are interested in partnering with us to usher in a new era of assurance and quality in biomanufacturing, please reach out.

Oh, that's not good.

Lots of corporate jargon about AI mixed with biotech talk. Perhaps teasing some in-game AI related shennigans.

[โ€“] foggy@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I mean that's basically the backstory of black mesa in the half life world.

[โ€“] setsneedtofeed@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

The heavy AI integration though? Thats more of an Aperture thing I think?

[โ€“] EccTM@lemmy.ml 32 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I don't see a timer at the bottom of their website - instead I see this line of text:

https://blackmesa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SampleinGC.png DAMN! You guys are quick... Didn't even have time to put the right image up yet.

That SampleinGC.png image is accessible, and is a picture of a vial in a testing chamber of some sort. The image also has metadata attached; a description that is a string of morse code:

-.--
***
..- / .-. . .- .-.. .. --.. . / .-- . / .- .-. . / .--- ..- ... - / -- .- -.- .. -. --. / - .... . ... . / -... . -.-. .- ..- ... . / -.--
***
..- / ... . . -- / -
***
/ .-.. .. -.- . / - .... . -- / .- -. -.. / .... .- ...- . / ..-. ..- -. / .-- . / -..
***
/ -.
***
- / .... .- ...- . / .- -. -.-- - .... .. -. --. / -
***
/ -..
***
/ .-- .. - .... / - .... . / ...- .. -.. .
***
/ --. .- -- . / - .... .. ... / .. ... / -.
***
- / .- -. / .- .-. --.

translated:

YOU REALIZE WE ARE JUST MAKING THESE BECAUSE YOU SEEM TO LIKE THEM AND HAVE FUN WE DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE VIDEO GAME THIS IS NOT AN ARG
[โ€“] Shadow@lemmy.ca 14 points 2 days ago

Hl3 confirmed.

[โ€“] foggy@lemmy.world 6 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

It depicts a vial of XEN CRYSTALS from Dr. ______.

This is 100% marketing an extension of the half-life universe

Going this all out? I wanna say it...

[โ€“] kingofthesheep@lemmy.dbzer0.com 30 points 2 days ago (1 children)

https://blackmesa.com/resonance-cascades This article on their site explicitly states that they are a real biotech company in Boston not associated with valve in any way. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news :(

[โ€“] foggy@lemmy.world 18 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Again, is completely within Valves resources to set up a biotech company for a viral marketing campaign.

[โ€“] tuckerm@supermeter.social 13 points 2 days ago

I WANT TO BELIEVE

[โ€“] MurrayL@lemmy.world 9 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Nothing to do with Half Life besides someone there being a fan:

As many of you correctly assessed, we're actually a real company in the Boston area. We're working hard to assure and secure vaccine and other biological manufacturing production. As much as we would be honored to be part of any Valve game - we do not work in this sector at all. We are not secretly working on Half Life 3, Project White Sands (whatever that is/may be) or any other Valve title - we're just nerds working to secure the global bioeconomy.

[โ€“] EndlessApollo@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

There definitely is some kind of ARG-type stuff going on here tho. The timer ends on the planned release date of HL2, there's a link on the site to an email address, "truthorconsequences@blackmesa.com", and they literally said they had some easter egg type stuff hidden on the site to be decoded. This is a real company, but I'm very excited to see what happens tonight

Edited bc I missed some autocorrects

[โ€“] foggy@lemmy.world 8 points 2 days ago

Like a kid in 2000 desperately hoping that box under the tree is a PS2, I really think that we might be about to see news of something I dare not say. But if it's nothing, I'm going to be really disappointed. Sigh.

[โ€“] foggy@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago

Timers up, reveals a URL that someone else pointed out:

https://blackmesa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/SampleinGC.png

Dr. _______

Xen crystal.

These are more Half Life references.

[โ€“] Defaced@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I don't want to keep feeding OP's unhealthy arg paranoia, but I'm pretty confident this is a real company. The catch being if they really do know Gabe or he at least knows of this company and they are half life fans, it's entirely in the realm of possibility they are working with Valve on a legit arg. Not saying valve owns that company, in fact the opposite, but I also definitely believe an arg is still a very real possibility and something valve would do. They did call out Gabe after all.

TLDR: op is not paranoid but the company is real and working with Valve on an arg because they're fans of the half life series but they're still a bioengineering company IRL.

[โ€“] catloaf@lemm.ee 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

It's definitely a marketing campaign. The logo is literally the Black Mesa logo, and it has a picture of a headcrab on a scientist. I guess the team is releasing a new campaign or something.

[โ€“] EndlessApollo@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago (2 children)

This site is actually for a real company that has the same name and logo, but yea there's some fun stuff going on here that I wanna see figured out

[โ€“] catloaf@lemm.ee 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

the same name and logo

That's how you know it's not real. Valve owns the rights to the logo, especially when combined with the name Black Mesa.

[โ€“] dustyData@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Yeah, who would go to the internet and infringe copyright and trademark laws? That has never happened before.

/s

But for real. It's a viral campaign for something but definitely not for a video game. Look at deadlock, that's how valve does marketing now. They don't even need ads or webpages anymore.

[โ€“] foggy@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Says them?

Their address is a house.

[โ€“] catloaf@lemm.ee 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Where do you see the address?

[โ€“] foggy@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)
[โ€“] catloaf@lemm.ee 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

So I went for a little drive...

https://i.imgur.com/gXWIXj4.jpeg

See that little black placard?

https://i.imgur.com/oglXV45.jpeg

Valve has the resources, yes, but wouldn't go that far for no payoff. I'm convinced they're a real company, not an ARG.

[โ€“] bigboig@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Pahaha if op keeps this up they're gonna get this lab in trouble for cribbing half life ip

[โ€“] catloaf@lemm.ee 3 points 1 day ago

Apparently they reached out to Valve and got the OK from someone to use the name and variant logo, according to a comment I saw either here or on reddit.

[โ€“] foggy@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Not if contributing to actual research, for which they applied for govt grants (and received) contributes to a tax write-off.

They have the means.

[โ€“] catloaf@lemm.ee 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I'm not sure if you're serious. Technically yes, Valve could set up a real biotech company, staff it, apply for government grants, receive money, and do actual biotech work... But it doesn't make sense to do for a video game marketing stunt.

[โ€“] foggy@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Why would it not make sense for them to do it? It is the most anticipated videogames of all time. The videogame community has basically taunted Valve saying they're afraid to make the games and valve has been firm that fear does not guide them. So obviously they will go as big as anyone's ever gone.

It in fact makes less sense that a biotech firm would call themselves black Mesa, and start up a faux ARG for the lulz.

[โ€“] catloaf@lemm.ee 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

What does spinning off a biotech company achieve for marketing HL3? Especially when Black Mesa has already been released and isn't even Valve's game?

[โ€“] foggy@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

We are talking about HL3 as a result.

That is how marketing works.

[โ€“] catloaf@lemm.ee 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

That's a big reach. It's spending a lot of money for not much gain, when they could spend that money either on regular advertising or on a real ARG campaign.

If it was an ARG for HL3, why would it be based on Black Mesa? That's the HL1 remake fan project that's already done.

[โ€“] foggy@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

What money is it spending exactly? A lease for a small building and a small town in Massachusetts? Maybe 10 grand a month? A salary for, as far as LinkedIn tells us, 2:00 to 10 individuals, we'll call it a million dollars.

Are you telling me that Valve isn't willing to invest 2 million dollars in advertising the most anticipated video game of all time?

What do you think valves marketing budget is?

Do you think there's a modulation when it comes to expenditures for half-life 3 should they arise?

When was the last time you saw an ad for a valve game outside of the steam ecosystem?

[โ€“] catloaf@lemm.ee 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Bedford isn't a small town. There's a bunch of other biotech facilities in that area. It looks like it'd be a relatively cheap building to lease, but not as cheap as you're thinking.

I think if they were going to spend $2m on marketing, they'd actually use it for marketing, not spinning off a biotech company.

[โ€“] foggy@lemmy.world 0 points 19 hours ago

Oh right. All those ads you saw for all those games they put out. Yeah. No, good point, valve definitely has a tradition of spending their marketing dollar just like every other company out there. If half-life 3's coming out, we'll probably hear about it in the Sears catalog. ๐Ÿ™„ What was I thinking.

[โ€“] RizzRustbolt@lemmy.world 1 points 1 day ago

Anyone know what the OldManMurray kids are up to these days?