Research and Development (mod)

Short description: 2009 Half-Life mod and puzzle game

Research and Development

A screenshot showing a vehicle the player must build to complete the game

Developer(s)| Matt Bortolino
Engine| Source
Platform(s)| Windows
Release| July 17, 2009
Genre(s)| Puzzle

Research and Development is a free mod for the first-person shooter video game Half-Life 2: Episode Two. Developed by Matt Bortolino and released on July 17, 2009,[1] it is a non-violent first-person puzzle video game, and has been compared to Portal. It received critical praise for its unique gameplay and high development quality.

## Contents

* 1 Plot
* 2 Gameplay
* 3 Development
* 4 Reception
* 5 References

## Plot

The game does not have an overt story; the player wakes up as an unnamed character in a detailed but generic location, not knowing how they got there, and must start solving puzzles in order to escape.[2][3]

## Gameplay

The mod takes place in the Half-Life universe, but strips the player of their weapons, giving them only a Gravity Gun and antlion bait.[3] The player must solve puzzles to traverse the levels, to the point where the game resembles a point-and-click adventure.[4]

## Development

Research and Development utilizes similar puzzles as those seen in between the shooter gameplay in Half-Life 2, but turns them into an entire game.[4]

## Reception

Alec Meer of Rock, Paper, Shotgun called the game "as must-play as an [Half-Life 2] mod gets", and stated that the game's non-combative player character is "in many ways more keeping with the mind-over-matter character we're often told Gordon Freeman is than the openly, incongruously murderous role he dons in Valve's games".[4] Nick Breckon of Shacknews recommended the game, praising its "refreshing amount of original mechanics and crafted special effects".[2] Tom Sykes of PC Gamer called the game one of the best Half-Life 2 single-player mods, saying that it is "surprising just how easily Half-Life 2's toolset translates" to the new focus of puzzles.[5] Gry Online called the game's puzzles "ingenious", remarking that their solutions were completely logical.[6] Anthony Burch of Destructoid stated that the game "provides clever fun in a way very few games - never mind how many modifications - are capable of," and that he "almost [felt] guilty playing this game for free," criticizing some bugs in the game, but calling its final levels "spectacular".[7]

## References

1. ↑ "Research and Development released news" (in en). https://www.moddb.com/mods/research-and-development/news/research-and-development-released.
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Play This Mod: Research & Development" (in en). 27 July 2009. https://www.shacknews.com/article/59728/play-this-mod-research-development.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Research and Development - Half-Life 2: Episode Two Mod" (in en-US). https://www.gamespot.com/articles/research-and-development-half-life-2-episode-two-mod/1100-6233695/.
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Meer, Alec (2009-07-20). "Science In Action: Research & Development" (in en-US). https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2009/07/20/science-in-action-research-development/.
5. ↑ Sykes, Tom (2020-01-15). "The best Half-Life 2 singleplayer mods" (in en-US). https://www.pcgamer.com/the-best-half-life-2-singleplayer-mods/.
6. ↑ "Half-Life 2: Episode Two mod Research and Development - Darmowe Pobieranie | GRYOnline.pl" (in pl). https://www.gry-online.pl/S030.asp?ID=27237.
7. ↑ "Indie Nation: Research and Development" (in english). 19 July 2009. https://www.destructoid.com/stories/indie-nation-research-and-development-140336.phtml.

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Source engine mods

Single-player|

* Aperture Tag
* The Beginner's Guide
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* Dear Esther
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Multiplayer|

* Age of Chivalry
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Half-Life series

Games|

* Half-Life
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* Characters
* Gordon Freeman
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Fan content|

* Concerned
* Freeman's Mind
* Half-Life: Escape from City 17
* Half-Life VR but the AI is Self-Aware
* GoldSrc mods
* Echoes
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Related|

* GoldSrc
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