Proto:Half-Life 2 (Windows)/September 26th 2003 Build

During October 2003, a hacker was able to get into Gabe Newell's computer and steal the Half Life 2 prototype, and released it on the internet. This version was very unfinished, though already several things had been cut. It was released as the 'Anon Beta' or the 'Russian Beta', containing textures, VMF files, and the like. It is still floating around on the internet, and many websites are devoted to prying it apart. The most popular website is a Russian one simply named HL2 Beta. [[1]] 99% of these things are no longer found in the retail version. Interesting enough, it looks like Half Life 2 wasn't going to have multiple episodes.

Cut Enemies and NPCs

As seen in this video, here are the early versions of the Combine Soldier, the Bullsquid, Combine Guard, Combine Assassin, Mortar Synth*, Early Antlion, Early Antlion Guard, Early Zombie, Early Fast Zombie, Early Poison Zombie, and the Early Stalker.

Combine Assassin

Spawnable in the beta as npc_fassassin this enemy is a remake of the female assassins found in the first Half Life. The only map with one pre-placed is e3_gurluas. Her helmet featured a glow, and she had heelsprings that were recycled for Portal.

Combine Assassin.jpg

Combine Assassin
Combine Assassin light.jpg

Showing the glow of her helmet in e3_gurluas
Fassassin head.png

A hidden face on the helmet texture.

Combine Guard

Spawnable as npc_combineguard, this hulking enemy carried a gun similar to a Strider cannon. It is unkillable when spawned. It was a trans-human enemy, and the human 'face' was blind and useless.

Combine guard.jpg

Combine Guard.
Cguard searching terminal.jpg

Searching through a door on e3_terminal.
Cguard door terminal.jpg

Breaking down the door.

Alien Assassin

Known in the files as npc_assassin, though entirely broken and unspawnable. It was a prototype for the Fast Zombie in its behaviors and movement. There is also a zombie version of this model, separate from the Fast Zombies.

Alien assassin - idle.jpg

Alien Assassin.
Alien Assassin - run.jpg

In a running animation.
Zombie Assassin model.jpg

Headcrab zombie version.

Wasteland Scanner

Basically the same as the Retail scanners, but with rockets and an orange coloration. These were cut along with the Wasteland areas (a sample of which survived in the teleport sequence.)

Wasteland Scanner.jpg

Front.
Wasteland scanner back.jpg

Back.
WScanner Single.jpg

In green.

Cremator

An NPC that would have been seen 'cleaning' the streets of bodies. They used a flamethrower, but cannot be spawned at all. All of its sound files remain intact. Initially they would have been neutral, then switched to enemies during the Street Wars. Also, they are notable as their heads were used in the Brickbat weapon, and the Immolator is usable in the beta. It only survived as an easter egg, and that being only its head, in the retail version.

Cremator model.jpg

The Cremator.
Cremator street02 cremator1.jpg

Seen in cremator_street03.vmf.
Cremator head jar BME.jpg

As an easter egg in the retail.

Hydra

An enemy that would have been found in the sewers. Its spawn code is npc_hydra but only has idle animations, and scripted animations for e3_hydra. It would have stabbed through enemies and stalked you through the sewers, but was cut because while it looked cool, It was too boring to fight and could not be killed.

E3 Hydra tunnels.jpg

The Hydra, using its 'Stabbing' head, stabbing through a Combine Soldier.
E3 hydra 0001.jpg

The 'Seer' Head.
E3 hydra 0002.jpg

The 'Smacker' head.

Bullsquid

Present in the first game, this enemy was also to appear in Half Life 2, and would have been seen in the canals. They have two different colored texture files in game, but only the red one is used. Their spitting sprite is broken.

Bullsquid beta.jpg

The Bullsquid.
Bullsquids canals.jpg

Several in the Canals.
D1 canals bullsquid headcrabs.jpg

Attacking Headcrabs.

Houndeye

Also present in the first game, these would have appeared in packs like wild dogs.

Beta houndeye mdl preview.jpg

The Houndeye in the 'leaderlook' pose.
Houndeye mi.jpg

A repaired model.
Houndeye-body.png

The skin texture.

Early Versions

Headcrab Zombies

The early version of the beta reveals, after the Headcrab is removed, that there is no head of the victim anymore on the Standard Zombie. The torso has a pink/purple face in a screaming pose. The Fast Version is very different from Retail, but still acts the same. It's of a shirtless man in slacks. Note that when used in test maps related to the Fast Zombie in particular, the console will print out 'LEAP! GLIDE! LAND!' The Poison Version is very similar to the retail version.

Zombie Standard beta.jpg

The standard Early Headcrab Zombie.
Zombie Standard headcrabless beta.jpg

No headcrab, a lack of its own head.
Zombie Standard torso beta.jpg

The torso.
Zombie Standard torso headcrabless beta.jpg

Without headcrab.
Zombie fast beta.jpg

The Early Fast Headcrab Zombie.
Zombie fast headcrabless beta.jpg

No headcrab.
Zombie poison beta.jpg

The Early Poison Headcrab Zombie.
Zombie poison headcrabless beta.jpg

No headcrab.
Zombie poison back beta.jpg

Rear view.

Headcrabs

These changed little from the final versions.

Headcrab standard Beta.jpg

The standard Headcrab.
Headcrab fast beta.jpg

The Fast Headcrab.
Headcrab Poison beta.jpg

The Poison Headcrab.

Synths

The Early Dropship has two models in the game files; one is a drastically different pink-colored creature with no container apparent. When seen in the maps in the Beta, however, they appear as their Retail versions but carry dumpsters instead of the correct cases. The Early Strider was similar in appearance, but had some strange features. If the player uses noclip to reach its head and presses Use, the view changes to seeing things from the Strider's eyes. The only way to free oneself, and actually kill the Strider in beta, is by then using an RPG launcher while in its head. It collapses and drops an ERROR model, which when touched grants the player the Immolator weapon. The Gunship is identical to the Retail model, except it is able to shoot a blue beam from its underside. The Shield Scanner is the same as in Retail, but it has animations related to attacking with its inside claw. It also has an unfinished, untextured shield model in the files.

Dropship beta2.jpg

The earliest Dropship model.
Dropship beta flying.jpg

Flying.
Beta d2 coast 070000.jpg

The in-game Beta Dropship. Note the dumpster.
Sky walk0013.jpg

The beta Strider in action.
E3 strider ride.jpg

'Riding' view.
E3 strider immolator error.jpg

The dropped 'ERROR' model.
Nlo beta gunship belly1.jpg

The Gunship firing a blue beam.
Shield scanner beta.jpg

The Shield Scanner's early model.

The Crab and Mortar Synths

These two Synths are only briefly glimpsed in the Retail, found in the Citadel conveyor sequence and merely displaying walking/flying animations. However, in both the beta and Retail, checking the model files show they have full animations for attacking. The Crab Synth is a large ground-based creature, with charging animations. The Mortar Synth will fire energy pulses at the player.

Crab Synth1.jpg

The Crab Synth.
Crab synth back.jpg

Rear view.
Mortar Synth front.jpg

The Mortar Synth.
Mortar Synth back.jpg

Rear view.
Mortar Synth shoot.jpg

Firing Position.
D3 citadel 050361.JPG

Both Synths as seen in retail.

Combine Units

There are texture differences in the basic Metrocop model, but they behave the same. Ditto with the Soldiers. The Snipers in retail are only seen when they drop out of a window; when spawned in retail they appear as Soldiers. However, in the beta, they have distinct models that appear rainbow-hued or bright green due to improper camouflage rendering. The Stalkers were very aggressive and flighty, employing a lazer-attack and fleeing when the player got near or hit them. Up close they would batter the player.

E3 terminal.jpg

Early Metrocops and Citizens.
Beta d2 coast 080011.jpg

Early Soldier.
Beta sniper.jpg

Disco Party Sniper.
Beta elite fixed.jpg

'Repaired' model.
Stalker beta.jpg

Beta Stalker.

Citizens

The earliest known model of a Citizen was found in a screenshot that came from the pre-Half Life 2 map 'Get Your Free TVs!' wears a gas mask, due to the foul air of the polluted Earth. In the playable Beta, they are wearing drab green clothes. There are also textures for the unused 'Stenographer's Chasm' and the Borealis worker model.

Arcade full fixed002.jpg

Citizens as seen in the beta.
Get your free tvs.jpg

Earliest version of the citizen, in a gas mask.
E3 ship borworker.jpg

Dead Borealis worker.
Citizen gasmask.jpg

A recreated version of the gas mask citizen.
Borealis worker.jpg

A refined Borealis Worker model.
Borealis worker back.jpg

Rear.
Worker.jpg

Generic Worker model.
Factory sitting front.png

Texture of the Stenographer's Chasm uniform, front. No model exists to go with it.
Factory sitting back.png

Back texture.

Child Workers

These workers were to be seen in the unused Combine Factories, producing Cremators. They were cut when the Cremators were, and also due to the moral issues of having children in a FPS. The Cremator head they carry is part of the model, and the only animations they have are of putting them into machinery.

Child male model.jpg

Male.
Child female model.jpg

Female.

Cut Faces

These are various cut face textures found in the beta files. No models exist to go with them.

Laura facemap.png

"Laura"
Linda facemap.png

"Linda"
Tamm facemap.png

"Tamm"
Trav facemap.png

"Trav"

NPCs

While some NPCs remained mostly the same, like Barney and the G-man, others went through massive redesigns, like Mossman and Eli. Eli was imagined originally as 'Captain Vance', a leader of the resistance. Mossman had blonde hair and a different face. Odessa Cubbage uses the face of Odell, a captain found on the cut Borealis. Instead of Breen, the human face of the Combine was known as the Consul.

FaceMaxwell.png

An unused face texture, probably for one of the characters that was merged to become Eli Vance.
Helena Mossman.jpg

Helena Mossman, who became Judith.
Odell model.jpg

Odell, whose face was recycled for Odessa.
Consul statue.jpg

No NPC model exists, but this statue does, of the Consul.
Alyxhead.png

The earliest texture for Alyx.
Eli Alyx early lab.jpg

Alyx and Eli in a pre-release screenshot. Alyx is in the outfit seen in the Beta.
Barney model rtb.jpg

Barney Calhoun's early version.
Barney helmet hl2 beta.jpg

A model of his security helmet in the Beta.
Cohrt.jpg

Early model for Kleiner, called 'Cohrt'.
Kleiner model rtb.jpg

Early Kleiner.
Dog 2003 model.jpg

Early Dog.
Monk model beta.jpg

Early Grigori, called 'Monk'.
G-man beta model.jpg

Early G-man.

Cut Weapons

There were many cut weapons, as seen in this video. There's the Ice Axe, Stun Stick (used by Civil Patrol in retail), Combine Guard Gun, Immolator, SLAM, Molotov Cocktail, Hopwire Grenade, Tau Cannon, Binoculars, Fire Extinguisher, and the Portable Thumper.

Also of note is the Physics gun, which was reused by Garry in Garry's Mod. The version in the beta is much weaker and things 'hang' drooping from the end of the beam, but it can kill enemies when used on their heads. A cut weapon known as the Brickbat included rocks, headcrabs, and Cremator heads to throw.

Physgun

Reused in Garry's Mod as an editing tool, the user can pick up NPCs and objects with it. It can kill enemy NPCs as well.

Physgun view.jpg

The Physics Gun.
Physgun icon.png

The menu icon.

Combine Guard Gun

Used by the Combine Guards, it is very much like a Strider cannon.

Cguard gun v fixed MI.jpg

A fixed version of the Combine Guard Gun.
Combine guard model.jpg

World model.
Cguard icon.png

Menu icon.

FIM-92 Stinger

A 'missle' launcher, that acts identical to the retail RPG.

Missilelauncher.jpg

FIM-92 Stinger model.
Rocket l.png

Rocket model.
ML icon.png

The menu icon. Note 'Missle'.

GR9/HMG1

AKA the Heavy Machine Gun (HMG1). Has custom rounds.

HMG1.jpg

Worldmodel.
Hmg1.png

Viewmodel.
Largelrounds l.png

Box of rounds.
Bigrounds 1.png

Cartridge of rounds.
Hmg1 icon.png

Menu icon.

Hopwire Grenade

The hopwire grenade, after being thrown, sends out blue strands that stick to walls. When these strands are touched, the grenade explodes. Can crash the game in certain circumstances.

Hopwire.jpg

Worldmodel.
Hopwire v.jpg

Viewmodel.
Hopwire icon.png

Menu icon.
Hopwire testroom commander.jpg

Hopwires activated.

Immolator

This flamethrower was carried by the Cremators, and will set alight any NPC it hits. It has a green-colored beam that branches out at the end, but gets stuck in a long firing period. It was powered with acid, and can also dissolve dead bodies.

Immolator wmodel.jpg

Worldmodel.
Immolator fixed.jpg

Viewmodel with fixed textures.
E3 strider immolator.jpg

Being fired.

Incendiary Rifle

A multi-shot flare gun that can set an enemy on fire. It, however, does not fire very far.

Irifle.jpg

Worldmodel.
Irifle V.png

Viewmodel.
Irifle icon.png

Menu icon.
Flarebox.png

Flarebox.

MP5K/SMG1

Probably the originally planned SMG for the game. It cannot be spawned at all, as it was removed as a viewmodel. But NPCs can be seen using it, and it works like the Retail SMG. Interestingly, in the retail, the player can enter into the console the command "give weapon_citizenpackage" which gives the food packet seen carried in the Terminal to the player. The icon associated with it is the cut MP5K.

Mp5w l.png

The model.
MP5K icon.png

The menu icon.
Nlo beta rebels.jpg

Rebels using the MP5K.
Food package spawn.jpg

Food packaged spawned in retail, displaying the MP5K icon.

MP7/SMG2

A second SMD. This one holds more rounds than the MP5K, with three-round bursts and automatic firing. It has no worldmodel.

Smg2l.jpg

Viewmodel.
Largesrounds l.png

Large box of rounds.
Smallmag l.png

Magazine of rounds.
Mp7 icon.png

Menu icon.

Sniper Rifle

This was re-used as an enemy weapon in Episode 2, also used occasionally by Alyx. It works as any Sniper Rifle would, and requires manual loading after a shot. It can zoom in on targets and kill them with one hit. Strangely enough, you can spawn the ammo in the retail with the command "give item_box_srounds", though it has an error texture.

Sniperw.png

Worldmodel.
Sniperv.png

Viewmodel.
Sniperrounds b.png

Box of rounds.
'OBSO1337'.
Sniper icon.png

Menu icon.

XM29 OICW/AR2

Recycled into the AR2 Pulse Rifle, instead of having an energy ball secondary fire, it has a scope and fires grenades. It has severe recoil after five shots, but can be minimized by crouching. There is an unused bayonet texture for it as well.

Oicww.png

Worldmodel.
Oicw.png

Viewmodel.
Oicwmag.png

Magazine.
Oicw icon.png

Menu icon.
OciwNPC.jpg

NPC with OICW.
Ar2gren.png

Grenade model.
Ar2grenlater.png

A later model.
Bayonet.png

The unused Bayonet texture.

Brickbat

An odd 'weapon' that consists of Gordon's arms holding onto various objects, such as rocks, Cremator heads, Headcrabs, and bottles. It is unfinished and likely a test weapon.

Brickbat cremator.jpg

Cremator head.
Brickbat Headcrab.jpg

Headcrab.
Brickbat bottle1.jpg

Bottle.
Brickbat bottle2.jpg

Ditto.
Brickbat rock.jpg

Rock.

Fire Extinguisher

A basic fire extinguisher. It really puts out fires! Can also extinguish a flaming NPC. Removed for uselessness.

Fire Extinguisher w.png

Worldmodel.
Fire v.png

Viewmodel.
Fireext icon.png

Menu icon.

Flare Gun

Shoots flares a very short distance. Can light up enemies. Ammo and the weapon itself can be found in pyrotechnic lockers in different maps. There is also a set of textures for a disembodied arm, belonging to a woman, holding a red flare.

Flare Gun.png

Worldmodel.
Flaregun v.png

Viewmodel.
Flameammo.png

Flare model.
Flaregun icon.png

Menu icon.
Pyrotechnic locker.png

Texture of the pyrotechnic locker.
FGRightarm.png

Unused arm texture.
FGSide.png

Unused red Flaregun texture.

Ice Axe

The crowbar with a different model. Can be swung faster, but weaker.

Ice Axe.jpg

Worldmodel.
Iceaxe v.png

Viewmodel.
Iceaxe icon.png

Menu icon.

Molotov Cocktail

Throw, and it smashes, spreading fire.

Molotov w fixed.jpg

Fixed worldmodel.
Molotov v fixed.jpg

Fixed viewmodel.
Molotov icon.png

Menu icon.

AK-47

Has no animations or worldmodel, but can fire in different modes.

Ak-47.jpg

Viewmodel.
Ak47 icon.png

Menu icon.

Sticky Launcher

Appears as the pistol, but fires sticky pink blobs that explode with the secondary fire.

Sticky Bomb.jpg

Sticky Bomb.
Antlionsticky.jpg

An antlion covered in sticky bombs.

S.L.A.M.

Same as in Half Life, this was recycled for spin offs.

Slam world Beta.jpg

Worldmodel.
Slam idle Beta.jpg

Viewmodel.
Slam icon.png

Menu icon.

Stun Stick

An electric-powered Stun Stick. It was recycled and used by the Civil Patrol units, and later in spinoff games.

Stun Baton.jpg

Worldmodel.
Stunstick v.jpg

Viewmodel.
Stunstick icon.png

Menu icon.

Heavy Artillery

Several pieces of heavy artillery exist in the beta, most only as 'brush' models and unusable. However, like the Desert Launcher, some had impressive animations and could actually fire upon the player.

Combine Launcher.jpg

Combine 6 Missile Launcher.
Combine Launcher fire.jpg

Firing.
Desert Launcher full.jpg

Desert Missile Launcher.
Desert Launcher fire2.jpg

Firing.
Missile defense model.jpg

HK-707.

Cut Vehicles

Several vehicles, most seen as brushes in the Beta, were cut. The only operatable one is the Jetski, that was phased out by the Airboat.

Airex truck fixed.jpg

Air Exchange truck.
D2 airex truck.jpg

Ditto.
Digger model.jpg

The Digger.
D1 town.jpg

Ditto.
Jet Ski model.jpg

Jet Ski, no textures.
Kraken submarine brush.jpg

Submarine.
Merkava camo.jpg

Merkava.
School Bus brush.jpg

School Bus.
Sewer bus.jpg

Ditto.
Borealis s23.jpg

The Borealis and the Submarine.

WC Mappack + Textures

There are hundreds of .VMF files in the WC Mappack, all at different stages of completion, with many duplicates. When run through Hammer, most maps can be compiled but will be missing textures and models. There are so many it's impossible to list them all here. The same situation is with the existing textures in game; there are dozens that never made it to retail.

E3 Demos + Early Storyline

In the beta are compiled maps used as technology demos at E3. In their native state, they are completely broken, but if edited in Hammer can be run without too much error. The folder also contains the original maps for the storyline, some complete, and others running into dead ends or crashing.

Sound Files

Just as the textures, there are dozens of sound files never used in the retail. Some include full conversations, and many have generic voices that were to be re-recorded later. Several conversations in the retail version were shortened from the beta.