A Description of the world itself;
What is Earth Like in this future?
The Earth is know part of (and under the complete control of) a incomprehensibly vast inter-dimensional empire known as the "Universal Union" or the "Combine Empire" as the resistance calls it. The Combine have forced what's left of humanity into walled sanctuary city's whose skylines are dominated by the towering 'Citadels' of which the combine rules earth from (the most important city throughout the course of the Half-Life games is known as City 17, which now serves as the capital city of earth under the Combine's rule). The Combine have started to aggressively harvest earth's resources, destroying many of earth's ecosystems, oh, they also harvest humans as well, converting them threw brainwashing and mind control while turning them into genetically modified, cybernetically enhanced trans-human super soldiers to fuel their inter-dimensional wars/conquests.
The Combine also make use of what's known as the "Suppression field," which has rendered natural human reproduction impossible, because the Combine have ruled earth for about 20 years, this would mean the youngest people would be at least 20. The Combines enhanced humans and bio-mechanical constructs known as the 'synth' patrol the streets of City 17, enforcing the Combines rule through brutality and cruelty. Oh yeah, and you better not think of leaving the wonderful walled sanctuary that is City 17, for in the wastelands aliens from another dimension known as "Antlions" have infested the earth, and I hope you don't want to go for a swim anytime soon, because Xen leeches have become the dominant animal in the water, and they are not afraid to eat humans. (Below a few pictures, the first showing City 17, you can see the Citadel in the background. The second picture shows a synth strider patrolling the city streets with some civil protection officers (note: Civil Protection is the Combines equivalent to a police force) and an APC)
What caused Earth to be this way?
In the Black Mesa Research facility in New Mexico, they were conducting research into portal technology, specifically inter-dimensional travel using strange crystal like samples of presumably alien origin. An incident occurs which tears open a hole in the fabric of our reality, this cataclysmic quantum event would become known as the "Resonance Cascade" (or the Black Mesa Incident). During this event particle or portal storms would rage across the surface of earth, and several alien factions from across the multiverse would invade earth. The first would arrive from the border world that exists between dimensions, known as Xen (Xen was the place in which Black Mesa scientists were studying before this all happened). Xen forces would start to teleport all across earth (starting in the black Meas research facility), they would spread havoc and chaos throughout earth. Counting Half-Life: opposing force, a second alien race known only as "Race X" would begin their invasion of earth as well. Though the Xen and Race X were defeated, xen creatures continued to be teleported to earth, because of this, the United Nations and various other governments provided protection centers in major cities worldwide, essentially, humanity began to retreat to these safe heavens.
However, things were far from over, as another alien race (more like a fraction I guess), the Universal Union suddenly launched a devastating and decisive attack against earth, this invasion would become known as "The Seven Hour War," and it would end with humanity surrendering to the them. They would create the walled "City's" from previous human city's, and force what remained of humanity to live in them, whilst being tightly controlled and monitored. Sometime along the line, the Antlions would colonize earth as well. (Below a few pictures, the first showing the Resonance Cascade happening in the Black Mesa facility. The second showing Xen forces, in this case Xen grunts occupying a section of the Black Mesa facility.)
It this positive or Negative?
Has cool as living in a world ravaged and controlled by extra-dimensional alien races sounds, I don't think I would want to live on that earth. So, I would say its a more negative portrayal of the future.
Humanity;
What is Humanity like in this world?
Humanity is to say none the least, downtrodden, and being pushed to the edge of extinction. As stated before, the Combines suppression field renders having children impossible, so there is a noticeable lack of any children through the course of Half-Life 2. This has left many couples, especially those that want children in a depressed state of mind. Humans tend to very form the more subservient to our Overlords, to the not so subservient rebels. There is also a overall state of unease/tension among-est humans living in the cities, such as City 17. People tend to talk in hushed tones to one another and keep to themselves for fear of being suspected by the Combine as "Anti-Citizens."Lastly, their are also those who have willingly accepted the Combines ruler-ship, and have opted to become turned into trans-human super soldiers to better serve the combine. (Below, a picture showing the Combines 'ideal' citizens. The second picture shows the not so ideal "Anti-Citizens," who are in this case, rebel fighters of the Resistance)
How do Humans organize/interact with others?
The Universal Union has severely limited how humans can communicate long distances, and organize with one another. Generally speaking if you are a good citizen, you use the heavily monitored video call like systems the Combine have set up for your use, and phone networks. However, word of mouth is now the dominant form of communication. If you are a resistance fighter, walkie talkies and stolen Combine video screens are going to be your friend. Also, since large gatherings of people are prohibited, if you want to meet up with others (especially in large numbers), you will have to do so in secret. As mentioned before, people generally speak in hushed tones to one another,so as not to attract any unwanted attention, as that would be really bad.
What qualities does one need to survive?
Well that depends, if you want to be a good little citizen in this Combine controlled society, you better keep your head down, and obey them without question, so you better get used to a lot of 'ass-kissing.' However, if you wish to oppose our Overlords, and join the resistance, then you should especially keep your head down and maintain a guise as just another law-abiding citizen. If you are part of the resistance, you should be very adaptable, and know how to fight, or at least how to use a gun. Remember, when outside of the City walls, the Combine are not your only enemy, Antlions will attack you. oh yeah, I forgot to mention, during the Xen invasion, creatures known as "headcrabs" which could overtake individuals and turn them into what's known as a "headcrab zombie," are still around. The Combine have also weaponized them, so I hope you know how to kill a zombie. Expect to have to scavenge for food. (Below, the first picture shows a few Antlion soldiers in one of the many wastelands (you can just see a Combine synth gunship in the top middle of the picture). The second picture shows a headcrab zombie, you can see the headcrab which appears to have taken the place of the human hosts head.)
What is Valued in this society?
Just like with the qualities does one need to survive, if we go by what the Combine value in their citizens, then obedience and submission are all the values you need. However, with the resistance being both independent and sufficient is good, but team work is also a good value to have. Being able to support one another, regardless of whether or not your a rebel is generally much appreciated, as these are hard times for everyone, except for the Combine... Now I guess, what's valued most though, is probably the survival of the human race.
Reflection of our world;
Is this world based on real life problems or issues of today?
Unless earth is currently being invaded, or ruled by an alien force, then I would not say it's based on real life problems or issues. However, with that said, perhaps the part about the Resonance Cascade could be a warning about showing caution about things we do not fully understand when advancing science. I guess the Combines destruction of earth's ecosystems, and over harvesting, could be related to current would issues like pollution and deforestation. Xen creatures like the leeches, and how they over took the earth's aquatic ecosystems, could be related to real world invasive species and the damage they can do. Finally, the Universal Unions tyranny, while more extreme than most dictatorships, is a reflection on real world dictatorships, and why we should becoming one. (The picture below shows a Zebra Mussel, which is a highly invasive species that affects major lakes throughout North America, similar to the Xen leech, only the Zebra Mussel poses a real world problem.)
How have those problems or issues changed since our day?
Though the Half-Life games don't touch to much on how Earth was before the Black Mesa incident, it is assumed that pollution was just as much of an issue as it was in our real world. The Combine occupation of earth as accelerated the damage of pollution to near almost apocalyptic levels, with large wastelands popping up all over the world, and the Combines harvesting of water actually causing earth's oceans to recede. While dictatorships are not as common as they used to be, they are still around and dealing with dictatorships is also an issue that some people around the world have to deal with on a daily basis. However, there is always a fear that even in democratic country's like Canada or America, that they in light of lets say, a terrorist attack, could take away freedoms for 'the greater good' of there people and country. Essentially slowly reverting to an almost totalitarian state of government. Obviously, we can see by the Combine Empire's governance of humanity, that dictatorships have now become the norm on earth, and democracy, what's that? (The picture below shows an example of the pollution (the black dead trees) and you can see how much the water has receded during the Combines rule of earth. Yes, in the back there, those where at one point in time, docks.)
Did we overcome or succumb to them?
Well, seeing as *cough* Half-Life *cough* 3 *cough* *cough* has yet to be made, we currently do not know whether or not humanity actually ever overcomes the damage the Resonance Cascade has done to the earth, or to themselves. However, considering the environmental damage that has been done to the earth (many plant and animal species have been wiped out), it may take an very long time for the earth to repair itself. Proving of course that humanity can find a way to eradicate all those Xen creatures such as those leeches in the earth's oceans, as well as getting ride of any remaining Antlion presence. The good news though, is that by the end of Half-Life 2, humanity (at least the humans in City 17) manage to launch a successful rebellion against their Combine oppressors, and destroy City 17's Citadel, which cuts the Combine on earth off from the rest of their empire. Unfortunately, the Combine still has a major presence on earth, that humanity will have to confront sooner or later...
Entertaining Future;
Is this an entertaining future to imagine?
I personal think so, I mean, it combines aliens, zombies, and crazy interdimensional shenanigans, with a healthy heaping of ongoing/post apocalyptic themes.
Do you like this view of the future? Why or why not?
Yes, while this future is depressing and was pretty much humanity's fault, as mentioned in the previous question, I like this view of the future because it combines many possible futures. You have the environmental destruction aspect (represented with the Xen creatures and Antlions), the good old distopian aspect as seen with the Combines rule of earth, the alien invasion aspect (The Xen, Race X, Antlions, and Universal Union), and lastly we have a hint of zombie apocalypse with the Headcrab zombies (though it should be noted that a Headcrab zombie cannot turn you into one of them by biting or scratching you, a Headcrab itself must turn you into one). Now of course, I would not want this kind of future to actually happen, as in real life, this would be a pretty crappy future to say the least.
Why is this appealing to the audience of the media text?
While for starters, it creates a very interesting world, where you don't really now what your going to see or encounter next. As a gamer, I find this rather refreshing, where as most games focus on a single specific kind of future, the Half-Life games manage to focus, quite successfully, on a variety of future's (all of which are just as bad for us as the next). It also gives you a good reason to fight, I mean humanity's on the brink of extinction, the Combine are dicks, and everyone wants to work together to finally bring this nightmare to an end. Oh, And the best part is, even with all these apocalypses plaguing the earth, you still get some rather beautiful scenery, proving that even in an apocalypse, not everything has to be varying shades of grey and brown. (The first picture shows the destroyed Combine Citadel looming over the rubble of City 17, I would build a cottage on this cliff. The second picture is actually from a tech demo called Half-Life 2: Lost Coast, you can see evidence of environmental destruction in the mist of this beautiful scene.)
Realistic Future;
Is this a realistic future to imagine?
Yes and No... (read the answer to the next question to understand)
Could this actually happen to us? Why or why not?
Probably not...Well environmental destruction is a very real possibility, I doubt a zombie apocalypse could ever happen, though Headcrab zombies are more believable, as there are real life organisms that can "assume" control of other organisms, like the Ophiocordyceps Unilateralis, which is a fungus that infects ants and turns them into walking husks. Theoretically speaking, an alien invasion is possible. And a dystopian governance is also a very real possibility, though we would have to really get lazy if we ever let our government get to this point. Over all though, the chances of all this stuff happening at the same time as they do in the Half-Life games is highly unlikely, and that's not mentioning that this was all caused by some alien crystal that humans started to mess with. Though I could imagine humans messing with a strange alien artifact to the point it would cause an apocalypse like scenario, I doubt it would go down like this. So don't worry guys, I don't think a future like this will ever come to fruition, at least, for now... (Below, a video showing the Cordyceps Fungus affecting ants, form some short documentary)
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