Sven Co-op
Encyclopedia
Sven Co-op is a cooperative game
multiplayer modification
for the first-person shooter
computer game Half-Life, where players must work together against AI controlled enemies (NPCs
), solve puzzles and complete other objectives (usually specified in a MOTD
) as a team.
The game was originally created and released by Daniel 'Sven Viking' Fearon as a small mod with two single player maps and the game configured to allow NPCs in the game (by changing a CVAR
to allow them to exist in the multiplayer game mode). Sven Co-op was released on January 19, 1999 - before Valve's Team Fortress Classic
- and is therefore the oldest Half-Life mod in existence that is still in development. It has since grown to become a full blown mod, with a full team, and one of the most played games on Steam as of September 18, 2006, excluding the official games by Valve.
Sven Co-op's levels are set as missions and are generally separate from each other. Many missions span several maps, and some are collected together in a series. The aim of most levels is to reach the end or to achieve an objective -- obtaining a high score is not the focus. Map scenarios can be set in Black Mesa, cartoon worlds, World War II
, fantasy
maps, modern urban warfare
or any other kind of theme and time period the mapper chooses. This creates an extremely diverse game play environment, as virtually all other games have a fixed theme and time period.
Some of the major features of the mod include:
Cooperative gameplay
Cooperative gameplay is a feature in video games that allows players to work together as teammates. It is distinct from other multiplayer modes, such as competitive multiplayer modes like player versus player or deathmatch...
multiplayer modification
Mod (computer gaming)
Mod or modification is a term generally applied to personal computer games , especially first-person shooters, role-playing games and real-time strategy games. Mods are made by the general public or a developer, and can be entirely new games in themselves, but mods are not standalone software and...
for the first-person shooter
First-person shooter
First-person shooter is a video game genre that centers the gameplay on gun and projectile weapon-based combat through first-person perspective; i.e., the player experiences the action through the eyes of a protagonist. Generally speaking, the first-person shooter shares common traits with other...
computer game Half-Life, where players must work together against AI controlled enemies (NPCs
Non-player character
A non-player character , sometimes known as a non-person character or non-playable character, in a game is any fictional character not controlled by a player. In electronic games, this usually means a character controlled by the computer through artificial intelligence...
), solve puzzles and complete other objectives (usually specified in a MOTD
MOTD
MOTD may refer to either one of these things:* Match of the Day, the BBC's main football television programme* motd , "Message of the Day" , a regularly updated message often forming part of a computer program...
) as a team.
The game was originally created and released by Daniel 'Sven Viking' Fearon as a small mod with two single player maps and the game configured to allow NPCs in the game (by changing a CVAR
CVAR
CVAR and ConVar are abbreviations for Console Variable. Depending on the context in which the term is found, it may also stand for Client Variable, or Configuration Variable....
to allow them to exist in the multiplayer game mode). Sven Co-op was released on January 19, 1999 - before Valve's Team Fortress Classic
Team Fortress Classic
Team Fortress Classic, also known as Team Fortress 1.5 or simply TFC, is a team-based multiplayer first-person shooter video game developed by Valve Corporation. It is a remake of the Team Fortress modification for Quake. Team Fortress Classic was originally released for Windows on April 7, 1999 as...
- and is therefore the oldest Half-Life mod in existence that is still in development. It has since grown to become a full blown mod, with a full team, and one of the most played games on Steam as of September 18, 2006, excluding the official games by Valve.
Gameplay
Since Sven Co-op is heavily based on the original Half-Life, it is essential that the player is at least familiar with Half-Life and its controls, and it is recommended that they have completed Half-Life's Hazard Course tutorial level. The single player campaign of Half-Life is supported by Sven Co-op, but in a slightly altered form to create a better challenge for co-operative play.Sven Co-op's levels are set as missions and are generally separate from each other. Many missions span several maps, and some are collected together in a series. The aim of most levels is to reach the end or to achieve an objective -- obtaining a high score is not the focus. Map scenarios can be set in Black Mesa, cartoon worlds, World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
maps, modern urban warfare
Urban warfare
Urban warfare is combat conducted in urban areas such as towns and cities. Urban combat is very different from combat in the open at both the operational and tactical level...
or any other kind of theme and time period the mapper chooses. This creates an extremely diverse game play environment, as virtually all other games have a fixed theme and time period.
Some of the major features of the mod include:
- In-Game Monster/Player info system that displays information about NPCs and other players the player is looking at (info system for monsters only can be disabled for realism.)
- The ability for mappers to create allied monsters to assist players and follow commands issues by players such as following the player or attacking an enemy.
- The ability for mappers to individually customize the models and sounds of NPCs and weapons.
- Ability for a .cfg file which allows mappers to specify the physics (gravity, player walk speed), what weapons players spawn with and the damage of the weapons and monsters within the map.
- A medkit 'weapon' that is used to heal and revive other players and friendly NPCs.
- Significant improvements to the original Half-Life NPC AI.
See also
- Half-Life
- Steam
- List of Half-Life mods
- Valve Software
- Half-Life: Opposing ForceHalf-Life: Opposing ForceHalf-Life: Opposing Force is an expansion pack for Valve Software's science fiction first-person shooter video game Half-Life. The game was developed by Gearbox Software and Valve Corporation and published by Sierra Entertainment on November 1, 1999. Opposing Force is the first expansion for...