Source Particle Benchmark

The Source Particle Benchmark is a test build which introduced in 2006 some of the new and more advanced features of the Source engine, such as dynamic shadows and particle-based effects, and their performance on multi-core processors. It contains several scripts, textures and a single demonstration map where five rooms can be visited, four of which containing particle effects. It was given to some visitors at GDC 2007.

Overview

 * The Source Particle Benchmark pack is made of three folders:


 * The first, named "map compilation benchmark", allows to compile a map set in the Episode One Citadel,.


 * The second folder, named "particle simulation benchmark", contains the main test map,, where the particle effects are showcased (to be launched with the file "particle_benchmark.bat" located in the subfolder "game"). To view them, the player has to trigger them with a button conveniently placed in the middle of a small room connected to four other rooms, then the four effects will play in their respective rooms. When all effects have been viewed, a score about the player's computer specification reactions to the previously seen particles is displayed on the bottom of the screen.


 * The third and last folder, "presentation slides", contains a PowerPoint presentation, named "multicore_hardware_day.ppt" and dated November 1st, 2006, about the new features of the Source engine, and their relation to multi-core processors. All files are dated October 27, 2006 or November 1st, 2006.


 * In the Particle Benchmark script files, some information about the early stages of the development of Half-Life 2: Episode Two can be found:


 * The file "level_voices_episode_02.txt" shows that two characters cut from the final game, Cyril and Fred, are mentioned. They were to be seen in the map " " near the bridge where the Muscle Car is found, and say several things together and to the other protagonists.


 * The file "level_voices_episode_02.txt" also reveals that the G-Man heart-to-heart monologue with Gordon Freeman originally was to be much longer.


 * The file "level_voices_episode_02.txt" also contains the sound files related to Alyx Vance's fall at the start of the game in the map " ", featured in the first Episode Two teaser trailer.


 * The previous elements are still present in the version of "level_voices_episode_02.txt" found in the retail Episode Two files.


 * A rainy level was planned at some point, likely to showcase particle effects.


 * The background texture used in the Particle Benchmark menu appears to be a blurry screenshot of an early version of the railway bridge featured at the beginning of Half-Life 2: Episode Two.


 * An entity named "npc_surface", used to simulate dynamic liquids, can be spawned using a console command "give npc_surface". Interestingly, its model is named "hydra.mdl".