Wasteland Scanner

The Wasteland Scanner is a Synth Scanner cut from Half-Life 2 in favor of the Shield Scanner, another Synth Scanner. It stems from the "Recon Synth" concept.

Overview

 * As its name implies, it was to be encountered in the Wasteland, notably in the Coast chapters (in areas such as the Air Exchange), but also during the uprising in City 17.


 * The single model featured in the playable Half-Life 2 Beta files has no animations, while animations are featured in models of pairs or trios (that have their textures missing, although the preview files show them green, in the vein of the concept art), such as some sort of moving eyelid and very expressive "join" animations where one or two Scanners are seen joining another lonely one, in a ballet-like attitude similar to dolphins or birds, where they are seen turning around each other, while the lonely one watches them arriving, turning on itself. They then "stick" together to create what seems to be some kind of close formation. These models cannot be used in the playable Half-Life 2 Beta, their versions being too old.


 * As seen in the pair model animations, it was to fire grenades with the three cannons it bears on the right part of its front side. The grenade model can also be found in the files.


 * Three Wasteland-like maps, named  1 to 3, last edited March 2001, containing Wasteland Scanner formations flying around and attacking the player, were apparently used by the developers to test the Wasteland Scanner abilities. As stated above, the trio and duo models won't appear because of their too old versions, and the "ERROR" model will be seen flying around. The duos also seem to shoot lasers instead of grenades.

Trivia

 * The grenade sound file is still present in the Half-Life 2 sound folder, in the folder "npc/waste_scanner", as "grenade_fire.wav".
 * One of the symbols featured on its left side are seen in the triangle insignia featured on the Overwatch Soldier's right arm.

Gallery
 File:Synth scanner.jpg|Unnamed Synth Scanner. File:recon synth.jpg|The Recon Synth. File:Wasteland Scanner concept.jpg|Concept art for the Wasteland Scanner, clearly showing H.R. Giger's influence on Ted Backman's work. WScanner Single.jpg|Green Wasteland Scanner. File:Wasteland scanner back.jpg|Rear view. File:Ws scanner grenade.jpg|Wasteland Scanner grenade model. 

List of appearances

 * Half-Life 2: Raising the Bar