Half-Life VR but the AI Is Self-Aware

Half-Life VR but the AI Is Self-Aware (sometimes shortened to Half-Life VR: Self Aware AI and abbreviated HLVR: AI) is a role-playing themed

The series was met with positive reception by critics. On May 12, 2020, a cast commentary series began to be uploaded to the wayneradiotv YouTube channel.^[1] On May 31, 2020, a sequel, AI Crushes All Banks^[b] was streamed as part of a charity drive,^[2] set in Payday 2, in which the main cast begins a bank robbing spree across the city of Washington, D.C. On November 25, 2021, a spin-off series titled Half-Life: Alyx but the Gnome Is Too Aware was released. On December 16, 2023, another spinoff series based around the plot of Breaking Bad was released. On the same day, a trailer was released confirming a sequel to the original series, titled "Half-Life 2 VR: Self Aware AI", was in production and due to be released in 2024.

Format

Half-Life VR but the AI Is Self-Aware loosely follows the events of the original Half-Life, albeit with a more humorous and comedic tone, with main character Gordon Freeman (played by series host WayneRadioTV) accidentally causing a

Similarly, the series is actually played within the game Garry's Mod, as Half-Life lacks support for virtual reality and additional features necessary for the staging of the series (such as limitations with object spawning and map sizes). The most notable actor-controlled characters are the series' supporting cast: three scientists named Bubby, Dr. Coomer, and Tommy, as well as an antagonistic security guard named Benrey (alternatively spelled "Benry"),^[4][5] all four of whom follow Gordon in his journey through Black Mesa, generally to Gordon's detriment.^[3][7]

Characters

Main characters

• fingernails in its place. However, he later regains his missing hand at the end of the series. His favorite video game is revealed to be Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days
  . He mentions having a son, Joshua, and has a picture of the two of them in his locker at Black Mesa, however he is only mentioned one other time when mocking Benrey's passport.
• Dr. Harold Pontiff Coomer (played by hollow_tones): A scientist known for his cheerful demeanor, superhuman strength, and glitched tutorial NPC behavior. He is a skilled hand to hand combatant, having started the Black Mesa Underground Fight Club. Unlike the other members of the cast who generally treat the events of the series as if they were real, Dr. Coomer regularly breaks the fourth wall to inform Gordon about various made-up game mechanics, such as a currency named "PlayCoins™". While Coomer at first appears unaware of these "glitches", the gag culminates with him falling into an existential dread, realizing and making explicit references to the fact that he is in a video game. At one point, he attempts to take control and escape from the game by ambushing Gordon with the help of his "clones". He speaks directly to Gordon at the end of the "game", suggesting that he takes the Science Team with him. One of his most used quotes is "Hello, Gordon!". He often speaks about Wikipedia, and his favorite game is Super Punch-Out!!.
• Dr. Tommy Coolatta (played by Baaulp): A friendly, childlike scientist who turns 37 at the end of the series. He shows concern for following rules and consulting written references for information, often referencing Wikipedia and OSHA regulations as they explore the ruined science facility. Tommy forms a bond with Gordon over the course of the series, as the only member of the Science Team who never antagonizes or betrays him. Despite his kind nature, he is highly distractible and easily manipulated by the other characters into allowing their wrongdoing. Tommy has the ability to read the Black Mesa Sweet Voice, an ability used by several characters throughout the series, including his dog Sunkist. Tommy has the ability to see faster due to his constant consumption of soda. He is revealed to be the son of the G-Man at the end of the saga.
• Dr. Bubby (played by MasterGir): A crass, impulsive, and egotistical scientist. His ego and demeanor often lead him to clash with Gordon, and later in the series, Bubby betrays him to the military when Benrey convinces him that Gordon was holding them back from escaping Black Mesa. He was created from assorted chemicals as an experiment in Black Mesa.
• Benrey, alternatively Benry (played by socpens): A sullen and hostile security guard. Prior to becoming the main antagonist in the final act of the series, Benrey follows along with the Science Team while constantly harassing and arguing with Gordon, demanding to see his passport and accusing him of various misdeeds while deliberately ignoring the wrongdoings of the other characters. He has an absentminded demeanor, often ignoring the team and asking for simple directions or questions to be repeated. He exhibits near invincibility, murders indiscriminately, and casually remarks that he is "not human". In the finale, Benrey reveals his alien nature and turns against the Science Team, blaming Gordon for the events of the Black Mesa incident and for ruining his plans to relax and play
  semi-protection
  .

Recurring characters

• G-Man (played by spaghoner): An enigmatic alien being that frequently attempts to give Gordon cryptic advice. He is later revealed to be Tommy's father, having aided Gordon to kill Benrey and organized a birthday party for Tommy at Chuck E. Cheese
  .
• Forzen (played by socpens): An
  HECU Marine and minor antagonist. Forzen claims to have formerly been Benrey's best friend, and the two have similar personalities and mannerisms. Despite his appearance, he is shy and does not seem interested in going out of his way to cause violence. He holds Tommy's dog Sunkist hostage until the science team accepts that the Irate Gamer is not a ripoff of the Angry Video Game Nerd
  , but flees when the outcome disfavors his intentions.
• Skeleton (played by socpens, spaghoner, Lauren, and Logmore): A mysterious skeleton that haunts Gordon. It is initially left ambiguous as to whether the Skeleton is a hallucination or not, and much of the nature of the skeleton is left unclear, although it is associated with Benrey in some way, and displays similar behavior to Benrey, such as using the Black Mesa Sweet Voice. A team of skeletons is summoned under Benrey's control in the final battle of the series.
• Darnold (played by Logmore): The head of the Black Mesa
  minigun
  . While initially excited about joining the Science Team on their escape mission, he turns back after witnessing the violence they commit. He returns in AI Crushes All Banks to support the team remotely.
• Sunkist (played by Lauren): Purported to be the perfect dog. He was created by Tommy, and is immortal. Sunkist is a large, two-dimensional stock image of a Golden Retriever, almost the same height as Gordon. He is shown to be obedient, bulletproof, able to use the Black Mesa Sweet Voice, and capable of flight. He is named after the soft drink brand.
• Dr Coomer's ex-wife: Dr Coomer's ex-wife is mentioned multiple times. When the science team tries to name the Vortigaunts, Dr. Coomer says they look like his ex-wife. When asked if Dr. Coomer has any family, he responds with "I did have a wife, but they took her in the divorce". It is implied he has multiple ex-wives. When asked about his knowledge of military terminolgy, Dr. Coomer attributes this to his ex-wife being a former military code speaker.
• Dr. Coomer’s clones: Due to the original Half-Life reusing models for scientists, several NPCs share the same model as Dr. Coomer. A running gag in the series is Dr. Coomer referring to these NPCs as his clones. This gag culminates in Dr. Coomer (having become self-aware at this point) summoning dozens of clones and ambushing Gordon with them in an attempt to take control of Gordon's body, and escape the game.
• JohnWicklover1994: A mysterious person who joined the Science Team temporarily during the AI Crushes All Banks stream. Portrayed as a gamer whose server was invaded with the team members. Has an apathetic and negative personality strikingly similar to Benrey's. Benrey later claims that JohnWicklover1994 was his brother using his account. it is unclear whether this younger brother is Emmet Calhoun

Reception

Half-Life VR but the AI Is Self-Aware was well received by reviewers. Emily Rose of

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due to the sheer amount of people editing the page to say Gordon died in the end.

Notes

1. ^ Streaming group consisting of WayneRadioTV and other HLVRAI cast members
2. ^ A reverse acronym for ACAB

References

1. ^ Half-Life VR:AI But The Cast is Commentating (ACT 1). WayneRadioTV. May 12, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2022 – via YouTube.
2. ^ WayneRadioTV [@wayneradiotv] (May 30, 2020). "...Tube in for the AI-Crushes-All-Banks JUSTICE DRIVE and help us raise as much as we can for a multitude of bail funds in various states & more! #hlvrai" (Tweet). Retrieved August 13, 2022 – via Twitter.
3. ^ ^{a b c} Rose, Emily (April 16, 2020). "In Half-Life's improv scene, anyone can speak for Gordon Freeman". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on April 19, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
4. ^ ^{a b c} Zwiezen, Zack (April 19, 2020). "How's It Going?: HL:VR But The AI Is Self-Aware Edition". Kotaku. Archived from the original on April 27, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
5. ^ ^{a b} James, Lucy (April 10, 2020). "Playing Dark Souls Using Ring Fit, and Games Contributing To Science | Good News Gaming Ep 2". GameSpot. Archived from the original on April 13, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.
6. ^ Bazile, Dari (April 8, 2020). "Half-Life VR but the AI is Self-Aware: A Fanmade Fever Dream". Phenixx Gaming. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
7. ^ Iverson, Quint (April 24, 2020). "Index Staff's Quarantine Media Guide for April 24th". The Pacific Index. Archived from the original on May 18, 2020. Retrieved May 19, 2020.

External links

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• WayneRadioTV on Twitch
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