In the ever-expanding world of games, where titles like Half-Life have become legendary, it’s hard to imagine Valve’s masterpiece being called anything else. Yet, Dario Casali, a level designer who joined Valve in its early days, has recently taken to YouTube to share some fascinating tidbits from the development era of the late ’90s.
Among the revelations is a list of alternative names that could have redefined the game’s identity. Imagine a universe where Half-Life was known as Quiver, the original codename for the project when Casali came on board. Or picture the confusion if Valve had settled on Fallout, a name that would later become synonymous with Bethesda’s post-apocalyptic saga.
Seriously, the entire list of potential names reads like a brainstorming session frozen in time: Bent, Dirt, Lead, Pressure, and even the more tongue-in-cheek Screwed were all contenders.
The names weren’t just random shots in the dark; they were split into categories of popularity and potential. Half-Life sat alongside Adrenaline, Bolt, Burn, C.I.A, CrYsis (another first-person shooter was developed with this title in 2007), Free Radical, Shiv, and Trash in the ‘Names that are still in the running’ column.
It’s certainly a fascinating glimpse into the creative process that goes into naming a game, a process that often goes unnoticed but is crucial to the game’s branding and identity.
Casali’s YouTube series, ‘Half-Life 25 Year Developer Commentary,’ has been more than just a trip down memory lane. It’s been a treasure chest of “what ifs” that invites gamers to reimagine the titles that have become household names.
Or better yet, it’s a reminder that before Half-Life became a cornerstone of first-person shooter history, it could have been simply called Trash, a title that would have gained legendary meme status on Reddit and other social platforms.
Incredible franchises are shaped by these decisions, often made in small meeting rooms by teams trying to encapsulate the essence of their creation in a single word or phrase. Seeing Casali share his old diary entries, screenshots, and photos, it’s wise to remember that he’s not just recounting the past; he’s unveiling the layers of decision-making that contribute to the games we love.
Valve’s Half-Life could have wandered into the gaming scene under a different banner, but as fate would have it, the name stuck, and the rest is history. In retrospect, Half-Life was the best title (Heh. Though Trash is a close second!), especially given how fitting the Lambda logo is.
