Question about Gman

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charlie861i

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Hello, I just had a quick question about the Gman in the half life series. I have played through Half life 2, episode 1 and 2 on the Orange Box for the xbox 360. But I was just wondering, where did the name "Gman" come from? I cannot seem to remember if another character mentions him. So, the question is, why is Gman called Gman?
 
G-Man is named for his model in the original Half-Life. Valve had name him something for the computers and whatnot to use. Valves use of "G-Man" for this purpose (a popular shortening of Government-Man) probably came from the character's creation, Marc Laidlaw (Half-Life's writer) says that the G-Man was born when they were brainstorming people's jobs at Black Mesa, so Scientists, Security... Government people and the basic concept of the G-Man started with that.
 
Operational said:
Government people and the basic concept of the G-Man started with that.
Click to expand...

There were Government Men (CIA operatives) in the earlier versions of Half-Life, and their objective/plan was to blow up the base. That's where the name comes from.
 
I think I've still got the link to what I'm trying to talk about somewhere.

Here we are:

How did the G-Man come about, then?

Marc Laidlaw: I remember Ken Birdwell came into my office and he'd been thinking about all the different functionaries you'd have in an institution like Black Mesa. You have your scientists and their administrators - the tax guys, the government guys who are checking over the books and representing some other interest - and you're not quite sure who they are.

The original concept was born from that and we developed from there. 'What does he do?' 'Well, he's not actually a combat character.' 'So what happens when you shoot him?' 'Well, it turns out you actually can't kill the guy.' 'So what does that mean about him'?
Click to expand...
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=152674

I'm just speculating here but it seems like the gman model was made for this purpose rather than having it's origins elsewhere.
 
I thought, though it was the name of the model, but Barney started calling him that in Blueshift, or opposing forces, which ever one he stared in, which would be why gamers that don't mod call him that... at least thats why I call him that.
 
G-Man has never been referred to by any name in any Half-Life game* and certainly never the name "G-Man".
In fact no conversation ever mentioned him until Ep2.

Gamers who don't mod know the name the same way they knew Barneys name, from HL1 Deathmatch where you selected your player model.

Edit: here he is, the Steamed version of the options box isn't as classic as the non-Steamed version but the point is the same (you can change the colour of a dot on his tie and his pocket hanky, thoes crazy folks at Valve, LOL)
gmanxp9.gif



*technically with the exception of HL1 Deathmatch I suppose :p
 
Operational said:
I'm just speculating here but it seems like the gman model was made for this purpose rather than having it's origins elsewhere.
Click to expand...

That's not entirely correct. The character itself probably doesn't have any origins, but I'm sure the model does.
 
Raising the Bar has this to say:
"In early prototypes, all characters in the game had an adversarial relationship with the player. There was no assumption that friendly allies were possible, let alone desireable. When the first active allies showed their usefulness, the designers began to cast around for characters who were neither allies nor outright enemies, but existed mainly to create a sense of intrigue. This precise design goal gave birth to the mysterious briefcase carrying G-Man. While the codename "G-Man" slipped into common use, it remains merely a codename. The actual name of this character is still open to speculation."

Psofus_HffK said:
I think in Opposing force it was writen somewhere.
Click to expand...
In the Manual
 
Well there we go. I really need Raising the Bar, it's out of stock at the Valve store ATM ;(
 
Operational said:
Well there we go. I really need Raising the Bar, it's out of stock at the Valve store ATM ;(
Click to expand...
The Aperture Science mug is also currently out of stock :dork: but it was in stock when I ordered it two and a half weeks ago ;(
 
All I want is the OpFor's strategy guide (for my collection). :(
 
Operational said:
Well there we go. I really need Raising the Bar, it's out of stock at the Valve store ATM ;(
Click to expand...
Don't expect it to come back in stock. It was always described as a 'limited edition', though it stayed in stock there for quite some time.

And the Valve Store's international postage costs are comical.
 
i didn't know what he was called so i searched "weird ass creepy half life bloke*" and got a wiki article on him!



*or something similar
 
Methinks that Gordon Freeman is the G-Man, coming back from an alternate quantum reality. why? I don't know. but it so far seems to be the most plausible explanation I've heard.
 
krazyfragger said:
Methinks that Gordon Freeman is the G-Man, coming back from an alternate quantum reality. why? I don't know. but it so far seems to be the most plausible explanation I've heard.
Click to expand...


Methinks I shall smack you.

Hard.
 
So he is supposedly an auditor?

Never knew that
 
Operational said:
G-Man has never been referred to by any name in any Half-Life game* and certainly never the name "G-Man".
In fact no conversation ever mentioned him until Ep2.
Click to expand...

I found what I was talking about, wasn't really looking very hard, but I found it.
ttp://www.kupoartist.eclipse.co.uk/gman/extra.htm

it's #2 under opposing force. and it's more of him saying the "G-Man" not calling him the G-Man.
 
sgt niallr said:
what? like from terry pratchett's discworld books? :dozey:
Click to expand...

Are we talking about the same thing?

Auditor who does the accounting checks and makes sure that the company is misuing funds and money.
 
Rashak said:
I found what I was talking about, wasn't really looking very hard, but I found it.
ttp://www.kupoartist.eclipse.co.uk/gman/extra.htm

it's #2 under opposing force. and it's more of him saying the "G-Man" not calling him the G-Man.
Click to expand...
Well, I guess I'm semi-wrong, or something.
 
Azner said:
Are we talking about the same thing?

Auditor who does the accounting checks and makes sure that the company is misuing funds and money.
Click to expand...


in the discworld books you have auditors of reality.....
READ THEM OR FACE THIS! :sniper:
 
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