What Did The Satellite Do? *Ep2 Spoilers*

[flyprdu]

Some have proposed that it linked up with a previously launched satellite that failed from HL1. Or was this a new device that performed an independant task?

So it closed the portal, but I have questions-
How'd it do it?
Why was Alyx's information vital for it?
Would it have worked without the intercepted data packet? (Seems pretty damn coincidental that they happened to stumble on it, if it was a critical element to the device that would save Earth)

Are there any quotes from the game that key into what the satellite was doing or how it worked?

 

[Atomic_Piggy]

Some have proposed that it linked up with a previously launched satellite that failed from HL1. Or was this a new device that performed an independant task?

So it closed the portal, but I have questions-
How'd it do it?

We don't know exactly, but it seemed to have tapped into the array we launched in HL1 through a "xenium resonater".

Why was Alyx's information vital for it?

It had the coordinates for the combine dimension.

Would it have worked without the intercepted data packet?

Proboaly, as they had no idea about the data at first and were gonna launch it. I guess the data made it easier.

Are there any quotes from the game that key into what the satellite was doing or how it worked?

The only one I can think of off the top of my head is when Magnussun goes: "What you have there young lady, is the direct contact code for the combine overworld."

 

[Crash Happy]

Yeah I don't know why everybody has been assuming that it had a connection with the HL1 satelite. I've been assuming I missed some dialogue or something. Either way the superportal is closed with a xenium resonator.

 

[Ridge]

The Xenium Resonator, combined with our past visit to Xen and all the Xen flora and fauna here makes me believe that the Combine came to us through Xen...in which case a Xenium Resonator could adjust the frequency or something that would force the portal closed and keep it from re-opening...

 

[Atomic_Piggy]

The Xenium Resonator, combined with our past visit to Xen and all the Xen flora and fauna here makes me believe that the Combine came to us through Xen...in which case a Xenium Resonator could adjust the frequency or something that would force the portal closed and keep it from re-opening...

In a way they did - they didn't physically enter Xen, but managed to get through to our dimension.

 

[Apocalypse89]

Yeah I don't know why everybody has been assuming that it had a connection with the HL1 satelite. I've been assuming I missed some dialogue or something. Either way the superportal is closed with a xenium resonator.

Shortly after you contact White Forest for the first time, when you're approaching the group of buildings where Alyx is attacked by the Hunter, she says something to the effect of "Magnusson has been working on a rocket that will link up with the old array from Black Mesa."

 

[Crash Happy]

I assumed they meant the dishes left at BM that would be used for (amongst other things) communicating with satelites? So not necessarily the satelite itself?

 

[Laivasse]

If that's indeed what they meant then it would mean BM was not nuked after all :O But I doubt that most people would interpret it that way... Personally I instinctively took it to mean the satellite that was launched in HL1.

 

[Asknoone]

Laidlaw confirmed it was nuked. The satellite used the old Black Mesa array as in the satellite you launched in HL1; this is further confirmed in the commentary.

 

[Crash Happy]

I'm going to have to listen to the commentary again then as the chatter post launch is about the rocket getting within range of the portal, then straight away firing the resonator.

 

[jimmyjam]

sooooooo xenium
is that a name for the orange junk finally?

 

[Crash Happy]

Nope.

 

[jimmyjam]

proveit.

 

[Dr0ndeh]

i believe its 'xenian', as in 'of xen'

 

[jimmyjam]

I think it's 'Xenie N.', a popular nightclub singer

 

[Stene]

I think they changed the superportals location, so that combine reinforcements now teleports to Xen

 

[Crash Happy]

proveit.

Why would I have to do that? It makes sense that the crystal from Xen could be dubbed xen<something> but right now some people are suggesting all sorts of explanations for what the rockets does. With that in mind we don't seem to have a definate answer to your question.

 

[Atomic_Piggy]

I think they changed the superportals location, so that combine reinforcements now teleports to Xen

The combine can't get to Xen. They can pass through it, but not physically. Its like a door, with an in betweeny bit they can't enter.

 

[Crash Happy]

Apparently the Combine aren't in Xen as you say. I've always had an issue with this though, for one thing Dr K's description of the new teleporter technology made me think that it's his teams new technique which cuts out the need to visit Xen. If that's true then other ways, including the Combine's, would need to do so.
I'm sure it's just me misunderstanding but there's a few little things I don't quite get.

Which does bring me on to my only peeve about the way the games are structured, for the most part I'm really fine with things being left open ended. It gives them room to do stuff later on and other times there's simply no good point in the game to do a big info-dump about something. Every now and then though I do feel we suffer from the lack of a clear, evident link. In HL1 the crystal being from the Nihilanths chamber seems a pretty good example. In Ep2 we have the discusion about what exactly the rocket we launched did. I mean would it be so hard to give a 100% clear "this satelite will link up with the one from BM" if that's what happened. In fact, if they'd said something, anything about the flipping xenium that whole issue would be less cloudy!
As a side note one reason I'm uncomfortable declaring that as the name for the xen crystal is that I know I know that name from somewhere, a quick search showed lot's of instances of it in fact.

 

[Narvi]

It emitted a focused xenian beam off its primary deflector dish to devectorize the antipositron field surrounding the superportal, causing a reverse-resonance effect which shut it down.

The satellite shutting portals down has been around since HL1. What kind of details do you want to know? Because the best you'd get is something like the above.

 

[Crash Happy]

Been a long time since I sent that first satelite up, and unlike Gordy I've had time pass during that interval. A better explanation, especialy when some people will have never played HL1, would have been appreciated. I just don't think there should be room for a thread on 'what the chuff did the satellite do?'.

 

[flyprdu]

Been a long time since I sent that first satelite up, and unlike Gordy I've had time pass during that interval. A better explanation, especialy when some people will have never played HL1, would have been appreciated. I just don't think there should be room for a thread on 'what the chuff did the satellite do?'.

Yea, the Lord of HL2.net hath spoken. Ye shall mentioneth the satellite henceforth, no more.

Be at peace and go with Crash Happy.

 

[Crash Happy]

La la la, la la! I can't hear you!
Which is about as adult as your post, gratz.