Bubble Mod for Half-Life
Half-Life Bubble Mod
BubbleMod is a server-side-only modification for Half-Life. This means players do not need to download or install anything to participate; they simply join a server running Bubble Mod. However, these servers are now quite rare. Fortunately, Outpost 42 is one of the servers that still hosts Bubble Mod. This mod significantly alters the standard Half-Life gameplay, making it more challenging and skill-intensive. High-damage weapons have been weakened, and critical gameplay elements have been adjusted to prioritise skill. The notorious tau/grenade/RPG bind combo is easily countered, and new weapon modes have been introduced to enhance team play.
- Bubble Mod v2.2.3b: The latest stable version of Bubble Mod. The source code is included in this download.
How to Install Bubble Mod
If you are interested in setting up a Bubble Mod server, you first need to know how to set up a Dedicated Server. If you are unfamiliar with this process, you can follow this tutorial for guidance.
Before proceeding, it is advisable to back up your original valve folder in case anything goes wrong. To do this, make a copy of the valve folder and rename it to something like valve_bu. Once your server is ready, download Bubble Mod using the link above. This download includes both Windows and Linux versions. After downloading the zip file, navigate to your valve folder (e.g., C:\hlds\valve, if following the tutorial) and extract the contents of the zip file into this folder. So far, everything should be straightforward.
Next, Half-Life needs to be configured to run Bubble Mod instead of the default Half-Life game. Locate the liblist.gam file within the valve directory and open it with Notepad. Find the line:
gamedll "dlls\hl.dll"
Copy this line and add a new line below it. Modify the liblist.gam file so it looks like this:
//gamedll "dlls\hl.dll"
gamedll "dlls\bubblemod.dll"
If you are using Linux, use the following configuration:
//gamedll_linux "dlls/hl.so"
gamedll_linux "dlls/bubblemod.so"
Note: If the server fails to load correctly, try renaming the Bubble Mod DLL files to hl.dll or hl.so and link to them directly. This approach can resolve errors, particularly on Linux systems.
Save the liblist.gam file and start your server. If everything is configured correctly, your server should now be running Bubble Mod. You can test this by joining the server and observing the changes—for example, when you right-click with the crowbar, you should be able to throw it!
Once the mod is up and running, it is time to customise the settings. After extracting Bubble Mod into your valve directory, you should see a file named bmod.cfg. Open this file and review the available settings. You can adjust the configuration to your liking, including enabling or disabling features, adding or removing runes, and specifying starting weapons.
If you require any assistance, feel free to join the Discord. I’d be happy to help you set up your server or answer any questions!
