They Hunger Franchise
They Hunger is a single player horror-based mod of Valve's first-person shooter Half-Life. It was released by Neil Manke's Black Widow Games in three episodes, the first in 1999, the second in 2000, and the final installment in 2001. All three were at one point bundled with PC Gamer magazine.
They Hunger features little original Half-Life content apart from the revolver, some sound clips, a few types of ammunition the player can pick up, and a few other minor details, although many weapons and NPCs are simply re-skins of the content in Half-Life. For example, the civilians are re-skins of a scientist found in Half-Life. It also includes the sniper rifle from Team Fortress Classic, though it features a different view when scoped. In addition to these modifications, it changes the sounds of certain characters, for example one friendly NPC features the same sound clips as Barney Calhoun from Half-Life but has been edited to affect a deeper voice. Zombies and headcrabs have also been given voices, which add to the horror aspect of the game.
They Hunger takes place in a town called Rockwell, also called "the valley" by Deputy Jerry Hoobs. The location of the town is never revealed. The town is surrounded by many cliffs and canyons; many sections of the town are separated by tunnel systems. On the outskirts there is "Rockwell Stud Bulls," a family owned cattle company. One of the town's more notable landmarks is a large volcanic chasm, which appears to be the town's main tourist attraction dubbed "Devil's Rift." It also has a Stonehenge-type structure. The town has its own local radio station, BMRF radio (a reference to the Black Mesa Research Facility from the Half-Life series).
- The Player
As in most FPS games, the player is never seen. He is a male writer, visiting the town to relax and get inspiration for his next book. He is forced to fight for survival, however, when electrical phenomena cause his car to crash. Upon getting out he realized that most of the towns population had been turned into zombies. He was forced to flee the area, escaping on a Police Helicopter.
- Sheriff Chester Rockwood
Rockwood is a slightly overweight man; he wears sunglasses and a 10-gallon hat, and he carries his trusty Magnum pistol with him at all times (although he is never seen using it). He was near his re-election campaign before the zombies attacked. Early on in the game the player learns that Rockwood disregarded the odd reports about zombies as "just hearsay and rumors, likely spread out by his rivals to undermine his position in the upcoming elections". Rockwood disappeared while investigating a disturbance at the city morgue, presumably leading to his zombification. He works with Dr. Franklin, even in undeath, as he is seen many times through glass and other obstacles talking to the doctor and planning the next stage of the zombie attacks.
- Dr. Franklin
Franklin is a scientist in biology as well as the administrator of "Rockwell Asylum for the Criminally Insane." He appears to have had an accident in the past which has caused damage to the right side of his face. He only has one working eye and a smirk in the right side of his mouth. When the player meets Franklin for the first time, it is revealed that he has long felt a calling to re-animate the dead. He was friends with Sheriff Rockwood before the Sheriff became a zombie; they still work together. Franklin's past — with his attempts to re-animate the dead and subsequent exile from the scientific community — may be a reference to Dr. Herbert West from H. P. Lovecraft's Herbert West, Re-Animator.
- Deputy Jerry Hoobs
A Sheriff's deputy, Hoobs is heard on two tape recorders before appearing in person at towards the end of the game. He tried to reason with Sheriff Rockwood but failed and barely escaped the police station. He stayed at the hospital for a while before asking people to come with him to escape the city on foot. After he left the hospital, he left another tape recorder at the cattle train yard. This recording said the Pentagon had authorized the Sherman Scorched Earth policy, explaining the hostile actions against remaining civilians. At the remains of the ruined asylum, the player meets him in person. They must work together to escape Rockwell and stop the zombie horde.
- Alfred
A relatively minor character, Alfred was the assistant for Dr. Franklin during his scientific experiments. He only appears in the 'Rest in Pieces' chapter, discovered after opening the front door of the asylum for the player. Alfred dispenses some exposition as to the beginning stages of the zombie outbreak and of Dr. Franklin - who he describes as a "good man" - and allows the player to progress by opening another locked door. He serves no use afterwards, and can be seen on a conveyor belt in episode 3 doomed to die in a boiler with other civilians if the player pushes a button.
- The Military
The Military are forces sent in to repel the Zombie Hordes and save any remaining civilians. However, it soon becomes apparent that the military are no match for the zombie horde, and soon, undead soldiers can be seen within the zombie ranks. They appear throughout the 2nd and 3rd episodes, but do not appear in the 1st episode, in either Undead or Human form.
