| Stark's Mind | |
|---|---|
| |
| Genre | Machinima Comedy Drama Action Science fiction |
| Created by | Dylan Lumanta-Simon |
| Produced by | Dylan Lumanta-Simon |
| Directed by | Dylan Lumanta-Simon |
| Production studio | N/A |
| Starring | Dylan Lumanta-Simon (as Vincent Stark) |
| Games used | Black Mesa (modified) |
| Broadcast | |
| Running time | 8:52 - 16:55 |
| First run date | January 21st, 2016 |
| External links | |
Stark's Mind is a Black Mesa machinima series created by Dylan Lumanta-Simon (better known by his online alias, Anion). The series was first announced in January of 2015, though the show officially began production a year afterwards, with the first episode being released on January 21st, 2016.
Set in an alternate timeline near-identical to the one seen in Freeman's Mind, a hungover Gordon Freeman finds himself far from the United States near the end of his paid vacation, lacking the proper means necessary to return home in time. Far too disoriented to return to work and fearing termination at Black Mesa, Freeman, along with his colleague Eddie, track down and blackmail Vincent Stark, a former co-worker who bears a heavy resemblance to the doctor, into acting as his body double on the week of the Black Mesa Incident.
As of November 2018, 28 episodes (one episode being an April Fool's Joke) have been released. The series playlist can be found here.
Synopsis[]
In the year 2009, on the 16th of May, an in-depth analysis of the foreign sample "GG-3883" is to be conducted by the staff at the Black Mesa Research Facility, a government-funded research lab located several kilometres beneath the New Mexico desert. While a good amount of Black Mesa personnel are heavily intrigued by the sample's purity, including facility Administrator Wallace Breen, others are cautious and outright fearful of its properties. Despite the massive amount of anticipation surrounding the upcoming experiment, it is delayed by one Dr. Gordon Freeman, who is infamous for his mischief and general irresponsibility around the facility.
Unbeknownst to the Black Mesa staff, in place of the unreliable Gordon Freeman is Vincent Stark, a former employee who bears a striking resemblance to Freeman. Though at first reluctant to assume Freeman's role, the nature of Freeman's blackmail is more than enough to make the 24-year-old comply. Now "Dr. Gordon Freeman," Stark is forced to go through with Freeman's schedule, unaware of what lies ahead in the coming hours.
Episodes[]
| Episode | Description |
|---|---|
|
"1: Black Mesa Inbound" (9:25)
|
Released: January 21st, 2016 "Follow the thoughts of Vincent Stark, a 24 year old cynical ex-employee for Black Mesa, and Gordon Freeman's reluctant body double. In this episode, Stark returns to Black Mesa - his own personal hell, and tries to comfort himself via his own inner thoughts." |
|
"2: Anomalous Materials" (16:55)
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Released: February 23rd, 2016 "In this episode, everything changes." |
| "3: Unforeseen Consequences" (9:14)
|
Released: March 28th, 2016 "In this episode, Stark finds himself in a cross between literal hell, and tragedy." |
| "4: Chain Reaction" (11:25)
|
Released: April 8th, 2016 "In this episode, Stark tries to cope with anxiety; finds himself fighting against freaks of nature; and makes a friend - sort of. Only because he has a gun." |
| "5: Redox" (11:01)
|
Released: April 18th, 2016 "In this episode, Stark plunges deeper into the depths of Black Mesa, only to learn that there is much more out there." |
| "6: Bonding" (13:24)
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Released: May 11th, 2016 "In this episode, Stark ventures further into the depths of Black Mesa - reluctantly, that is." |
| "7: Valence" (9:09)
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Released: May 24th, 2016 "In this episode, Stark has trouble with catwalks, fights more aliens, and comes face to face with his arch-nemesis: heights." |
| "8: Office Complex" (8:55)
|
Released: June 19th, 2016 "In this episode, Stark arrives in the Black Mesa administration offices, and faces opposition from an unexpected party." |
| "9: Investment" (12:02)
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Released: July 16th, 2016 "In this episode, Stark rallies together a small group of survivors, and continues making his way through the Administration Offices." |
| "10: Accrual" (11:19)
|
Released: August 2nd, 2016 "In this episode, Stark meets meat, dissects life, and continues to engage in death-defying 'stunts'." |
| "11: 'We've Got Hostiles!'" (11:50)
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Released: August 18th, 2016 "In this episode, Stark discusses the physics of teleportation, gets shot at, and comes across an unsettling scene." |
| "12: Charge" (13:19)
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Released: October 29th, 2016 "In this episode, Stark confronts the "rescue team," and makes his way to the surface." |
| "13: Charlie Foxtrot" (13:01)
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Released: November 28th, 2016 "In this episode, Stark finally reaches the surface, but soon learns that the military is less than willing to give him a warm welcome." |
|
"14: Blast Pit" (11:05)
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Released: January 21st, 2017 "In this episode, Stark deals with train, architectural, and radioactive problems as he shifts his focus towards reaching the Lambda Complex." |
|
"15: Contamination" (10:19)
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Released: March 2nd, 2017 "In this episode, Stark battles the threat of radiation, stumbles through the abandoned rocket testing site, and comes face to face with monsters - multiplied by ten." |
| "16: Hadron" (11:23)
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Released: April 10th, 2017 "In this episode, Stark thinks with biology." |
| "17: Fission" (14:41)
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Released: May 4th, 2017 "In this episode, Stark gets winded, dabbles in wordplay, and speaks to his dark side." |
| "18: Decay" (10:15)
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Released: May 27th, 2017 "In this episode, Stark finds himself having to deal with the ill-mannered, electricity, odours, and scorching heat." |
| "19: Isomeric Transition" (12:09)
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Released: June 9th, 2017 "In this episode, Stark finally resumes his journey towards the Lambda Complex... or does he?" |
| "20: Power Up" (9:07)
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Released: June 19th, 2017 "In this episode, Stark deals with yet another oversized problem." |
| "21: Actuator Solenoid" (9:38)
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Released: July 4th, 2017 "In this episode, Stark yet again delves deeper into the facility, moving towards another generator." |
| "22: Amplifier" (12:30)
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Released: July 25th, 2017 "In this episode, the intensity of the situation increases for Stark, both physically and emotionally." |
| "23: On A Rail" (12:41)
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Released: September 6th, 2017 "In this episode, Stark's mind is puzzled by pathways, electrified bodies of water, and literal bodies." |
| "24: Azimuth" (14:46)
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Released: September 26th, 2017 "In this episode, Stark finds that he's out of the loop when it comes to teleportation and soldiers." |
| "25: Exhaust Velocity" (12:39)
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Released: October 31st, 2017 "In this episode, Stark is serenaded as he struggles to keep up with everything going on around him." |
| "26: Doppler Effect" (12:23)
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Released: December 22nd, 2017 "In this episode, Stark deals with foreshadowing." |
| "26 (Part 2): Burnout" (8:52)
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Released: April 1st, 2018 "Follow the thoughts of Vincent Stark, a 24 year old cynical ex-employee for Black Mesa, and Gordon Freeman's reluctant body double. In this episode, you don't." |
| "27: Two-Stage Recovery" (15:10)
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Released: October 11th, 2018 "In this episode, Stark tries to persevere in the face of insurmountable odds, all the while dealing with the weight of his actions, decisions, and reach of his enemies." |
Trivia[]
- Though Freeman is unfamiliar with the majority of the Black Mesa Science Team (as seen in Freeman's Mind 2), save for Issac Kleiner, Stark shows the opposite, conversing with or talking about several figures within the facility, including Eli Vance, Wallace Breen, Barney Calhoun, and Felix Freeman.