Game Designers Give Toronto the Alien Invasion Treatment

Ever wondered what Toronto would be like if it were conquered by aliens and converted into a work camp, cut off from all other human settlement?

I know I have. At least once an hour.

Well, intrepid gamers, wonder no more! Thanks to students at George Brown College's Game Design Program, you can now download a mod for Half Life 2 and play in an apocalypsized TO.

The "City 7: Toronto Conflict" mod is the first thesis project of GBC's new post-grad program in game design. And they've managed to capture a lot of the city. Settings include Yonge-Dundas Square, The Eaton Center , Mel Lastman Square, St. Michael's Hospital and the TTC. Now, I'd more or less assumed the TTC was already being run by an evil race of alien overlords. Ah, well. Live and learn.

While expansive, the game mod is by no means complete. But the Toronto Conflict team is currently looking for programmers, modellers and other design folks to complete the game. Evetually, they'd like to include the CN Tower in the gameplay. If I were an alien imperialist, that's the first place I would go. Nothing says 'mind control' like an 1,800 ft tower.

If you're computer or design-inclined, visit Toronto Conflict's website for more information on how to make Toronto the post-apocalyptic wonder-world of your dreams.

Photo: Yonge-Dundas Square post-invasion. Can you spot the differences? Courtesy of Toronto Conflict.