As we all know by now, the interlope command can generate some… weird demos. But by far, the strangest and creepiest ones are the demos classified as TYPE 5.
An exact description to what classifies a demo as “type 5” is a bit difficult to pindown, but these demos usually feature “Lifelike movement” from NPCs and the appearances of the Umbrella Man. Not all demos feature these traits, which is a whole nother rabbit hole though. A good rule of thumb is:
If it’s drastically different then the types 1,2,3,4 and 6, then it’s a type 5!
Anyways, a type 5 demo comes two forms:
Original Generation: These are the original, raw and purest form of the demo and can only be seen once after using the interlope command. So you better be recording the moment it pops up, otherwise you have to be content with…
Post Generation: These are the files left behind in your computer after the demo is generated. It’s the exact same demo but they usually look a bit different than the original generation and may have missing assets.
Some demos we have the recording of the original generation, some we have only files, some we have a few seconds of recording and others we don’t even have the full thing… That was, until the developments of Interloper A! Using the rebuilding cube map technique while Sky Ghost is in the 4 stage while a demo is playing reveals hidden information in the demo. Using this in type 5 demos, allows us to see their original generation!
But it’s still a mess to track all this down…
That’s why I’m here! In this page, I will catalog and show all the type 5 demos we know at this moment!
Both original recordings and post generation!
I doubt that Post generation demos have any implication or story significance in terms of the animation, but they are still weird and fascinating to see!
Without further ado, let’s begin!
Original Generation: 1
> Source: Interloper Episode 1
Post Generation: 1
> Source: Interloper Episode 2
The first ever type 5 demo generated by Anomi. This one is pretty interesting by the fact that it's the first ever proper appearance from the Umbrella Man in the series, and that there’s a few differences between the original and post versions such as missing assets and a slightly off centered camera.
Original Generation: 1
> Source: Interloper Episode 1
Post Generation: 1
> Source: Interloper Episode 2
Fortress, the second demo generated in episode one. This one is also odd because of the, frankly insane, differences between the original and the files we have.
You can’t really play the demo… at least I couldn’t (That’s the reason for the *). The file simply didn't work, maybe because of the TF2 64bit update? Luckily, approaching the FSKY text on the map triggers the demo’s animation.
The scout model is completely distorted and thin, with a lot of missing textures.
The rebuilding cube maps thing… It’s very creepy. We know that getting close to the area the demo takes place makes TF2 rebuild cubemaps, this also happens at the end of the demo. But what I find creepy and intriguing is the scene right before the cubemap. Everything suddenly turns gray and loses all detail, reminding me a lot of the Officehead demo.
I don’t know if this was just a limitation on Anomidae’s end or a deliberate choice…
Either way, it’s something very interesting!
Original Generation: 1
> Source: Interloper Episode 1
Post Generation: 0
One of the original demos from the halflife2.net forum post, this one was found by Anomi in episode one.
The files for this one seem to be lost to time, we only have the recording from the time it was generated.
Original Generation: 2
> Source: The Interloper Files Part 3
Post Generation: 0
This one was part of Eidamona's interloper investigation.
We’re not quite sure if Eidamona found this demo during research, or they generated this one. Either way, it’s partially lost to time for now, we only have the small snippet from their part 3 reupload.
Original Generation: 1
> Source: Interloper Live Investigation
Post Generation: 0
This one was generated while Anomi was directly connected to FSKY servers using Portal RTX.
Since Anomi was connected to FSKY servers to interlope, we don’t have the files to pick apart or replay for this one.
I personally find the zombies running away and massive hands behind them pretty creepy.
Something else to note is that Ellis falls through the floor, similar to the Officehead demo.
Original Generation: 1
> Source: Interloper Episode 5
Post Generation: 0
This one was found by Anomi during that episode’s investigation.
This one features an entity that messes with the NPC of the demo that is not the Umbrella man, so that’s interesting.
Original Generation: 1
> Source: 2005 to 2008 Half-Life 2/Source Clip Collection
Post Generation: 0
Another demo originally generated by the people from the forum, this one was found on a clip collection by one of the users from the original thread.
I find it funny that no one can say exactly what the NPC is saying on this one. I’m in that camp too, I have no clue what it is trying to say LMAO!
Original Generation: 2
> Source: Interloper: Tuesday
Post Generation: 1
> Source: Interloper Episode 8
Generated during the Tuesday Incident, this one is in the same boat as Fortress.
We have the original files, but the demo itself is highly unstable because of CS:GO’s branch of source. Luckily the map has the animation of the demo built in.
This is my second favorite demo from the ARG, I just love how creepy the gray version of the map looks and the ambience is great as well.
Something to note is that there seems to be no clear differences between the original generation and the post one… Well, we only have a laggy 3 second clip compare, but hey, gonna take notes on this!
Original Generation: 1
> Source: Interloper: Tuesday
Post Generation: 1
> Source: Interloper Episode 8
Also generated during the Tuesday incident.
It features the best character in the series yet “Hi Guy” and his tragic death but also, the Original And Post Generation are practically the same. No missing assets or anything, it’s the original, raw and purest form of the demo… At least to my knowledge!
Those are what I classify as “Normal” type 5 demos. Next let’s talk about the more bizarre and enigmatic type 5 demos.
Original Generation: 1
> Source: The Interloper Files Part 3
Post Generation: 0
This one was generated by Eidamona during their investigation. What’s curious is that they generated this demo on a specific map, something Anomi is not able to do.
Putting that aside, the demo is just the camera flying in the endless source void for a whole 2 hours… Only to end when a map appears in the distance. According to a few comments on the uncut video of the demo, the map seems to be Hazflick from the Half-Life 2 Beta.
So yeah, this one is pretty strange.
Original Generation: 1
> Source: Interloper Live Investigation
Post Generation: 0
This one was generated while Anomi was directly connected to FSKY servers using Portal RTX. This demo is very unique because it shares a bit of similarities with Longtrap with the whole fixed camera out of bounds.
There’s a few things wrong with this demo so let me list them:
This map/ area doesn’t exist in Half-Life 2 Deathmatch;
The demo has unique music, something no other type 5 has;
Right before the demo is generated, a list of commands appear on Portal RTX;
Portal RTX moves back during this demo;
This demo is oddly… peaceful.
The commands are hard to make out on the tiny Portal RTX screen , but we were able to see “Launching NULL”, so, could this possibly mean that someone from FSKY tried to connect to Portal RTX and made this demo appear specifically? Who’s to say…
By the way, this is my favorite demo so far!
This demo is so different from all the others, it’s so serene and peaceful, but you can never be fully at peace… Everytime I watch this, I can never shake off that something is not right in this demo… So calming, yet I can never lower my guard.
Original Generation: 0
Post Generation: 1
> Source: Interloper Episode 8
This was the last generated demo for TF2 during the tuesday incident.
I find it weird that this one is classified as a type 5, when this is more like a type 3 + 6, but whatever, this demo is weird nevertheless. I have no real concrete theories about it. Although, it’s a very similar situation to the strange event that happened in Portal back in episode 2…
Original Generation: 2
> Source: Interloper Episode 2
Post Generation: 0
This one is not officially classified as a type 5, but I’m putting it here because I feel like it should be one. I mean, the demo literally starts as a type 5!
Either way, it’s pretty interesting that this demo is pretty much Helmetcreek but from the perspective of the entity and not the NPC. Curious that the Umbrella Man directly attacks the player as well.
I also made up that name, pretty cool name right?
(Just a heads up, this will be more speculation than concrete facts!)
Original Generation: 0
Post Generation: 0
This one was mentioned by “Judith Mossman” on the halflife2.net forum from 2005.
(Archived in the Project Skybox website.)
The user used the word “cutscenes” which, to me, implies it was a type 5… But it’s still up in the air if it’s really one or not.
Original Generation: ???
Post Generation: ???
These were mentioned by “Wallace Breen” on the halflife2.net forum from 2005.
(Archived in the Project Skybox website.)
This user says “in fairness we only have like 7 of these tops,-” which seems to imply that they generated about 7 type 5 demos in that thread. We know that Spookcoast, Misty and Helmetcreek come from this forum, but what are these other 4? Maybe one of them is the barnie death cutscene or maybe Eidacan? Who knows… But it’s something to take note of for sure.
And that’s all the demos that we know so far!