Five Impressive Video Game Conversions in ROBLOX

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Black Mesa ScreenshotIn September, a team of 40 volunteers capped off roughly eight years of development with the release of Black Mesa. The game is a near-complete recreation of the influential 1998 first-person shooter, Half-Life, in Valve’s current Source engine. The project brought new life back to an old game, and got us thinking about game conversions. We’ve compiled a list of some of the most interesting game conversions that we’ve found in ROBLOX.

What compels someone to recreate a game that already exists? It could be their sheer love for the original product, and the desire to work with the property on a deeper level. The original product might have faced problems or limitations that would be solved or expanded using modern technology. Perhaps it’s a reasonable entrance into developing a full game – the concept exists, so developers can re-execute (and even improve) on it.

At ROBLOX, we value creativity in building and game development. Still, many users have done a bang-up job of re-imagining popular games of all varieties on ROBLOX, and they deserve credit.

GLaDOS, modeled in ROBLOXP♦RTAL (Portal series)

This Portal-inspired game is very short, but does a good job of manipulating the mechanics of its source material. ROBLOX’s physics engine translates well – you can use properly placed and timed portals to build momentum and cross a large gap in one challenge. The game’s creator is also experimenting with a repulsion gel, a Portal 2 feature, which lets you place portals to spray surfaces with a blue gel that will bounce you and other objects. The physical simulation here, too, carries over to ROBLOX.

There’s also some iconic Portal content in separate places: a GLaDOS model, singing turrets and robotic wall panels.

Apocalypse Rising (DayZ)

This is the current “holy grail” of game conversions on ROBLOX. We’ve talked about it enough, but it deserves a mention. Players fight to survive in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, where AI zombies and human bandits – players who take out other survivors to nab their goods – threaten their existence. Don’t be fooled by the occasional smiley-faced ROBLOX character; Apocalypse Rising is a dangerous place.

Pac-Man (Original) vs Pac-Man (ROBLOX)Pac-Man (the arcade classic)

The arcade classic is reinvented in ROBLOX. It’s not a direct copy for a couple reasons: One, there are no looping holes on the left and right sides of the maze; and two, ghosts are not controlled by AI. Instead, one ROBLOX player becomes Pac-Man, while the others play as ghosts.

It’s vintage Pac-Man, with a modern, multiplayer, slightly 3D twist. This game requires at least two players, but more is better. Gather up a few friends and try it out – it’s a short video-game history lesson.

DriveBlox Unlimited (Test Drive Unlimited)

It might not be a direct recreation of Test Drive: Unlimited, but it’s similar in name and concept. In DriveBlox Unlimited, you start with a free vehicle, then simply cruise an expansive city to make money. Eventually, you’ll accumulate enough wealth to buy an apartment, which nets you even more money.

DriveBlox Unlimited Car

Before you know it, your property and driving will make you so much money you can buy a beach house and a Ferrari, which is when DriveBlox Unlimited pays off.

Call of ROBLOXia 5: ROBLOX at War (Call of Duty series)

We’re sure 99% of ROBLOX users have already heard of and played this game — it’s been visited 13 million times – but we’d be remiss not to mention it. In Call of ROBLOXia 5: ROBLOX at War, players get the feel of the Call of Duty franchise – particularly its competitive multiplayer – in ROBLOX. Complete with perks, pre-set and custom character classes, and its own weapon sets, it features the qualities that make Call of Duty an addictive game for many shooter fans.

Want more? Try these.

We can’t see everything on ROBLOX. There’s simply too much content. Help us out: what game conversions have you discovered on ROBLOX?

65 thoughts on “Five Impressive Video Game Conversions in ROBLOX”

  4. It WOULD be great if some people could “recreate” games such as Deus Ex: Human Revolution, Halo: Reach, racing games such as Forza Motorsport, RPG games like Skyrim and others.

  5. Oh, so a blogpost about my Portal stuff :D
    And hopefully I will have more in the next few weeks. The physics far from place-nicely with Roblox’s which means it’s slow to redo it all, but necessary to make it work.

  6. I wish more people would build game like these. I think that if roblox recommends a game on a blog they should automatically be on the front page.

  7. Just finished Black Mesa. It was an awesome conversion. Was surprised to see it mentioned on the ROBLOX blog

  8. I’ve played all of the games except pac-man and portal is by far my favorite. I wish he’d make more levels

  9. Conversions will always be unique but games with original ideas will always be better to me.

  11. It would be great if there was an article explaining how some users get there game on the front page. I think this would be helpful to a lot of people who are just not sure how to get place visits.

    • Agreed, Chance, the game is AMAZING. I play it quite often. (P.S. are you planning of trying to remake all of Half-Life?)

  17. Wow, these games must’ve took A LOT of time, or at least a lot of scripting.

  18. We need a half life 2 conversion and a team fortress 2 conversion!

    Yeah theyre made by Valve but i like their games.

  23. I enjoy building well built games and will spend hours on one object just to make it look good. You can`t rush perfection or rush building. If you were inspired to build a game after reading this, Remember two things. First, Think of what youre gonna build and have an idea, then take as much time as you can on one object make it as perfect as it could ever be. Never ever rush.

  24. Heh, needs more Science roleplaying games.

    Hey, can you make a Catagory of games called: Generator? Where you can make your own baseplate and generate other objects that are 3D and 2D, Depending on any search you can publish or by a person. Please respond!

    • Those aren’t conversions. Those are just games where you fight as a Pokemon… A real conversion would be considered ‘Pokemite Adventures’ by iLiLL.

      • OHHH I thought you said “conversation”. OHHH now I get it. Ignore my last post. Sorry.

  29. Shame that there’s no resources that I know of that would enable the common user to reach this level of skill. Correct me if I’m wrong please.

  31. Roblox, I am disappointed that you put the link of Wings World IV that was not made by yugiyo99, NearmissTFW made it. =.=

    • This has been updated. Thanks for the help — it can be tough to determine the original with some titles.

  33. I’m suprise nobody’s made a legit RPG that uses actual turn-based fighting, like original Poke`mon battles.

  35. Any Vaktovian Base as they are recreations of Killzone places.

    Lots of groups recreate game factions as groups.

  37. Don’t forget ROBLOX heroes!
    I don’t ever remember it being famous, but just, DON’T FORGET IT!
    It’s basically a ROBLOX remake of the GC/XBOX/PS2 game Sonic Heroes.

  38. There was an Animal Crossing game on ROBLOX. Just search Animal Crossing on Games and add it on the next Impressive Video Game Conversions. (I think)

  39. I actually made a game conversion of my own. It’s pretty well detailed, but not scripted (can’t script to save my life). It’s a conversion of Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun, one of my fav strategy games. My convo’ is named C&C: Robloxian Sun. It may not be as complex as most, but I put alot of hard work into it.

  42. The main reason why people recreate existing games is because it is 100% easier than coming up with a new concept since all you have to do is copy the gameplay. If you make something based off say a show than it is 50% easier than making something new since you already have your baseline characters and abilities, but you have to create the gameplay. This is why roblox exclusive games are extremely rare some of the few exceptions are Wingman8′s games, Spleef, Deception Infection, Legend’s Arena III: Sage of War, Freeflight and horror games like hauntedusa’s Bloody Mary (before he got banned that is, the reason was that his game was to scary for the average robloxians the game also got deleted). Obbies don’t count since they are a fully fledged idea neither do survive the disaster games. Sure conversions are great, but exclusive games are the best.
    agr0n §

    • I think you’re right, but the games we chose to highlight here aren’t just clones of existing games — they’re tweaked and altered in ways that are unique to the creator/ROBLOX. Also, I’m sure the creators take away some valuable experience that’ll help them make a better original game in the future.

      • Actually the reason is people want to make their own levels for the game. If people like to play a game, they also would like a user made copy of it.

  43. I know the games are advancing and more people with creativity are flooding in more ideas concepts are hitting the front page.

  44. I like all of them..I have a differet type of game…you should check it out its called Obby Tower

  46. Well, I am now going to visit every one of these games(I have already had BUCKETS of fun at Zombie Apocalypse Rising). This is going to be fun. :D

  47. And DayZ Roblox edition didn’t get mentioned? It’s a better emulator than Apocalypse: Rising

  49. Test Drive: Unlimited 2: One of the best games ever. It’s not that famous, but it’s the best free-ride driving game I’ve played.

  52. YOU FORGOT THE LEGEND OF ZELDA! Jk, but there ARE some pretty good Zelda remakes on Roblox. :)

    • Indeed, there are. I see you have favorited cupcakescankill’s “Forest Temple,” and BLOX31′s “The Legend of Zelda And The Tower of Admins.” Other classic Zelda levels include Ganondude’s “Master Castle” and multiple levels by HylianLegend and Narutoworl.