VCD files in HL2

[gyromorgian]

How do we open the VCD files found in the HL2 directory? I thing Pvt. Allen mentioned GFScpe, but that doesn't seem to work.

[pvt. Allen]

Where exactly did you see these .vcd files?

The GCF Scape is meant for opening .gcf files located in steamapps folder.

[FEARLESS]

I have 53 of these files, some in the SourceMods folder such as C:\Program Files\Valve\Steam\SteamApps\SourceMods\FAKEFACTORY _CinematicEP1\Scenes\episode_1\c17 and some in C:\Program Files\Valve\Steam\SteamApps\Username\half-life 2\hl2\maps\DoR_Chapter1\dor_scenes
A couple of them are:
al_crabpod_findaway.vcd
al_finale_01.vcd
cit_c17_02_entering_apartments_01.vcd

Not sure what they are or what they do yet.

[pvt. Allen]

They seem to be hl2 level or script specific files, likely they are openable with the Hammer Editor available from Source SDK.

[FEARLESS]

Well, Hammer did not open them. Here is what I found out from http://www.videohelp.com/vcd#tech as well as a few other web sites. Must be for the on the animations or scene clips throughout the game.

VCD stands for 'Video Compact Disc' and basically it is a CD that contains moving pictures and sound. If you're familiar with regular audio/music CDs, then you will know what a VCD looks like. A VCD has the capacity to hold up to 74/80 minutes on 650MB/700MB CDs respectively of full-motion video along with quality stereo sound. VCDs use a compression standard called MPEG to store the video and audio. A VCD can be played on almost all standalone DVD Players and of course on all computers with a DVD-ROM or CD-ROM drive with the help of a software based decoder / player. It is also possible to use menus and chapters, similiar to DVDs, on a VCD and also simple photo album/slide shows with background audio. The quality of a very good VCD is about the same as a VHS tape based movie but VCD is usually a bit more blurry. If you want better quality checkout SVCD,CVD or DVD.