Half-life 2

KungFuDiscoMonkeyKungFuDiscoMonkey Creator of ns_altair日本福岡県 Join Date: 2003-03-15 Member: 14555Members, NS1 Playtester, Reinforced - Onos
edited April 2003 in Discussions
<div class="IPBDescription">What do we know?</div> Half-Life 2 rumors are starting to fly around, thanks to some nutty print magazines. People still read those? Anyways, it’s true: there will be some info on Half-Life 2 coming your way in less than a month. Finally.
It’s already pretty much public knowledge that HL2 is running on Valve’s new internally designed engine, so this will be our first peek at it. I think people will be surprised by the projected release date, though. I sure was...
- Planet Half-Life

BIGGEST GAME EVER
We kid you not. Don't buy any other magazine until you see our exclusive blowout coverage of what's certifiably the biggest game currently in development. That's got you thinking, hasn't it? Oh, we'll have a great reiews slate, previews of an amazing new franchise, and more Hard Stuff- but you'll come for the unveiling of ...
- PC Gamer May 2003

<a href='http://dynamic4.gamespy.com/~view/images.php?g=5' target='_blank'>View</a>
- Screenshot from Edge
«13

Comments

  • GuspazGuspaz Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 2862Members, Constellation
    What I want to know is, in the distant future, can we expect an HL2 port of NS? Say, "NS 2.0, now for Half-Life 2!"
  • AlignAlign Remain Calm Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 5216Forum Moderators, Constellation
    It is said that porting to HL2 will be made as easy as possible. Don't expect too much though, people will have to <i>buy</i> HL2, not download it, so maybe half the HL community will be playing it.
  • LPCLPC Join Date: 2002-04-07 Member: 384Members, Reinforced - Diamond
    edited April 2003
    <!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->
    At long last! The sequel to the best PC First Person Shooter of all time has been announced at a press conference with Valve in NY this afternoon.

    Having been present at this meeting of developers and media, I got to witness the first running preview and in-game demo to leave the walls of Valve's Design Studios since development began way back when, after the release of Half-Life. And I must say, I was no less than awestruck!

    At a glance, you could mistake this game for a DVD movie. The Half-Life 2 engine, built from the ground up, and boasting cinematic quality graphics at blistering frame rates, looks like it will easily topple Doom3's engine before ID even releases it!

    The Dev team showed us a demo of a working alpha just to prove that the game's cinematic-style graphics were in-fact, being rendered real time. It was nothing short of amazing, especially considering that it was cutting 70fps in highest detail on a 1.7ghz processor and Geforce 4 Ti4200!

    "We've tried to accommodate for the widest range of users possible. We felt that allowing gamers with lower end PCs to play with the highest settings would greatly increase the multiplayer potential and encourage the online community to really get behind Half-Life 2." commented Willam Sykes, source programmer.

    As some people may also know, the tactical aspect of Half-Life 2 has been greatly increased over its predecessor. Weapons are now fully functional with gun jams, dirty barrels, overheating and weight. For example, in any in-game mission, one is expected to clear bullet casing jams, hold weapons steady (counteracting against weight) and perform maintenance tasks such as stripping, cleaning and polishing of weapons.

    The Team are excited with the new tactical aspect which includes missions of the following varieties:


    Radio operator missions where you take on the role of 'behind the main lines' support crew, skills in tuning radio frequencies and counter-acting for static will be essential in giving the fighting troops accurate bearings on targets


    Co-ordinating scouting missions into unknown regions. Again, these require the player to stay at base with a radio and satellite uplink, communicating with fighting soldiers during battles.


    Weapon Maintenance missions are completed before every main mission. In these preparation segments, players must ensure their firearms are fully functional and well kept. Failure to successfully maintain one's weapon reults in demotion and 'less action' in main missions.

    Of course the above is only a TASTE of whats to come in the retail package. Expect a lot of the features that made HL1 so popular, like the adventure aspect and of course, slaughtering a LOT of ultra high resolution baddies! While I looked on at valve's demo, I thought it a shame that these baddies were ceasing to exist by Gordon's well-maintained firearm, as they were so extremely detailed it was a pleasure to watch them! The models were so realistic in-fact, that whilst watching the demo, I noticed the following:


    All models have rising and falling chests/areas where lungs are used (this is helpful when you are unsure if enemies are dying, dead, sleeping or pretending!


    All models are fully destructable in an unlimited number of ways. Say goodbye to shooting the whole head off an enemy. Depending where you hit it, the skull will fragment accordingly, and differently every time!


    The sheer detail is ridiculous: actual hair/fur (not textures), sweat, dirt, cuts (can be made anywhere and of different severity Eg: a cut on the skin, right up to a limb coming off or an opening into the abdominal area etc)



    Along with the overwhelming abundance of eye-candy, this game has quite a few never-before-tried features incorperated into the adventure.

    Players may be at first shocked to find that Valve has taken the standard mouse look of FPS and added in a 'turn head' type feature. This feature allows the player to look around while keeping the body and weapon aimed in a particular direction, and is controlled by the mouse (as are the body movements). This system, for example, will allow the player to observe an environment around them whilst still keeping a weapon trained on the many prisoners that are taken during missions.

    Keeping in line with the new weapon detail systems (cleaning, unjamming, maintaining etc) a sidebar will be added that will allow the player to access his weapon cleaning kit quickly by toggling and then using the mouse to grab and apply tools to clean the firearms. After battles, it is quite common to 'take 5' and make use of the weapon maintenance kit in a quiet corner. The most impressive feature of the weapon maintenance kit is that the player will take control of the tools with the mouse. For example, when cleaning the barrel of a firearm, the player must move the mouse back and forth to move the wad inside the barrel. Players must also take care not to spill cleaning solvents with the mouse when applying them. Move the mouse too fast and you'll waste some good fluid.

    Our first look at Half-Life 2 was an exciting experience to say the least. The team here at Deepgame Online News are looking forward to the inevitable flow of screenshots and movies that will spill forth from Valve's Studios over the coming months, and will keep you up to date with all the latest developments as the title progresses.

    Keep an eye out this Friday as we will be releasing the first screenshots of Half-Life 2 for all to marvel at.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    there is a lot of information in this article, although I seriously have no idea if it's a fake or not. I got it from another games forum, and the guy who posted it gave no source.

    of course, if everything in this article is true, HL2 will be THE most awesome game ever! <!--emo&:0--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wow.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wow.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • MonsieurEvilMonsieurEvil Join Date: 2002-01-22 Member: 4Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    It sounds incredibly fake, to be honest. More like an M16A2 Maintenance Simulator. I can think of nothing more gameflow destroying than having to swab the bore of an upper receiver, then apply CLP to a chamber brush... what's next, getting a Battalion Commander's inspection and having to recite your 11 general orders?

    (Very inside jokes there - don't feel bad if you didn't get them. Ya damned draft dodgers. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo--> )

    80 staffers at Valve have been working on 'something' for 5 years. We'll just have to wait and see what.
  • KungFuDiscoMonkeyKungFuDiscoMonkey Creator of ns_altair 日本福岡県 Join Date: 2003-03-15 Member: 14555Members, NS1 Playtester, Reinforced - Onos
    Lets try to keep quotes from identifiable sources that would know.
  • KungFuSquirrelKungFuSquirrel Basher of Muttons Join Date: 2002-01-26 Member: 103Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    edited April 2003
    That article is either 1) total **** or 2) evidence that HL2 will be the least fun and most worthless game ever.

    Given Newell's very public attitude on realism interfering with gameplay, all signs point to 1.

    Christ, read the article and think about what it's saying. That's not fun. That's ridiculously tedious, worthless, annoying, etc. etc. I don't care what company you are, if you make a game that functions like that, you need to be dragged into the street and bludgeoned with... an effective bludgeoning device.
  • SycophantSycophant Join Date: 2002-11-05 Member: 7092Members
    I'm quite supportive of adding true realism to video games, but not at the cost of fun and replayability.

    For the sake of this reply, I'll assume the article posted above is actually real. Having to maintain and clean your weapon(s) before every major mission certainly seems like a realistic action to have to take, but it adds absolutely nothing to the fun factor. Once a game absolutely crosses the line between "100% fun" and "100% realistic", it's no longer a game, it's a training simulator. <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif'><!--endemo-->

    In fact, most of the "great new features" listed in that article probably <i>would</i> be great in a simulator, but not in a game. The rest is just eye candy.
  • MonsieurEvilMonsieurEvil Join Date: 2002-01-22 Member: 4Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    (I did a quick google of 'Deepgames Online News', and there is no such thing. Chalk this up to bogus).
  • KungFuDiscoMonkeyKungFuDiscoMonkey Creator of ns_altair 日本福岡県 Join Date: 2003-03-15 Member: 14555Members, NS1 Playtester, Reinforced - Onos
    Noticed this URL
    <a href='http://www.half-life2.com' target='_blank'>Half-Life 2</a>
  • That_Annoying_KidThat_Annoying_Kid Sire of Titles Join Date: 2003-03-01 Member: 14175Members, Constellation
    hmmm

    you have a intersting point there

    however I'm happy with hl due to a little mod called NS

    heard of it? <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->

    Hl2 can take it's time
  • JammerJammer Join Date: 2002-06-03 Member: 728Members, Constellation
    Half Life 2 is being announced soon, don't fret. As for the registered site? Don't blow a load- it standard practice when you have a hot trademark.
  • KungFuDiscoMonkeyKungFuDiscoMonkey Creator of ns_altair 日本福岡県 Join Date: 2003-03-15 Member: 14555Members, NS1 Playtester, Reinforced - Onos
    I am not fretting or blowing a load. I just know what I have heard and was interested in what others have heard.
  • CanadianWolverineCanadianWolverine Join Date: 2003-02-07 Member: 13249Members
    edited April 2003
    Hey, don't feel bad KungFu, this thread was obviously done with good intentions. At least you listed a source, PC Gamer, unlike LPC with "another games forum". Now I'll just go see if PC Gamer listed its sources...

    Hmm, generally, realism is only fun as long as it doesn't impede on the player's experience with repetition. Many of the details brought up in the very likely fake info quote that LPC posted could be said to have happened in the original Half-Life, only the developers just left it in the background, something else the player's character takes for granted, like breathing or washroom breaks. Imagine how boring games would get if they were breathing, sleeping, eating, drinking, and bathroom simulators, like moving the mouse to make sure you inhale and exhale properly. Oy vey! <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif'><!--endemo-->

    As for the actual Half-Life 2 game being released, look for an official press release kit from Valve and Sierra. Plus, to me its all conjecture until I've bought and played it.
  • Duo_MaxwellDuo_Maxwell Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4631Members
    Herm:


    <a href='http://gamez.nl/grafx/art/sc552.jpg' target='_blank'>http://gamez.nl/grafx/art/sc552.jpg</a>
  • KungFuDiscoMonkeyKungFuDiscoMonkey Creator of ns_altair 日本福岡県 Join Date: 2003-03-15 Member: 14555Members, NS1 Playtester, Reinforced - Onos
    That's what's great about the NS community. For the most part there are intelligent post and even the big guys who created NS, converse with the forum goers. The reason I started this topic, I was interested to see what others had heard about Half-Life 2. Sure, I'm excited about the possibilities for Half-Life 2. Half-Life is the game that got me into level design, something that I would eventually like to turn in to a career.
    About the PC Gamer, the quote is on the back page of the May 2003 issue where they tell about what will be in the next issue. I personally believe that we will be hearing soon (real soon). I just wanted to see what others in the community thought and had heard. And I don't feel bad. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Even better when they are educated and considerate opinions <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • MerkabaMerkaba Digital Harmony Join Date: 2002-01-24 Member: 22Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester
    edited April 2003
    I get the impression that the Gordon Freeman picture in PC Zone was created by someone who works for the magazine. The style seems somewhat different to what I've seen come out of Valve. Possibly, Valve havn't yet even released any information to any magazines other than "We're gonna be talking about HL2 this month.", and they all saw the potential hype values of this (Edge's crowbar image is undoubtably done by the magazine, because it seems to fit their style so well.)

    I may just be pointing out the obvious to many people here, but hell <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->

    And if I'm wrong...well, look at the disclaimer in my sig. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • DOOManiacDOOManiac Worst. Critic. Ever. Join Date: 2002-04-17 Member: 462Members, NS1 Playtester
    Well just look at all the Metroid Prime magazine covers, its quite easy to tell when the magazine's artist half assedly draws it...

    As far as HL2 goes.. bleh... I'm not expecting much. $20 TF2 is now a free addon w/ it though, perhaps the official mp mode rather than HLDM (er, HL2DM heh)...
  • RenegadeRenegade Old school Join Date: 2002-03-29 Member: 361Members
    edited April 2003
    <!--QuoteBegin--MonsieurEvil+Apr 20 2003, 10:02 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (MonsieurEvil @ Apr 20 2003, 10:02 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> It sounds incredibly fake, to be honest. More like an M16A2 Maintenance Simulator. I can think of nothing more gameflow destroying than having to swab the bore of an upper receiver, then apply CLP to a chamber brush... what's next, getting a Battalion Commander's inspection and having to recite your 11 general orders?

    (Very inside jokes there - don't feel bad if you didn't get them. Ya damned draft dodgers. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo--> )
    <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I love you Monse!
  • MonsieurEvilMonsieurEvil Join Date: 2002-01-22 Member: 4Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    <!--QuoteBegin--DOOManiac+Apr 20 2003, 07:01 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (DOOManiac @ Apr 20 2003, 07:01 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> As far as HL2 goes.. bleh... I'm not expecting much. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Heh heh heh... /me chuckles and waits for the info to start coming out...

    So wrong you are, young padawan...
  • Frogg2Frogg2 Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4867Members, Constellation
    Hmm HL2... what will the story be?
  • acer_r1acer_r1 Join Date: 2003-03-11 Member: 14397Banned
    stop the "13'37 h4x0rz!"
    .....
  • Llama_KillerLlama_Killer Join Date: 2002-07-30 Member: 1029Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> stop the "13'37 h4x0rz!"<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    nah im leanning towards "kill all the stupid noisy incredibly annoying llamas with headcrabs" as a title either weay i might waste some of my hard earned money on it... maybe
  • RobRob Unknown Enemy Join Date: 2002-01-24 Member: 25Members, NS1 Playtester
    In my experiance, over-hype is extremely bad. The more you make people fanatically interested in a game, the more it tends to flop...

    Keeping a tight media cap on HL2 info is probably a good idea.
  • CanadianWolverineCanadianWolverine Join Date: 2003-02-07 Member: 13249Members
    Do you know what is really funny about hype? Its free advertising and doesn't have to be accurate or official. Wha cha willing to bet that there are some people in Valve who have a wall of clippings of all the Half-Life 2 "news" which they sit in front of and laugh till it hurts? <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
  • GreedoGreedo Bounty Hunter Join Date: 2002-01-24 Member: 37Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor
    I wonder where all the people who doubted HL2's existence ran off to...

    The bit on PHL where they said that it'd be out soon "I think people will be surprised by the projected release date, though. I sure was... " makes me wonder if I'll be playing HL2 in the next few months. At the very least, we'll have it by Christmas, so no worries.
  • MadjaiMadjai Join Date: 2002-11-01 Member: 2986Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--KungFuDiscoMonkey+Apr 20 2003, 01:51 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (KungFuDiscoMonkey @ Apr 20 2003, 01:51 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Noticed this URL
    <a href='http://www.half-life2.com' target='_blank'>Half-Life 2</a> <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    <a href='http://www.half-life3.com' target='_blank'>Half-Life 3</a>

    sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.

    ha!
  • CronosCronos Join Date: 2002-10-18 Member: 1542Members
    This Is How Much hard facts we know about HL2:


    --------> .

    Can you see that? If not, heres a magnifying glass:

    --------> <span style='font-size:21pt;line-height:100%'><b>.</b></span>

    I've been through several HL2 "OMG IT'S GOING TO BE RELEASED!!!!1111oneoneone" Hypes, a simple rule to go by is this. Dont believe anything you read until you see it sitting on the shelf at a nearby games shop.
  • JediYoshiJediYoshi The Cupcake Boss Join Date: 2002-05-27 Member: 674Members
    <a href='http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?act=ST&f=78&t=73564&st=0' target='_blank'>http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?act=...78&t=73564&st=0</a>
  • RenegadeRenegade Old school Join Date: 2002-03-29 Member: 361Members
    That account stinks of fakeness, but if it's real...

    *goes in convulsions, vomitting and laughing insanely*
  • SpceM0nkeySpceM0nkey Join Date: 2003-01-19 Member: 12480Members
    is the fact that condition zero changed developers a couple of months back a coincidence with vavle nearly having hlf2 ready?
Sign In or Register to comment.