Half-Life 2 Q&A

HomeLan Fed's Half-Life 2 Q&A is online, talking with Valve's Gabe Newell about what can de revealed about plans for their shooter sequel. Along the way, they cover a good deal of ground, confirm that they still expect to make their September 30 release date, and more. Here's a bit on the reasons behind setting the game in the fictional European location of City 17:
Within the story, there are reasons why you are in City 17. Outside of what is happening in the story, two factors influenced our inclusion of City 17 - the first was that Viktor Antonov grew up in Romania and without really intending to he got a bunch of the artists excited about an art direction that drew heavily on eastern European source material, and the second was that thematically present day eastern Europe exists at a really interesting crossroad between the past and the future which resonates with what goes on in Half-Life 2.
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32 Replies. 2 pages. Viewing page 1.
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32.
 
Re: Get me a towel
Oct 1, 2003, 04:34
32.
Re: Get me a towel Oct 1, 2003, 04:34
Oct 1, 2003, 04:34
 
well maby it was ment only to be a great game and not the greatest....;P

31.
 
Hl 2 Clan and Ladder Sign Ups
Jul 20, 2003, 17:02
31.
Hl 2 Clan and Ladder Sign Ups Jul 20, 2003, 17:02
Jul 20, 2003, 17:02
 
Hello,

I have been working with a ladder group for Clan registration and so on fo revents. The main page is being ready and I am taking sign ups at yahoo groups via my page at http://www.galaxygnews.com/. Anyway, I would appreciate it if you would spread the word. We are going to be doing all sorts of events, tournies and so on and I needed to get the registartion process started while the main ladders are being setup.

Thanks,

Gareth

30.
 
Re: JCal on the job as always
Jun 9, 2003, 18:40
hkm
30.
Re: JCal on the job as always Jun 9, 2003, 18:40
Jun 9, 2003, 18:40
hkm
 
considering he's juxtaposing HL2 to a game that is being created as a showcase for Carmack's new engine

I'm really impressed by you and others who apparently know what the game will be like before it's released.

29.
 
Re: Get me a towel
Jun 9, 2003, 15:31
Zar
29.
Re: Get me a towel Jun 9, 2003, 15:31
Jun 9, 2003, 15:31
Zar
 
Santiago,

I think id Software gave as much information on their game as was reasonable at E3. There were videos, screenhshots and interviews. Carmack was a keynote speaker. They have also given a number of interviews over time before this. This probably adds up to more exposure in general than HL2 has created so far in terms of talking to the press, etc. Mouth to mouth buzz is really hot for HL2 now, of course, but there has also been big buzz for DOOM3 so far.

At this point, they probably want to keep a few things to themselves so as not to give it all away. I really doubt they feel all that much pressure from Valve. I certainly don't think they would feel they are slipping on the graphics front. Gameplay has been a bit sketchy, but I think they have their own style and they'll stick to it. HL2 isn't going to make them rethink their game.

So more DOOM 3 exposure now would only saturate and be repetitious. As much as some would like to see more, I doubt we're going to until near release. We've already heard repetitious information as it is.

P.S.: There was one tiny sidebar in the latest PC Gamer titled "Whaddup with DOOM3?" In it, Willits related not all that mcuh new, except there would be a flashlight in the game and that there would be deathmatch and "last man standing" play modes. That's cool, but not particularly earth shattering in terms of what we are expecting from the game.
This comment was edited on Jun 9, 15:40.
28.
 
Re: Get me a towel
Jun 9, 2003, 11:02
28.
Re: Get me a towel Jun 9, 2003, 11:02
Jun 9, 2003, 11:02
 
Have there been any interviews with the Doom guys since HL2 info was released? I wonder what they've said, if anything. perhaps they're going to try to turn things up a notch now that they have some competition breathing down their neck?

-----------------------------------------------------
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27.
 
Get me a towel
Jun 9, 2003, 09:59
27.
Get me a towel Jun 9, 2003, 09:59
Jun 9, 2003, 09:59
 
Everytime I hear another snippet about this game my expectations rise one notch higher. I'm already saving up for a Radeon so I can get all those lovely effects, I'm setting money aside to preorder the game when the time comes and I've shown the 25 min movie to all my friends who (to my pleasant surprise) share my excitement.

As an actor/writer/director, I *love* the idea of the NPCs improvising with the player. The potential for interactive story-telling is stunning, and I can't wait to see some RPGs made with the Source engine (I think Epic may have chosen the wrong engine for DX2, but I'll buy it anyway)

Gabe mentioned that they're working with a few selet mod teams prior to release. The table is open for bets on which mods these are (CS2, TF2, DoD2...)

My one fear is that HL2 may turn out to only be a great game, instead of the greatest.

26.
 
Re: JCal on the job as always
Jun 9, 2003, 08:13
26.
Re: JCal on the job as always Jun 9, 2003, 08:13
Jun 9, 2003, 08:13
 
"i'm sorry, that's your opinion and i don't mean to piss on it like a VE3D poster. after writing this, i realized i sound like a troll."

Waxthirteen, your apology is unnecessary, I'm as baffled by sponge's comment as you.

His suggestion that Valve could be "abusing new technology" Q2 style is especially hilarious, considering he's juxtaposing HL2 to a game that is being created as a showcase for Carmack's new engine.

He obviously hasn't read a word of the HomeLan Fed interview this comment section is discussing.


We're on an express elevator to hell... going down.
We're on an express elevator to hell... going clown.
25.
 
Re: JCal on the job as always
Jun 9, 2003, 07:50
25.
Re: JCal on the job as always Jun 9, 2003, 07:50
Jun 9, 2003, 07:50
 
It's hard not to make a release date when there is no release date, don't you think?

-Tony!!!;)
-Tony!!!;)
my 360 user name is Robo Pop
24.
 
Re: JCal on the job as always
Jun 9, 2003, 07:37
24.
Re: JCal on the job as always Jun 9, 2003, 07:37
Jun 9, 2003, 07:37
 
I would be really surprised to see Doom3 make their release date, whatever that might be.

They did loose their sound guy and everything he did for the game recently:

http://www.bluesnews.com/cgi-bin/board.pl?action=viewthread&threadid=41785

I would think that alone would set them back quite a bit.


-TPFKAS2S
http://www.braglio.org
My spoon is too big!

This comment was edited on Jun 9, 07:37.
-TPFKAS2S
Avatar 10139
23.
 
Re: JCal on the job as always
Jun 9, 2003, 07:34
23.
Re: JCal on the job as always Jun 9, 2003, 07:34
Jun 9, 2003, 07:34
 
"I've always thought of Doom3 providing the deeper more fuffilling game experience overall"

you're kidding right? never use the word "deep" in the same sentence of any id software game. unless it's to say "id software never makes deep games."

seriously, i'm excited for the game, but only for the eye candy and cheap chills and thrills.

PS
i'm sorry, that's your opinion and i don't mean to piss on it like a VE3D poster. after writing this, i realized i sound like a troll.

22.
 
Re: JCal on the job as always
Jun 9, 2003, 06:48
22.
Re: JCal on the job as always Jun 9, 2003, 06:48
Jun 9, 2003, 06:48
 
I've always thought of Doom3 providing the deeper more fuffilling game experience overall, I'm just hoping Valve doesn't suffer from Quake2 syndrome (abusing new technology.. coloured lights anyone?)

21.
 
No subject
Jun 9, 2003, 04:49
21.
No subject Jun 9, 2003, 04:49
Jun 9, 2003, 04:49
 
And don't forget Deus Ex 2 in October.

great, just as I'm getting out of the house more *cue Al Pacino voice* "they suck me back in!!"

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Currently Playing: Desert Combat, RtCW: Enemy Territory On Deck: Will Rock Reading: "Darwins Radio" by Greg Bear
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Both the “left” and the “right” pretend they have the answer, but they are mere flippers on the same thalidomide baby, and the truth is that neither side has a clue."

- Jim Goad
Avatar 10137
20.
 
Re: JCal on the job as always
Jun 9, 2003, 02:30
20.
Re: JCal on the job as always Jun 9, 2003, 02:30
Jun 9, 2003, 02:30
 
I would be really surprised to see Doom3 make their release date, whatever that might be. I'm sure with the E3 HL2 footage the guys at Id are probably shitting their pants.

Still, I'll buy both and hope they are both great. In terms of movies, I just see Doom3 as being another Lethal Weapon type movie, whereas Half-Life 2 will be the Pulp Fiction.

This comment was edited on Jun 9, 02:32.
Avatar 15151
19.
 
Re: JCal on the job as always
Jun 9, 2003, 01:25
19.
Re: JCal on the job as always Jun 9, 2003, 01:25
Jun 9, 2003, 01:25
 
And don't forget Deus Ex 2 in October.

18.
 
Re: JCal on the job as always
Jun 9, 2003, 00:32
18.
Re: JCal on the job as always Jun 9, 2003, 00:32
Jun 9, 2003, 00:32
 
"years of crappy games, followed by a logjam of great games"

Maybe, but I doubt all at once. HL 2, D3, MP 2, UT2k4... Even if Valve makes their scheduled release date, what are the odds of all the other companies (Id, Epic, and whoever the heck's doing Max Payne 2) doing the same? Game developers / publishers aren't exactly the most reliable when it comes to meeting schedules...

This comment was edited on Jun 9, 00:32.
17.
 
Re: JCal on the job as always
Jun 9, 2003, 00:07
17.
Re: JCal on the job as always Jun 9, 2003, 00:07
Jun 9, 2003, 00:07
 
years of crappy games, followed by a logjam of great games

More precisely IMO, years of a few great games with the occasional year of many or really great games. We saw some really good releases in the past two years (Max Payne, NOLF1/2, MOHAA, WCIII, D2, Mafia, etc.)
"Nothing livens up a robotic hymn of doom more than an amazing pair of jugs." - Brak
16.
 
Re: JCal on the job as always
Jun 8, 2003, 22:26
WRE
16.
Re: JCal on the job as always Jun 8, 2003, 22:26
Jun 8, 2003, 22:26
WRE
 
"Take2 would be scaling back their E3 presence next year and they are hoping for a Max Payne2 release around January of 2004."

Shacknews does a great job, but they didn't quite get that right. Take Two said the game would come out in the fiscal quarter that ends in January of 2004. So, conceivably, Max Payne 2 could also be released in November or December, which would make a lot more sense for them financially, since it puts the game in the running for holiday shoppers.

15.
 
Re: Will this game
Jun 8, 2003, 21:18
15.
Re: Will this game Jun 8, 2003, 21:18
Jun 8, 2003, 21:18
 
that sounds like the cake you can get the old lady to make for you by bringing her the right combination of ingredients in paper mario

"The" Dan
Supporter of the "A happy fredster is an unmuted fredster" fanclub.
ExcessDan
14.
 
Will this game
Jun 8, 2003, 20:16
14.
Will this game Jun 8, 2003, 20:16
Jun 8, 2003, 20:16
 
let you mix flour and water to get bread and then mix the bread with sugar to make cake and then mix the cake with a potion of mana to get super mana cake and then mix the super mana cake with the skin of a troll to get SUPAR FIRE PROF MANA CAKE ARMAR?!?!!??!?!?!?!!

If not, this game sux0rz!!!
-LordSteev

Supporter of the "Unleash the Fredster!!" Fan Club
13.
 
Re: JCal on the job as always
Jun 8, 2003, 18:02
13.
Re: JCal on the job as always Jun 8, 2003, 18:02
Jun 8, 2003, 18:02
 
"With that out of the way, Gabe's statement is at best, optimistic, and more likely just diplomatic. I'll probably buy and play both but some people won't be able to afford both. Just like movie releases are sometimes delayed so as to avoid going up against the latest big blockbuster.. "

not really. movies are only in theaters for a short time to make cash while hl2 and the other big games will be on the shelves at full price for upwards of a year.

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