Half-Life 2 NDA Lifted - Online Previews Available

captainstupid writes "The first Half-Life 2 previews are hitting the Web, and Shacknews seems to have the first post-NDA preview." There's also a preview at IGN.com, and another at Gamespy, plus yet another at Gamespot, giving us a whole cornucopia of different looks at what may be the most keenly awaited PC game of the year.

Comments

Hmm

[tomthebomb]

Hopefully, this game is a genre-changer, like Half-Life was, and not a flop, like Unreal 2 was. I have very high expectations for HL2, because HL was my favorite game for a very long time. Judging from screenshots I've seen, it will have very good graphics, maybe even Doom 3 class, but will probably require a powerful computer. Hopefully, this engine will be mod-able, as the original HL engine was, because the Counter-Strike and Natural Selection teams could do so much more with the HL2 engine judging from the screenshots...let's just hope this game isn't another Unreal 2.

Re:Hmm

[Anonymous Coward]

but will probably require a powerful computer.

Gosh, I hope powerful computers become available.

I might be overly-optimistic, but hopefully this will spur advances in microprocessor technology, which has been so stillborn and stagnant for the last ..... um ..... few days.

Re:Hmm

[ZaMoose]

If you are a true gamer, forget pcs for anything original.

Ummmm, wow. That might possibly be the most blinkered statement I've ever read on /., and that's saying a lot.

What you're trying to tell us is that The Sims, Black and White, Grim Fandango, Syndicate/Syndicate Plus, Masters of Orion, System Shock 2 and a whole host of other games that I can't even begin to list are "unoriginal"?

You, sir, should check with your doctor and make sure your dosages are correct, 'cause you've obviously got some misfiring synapses in that little head of yours.

Re:Hmm

[ZaMoose]

What, precisely, makes Metroid Prime innovative, apart from the control scheme?

Don't take this as a critique of MP, as it's one of the most enjoyable games I've played in a long time (excepting Wind Waker, which currently has a stranglehold on my precious gaming hours), but I'd say MP is hardly the first adventure/expoloration game born out in full 3D (Thief and Deus Ex come to mind as prior art). I'll grant you that the platforming/morph ball elements are unique, but I don't think they qualify as innovative.

As for FPS innovation: Planetside. Want arcade-y action mixed with your FPS? The upcoming Tron 2.0 looks very interesting. Battlefield 1942 is a recent example of getting a team-based FPS truly, terribly almost right.

A Tale In the Desert is a current example of a game that defies current MMO conventions and instead prides itself on being a virtual community simulation.

Enigma: Rising Tide is wicked fun, as is Moonbase Commander.

How about Mafia? Sure, it's seen ports to the consoles too, but it started on the PC. Or Freelancer?

So speak not to me of "innovation". It abounds on the PC platform.

Good Lord

[Anonymous Coward]

A DX6 compatible D3D capable video card is required. The minimum system specs haven't been divulged but if I were to take a shot in the dark I would say an AthlonXP 2000 or P4 2.2GHz system with a Radeon 9500pro could get the job done reasonably

Translation: "yeah man, since I didn't get to actually play the game, I have no idea about it, but if I name pretty much near the top end of the hardware spectrum I bet that'll work for it. Go buy that."

Re:Good Lord

[Babbster]

Fortunately, it seems like the Gamespy people might have actually ASKED that very important question:

With all of these considerable graphical upgrades, we were pleased to hear that the minimum system specs are currently targeted at a 700 MHz PC with 128 MB RAM and a DX6-level video card, meaning you won't need a NASA supercomputer to run Half-Life 2.

Obviously, that will probably be running the game at its minimum detail but the success of Half-Life was never about the tech specs - it was about the fact that it's one of the best single-player FPS experiences released and the fact that modders loved it.

Re:Good Lord

[someguy]

It's the Microsoft 3d API in DirectX.

It stands for "Direct 3D"

Direct 3d was a competitor with OpenGL as a graphics API and has largely supplanted it as the standard.

how old is the reviewer from shacknews?

[Tibor the Hun]

he needs to take some composition classes, or have someone proofread his material. i couldn't even finish his article, it was terrible...

THE most keenly awaited game?

[rasteri]

what may be the most keenly awaited PC game of the year.

What, you mean OTHER than Doom 3?? Or for that matter - Deus Ex 2, GTA: Vice City et al...

massive polygon count?!

[(H)elix1]

With all of these considerable graphical upgrades, we were pleased to hear that the minimum system specs are currently targeted at a 700 MHz PC with 128 MB RAM and a DX6-level video card, meaning you won't need a NASA supercomputer to run Half-Life 2.

Rejoice! I've got some decent hardware, but it is SOOO nice that the focus is not on a massive polygon count. My god, they might have spent time on -oh, level design, story, and a few other things that actually make the game fun. Half-Life was worth every penny - including additional copies I've picked up over time (bundles were cheaper, go figure). I hear folks drooling over Doom III, but hearing the insane hardware requirements it is rumored to need, I suspect I'll pick it up when it hits the bargain bin. I avoided C&C Generals because I hear others had issues with 'low end' cards like my (new for me) ti4200. Unreal II came and went because it sounds like the AI and levels stunk. I'll be plunking down cash for this one because the previous version was such a blast. I figure the mod scene will pick up on this one as well.

One of the few good things to happen today. What is next, Starcraft II?

Counterstrike 2?

[big-bad-buddha]

The screenshots for HL2 look impressive, but the real question is what becomes of of the retail products that started as mods? Is Valve, knowing they have a rater large cash cow on thier hands, going to charge for Counterstrike 2 and Day of Defeat 2? Seriously, the appeal of Half Life ran out along time ago. The mod scene is what kept it going for as long as it has.

Voice Communication...

[actor_au]

In almost all the articles they mention that the NPCs(esspecially Alyx) will be speaking to you in a realistic fashion(IE their mouths will move realistically inrelation to what they are saying) it also says that this is done 'On the fly' ie Realtime.
The Implications for online gameing are staggering, if they can traslate this into the voice communication system they choose too use in HL2 multiplayer then we can finally get a truly immersive experiance in online gaming.
Just my two cents, although thanks to the exchange rate its worth only one.

Linux?

[riggwelter]

I've recently got into FPS games as a distraction from MUDs as a result of the Linux version of Unreal Tournie 2003, does anyone know if there's a Linux version of HL2 planned (or rumoured)?