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Half-Life 3 on the XBox 360?

BizidyDizidy writes "According to a slide taken from a spanish XBox 360 presentation, Half-Life 3 will be developed for the new system. Could this be the Halo of the next generation? Combining this with the reported 300 dollar price point and early release date, a rosy picture for XBox seems to emerge. Is a killer-app like HL3 enough to sway you to choose a system?"

88 comments

  1. Only if Exclusive by UnHolyRam · · Score: 1

    HL3 on the XBox 360 only helps if it's exclusive or relatively far in advance of the PC Release of the same game.

    1. Re:Only if Exclusive by Toby_Tyke · · Score: 2, Insightful

      No, it helps it only if it's far in advance of the Playstation release. the PC gaming market is very different to the console one. The X-Box 360 will not really be competing for those gamers.

      No one who was thinking of buying an X-Box 360 is going to change their and buy a PC 3 or 4 times the price instead. Half life 3 or not. It's a weapon against Sony, not Alienware.

      --
      "I realise this is not a very popular opinion but it's the truth, and there for needs to be said" -Bill Hicks
    2. Re:Only if Exclusive by sgant · · Score: 1

      Given how long it takes Valve to put out a game, I would say that HL3 will be out for the Xbox-3...whatever that will be called.

      --

      "Leo Fender was in a 'state of grace' when he designed the Stratocaster." -- Paul Reed Smith
    3. Re:Only if Exclusive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Xbox 2 * 360 = Xbox 720.

      Or maybe we need to do this:

      Xbox 360 * 360 = Xbox 129,600.

      Talk about version number inflation!

  2. From the begining by Leroy_Brown242 · · Score: 1

    Being a hardcore HL player for years, as well as a PC only gamer, this would dissapoint me quite a bit if it was not released on the PC as well.

    As long as it comes out for PC, I'm happy.

    1. Re:From the begining by Baddas · · Score: 1

      If Valve abandons the PC, the mod community abandons them.

      90% of the playtime in the original halflife was in mods

    2. Re:From the begining by Leroy_Brown242 · · Score: 1

      For the sake of us all, I hope they see that.

      I wonder what the Xbox will do for the mod community.

    3. Re:From the begining by fireduck · · Score: 1

      given Valve's strong community ties and the fact that HL and its mods are the #1 played multiplayer game on the net, I can't see why they wouldn't develop it for PC. They are where they are today because of the mod community, and that's something that can't be continued on a closed console (at least not as easily).

      As for HL3 on xbox, I'm not sure what to make of that picture. If I'm squinting properly it looks like the entry above Halflife 3 reads Id Quake/Doom, which means what? That quake and doom are coming for xbox 360 (and not quake 4 or doom 3)? Or just that the particular game engine would be easily supported? Likewise there Epic Unreal further up the list. I imagine this particular slide is simply a demonstration of the XNA technology and how it would easily facilitate these various game engines.

      Besides, given the lag between HL and HL2 (98 to 2005?), I kinda doubt valve can promise MS that they'd have HL3 ready in any time frame...

    4. Re:From the begining by Ford+Prefect · · Score: 1

      As for HL3 on xbox, I'm not sure what to make of that picture. If I'm squinting properly it looks like the entry above Halflife 3 reads Id Quake/Doom, which means what?

      ... And they're in a box which appears to be labelled 'Game Engines'.

      The Half-Life 2 engine is called Source. If this crappy presentation had any real input from Valve, wouldn't the Half-Life 3 engine name be given (e.g. 'Source 2' or whatever)?

      --
      Tedious Bloggy Stuff - hooray?
    5. Re:From the begining by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Dear Leroy,

      Ha ha ha ha ha. Owned.

      Sincerely,
      Every Mac gamer who waited for years and years for Halo to be released for the Mac only to see Microsoft buy out Bungie

    6. Re:From the begining by Sithgunner · · Score: 1

      But then again, if they figured that console games sell and profit just as much than putting on PC having its life prolonged against mods, would you still make for PC?

      With all the software/hardware compatibility issues that they receive against support and the test they have to go through dozens and dozens of different configured machines...

      People buy game if it works on their hardware, wouldn't pick it, if costs you $500 upgrade on your pc...

      And yes I'm a big fan of PC gamer, only play console games for some 'one play only' RPG.

      It's more like their burden against the not so fun part of development gets so much cut down if it only goes to console.

    7. Re:From the begining by Leroy_Brown242 · · Score: 1

      Yeah, games are the main reason I've not switched completely.

      I've had macs, but can't be bothered to run multiple machines, when my PC does what I want well enough.

      If macs ran games, I would have switched a few years ago.

    8. Re:From the begining by C0rinthian · · Score: 1

      Word on the street is that they will be using the SOurce engine for HL3. Since a lot of the delat between 1 and 2 was caused by development of the engine, I seriously doubt the same delay can be expected for 3. All they need to do is the content.

    9. Re:From the begining by Uber+Banker · · Score: 1

      And... under the Steam system, they've constantly been tweaking and updating the Source engine. It is not the same engine it started out as. So long as Valve don't go on a whole redesign, the engine could be updated (for selective HL3 customers?) via the Steam system reasonably easily...

    10. Re:From the begining by chromaphobic · · Score: 1

      Word on the street is that they will be using the SOurce engine for HL3. Since a lot of the delat between 1 and 2 was caused by development of the engine, I seriously doubt the same delay can be expected for 3. All they need to do is the content

      Valve has stated that Source will be used for HL3, they intentionally built it to be extensible enough to keep it up-to-date with the latest technologies and hardware.

      Still, I'd expect HL3 is still several years off, my guess would be 2-3 years. They will probably still want to add new features to the engine, which takes time (they've spent months working on the HDR update.) They're also still working on the HL2 expansion, and likely haven't started working on HL3, at least beyond the conceptual stage.

      Assuming HL2:Aftermath actually comes out in December as they're shooting for, they'll have spent about a year developing that, and it's only about half the length of the full game and uses all the same environments, textures, models, etc. as HL2. One would hope HL3 won't be using HL2 content, so all that will have to be created from scratch, all of which takes time.

      I'd guess HL3 will come out towards the end of the X-Box 360's life cycle, just like HL2 is for the X-Box. Oh yeah, and I'd be amazed if it didn't come out for PC. As has already been stated, the engine is already done and was built for forward development. Why would they abandon it now?

  3. Yeah, right by Ford+Prefect · · Score: 1

    ... And Valve would throw away all its modders?

    It's highly likely that a Half-Life 3 would be ported to at least one console, like with the first two games, but a successful PC game developer chucking away modders, its Steam distribution platform, audience etc.? Hmm...

    --
    Tedious Bloggy Stuff - hooray?
    1. Re:Yeah, right by sirstar · · Score: 1

      And what's to say they won't release editors on the XB360? One thing that Microsoft has been saying about the console, People will be able to share/sell their maps and content to other xbox live people. Of course, that does require games to come with editors...
      Could be interesting...

    2. Re:Yeah, right by Suddenly_Dead · · Score: 1

      How are you going to mod on the console? A simple map editor isn't the same as the modding that takes place in PC FPS games, or even the more complex mapping.

      Definately seems to make more sense having a PC and a 360 version, then allowing interoperability for mods between the two versions.

  4. HL3 by muel · · Score: 1

    Sure, HL3 is reason enough to grab a system........ whenever HL3 comes out, anyway. (2 years? 5 years?)

    I mean, imagine if Super Mario 64 didn't come out for the N64 until a few years into the system's life, and you basically have the same opening launch lineup that the XBox 360 is looking at right now.

    November fast approaches, Microsoft... where's your killer app?

    1. Re:HL3 by Psiven · · Score: 0

      Well Perfect Dark is a pretty big deal...

    2. Re:HL3 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      If Conker is any indicator, Perfect Dark Zero is going to be a pretty big zero.

    3. Re:HL3 by radish · · Score: 1

      For me? PGR3.

      --

      ---- Den ene knappen er powerknapp, den andre er Bender voice knapp "Bite My Shiny Metal Ass"

  5. After HL2.... by Goyuix · · Score: 1

    No - I wouldn't buy an xbox just for HL3. Don't get me wrong, HL2 was good - but by no means a killer app nor has it the swaying power to make me get a single console over another...

    1. Re:After HL2.... by superpulpsicle · · Score: 1

      Without the graphics HL2 would be just any other FPS game. People bought it to see what their video cards can do. The plot and action isn't all that outrageous.

      Counterstrike was readily available anywhere. HL2 itself just can't provide 300-400 playing hours. HL3 would need its own version of counterstrike.

    2. Re:After HL2.... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No. No. No.

      Half-life 2 HAS a plot. Much more than "any other FPS game". It also has a nice physics engine, something which it uses almost as much as the "shoot baddies with gun" gimmic.

      Tell me, how many FPSes out there can you kill enemies with a washing machine and gravity?

  6. Halo the killer-app for xbox? by Alcamar · · Score: 1

    Halo was the killer-app for me for xbox 1. Problem was, at the time, I thought there was enough on the xbox to keep me in gaming bliss for a while. Turns out there wasn't, and then my system started to crap out on me(dvd drive isn't reading right anymore), basically leaving me with not only a few games I can't play elsewhere, but I system I almost wish I hadn't gotten.

    Prior experience with the xbox will shy me away from buying the xbox 360, but even still, at the time, Halo was enough to get me to buy. I'm sure, Halo 3 will be enough for many people to buy, and if they have HL 3, then it's a whole set of 3's for Microsoft, and they'll get their numbers, with or without me.

    1. Re:Halo the killer-app for xbox? by gabebear · · Score: 1

      You may want to look into modding your XBox so you no longer need to use the crappy crappy crappy XBox DVD drive. As long as you can get the drive to read the game disc once then you don't have to worry about dirty disc errors again. The drive in my XBox has almost completely crapped out now so I primarily load games onto it's HD via the network now.... On the down side XBLive will ban you if they catch you with a modded XBox, but you do get to use XBMC which was one of the reasons I originally bought an XBox for.

      I must agree with you about the games available for the XBox, it's pretty pathetic. All the games I like are available on all consoles(Burnout3, Worms 3D, Beyond Good and Evil, Prince of Persia, Psychonauts). If it weren't for the fact that the XBox is easily moddable, then the it would have been hands-down the worst console ever.

  7. Maybe.. by Propagandhi · · Score: 1

    I'd buy an Xbox360 for HL 3 if a variety of conditions were met, and I doubt they will be:

    1. HL 3 will have to be good (this is probably the easiest condition to meet. Say what you will about Valve, they know how to make a great single player FPS).

    2. XBox 360 will have to support usb keyboards and mice. I'm not going to bother with an undersized, overpriced, semi-functional, half-supported pseudo-keyboard/mouse combo. FPSes simply aren't nearly as enjoyable without this method of control (at least not fo me).

    3. HL 3 will have to require a significant PC upgrade for me. If it doesn't, then I'll simply get the PC version.

    4. Some kind of mod compatibility. This is the most difficult of my requirements, obviously, and I doubt it will happen. But I also don't think 2 or 3 are all that likely.

    All in all, I don't think a game not designed for the console's native control scheme is going to be much of a 'killer app'. After all, it's the mods that made the HL series truely great, and I don't see MS supporting the community...

    1. Re:Maybe.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I'm no n00b, so I know enough to be skeptical, but one of the big plans for XB Live 2.0 is user created content. They are supposed to not only ALLOW new maps and similar content to be created by normal users, but the micropayment system is actually supposed to allow someone to make some money off of their efforts and XBL is used to distribute the works. Now, adding money into the equation means quite a few things, many of them being pretty ugly. First of all, 90% of content created by users is going to be worthless. Of the other 10%, not all of it is good enough to be worth money. And I am sure you'll be limited by the Eulas and TOAs that the software companies (and MS) force on you. And that's just the beginning. But it's a pretty cool concept if it works. And you won't see it from Sony or the big N unless it takes off in a big way.

    2. Re:Maybe.. by Jmechy · · Score: 1

      but wouldn't it be amazing if it DID have mod capability? MS has been showing of its new xbox-live stuff, what makes you think it simply couldn't download an HL3 mod? Perhaps MS and valve would team up to release a free compiler for xbox 360 to be used for mods, and the rest of the mod should work the same from PC to Xbox360. Ok, so maybe its a little far fetched, but hot damn, that would be a reason to buy an xbox. If they can do it with hl3, they could do it with other games, and take a few points away from PC gaming.

    3. Re:Maybe.. by Propagandhi · · Score: 1

      It would be awesome, but real modding is more than just making a new map. It's access to an SDK which lets you rip up enough source code to actually change a few gameplay mechanics. I just don't see MS allowing people the ability to execute any kind of unsigned code.

      And serious modding would also require a real keyboard and mouse. Those have been promised in the past and they've only been delivered on in relatively minor ways (no sensitivity adjustment, programable keys etc.)

    4. Re:Maybe.. by DreadPiratePizz · · Score: 1

      All in all, I don't think a game not designed for the console's native control scheme is going to be much of a 'killer app'. After all, it's the mods that made the HL series truely great, and I don't see MS supporting the community...

      Clearly, the game WILL be designed for a console control scheme, if it's going to be made for a console. I'm not sure if you've played a game called Halo, but it's available for both the PC and the xbox, and both control flawlessly. It's not that hard.

      I really am sick and tired of that argument. I am able to play both the xbox and Mac versions of halo quite well. I've done several speedruns (check http://highspeedhalo.org/) for it, so I'm not just some joe shmoe who doesn't know left click from right. Granted, the xbox version controls just as well, if not better in some circumstances than the mac version. (And yes, I have a multibutton mouse for my mac.)

      I think you have a point about the mods though, as PCs now have the edge in that regard. Still, if it's supposed to be the media box it's cracked up to be, there's the possibility that you could downlaod content.

    5. Re:Maybe.. by raygundan · · Score: 1

      It's not a question of "better," as some people argue-- it's just a question of what you like. I don't like playing FPS games without my trusty keyboard and mouse, so I don't buy FPS games for my xbox. Online DDR and Burnout 3 are all I really play on it, though-- I'm just not finding a lot of games I really want that I can't already get for the PC or the 'cube.

      It's just what he likes. You're allowed to be tired of his argument, but it doesn't make his opinion invalid. You like both. We don't.

    6. Re:Maybe.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      both control flawlessly.

      Coming from the "Its a matter of taste" camp, I hate FPSes on consoles. The only acceptable ones were on the N64.

      Quite frankly, my thumbs are NOT meant to aim. Not at FLOOD, and especially not at other humans.

  8. Of course! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I still expect to get my XB360 pre-order in, if they don't sell out. HL3 is just icing on the cake. I'll pick it up when it hits the Platinum Edition el cheapo price point.....

  9. Killer games. by Goalie_Ca · · Score: 1

    Is a killer-app like HL3 enough to sway you to choose a system?"

    What use is a game console without any games!?!? (and this is coming from a mac user :P)

    --

    ----
    Go canucks, habs, and sens!
  10. Shocker: Halo 3 will be for the XBox 360 by Etone · · Score: 1

    Wow, that's some hard-hitting journalism there. You're really going out on a limb with this one.

    1. Re:Shocker: Halo 3 will be for the XBox 360 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I believe the article states Half-Life 3 as the title and does not mention Halo 3.

    2. Re:Shocker: Halo 3 will be for the XBox 360 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wow, that's some incredible reading skills there, buddy.

  11. Rather by vga_init · · Score: 1
    The game that made me consider the XBox 360 is Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion

    Usually it's single games that affect my decision. I bought an N64 back in the day just to play Zelda64. It was perhaps the only likable game I had for the system, but it was well worth what I paid for it, even if I only used the console for that one game. Next I got a PS2 in order to play the Final Fantasy games, which was mostly what I did with my SNES. I own other PS2 games, but I haven't played them as much or gotten as much enjoyment out of them.

    If I can ever afford a new console, XBox 360 is fast becoming the most attractive option, but I will of course be playing the waiting game. That's what I did with my PS2, and it certainly paid off. I'm eager to see the offerings from every company.

    The console that has captured most of my interest, however, is the new Gamepark handheld coming out. I haven't even finished lusting after the GP32, and already they're throwing another in my face!

    1. Re:Rather by SScorpio · · Score: 1
      I'd skip Oblivion on the Xbox 360. ES3: Morrowind was released on both the PC and original Xbox, and the PC verion came with modding tools and had a nice community behind it. The Xbox version was hacked to support some (maybe all I don't know) mods if you had a modded Xbox and played the game off the hard drive.

      Reading about all of the features with AI and such in Oblivion I cannot wait to see what cool things the community will bring out. Sure the 360 might support the downloading of some mods over Live, but it won't be the same as on the PC.

    2. Re:Rather by DoctaWatson · · Score: 1

      The thing to remember with Morrowind is that the Mod community really didn't come into its own until at least a year after the games release, and many months after the two expansions. There were some early mods, but the Morrowind modding community that we know today is only a little over a year old.

      The #1 reason to get Oblivion on the XBox 360 is that it will likely run flawlessly upon release, and there won't really be any mods for it at that point. Maybe a year down the road the PC version's mod community will have had a chance to blossom, expansions will have come out, and at then you can probably upgrade your computer to run it well without breaking the bank.

    3. Re:Rather by SScorpio · · Score: 1

      But then you'd be paying for the game more than once and probably waiting for the expansions just like with the Xbox version of Morrowind. Also Oblivion is supposed to work much better on older hardware than Morrowind. One of the main developers is running it in debug mod on a P4-2.6GHz /w a Radeon 9800Pro. If the game will fun ok on this type of machine on release I don't have any worries about running it.

    4. Re:Rather by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      P4-2.6GHz /w a Radeon 9800Pro

      Hey dumbass, thats not that old..

      *Now if it was a 900MHZ with a Geforce4, then wow..*

    5. Re:Rather by SScorpio · · Score: 1

      Yes and at the time of Morrowinds release I had a P3-1Ghz /w Geforce 256 and the game was choppy. Unless you had a top of the line PC at it didn't run that well. For Oblivian to run on a P4-2.6Ghz /w 9800Pro in "debug" and I'm assuming it's not a slideshow. That is impressive, and they optimized their engine a bit.

  12. YES! DO IT! BYE-BYE KIDDIES! by DrunkenTerror · · Score: 0, Troll

    Lord, I hope so. That would be awesome. That's where all those doucebag CS kids need to be anyway, either begging their parents for some expensive-ass kiddie konsole or out looking for work, not on Dad's computer looking at porn and playing Manhunt and San Andreas.

    CounterStrike has the worst community of any FPS. I dare you, try to play CS:S for 5 minutes without someone insulting you ethnicity or your sexuality. It happens to me every time I get a kill. Just look at all the New Games Journalism pieces that deal directly with HL or one of it's unauthorised modifications.

    CounterSteamValve (Well, that and MMOs) is a cancer on the breast of online computer entertainment. It will be a good thing for all those kids to get off the computer. Maybe they can go outside and mow some grass, and earn some money for the next gen console.

    Valve would be doing a service to the entire online gaming community, and for the children of America, if they went to Xbox 360 exclusively (an AMERICAN made console BTW).

    Only time will tell if gaben & company have the chutzpah to be real men and take a stand against the video games that corrupt our children and saturate our computer networks.

    1. Re:YES! DO IT! BYE-BYE KIDDIES! by Joehonkie · · Score: 1

      I really hope this was parody. The language is no better than that of the obnoxious kids you meet on Counterstrike.

      It is always your option to find a properly moderated server that suits your needs. I find them all the time without looking that hard. I certainly don't see anything in CS that "corrupts our children" since the game encourages teamwork and planning.

      Besides this, I don't see what this has to do with Half-life 3, which would presumably be primarily a one-player experience like the previous two games. Or how it would keep CS out of the hands of kids, who will presumably also have consoles.

      As for the idea of "unauthorized modifications," Valve encourages mods. As a matter of a fact, they make their bread and butter off of selling a moddable game and hiring up the best modders to fill out their portfolio.

      And if you want to "buy American," maybe you should be concerned with more high volume or high cost products like clothes and cars. It's not as if the PS2 is suddenly taking jobs away from the US. I don't care much where something is made as long as it isn't overpriced or a product of slave labor, but if I did I think my priorities would go beyond what game console I choose.

    2. Re:YES! DO IT! BYE-BYE KIDDIES! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      what the hell are you talking about?

      Shut the hell up.

    3. Re:YES! DO IT! BYE-BYE KIDDIES! by chromaphobic · · Score: 1

      Valve would be doing a service to the entire online gaming community, and for the children of America, if they went to Xbox 360 exclusively (an AMERICAN made console BTW).

      Ummm... American Made?

      The ATI GPU is being manufactured by TSMC is Taiwan. The hard drive is being manufactured by Seagate in Singapore. The memory is being manufactured by NEC in Japan. The DVD drive is manufactured by Toshiba in Japan. The connectors are being built by FoxLink & Ji-Haw in Taiwan. The final assembly is being done in China. Just about the only thing in the whole damn console being made in the US is the CPU's coming out of IBM's fabrication facility in New York.

      American made? Walter. Tango. Foxtrot.

    4. Re:YES! DO IT! BYE-BYE KIDDIES! by blackicye · · Score: 1

      Actually they use Western Digital Hard drives made in Thailand. And DVD-ROM drives from Korea.

      Seagate from Singapore is probably just way too spendy.

      Also don't forget the assembly and packaging in Mexico or China! mmmm hmmm made in America!

    5. Re:YES! DO IT! BYE-BYE KIDDIES! by radish · · Score: 1

      According to microsoft it's Seagate

      --

      ---- Den ene knappen er powerknapp, den andre er Bender voice knapp "Bite My Shiny Metal Ass"

    6. Re:YES! DO IT! BYE-BYE KIDDIES! by chromaphobic · · Score: 1

      Apparantly he's another one of those flag-waving blind patriots who equate "American company" with "American made."

      Kinda like those folks with "Buy American" bumper stickers on their Dodge Rams, probably unaware of the fact that many of them are assembled in Mexico. Oh yeah, and let's not forget that Dodge is owned by DaimlerChrysler, a primarily German company.

    7. Re:YES! DO IT! BYE-BYE KIDDIES! by 2008 · · Score: 1

      "Buy American" - maybe they're referring to the continent rather than the country?

      More likely they just forgot the punctuation. It's supposed to say "Buy, American!" - a friendly message from your corporate overlords :)

      --
      I quit!
  13. Translation Issues by FunkLord84 · · Score: 1

    Hmm, maybe the Spanish translators had issues and its actually just Halo 3 being developed for the XBOX360....

  14. Killer App? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Are you fucking joking?

    The 360 is turning out to be a fucking joke graphically. It's only a few months before launch and MS isn't releasing real in game footage except for a fucking racing game.

    Why the fuck would any pc gamer want to play HL on a gimped piece of hardware like the 360? MS better fucking not buy the title as an exclusive.

    1. Re:Killer App? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      P.S. Fuck!!1!

  15. No way! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Everyone knows PC games are better automatically simply because it's much easier to play a FPS using a mouse and keyboard. Surely Valve wouldn't automatically doom my purchase (as well as many others, I'm sure) of HL3 by developing it for a console!

  16. What reason is there to even think it's exclusive? by RealmRPGer · · Score: 1

    Since when has a Half Life ever even been an exclusive among consoles? HL1 was released on DreamCast, PS2 AND XBox. There is absolutely nothing even hinting at that Valve wants to make this an XBox exclusive. It's simply the case of the first man spilling the beans, most likely too early (it's in Spanish, right? Then most likely they don't have the best ties with Valve (you know, 'cause they speak English and all) and therefore could easily have slipped up when they were supposed to make it secret).

  17. I'll already have a 360 though? by mizzoubear56 · · Score: 1

    I would buy a 360 just for Half Life 3(that's after the game is reviewed). The thing though is that I will already have a 360 just for PGR3 and Gears of War. I don't game on my computer. I do everything but game on it. Though playing GBA games doesn't count.:dodgy:

  18. In A Word: Yes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Good lord, the cranky, high-expectation folks awkake!

    If the Xbox version of Half Life "3" was merely an uber-optimized version of HL2 made to run on my Hi-Def TV (let's face my jaded slashbots- that game looks AMAZING, even on midrange PCs) with new story/content and featured killer online play (including a Counterstrike of some form or another), I would be in hog heaven.

    Chances are if the folks who took the time to comment here were faced with that product they'd buy it too, no matter what insane requirements they list on here.

    1. Re:In A Word: Yes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why would anyone buy it if it looked worse and had to be played with a controller? What's the point? And who is listing insane requirements?!?!

      The only 'cranky' folk is you!

  19. Re:What reason is there to even think it's exclusi by MBraynard · · Score: 1

    Small correction - HL1 was not released for Xbox (although Counterstrike, possible a version identical to source, was).

  20. Interface you freaking idiots! by spankey51 · · Score: 1

    "Is a killer-app like HL3 enough to sway you to choose a system?"

    Not if I can't use a mouse and WASD!

    --
    -ubuntu others as you would have others ubuntu you.
    1. Re:Interface you freaking idiots! by Saige · · Score: 1

      Yeah, because jamming your fingers together on a keyboard and trying to hit the keys on a large field of identical keys is a much better gaming experience than playing on something designed expressly for playing games.

      While the mouse makes a lot of sense for aiming, using the keyboard is makeshift and very far from ideal. I actually bought another controller to use for PC FPS games - a Microsoft Strategic Commander - because a keyboard is SO INCREDIBLY FAR from a good controller for such games.

      --
      "You know your god is man-made when he hates all the same people you do."
    2. Re:Interface you freaking idiots! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What? You use the tiny, jammed together buttons on the top? Or the ones on the side where you're stuck with only your thumb and have to move it a long way to hit the back button?

      If you don't like keyboards try a joystick, or tape a joypad to your desk. That thing looks OK for RTSes (though it doesn't seem to have enough buttons to manage 10 squads), but FPS? Doubtful.

    3. Re:Interface you freaking idiots! by raygundan · · Score: 1

      Wait, all the keys on your keyboard are the same? That *would* suck. Fortunately, mine has little raised bumps to let you feel where you are, and the shift/ctrl/alt/space/tab keys I use are shaped differently.

      Plus, it doesn't hurt that I get free keyboard training every day at work. I'd probably be better with a console controller if I used them all day at work, too.

    4. Re:Interface you freaking idiots! by Saige · · Score: 1

      The SC had 8 buttons on the top, and 6 of those had your fingers sitting directly on top of them, so you don't have to move to press them. The three on the side for your thumb are shift buttons for the main top 6 - meaning that you have essentially 26 buttons at your fingertips.

      I never played a FPS where I had to program all the buttons - and I even had various "taunt" macros to use, along with the standard communication ones for CTF games. My FPS play improved significantly when going from the KB to the SC. Heck, I've used it for any game that has keyboard shortcuts - I STILL have the muscle memory from playing countless hours of Diablo II with it.

      --
      "You know your god is man-made when he hates all the same people you do."
    5. Re:Interface you freaking idiots! by boarder · · Score: 1

      Jamming my fingers together on a keyboard and trying to hit keys? You must have either a) very large fingers, or b) a very small keyboard. My fingers naturally fall on ASDF with my thumb perfectly resting on the space bar. There is no cramming, and this is the natural at rest position of my hand. I think having 5 fingers perform 7 functions with the keyboard and 3 fingers performing 4 with the mouse is much more natural than 2 thumbs and 2 index fingers doing all the same stuff. Each finger has to do twice the work when using a controller.

      Think about it. Most games are setup on a console with the thumb buttons for jumping picking up weapons and such... that same thumb is also setup for aiming. How does one aim and jump at the same time? Even if you setup your controller a little differently, there will still be a time when you can't hit certain buttons at the same time when you need to. I absolutely guarantee that if you put the top PC Halo players with a kb+m playing against the top console Halo players with a controller, the PC guys would wipe the floor with them. I've played both extensively, and, aside from wacky PC keyboard-like, gaming specific interfaces, nothing can beat a kb+m for FPS games.

      That said, the controller is definitely better for other types of games. Third person games like Splinter Cell are very good with a controller (though I haven't spent much time trying it on a PC with a kb+m). Racing games can only be played well with a controller or a wheel... trying those on a keyboard is very, very tough (analog mouse movements for accel and brake are required for accurate control and those can only be done on the mouse, which doesn't work so well).

      It's also funny you mentioned the Strategic Commander for FPS games, since it was designed for strategy games and wouldn't work very well at all (from the reviews I read) for FPS gaming... they do have the Dual Strike for FPS games, but although it is an interesting take on aiming, I'm not sure how well it would work. The reviews I read of the strategic commander also said the buttons were too close together, and he felt he had to jam his fingers to hit them.

      --
      IANAL, but I play one on /.
    6. Re:Interface you freaking idiots! by Saige · · Score: 1

      It's also funny you mentioned the Strategic Commander for FPS games, since it was designed for strategy games and wouldn't work very well at all (from the reviews I read) for FPS gaming... they do have the Dual Strike for FPS games, but although it is an interesting take on aiming, I'm not sure how well it would work. The reviews I read of the strategic commander also said the buttons were too close together, and he felt he had to jam his fingers to hit them.

      I doubt anyone reviewing the SC for FPS games gave it enough time. It took me about a full weekend of play to get to the point I was comfortable with it, but once I got to that point, it was definitely better than the KB and more intuitive. And I don't get the buttons being "too close together" - they sat right under my fingers so that I didn't even have to move them at all to have the buttons, and it was much more comfortable than a keyboard ever was.

      --
      "You know your god is man-made when he hates all the same people you do."
  21. There's no way it will be exclusive by dnixon112 · · Score: 1

    Valve is not stupid enough to abandon Steam. Steam is their vision and plan for the future, without HL3 they would lose a lot of money. Obviously Valve is very close to MS with Gabe Newell being a former employee and all, so perhaps we'll something like HL3 being exclusive to the Xbox360, among the consoles only.

    1. Re:There's no way it will be exclusive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Yeah, but think how many more sales they would get if they did abandon Steam. Once a product goes to Product Activation like Half Life 2, like many of us out here, I am gone forever. Microsoft OS? I dropped it and have never gotten Windows XP. It's Linux forever now. Quicken Turbo Tax - it is dead to me now. I switched to an alternative without Product Activation, Tax Act. Half Life 2? I will never, ever, ever buy it. Fuck you, Valve.

  22. Re:What reason is there to even think it's exclusi by drxray · · Score: 1

    HL1 also wasn't released for the DC, though they ported it (but didn't finish debugging) and you can find an almost-entirely-working version (including Blue Shift) on various P2P services.

    --
    Slashdot - Mutual Assured Discussion
  23. Won't happen. EOF by illumina+us · · Score: 1

    This simply won't happen. It would take Valve YEARS to develop a sequel to HL2. It is taking them well over a year to develop Lost Coast. Moreover, still under development is TFC2 and CS2. More likely is that HL2 will be ported to the 360 rather than the XBox so that no loss of quality (other than controls) is necessary (see Doom3 for example of quality loss). Unless the XBox 360 will be able to run Steam I highly doubt HL3 will be released for it anytime near the PC release.

    --
    -illumina+us "I put on my robe and wizard hat..."
  24. $300 for one game? by gmezero · · Score: 1

    My answer is no. I waited till November of 2004 to get my first X-Box. I was able to buy it new for $180 and got four games and a racing wheel from a Toys'R'Us sale. I'll wait a few years until a deal like that comes around for the 360.

  25. Did anyone see the slides? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Did anyone actually read the slides? QWERTY keyboard? Yeah right.

    Also, the one that supposedly says something related to Half-Life is too small to actually read.

    This has bullshit written all over it

  26. An answer to the question by bruciferofbrm · · Score: 1

    Is a killer app like HL3 enough to drive me to buy an XBOX 360?

    No. Half Life has never been a killer app. HL2 is not either. They are both incredible games. Great stories. But I would never make a hardware purchase based on them alone.

    A series of killer apps or really good games is what it would take me to buy any console. I did not buy a PS2 until recently. It now has a very solid base of very good games. I did not buy it because of any one game.

    Yes, I too can not see the logic in an exclusive deal for any future versions of Half Life. But thats not the question at hand.

    Bet you can guess who's not going to be an early adopter for this platform.

  27. Price Point by Bkeela · · Score: 1

    Enough of this price point jargon. Just say PRICE you richard craniums.

    1. Re:Price Point by cornface · · Score: 0

      Maybe it's actually pointy.

      Think before you post, please.

  28. Well... by FlamingLaird · · Score: 1

    It'll come down to just how much money Microsoft is willing to dangle in front of Valve up-front for exclusivity (or at least semi-exclusivity).

    Valve, of all companies, knows what a huge sales driver the mod / aftermarket community is. Just look at the record sales of Halflife 1 Game of the Year, Counterstrike, Opposing Force, Day of Defeat, etc. Packs, which basically involved NO development cost on Valve's part. These packs were either retail packaging of community created mods (Counterstrike, Day of Defeat) or low cost additional content created by third party studios. (Opposing Force). The primary impetous for purchase however was the ability to play any of the literally hundreds of other mods available free for download.

    Now with Steam (admitedly forcibly) in place, Valve has a great system for distribution of other worthwhile mods and "content" packs.

    I doubt seriously that Valve will be willing to dampen this revenue stream by moving to a console unless Microsoft offers them enough money to compensate.

    --
    "42"
  29. engines not games by kosh_mdh · · Score: 1

    The list with HL3 on is a list of engines not a list of games... for example it also includes Crytek...not Far Cry

  30. No. by rAiNsT0rm · · Score: 1

    The PS3 and 360 are both going to be FPS/sports/big-name developer/licensed content consoles. They are just too expensive and lengthy to develop for. Only the big fish are going to be developing for them which means more of the same with no innovation. Who can afford to innovate when games will be moving into the 7-8 digit range in costs?

    HL3 and all the FPS titles in the world are not enough to draw me and my gaming dollar.

    --
    http://teasphere.wordpress.com - A little spot of tea
  31. In reply to the submitter... by wolf31o2 · · Score: 1
    Is a killer-app like HL3 enough to sway you to choose a system?

    No. Otherwise, I would be running Windows so I could play all of the great and exciting games that come out and are never ported to my platform of choice. Maybe it is just me, but I think the idea of purchasing a piece of hardware, particularly a console, on the sole basis of a single game is insane. Wouldn't it make more sense to buy the system that is more likely to have the games that you want? Maybe even support a company that has always delivered the games that you want?

  32. No Way by TheOldSchooler · · Score: 1

    It took Valve nearly five years just to create Half-Life 2, and they still haven't even released the expansion level (Lost Coast) for that game yet. There's no concievable way they could have Half-Life 3 ready for the Xbox 360 release. Not to mention the massive investment they've made into their content delivery system Steam. This is just an incorrect rumor.

  33. PC FPS by ShadowMarth · · Score: 1

    FPS games should be confined to the PC, and possibly systems that have some other way to control it, because dual analog just isn't worthy in comparison to mouse and keyboard. Too bad people don't have this common sense.

  34. flawlessly? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The PC version of Halo has the mouse sensitivity capped at an extremely low level, especially when you consider that at all the weapons you need accuracy with have a zoom mode.
    It irritates me quite a bit, as well as leading me to think that Bungie was deliberately handicapping the non-Xbox versions so they don't handle significantly better than on the console.

    YMMV of course. I generally use higher sensitivities than most people, so I bet many didn't even notice.

  35. 360 hath no charm by thirty2bit · · Score: 1

    No 360, period. I just don't like controllers for FPS or TPS games. I have an Xbox now, and have bought several titles (and rented several more) that are not fun at all to play because of the controller. Some people can blaze away with the Xbox or other controllers, but I can't. Keyboard and mouse are simply more ergonomic for me.

  36. A first for consoles? by Crumplecorn · · Score: 1

    If HL3 (or HL2, anything that uses Steam) was released on a console, wouldn't that be the first time crippleware was released for a console? It's not even that common on PC is it? Windows XP, Norton and HL2 are the only ones I know of personally.
    Could such activation even work on a console, they all have Internet access these days, but AFAIK HL2 requires mass downloading to unbreak on first use? Does the 360 have a HDD as standard?

  37. half-Life 3 would be a good edition to the xbox 360 line up.