Half-life: a call to all the pc gamers out there.

[irishstormtrooper]

Eh, the games were influential, I understand that, but they don't really hold up that well. The shooting isn't as fun as in modern games, nor is the driving or puzzles. It's a good game from a technical standpoint, but it isn't as enjoyable as more recent games.

 

[BloodSquirrel]

That's just fucking silly. Doom 3 was only a step forward technologically, and even if it did have double the texture resolution I think people will agree that the faces in Half-Life 2 are MUCH easier on the eyes. It was a technical marvel, and the physics gameplay was brand new and blowing people's minds, and even though many games had attempted it none had really accomplished the immersive quality that Half-Life 1 possessed, while Half-Life 2 managed to improve it considerably. Highly irrelevant, that's a fucking laugh. I'm positive it wasn't just me and my friends chomping at the bit when this thing finally came out.

Doom 3 actually took advantage of it's technical achievement to create an incredibly creepy, immersive environment. Doom 3 actually tried to do something different with the FPS formula, making it into a quasi-survival horror. I can actually point at games like, say, Dead Space or Bioshock and comment on the similarities. Half-Life 2 just used it's tech to try to look as realistic as possible.

Look at other shooters coming out at the time and look at shooters coming out now. It's not Half-Life they're modeling themselves after. Half-Life 2 was based off of FPS tropes that were dying at the time, and most people who go back and play them after having played more modern shooters first will note how dated they feel. Doom 3, which certainly not revolutionary, at least still stands up well.

What is so wrong with liking Valve?

Let me give you the cynical answer: Valve is one of the last of the true PC developers in a world that's increasingly console-first. One inevitable effect of this is that they attract PC fanboys who hype them up beyond what they really should. When Halo, a dirty console shooter, was at the top of the FPS world, Half-Life 2 is what they rallied around.

The deification of Half-Life 2 gets kind of annoying after a while, especially when it comes from self-styled "hard core FPS gamers" whose experience with the genre seems to be limited to Half-Life and nothing else.

 

[300lb. Samoan]

Doom 3 actually took advantage of it's technical achievement to create an incredibly creepy, immersive environment. Doom 3 actually tried to do something different with the FPS formula, making it into a quasi-survival horror. I can actually point at games like, say, Dead Space or Bioshock and comment on the similarities. Half-Life 2 just used it's tech to try to look as realistic as possible.

Look at other shooters coming out at the time and look at shooters coming out now. It's not Half-Life they're modeling themselves after. Half-Life 2 was based off of FPS tropes that were dying at the time, and most people who go back and play them after having played more modern shooters first will note how dated they feel. Doom 3, which certainly not revolutionary, at least still stands up well.

Half-Life 1 was 'quasi-survival horror' before Doom 3 tried its hand at it, Doom 3 just differs because it borrows ham-handedly from the heavy atmospherics of Resident Evil and Silent Hill. I don't feel at all that the technology has anything to do with Doom 3's accomplishment in the horror genre.

And while most shooters are drawing influence from Halo in terms of their play mechanics, its Half-Life from which they learn about developing an immersive diegesis. It's true that Half-Life is mostly touted by PC fans, but many technologies and gaming innovations parroted commonly by modern games started either in the first or second Half-Life installment.

And the biggest reason most games are borrowing Halo's game mechanics is because Halo was the first really successful application of FPS game play on a console system (besides Goldeneye), none of VALVe's games have transferred all that gracefully to console other than the Left 4 Dead games which were developed console-first.

If I can dig it up, I'll share a post from a conversation earlier this year where I delineated all of the game developments that started in the Half-Life series. [EDIT: I looked, I can't find it. It was the 3 millionth 'Half-Life vs. Halo' or 'Why does everyone love Valve?' thread we've had around here, so I think it's lost forever...] The bottom line is that Half-Life was a very special experience to those of us who were there at its genesis, but any one interested in the finer points of game design can't deny its historical influence and that alone makes it worth at least an honest effort if not a complete play-through.

 

[Candidus]

What is so wrong with liking Valve?

Let me give you the cynical answer: Valve is one of the last of the true PC developers in a world that's increasingly console-first. One inevitable effect of this is that they attract PC fanboys who hype them up beyond what they really should. When Halo, a dirty console shooter, was at the top of the FPS world, Half-Life 2 is what they rallied around.

The deification of Half-Life 2 gets kind of annoying after a while, especially when it comes from self-styled "hard core FPS gamers" whose experience with the genre seems to be limited to Half-Life and nothing else.

I didn't ask that! xD I rather `dislike` Valve, as it so happens! Not because it's fashionable or whatever the immediate suspicion might be. I just don't think they've produced anything 'earth shatteringly' good. Half Life 2, considered by many to be their crown jewel, is the least of their hit-and-miss bunch.

 

[Nomanslander]

As much of a nerd I am for Half-Life...I wouldn't make a request like that.

Not everyone is going to think it's that great, especially when you're asking a certain demographic to play it.

For one, the Halo3/MW2 demographic..

They're just really into big explosions and flashy lights to notice a game like Half-Life in all it's awesomeness.

It's kinda like movies...some people will be into Transformers 2, other would prefer District 9.


And you can't expect one to like the other....>>

 

[TheSeventhLoneWolf]

Aah. Pc gamers are just console gamers with their hands in different positions.
Vice versa.

I played all the Half-Life games, The gameplay wasn't that good, the story was brilliant.

 

[Ultracake]

Half life series, Excellent games. A few of my favorites actually.

I agree that anyone who hasn't played them should give em' a go.

I just kind of wish the next one would be released soon

*Kisses Gabe's feet*

 

[JoGribbs]

I've played all of those games... on consoles.

*stoned to death by PC fanboys*

 

[Mcupobob]

Not sure why your so concern for random people on the internt who have not been enlighten by the orignal half-life game.

btw Still haven't played any of the Eps.

 

[300lb. Samoan]

I've played all of those games... on consoles.

*stoned to death by PC fanboys*

I actually really like playing Half-Life 2 et. al. on XBox 360, the controller is great! It's just a pain that the button layout is different in every single title, wtf.

*tortured by the inquisition*

 

[Acier]

Um, okay.

Even a lot of console players have played these games. So it's only natural that even more PC players have them since that's their core fanbase.

 

[Glademaster_v1legacy]

I made this thread because of my growing concern that too many pc gamers haven't played the original half-life, half-life 2, half-life 2 ep 1, half-life 2 ep 2. I strongly recommend that everyone who hasn't played those, should definetly play them.

Btw read the whole thread, at least some pages, you will find that alot of people haven't played it so stop saying everyone has.

You missed out on Blue Shift and Opposing Forces I have actually yet to play any of them but with the steam sale I have them all and I am wait for them to download all their patches now.

 

[ImprovizoR]

It's been a long time since I played original Half-Life. I admit I can barely remember anything. Perhaps it is time to refresh my memory. I do remember the awesomeness I felt when I played it. And I recommend it to everyone who hasn't played it yet.

 

[ucciolord1]

Never got a chance to play them, but I definitely should.

 

[BloodSquirrel]

Half-Life 1 was 'quasi-survival horror' before Doom 3 tried its hand at it, Doom 3 just differs because it borrows ham-handedly from the heavy atmospherics of Resident Evil and Silent Hill. I don't feel at all that the technology has anything to do with Doom 3's accomplishment in the horror genre.

Doom 3 couldn't have been Doom 3 without the lighting effects that the engine was capable of. The games was steeped in shadow and darkness to the point of it being part of the game's mechanics.

You also can't really compare Resident Evil and Doom 3. Resident Evil is more unintentional humor than horror. More importantly, the fact that we still have games that do what Doom 3 did just goes to show that Doom 3 isn't antiquated.

And while most shooters are drawing influence from Halo in terms of their play mechanics, its Half-Life from which they learn about developing an immersive diegesis. It's true that Half-Life is mostly touted by PC fans, but many technologies and gaming innovations parroted commonly by modern games started either in the first or second Half-Life installment.

Name a single ground-breaking element in Half-Life 2.

And the biggest reason most games are borrowing Halo's game mechanics is because Halo was the first really successful application of FPS game play on a console system (besides Goldeneye), none of VALVe's games have transferred all that gracefully to console other than the Left 4 Dead games which were developed console-first.

Not really helping your argument. If the PC FPS market is so weak that every game is imitating Halo simply because it works better on consoles, then that makes the entire PC FPS market, well, irrelevant.

Besides, if Half-Life 2 was so innovative then I'd expect elements to make it into modern shooters anyway.

 

[NuclearPenguin]

Well, thanks.

I have, but...urm..

Thanks anyway...

EDIT: And I might as well mention that I've never met a single hardcore PC gamer who hasn't played at least one of those games.

Ive played all 4. I havnt played more than 10 minutes on each though.

 

[The Red Spy]

Wouldn't writing a review do your point a bit more justice? I've more a chance to buy and play a game if someone can be bothered to put some of their own time putting their thoughts into words instead of "BUY IT NOW... NOOOW!".

 

[BloodSquirrel]

What is so wrong with liking Valve?

Let me give you the cynical answer: Valve is one of the last of the true PC developers in a world that's increasingly console-first. One inevitable effect of this is that they attract PC fanboys who hype them up beyond what they really should. When Halo, a dirty console shooter, was at the top of the FPS world, Half-Life 2 is what they rallied around.

The deification of Half-Life 2 gets kind of annoying after a while, especially when it comes from self-styled "hard core FPS gamers" whose experience with the genre seems to be limited to Half-Life and nothing else.

I didn't ask that! xD I rather `dislike` Valve, as it so happens! Not because it's fashionable or whatever the immediate suspicion might be. I just don't think they've produced anything 'earth shatteringly' good. Half Life 2, considered by many to be
their crown jewel, is the least of their hit-and-miss bunch.

I'm not really sure how that happened.

 

[WrongSprite]

Yeahh, a lot of gamers haven't played those.

APART FROM EVERY FUCKING VALVE WHORE ON THIS FORUM

What is so wrong with liking Valve?

I didn't say that. I was just pointing out the irony of the O.P when everyone and their mother has played them

 

[DM master]

Meh i played HL2 and hated every minute i played on it. One of the worst few hours of my gaming life..