Poll: So Valve broke HL1...

[Ziame]

In a weird move from valve, they are fiercely updating the first (yes, that old poo) half-life.

"What did they fix?!" you ask, "What new features we got?" you cry.

Uh, none. They removed D3D. They removed EAX.

Only two options remain in the video rendering department - software (uh...) and OpenGL(UH...!)

Now, I don't have anything against OGL per se, but my intel integrated can't handle OpenGL for shit, and I am stuck with 5FPS (playing sven coop, which requires OGL or D3D). Why do I care? LAN-parties on laptops...

And this is why I don't like Steam. first they force us to use steam's auth servers, and now THIS? Come ON!

VALVE, WHAT THE FUCK?


Discussion value: What do you think of such moves? (also the question in the poll, escapist ate it)

I say it's being an asshole. Were it a fresh buy I would definitely demand my cash back. I think it is definitely wrong to downgrade a game - even as old as this - just to satisfy some 'policy'. Fine, don't add DirectX to new games Valve*, but why downgrade purchased copies?

What next? "Multiplayer has been dropped in new build"?



*oh right, you don't make games anymore.


EDIT: it seems it happened almost a year ago... still, haven't heard about it till now.
EDIT2: misread, recent happening.

 

[endtherapture]

Just download Black Mesa and play that.

 

[Ziame]

Just download Black Mesa and play that.

There is no COOP for Half Life 2. Also, I don't own HL2. Neither do my buddies with whom I play. Furthermore, Source games are more demanding than their GoldSRC counterparts.

 

[Mr Cwtchy]

Ummmm... could someone explain to me exactly why they would do this?

I mean, what do they gain from it? I just can't see the logic here.

 

[Ziame]

Ummmm... could someone explain to me exactly why they would do this?

I mean, what do they gain from it? I just can't see the logic here.

Directx is owned by MS and EAX by Creative so I guess, moneys?

But MY money is on "making a stand against X"! because they are so hip, them valves

 

[Zantos]

At a guess (I am totally not to be held to the accuracy of this information) they're making it compatible with Steam for Linux. I'm no guru, but I think the idea is Direct3D only works for Windows, but OpenGL is fine for both. It would be better if they had the original version and the altered version for you to choose from, but if it's a problem related to integrated graphics it's probably just an oversight on their part.

I'm going to get quoted so many times telling me I'm wrong.

 

[ResonanceSD]

Valve are busy fellating Linux for some stupid reason or another, this probably fits right into their plan.

But of course, on these forums VALVE CAN NEVER DO WRONG, EVER.

 

[Ziame]

At a guess (I am totally not to be held to the accuracy of this information) they're making it compatible with Steam for Linux. I'm no guru, but I think the idea is Direct3D only works for Windows, but OpenGL is fine for both. It would be better if they had the original version and the altered version for you to choose from, but if it's a problem related to integrated graphics it's probably just an oversight on their part.

I'm going to get quoted so many times telling me I'm wrong.

This is probably the reason, but that doesn't explain why they couldn't just make Half-Life Linux position i library (as they do with Mac-versions). Why force an update on Windows users that benefits only Linux users?

 

[Zantos]

At a guess (I am totally not to be held to the accuracy of this information) they're making it compatible with Steam for Linux. I'm no guru, but I think the idea is Direct3D only works for Windows, but OpenGL is fine for both. It would be better if they had the original version and the altered version for you to choose from, but if it's a problem related to integrated graphics it's probably just an oversight on their part.

I'm going to get quoted so many times telling me I'm wrong.

This is probably the reason, but that doesn't explain why they couldn't just make Half-Life Linux position i library (as they do with Mac-versions). Why force an update on Windows users that benefits only Linux users?

Well, theoretically, in a hypothetical kind of way if you can have one game that works for both, it's better for everyone. They only need to keep tabs on one copy, and because they don't need to divide assets between what is essentially two different games they can deal with bugs and issues faster so you're only waiting half your life for them to fix the bugs you're having.

Unfortunately, as I have found many times throughout life, theoretically a good idea and actually a good idea are two very different things.

 

[DoPo]

Just download Black Mesa and play that.

There is no COOP for Half Life 2. Also, I don't own HL2. Neither do my buddies with whom I play. Furthermore, Source games are more demanding than their GoldSRC counterparts.

Black Mesa des not require Half-Life 2 - only the Source SDK which is free on Steam.

At a guess (I am totally not to be held to the accuracy of this information) they're making it compatible with Steam for Linux. I'm no guru, but I think the idea is Direct3D only works for Windows, but OpenGL is fine for both. It would be better if they had the original version and the altered version for you to choose from, but if it's a problem related to integrated graphics it's probably just an oversight on their part.

I'm going to get quoted so many times telling me I'm wrong.

This is probably the reason, but that doesn't explain why they couldn't just make Half-Life Linux position i library (as they do with Mac-versions). Why force an update on Windows users that benefits only Linux users?

Well, theoretically, in a hypothetical kind of way if you can have one game that works for both, it's better for everyone. They only need to keep tabs on one copy, and because they don't need to divide assets between what is essentially two different games they can deal with bugs and issues faster so you're only waiting half your life for them to fix the bugs you're having.

Unfortunately, as I have found many times throughout life, theoretically a good idea and actually a good idea are two very different things.

Technically, you're correct, however the Windows version is stable already - it's a 15 year old game - it doesn't really need any patches that could potentially break something. It would make more sense to fork it and have a separate version that could break or not. Also, OS X games already came in two versions - when you buy a game, you get two entries and one works on Windows, the other didn't (although they weren't LABELLED).

The only reason I could think of for having to maintain a single version is to reuse the same files, so you can launch the same game regardless of which OS you're running at the moment. But I'm not sure why this mandated the removal of D3D for Windows, I'm pretty sure there could be two launchers or something that - one that allows it the other that doesn't.

 

[Smooth Operator]

Patches cutting out features is the absolute worst a software developer can do, granted these are minor but bullshit needs to be called on thing that are bullshit.

 

[Gameguy20100]

As I have said before Valve are capable of being arseholes to

 

[bafrali]

As I have said before Valve are capable of being arseholes to

Please tell me. How does this fit into Valve's grand plan to take over the world?

OT: I am surprised that people are still playing the original Half Life. I am gonna check mine now to see how things are going. You never know when will nostalgia will hit you

 

[Gameguy20100]

As I have said before Valve are capable of being arseholes to

Please tell me. How does this fit into Valve's grand plan to take over the world?

OT: I am surprised that people are still playing the original Half Life. I am gonna check mine now to see how things are going. You never know when will nostalgia will hit you

No Idea my man but as for the nostalgia thing no Half life game really lived up to its hype for me I am always going to have massive expectations when some says something Is "the best game ever" Its the reason I find the portal series just average and I hate TF2 so much

 

[bartholen_v1legacy]

I would say something if I understood what the hell you were talking about. Another case of "use acronyms without explaining what they mean or do" -itis.

But downgrading old games through patches is just bullshit. I think the time when the game industry collapses and Jim Sterling will rally us under his banner and lead us to a new age of gaming can't be far away if this sort of stuff gets more common.

 

[sextus the crazy]

I would say something if I understood what the hell you were talking about. Another case of "use acronyms without explaining what they mean or do" -itis.

Pretty much this. I get the feeling you're talking about some sort of video rendering thing, but you seem to talk only in Jargon, so I don't know.

That said, it's still unfortunate for you that this happened.

 

[DoPo]

I would say something if I understood what the hell you were talking about. Another case of "use acronyms without explaining what they mean or do" -itis.

Erm, there are three acronyms used:
D3D is short from Direct3D and that can just be substituted with DirectX - it's for rendering 3D stuff.
OGL, which is actually referred to OpenGL so it's not an unexplained acronym but at any rate, it's an open source alternative of DirectX
Finally, EAX which is known as EAX. The meaning behind the acronym is "environmental audio extension" but I actually had to look that up - I've usually seen it referred to EAX. It's for audio processing.

Well, there is also LAN and for the record, that's a "local area network" but I suppose you know it.

 

[Baneat]

I would say something if I understood what the hell you were talking about. Another case of "use acronyms without explaining what they mean or do" -itis.

But downgrading old games through patches is just bullshit. I think the time when the game industry collapses and Jim Sterling will rally us under his banner and lead us to a new age of gaming can't be far away if this sort of stuff gets more common.

What on earth would be the point of Using a common acronym then going on to explain the acronym at length?

 

[Woodsey]

I say it's being an asshole.

Well of course you do, since the rest of your post is so calm and reasoned. (How does one roll ones eyes with punctuation? Never mind: I roll my eyes at you.)

Global Offensive was also released at the end of last year and DotA 2 is in some peculiar "it's-not-in-beta-but-it-is-really-but-it's-not" type thing. I mean, that counts as releasing games to me.

Anyway, does this removal pertain to the original Half-Life and the Source version, or are we just talking about one or the other?