The Half Life 2: Episode 1 topic

[CaseyRyback]

anyone else excited? I just got some new PC speakers and can't wait to try them out tomorrow while taking out the combine. Hopefully Best Buy gets the game in fairly early so I can nab it and start playing.

[Richlough]

The Phantom Menace ?

Does this have the same system requirements as HL2 ?
Or is it enhanced like The Lost Coast ?

[CaseyRyback]

The Phantom Menace ?

I think you should edit the title .


I didn't really think it would need any clarity since it is a pretty big title, but I guess I can add something.

[Chacrana]

I'm honestly not that excited about this... Half Life 2 was okay... but I didn't think it was anywhere near as good as stuff like FEAR or Far Cry. And there's the fact that I absolutely hate everything about activating via Steam. But yeah, I'm sorta interested to find out how it turns out.

[Sinistar]

Does it have any new weapons or monsters in it?

[msdmoney]

I am excited, although I have to admit my excitement level has gone down quite a bit since I finished Half Life 2 over a year ago. I have it pre-ordered from a long time ago, but I am not anxiously anticipating it anymore.

[Ricochet]

Yeah, I was ready and eager to play this back when they had a release date of February, but ever since it was pushed back my anticipation died down. That said, I'll play it since it's already preloaded and purchased, but I doubt I'll get to until Monday.

[daroga]

this isn't an expansion pack or aynthing, right? You can play it without owning Half-Life 2? I played and loved HL2, but sold it a few weeks after I beat it.

[CaseyRyback]

it is an expansion, but you do not need HL2 to play it. It continues right after the end of HL2

[headpiece747]

Just bought it and will play it tonight and yeah I was excited and I'm excited for this.

[Roufuss]

When I get this in a retail store for $15, I'll bite... I just want to further stick it to Valve and their "Games will be cheaper on Steam because there is no manufactering cost" bullshit.

Pretty funny that I've gotten every game on Steam cheaper at retail.

[CaseyRyback]

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/halflife2aftermath/review.html?sid=6152188

review is up at Gamespot and it sounds really good. Can't wait to give it a go (best buy did not have it when I went in the morning or afternoon though I am pretty sure their ad said they would have it today)

[Vegan]

I finished it last night, I found it to be worth 20 dollars. It may have only been 4 hours long, but there was a grin on my face the entire time.

Tonight I replay with commentary.

[daroga]

I bit. Got it because I've been kinda wanting to play a PC FPS and it gave me Lost Coast for free, which I wasn't out when I got rid of the original HL2. Darn iTunes like buying making spending SOOOOOOO easy! :P

[Kayden]

If CC has it for 15, I'll get it.

[Flying PJ]

I preordered it on Steam. I spent yesterday playing through it. Some of the best 5 or so hours I have ever played. I loved every second of it. I have some screenshots on my website if anyone wants to look.

MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD:


http://www.flyingpj.com/ep1/


All at max settings at 1680X1050.

[Vegan]

All at max settings at 1680X1050.

I want your computer. I had to scale my normal HL2 settings back a bit for this.

[ITDEFX]

im thinking of waiting another year or so for a "trilogy" box set as this is just part one..

[Vegan]

Why wait? This is here, now. What's the point in waiting except to maybe save 10 bucks on a package deal 2 years from now?

[troa11]

well I know some people prefer to get the whole story at once instead of getting stuck with "cliffhanger" stories. I used to not watch the last eps of any star trek series until the next season started, or when I collect comics, I wait for a storyling to be completed before starting it. However in this case I'm more interested in the gameplay than the story and so far I like it. However, the area I'm in is just too bleedin' dark for my tastes. Sure you can say it's atmospheric but I just don't like having to strain to see what's going on.

[Vegan]

Cliff hangers are awesome.

[CaseyRyback]

The Phantom Menace ?

Does this have the same system requirements as HL2 ?
Or is it enhanced like The Lost Coast ?

you can turn off the HDR stuff in the options.

This game looks amazing BTW. I got it last night at Target (Best Buy's near me have yet to get it in stock) and started playing some this morning. Really awesome so far and I have not even fired a gun.

[ITDEFX]

well I know some people prefer to get the whole story at once instead of getting stuck with "cliffhanger" stories. I used to not watch the last eps of any star trek series until the next season started, or when I collect comics, I wait for a storyling to be completed before starting it. However in this case I'm more interested in the gameplay than the story and so far I like it. However, the area I'm in is just too bleedin' dark for my tastes. Sure you can say it's atmospheric but I just don't like having to strain to see what's going on.

true... might as well wait til a trilogy box set comes out..nice to see you dont need the original game to play the add on.

[Vegan]

you can turn off the HDR stuff in the options.


You can, but it's the last thing I'd turn off if the game wasn't running well. The effects are done REALLY well, better than the crappy overused HDR in other games I've seen recently.

[redgopher]

Finished it about 20 minutes ago... that game was fucking awesome. I didn't mind at all that it was only about 5 hours long, especially at $20... those were some BITCHIN' hours. I can't wait for Episode Two.

[CaseyRyback]

that was a really great game. Exciting all the way through and definately worth 20 bucks. I think I am going to play it through with the commentary track and then try it on hard. Episode 2 also looks really good. I can see how they decided to break up the games now and like how it is being done.

[Vegan]

I played on Normal the first time and died quite a few times, but when I played through the second time on Hard for the commentary, it's always amazing how much easier it is. The AI is so great, though, that it's never the same.

[redline]

I enjoyed it too. I have a newer PC than I did when I first played HL2, so I was able to play it in a higher resolution with all the details up and HDR on. It looked so much better than HL2 did when I first played it. I thought the length was pretty much spot-on for a $20 expansion. I got a kick out of the new creature, especially what Alyx called it. I was a little disappointed that there weren't more new creatures though, it would have been cool to have some kind of new "boss" to fight at the end.

I think I'll do like you guys said and have another run-through with the director commentary on and the difficulty on Hard. Hell, I need to play through HL2 again too since it's been so long since I played that. Looking forward to episode 2 now!

[Roufuss]

you can turn off the HDR stuff in the options.

This game looks amazing BTW. I got it last night at Target (Best Buy's near me have yet to get it in stock) and started playing some this morning. Really awesome so far and I have not even fired a gun.

Go back this week then and get a price adjust, since the game is $14.99 this week at Target's nationwide.

[CaseyRyback]

Go back this week then and get a price adjust, since the game is $14.99 this week at Target's nationwide.

Target will give a price adjust? Hopefully I can find my reciept

[Photomotoz]

Those are some awesome screenshots, Dancing Monkey Island Monkey. Too bad I can't do HDR :(.

I hope to pick this up in the next week or so, game looks amazing. I thought HL2 was pretty good but not OMFG amazing. Having not played HL1 I think I was confused the whole time. I still have no idea why the aliens are there and even if they are aliens. I really had no idea at what was going on in HL2 and the ending did not reveal anything. I really hope EP1 can explain a bit.

[Roufuss]

Target will give a price adjust? Hopefully I can find my reciept

They will price adjust to their own non clearance prices, yes.

If they don't, for whatever reason, just buy another copy and walk over the customer service desk with your old receipt and return it.

[Kayden]

:rofl:

http://www.hlcomic.com/comics/concerned157.jpg

[CaseyRyback]

that is fucking hilarious. Though considering I thought that was the worst part of the game, it makes me feel good that others felt the same way.

also I really hope Valve can fucking get things done on time with Episode 2. Christmas would mean a lot of sales and hopefully they have this figured out.

[Roufuss]

So, I own Episode 1 now, and I've never gotten more then halfway in HL 2... I think it's time to get to it and finish it up.

[Moxio]

Pretty good game. A bit too short, though, but I can't argue for $12.99!

I was hoping that when Gordy and Alyx left the Citadel and it blew up that they would be able to at least reach Dr. Kleiner and Alyx's dad, but meh. The explosion itself was kickass.

[Vegan]

So, I own Episode 1 now, and I've never gotten more then halfway in HL 2... I think it's time to get to it and finish it up.
I would highly advise that you don't start Ep1 without finishing HL2 first. Unless you really like ending-ruination.

[CaseyRyback]

anyone else think Alyx is the best AI buddy ever? Not annoying and you never have to worry about her.

the commentary track is awesome btw and I love how they really go in depth and discuss some of the changes to the game they made. The changes they made to alyx were great and the playtesters that valve has really did their job in getting rid of annoying things that would have pissed me off.

[Roufuss]

I would highly advise that you don't start Ep1 without finishing HL2 first. Unless you really like ending-ruination.

Oh, I know, I'm just commenting on that I've had HL 2 since the day it came out, and now own Episode 1, and have yet to finish HL 2... it's on my list of things to do though.

[ZombieHendrix]

More worth my time and money than the Sin episode.

Maybe a tad too short, only real complaint is that it was just the citadel and the town areas agian, nothing new, but new enough. I throughly enjoyed it. As long as my 3-5 hours are rich and fulfilling enough for my $20 I'll gladly pay it. I'll buy episode 2.

How many episodes are planned? or will it go on like a TV show and end when public interest wains?

edit: spoiler...maybe
I was under the impression that Alyx was going to be the main and playable character, I thought it was strange and a little lame how they brought gordon back into the mix

[CaseyRyback]

the episodes are part of a trilogy.

Also I don't believe there were ever any plans to ditch Gordon. Alyx was with you at the citadel when it was destroyed and getting rid of either of them would have been illogical.

[ZombieHendrix]

I just thought that since at the end of HL2 Gordon went into the g-man "sleep realm" like the end of HL, I figured he would be trapped in there like before, as Alyx fought on. But the vortigons came in and pulled him out, which I thought was a little deus ex machina, but thats me

[Vegan]

anyone else think Alyx is the best AI buddy ever? Not annoying and you never have to worry about her.
Absolutely, it's definately one of the best, if not THE best, NPC programming I've ever seen.

She never even gets in your way, the slightest nudge will make her move. Of course, that doesn't happen often.

I liked the commentary node that actually displayed how the NPC pathfinding works.

[headpiece747]

I need to stop reading this thread until I finished the game and I'm trying to draw it out so I am only playing an 1 hour everday or so. So far this game is incredible and the detail is amazing.

[coltyhuxx]

Wow you guys are all being pretty kind to Valve..

I didn't actually get to play it but I went over and watched my friend play it for about an hour. I went home, got lunch did some errands, swung back by and he was like, "WTF? I beat it already?" He was pretty dismayed, to say the least.

I'm sorry but FIVE hours (for the first run...) of gameplay? A few new enemies? Granted, the game looked nice but not "I waited 1 1/2 years for this" nice. It's still Half Life 2 after all. And again, FIVE hours???

This "expansion" (which I use the term loosely here) as it stands, should have been five, maybe ten dollars if you download it. What happened with Valves promise that they were going to pass the production savings on to us?

It juse doesn't look like a good gaming value to me. And really, you guys think they are going to ship the next five hour tidbit by X-MAS? Yea, we know Valve is pretty good at getting things out on time:roll: . It'll probably show mid 2007.

I'm pretty sad to say, but I'm not interested in the franchise anymore because of the way they are distributing and parceling the game.

[CaseyRyback]

how many shooters charge full price and are less than 10 hours (Doom 3, FEAR, etc)? 20 dollars for 5 hours of gameplay seems pretty fair to me. Plus the commentary track makes it worth an extra playthrough.

Also it has been known for a while that it was only going to be between 4 and 6 hours, and considering that this is what most single player expansions tend to provide, it seems like a pretty good deal to me.

[AshesofWake]

just finished it, jolly good times..

[coltyhuxx]

how many shooters charge full price and are less than 10 hours (Doom 3, FEAR, etc)? 20 dollars for 5 hours of gameplay seems pretty fair to me. Plus the commentary track makes it worth an extra playthrough.

Also it has been known for a while that it was only going to be between 4 and 6 hours, and considering that this is what most single player expansions tend to provide, it seems like a pretty good deal to me.

IMO, I don't think that a 5 hour linear game that you download for $20 should be the accepted norm. I'll be the first to admit, I'd rather have a good short ride than a long artifically padded adventure <cough... Halo 2>. I dunno, I probably shouldn't be so vocal, seeing as I didn't go "for the whole ride" myself. I think what's bumming me out, compounded with the price, is the amount of time we waited for this. I don't understand why they couldn't deliver something, basically, the same length as the first one. What the hell have they been doing for a year and a half? They already had the basic engine.

The main problem I have with this expansion being so short is that there isn't much in the way of replayablity in Half Life, also, so I'm taking that into consideration in my decision (at this time, at least) to not purchase it. At least in FarCry you could try different paths and such. Now that was a meaty game.

[Roufuss]

IMO, I don't think that a 5 hour linear game that you download for $20 should be the accepted norm. I'll be the first to admit, I'd rather have a good short ride than a long artifically padded adventure <cough... Halo 2>. I dunno, I probably shouldn't be so vocal, seeing as I didn't go "for the whole ride" myself. I think what's bumming me out, compounded with the price, is the amount of time we waited for this. I don't understand why they couldn't deliver something, basically, the same length as the first one. What the hell have they been doing for a year and a half? They already had the basic engine.

The main problem I have with this expansion being so short is that there isn't much in the way of replayablity in Half Life, also, so I'm taking that into consideration in my decision (at this time, at least) to not purchase it. At least in FarCry you could try different paths and such. Now that was a meaty game.

The basic engine, as for as I know, has been heavily overhauled since Half Life 2, which could add to the delays.

Like Casey said, it was announced LOOOOOOOOONG ago the expansion would only be 4 - 6 hours, and downloading it isn't the only way to get it. I paid $15 for mine at Target, and 5 hours is a decent amount... hell, Call of Duty 2 isn't much longer and that's $40 - $50, same with Quake 4. The Doom 3 expansion was short, as well.

This is an expansion, not a new game, so of course it's not going to be the same length as HL 2, that makes no sense. Again, like Casey said, most expansions are only 4 - 6 hours... Half Life: Opposing Force was this same amount as well back in the day, along with other numerous expansions.

You said yourself that you enjoyed a short ride over something drawn out, so I'm not quite getting what you want.

[coltyhuxx]

I spoke to my friend in depth about this game over the past hour. Hopefully no one will consider this as a spoiler as it's just a list of things the game doesn't have. I don't reveal anything the game "has". I think you'll be fine to read this if you haven't played (but just in case):




No new weapons.

NPC AI is not as amazing as some are touting..for instance when you back up Alyx won't move when she's behind you. Sometimes it can take a long time for her to figure it out while you're nudging her. Still, better than a lot of games but not as flawless (at all) as people are touting.

Basically no new creatures (two.. one is <barely> creative and the other you don't really directly fight).

No new vehicles. In fact, no vehicles.

Almost all reused textures with a little primping here and there... citadel and city.. yawn.

Come on guys, are you this easily sated? I'm not trying to $hit on anyone's opinion or good time but we waited a YEAR AND A HALF!!This expansion sounds like a crock of shit. Again, before any pro Half-Lifers flame the hell out of me, I'm just trying to discuss the other side of the coin here rationally. I think CAG'ers that haven't purchased this yet need to hear both sides. Regardless, I am putting on my flame retardant jacket and hat.

[msdmoney]

Just about finished with the game, just got past the escort part. I had read a lot of people were having trouble with that part, but I didn't find it very difficult.

The game is very well done overall, Having Alyx as a companion throughout the game makes it feel like a coop game almost and the AI for her is done very well. The game does a great job of intergrating puzzles into the action, some of the puzzle solving is frantic but that just makes it more exciting IMO.

There are some great shootouts as well. You fight an airship that is circling around you while you are in a wood building. As it fires at you the bullets destroy more and more of the building roof and the floor you stand on, but you can't really get a good rocket off at the airship until it destroys more of the roof above you. It just makes the fight that much more intense and just an example of great game design.

I did find the underground section to be somewhat long, and it is dissapointing that you are going through the same types of areas you went through in Half Life 2. Also I would have liked some more new enemy types, it is mostly the same stuff you fight in Half Life 2. It will probably take me 4 hours in total, I breezed through most of the game, but I didn't mind the short length, especially since I only paid ~$12 (pre-ordered from Buy.com a long time ago), although it does seem like it took them longer than it should have since they already have the engine.

Overall I highly recommend the game, it is a great followup to Half Life 2.

[CaseyRyback]

no new creatures really should not be a knock. The story sets up so that you have to enter the citadel and then head back out. It would not make any sense to have too many new enemies. The Zombines fit because the explosion probably caused them to occur and the stalkers fit as well, since they were seen in the citadel in half life 2 (i believe). If they stuck in a bunch of new characters it would have been horrible IMO because the fluidity would have been completely out of whack and people would have wondered where in the hell they were in HL2 considering this takes place in the same city.


no vehicles makes sense as well because you are not traveling any distance and you really can't drive anywhere within the citadel. When you play the story the whole thing is setup so that you are trying to get to a train. If they would have given you a vehicle it would have made the impact of catching the train less and would have also made fixing the core in the citadel seem less necessary. No vehicles had to occur for the plot to be coherent.


HDR lighting is all over the place and the amount of stuff they did to the source engine really had to take a lot of work. Again the commentary track is really helpful in explaining all the stuff they did. Especially with all the stuff they did with Alyx. Alyx was really helpful and a great AI buddy. Anyone expecting someone to be better than her, is really expecting too much IMO.

Also as far as the wait goes for this game and the shortness. Lets not forget that they released the Lost Coast and Day of Defeat Source, both testing out new technology.



you should try playing the game before completly bashing all its faults. Pretty much everything you listed would have not worked within the confines of the game, and the time it took them to make an expansion was really not all that long considering most are not working with new technology and pretty much rely on all the same mechanics of the previous game, which half life 2 does not do completely.

[Roufuss]

Another heads up... this game is $7.99 (!!!!!!!!!!) at Circuit City next week. Time to take back the one I just bought at Target.

[coltyhuxx]

no new creatures really should not be a knock. The story sets up so that you have to enter the citadel and then head back out. It would not make any sense to have too many new enemies. The Zombines fit because the explosion probably caused them to occur and the stalkers fit as well, since they were seen in the citadel in half life 2 (i believe). If they stuck in a bunch of new characters it would have been horrible IMO because the fluidity would have been completely out of whack and people would have wondered where in the hell they were in HL2 considering this takes place in the same city.


no vehicles makes sense as well because you are not traveling any distance and you really can't drive anywhere within the citadel. When you play the story the whole thing is setup so that you are trying to get to a train. If they would have given you a vehicle it would have made the impact of catching the train less and would have also made fixing the core in the citadel seem less necessary. No vehicles had to occur for the plot to be coherent.


HDR lighting is all over the place and the amount of stuff they did to the source engine really had to take a lot of work. Again the commentary track is really helpful in explaining all the stuff they did. Especially with all the stuff they did with Alyx. Alyx was really helpful and a great AI buddy. Anyone expecting someone to be better than her, is really expecting too much IMO.

Also as far as the wait goes for this game and the shortness. Lets not forget that they released the Lost Coast and Day of Defeat Source, both testing out new technology.



you should try playing the game before completly bashing all its faults. Pretty much everything you listed would have not worked within the confines of the game, and the time it took them to make an expansion was really not all that long considering most are not working with new technology and pretty much rely on all the same mechanics of the previous game, which half life 2 does not do completely.

You can put all the technology you want into a game. This does not make it a good game or experience. I suppose we can agree to disagree (as I appear to be in the minority here) but I want more than five hours of gameplay for twenty dollars. Yes, your points above are well taken, however IMO it was Valves responsibility to fit new creatures, vehicles, environments into the existing game. I know, I ask the world. Take us somewhere Valve... show us something. (And yes, I did see some cool moments, I'm not mercilessly bashing the game.. justing stating "IMO")

I will quote my friend Matt, "The best part of a game should not be the trailer for the next episode."

[Vegan]

we waited a YEAR AND A HALF!!

This is the mentality that's steering you wrong.

[trunks982]

so its a Trilogy, which means 3 part episodes?

[Roufuss]

All I know is that Valve and Steam can kiss my ass with their whole digital distrubution garbage.

This game will be $8 at CC next week... I would be pissed as hell if I preordered this off of Steam.

[fern5000]

This is the mentality that's steering you wrong.

How is this mentality wrong.. to expect a product to have more content after such a long wait?

I just played through it and I totally agree with Coltyhuxx's points. $20 was too much for this game. It should have been $10... $12 at the most. The content and innovation (apart from graphics) just weren't there.

Come on, I've played free demos longer than this. :bomb:

[Vegan]

Well then, if anything, the lesson for the future is to not pay full MSRP over Steam. The $12 and $8 sale prices have proven that this complaint can be averted; we didn't know what to expect this first time.

[CYRiX]

CC has HL2:EP 1 for 8 BUCKS 6/11-6/17 so GET IT THEN!

[Vegan]

Yeah, that kinda pisses me off. NO ONE had it discounted on release date. It makes sense from a business perspective, why put it on sale for the people who can't wait on release day and are going to buy it anyway? But I still hate the retailers for it.

[CaseyRyback]

it wouldn't have been a big deal IMO but fucking best buy did not get this in stock on the day they said they would and then did not even get them in the next day (since you can PM up to 30 days I believe)

[KaneRobot]

Cliff hangers are awesome.

Not when you're dealing with Valve's patented lateness for a follow-up.

[headpiece747]

Just finished it yesterday and it was great. I tried to prolong it as long as I could by only playing a hour a day or so. That was torture but the game was pretty amazing.

[2&2]

If you buy the game at retail, do you have to have the cd in your drive to play it?

That's the one thing I liked about steam-you didn't have to worry about using the disc.

[Kayden]

If you buy the game at retail, do you have to have the cd in your drive to play it?

That's the one thing I liked about steam-you didn't have to worry about using the disc.

You don't for HL2 or Sin Eps...

[KaneRobot]

Finished it. I'd be damn pissed if I had paid TWENTY BUCKS for that, but I only paid about 15. Next time I'll know to just wait a few weeks and I can get it for like $10.

Regardless, not a bad game - my main gripe was this episode was way too Doom-ish. I must have had my flashlight on for 75% of the game, no matter how much I adjusted the brightness. Yes, it's "scary" when you're walking in the dark and you hear a black headcrab's hissing/chirping, but I was really hoping for more Combine battles like we had in HL2. Hopefully Episode 2 will get out of the zombie/headcrab heavy combat. However, having no vehicle segments was nice.

Can't recommend anyone buy this off Steam, but that ultra-cheap deal mentioned above is well worth it.

[Kayden]

Few weeks? i got it for $8 yesturday. 8-)

[Vegan]

Regardless, not a bad game - my main gripe was this episode was way too Doom-ish. I must have had my flashlight on for 75% of the game, no matter how much I adjusted the brightness. Yes, it's "scary" when you're walking in the dark and you hear a black headcrab's hissing/chirping, but I was really hoping for more Combine battles like we had in HL2. Hopefully Episode 2 will get out of the zombie/headcrab heavy combat. However, having no vehicle segments was nice.

But the battery added a great element.

[AFStealth]

Finished it. I'd be damn pissed if I had paid TWENTY BUCKS for that, but I only paid about 15. Next time I'll know to just wait a few weeks and I can get it for like $10.

Regardless, not a bad game - my main gripe was this episode was way too Doom-ish. I must have had my flashlight on for 75% of the game, no matter how much I adjusted the brightness. Yes, it's "scary" when you're walking in the dark and you hear a black headcrab's hissing/chirping, but I was really hoping for more Combine battles like we had in HL2. Hopefully Episode 2 will get out of the zombie/headcrab heavy combat. However, having no vehicle segments was nice.

Can't recommend anyone buy this off Steam, but that ultra-cheap deal mentioned above is well worth it.


Well, at least Gordon Freeman can carry a flashlight AND a weapon at the same time. :p

[erehwon]

The game has been fun so far. It's also been a little hard. I ran out of ammo a lot more than I'm used to. I've also been having to deal with the fact that valve games do not agree with my computer. I've tried almost everything in the steam support. I even turned off the audio hardware acceleration. That caused even more problems. Before It only locked up on loading screens and looping audio. I'm starting to get annoyed.

[2&2]

You don't for HL2 or Sin Eps...

So I'm still confused, can you play this without the disc like other steam stuff?

[CaseyRyback]

yes. just activate the product through steam and it acts like every other game in your account once activated

[Hollow Man]

Or you could be weird like me by preloading the game, buying it at retail, activate it with the included CD Key, then play, without ever having to use the DVD.

I do this because you never know when having the original DVD may come in handy. I know Valve has plans to disable their authentication servers in case they ever go bankrupt, but still...

-HM

[Kayden]

Or you could be weird like me by preloading the game, buying it at retail, activate it with the included CD Key, then play, without ever having to use the DVD.

I do this because you never know when having the original DVD may come in handy. I know Valve has plans to disable their authentication servers in case they ever go bankrupt, but still...

-HM

But if they disable them, then you still can't play the game because it needs to be authenticated even off a disk.

[Hollow Man]

The point would be that they would release a version of Steam that wouldn't bother to check the authentication servers.

-HM

[Kayden]

The point would be that they would release a version of Steam that wouldn't bother to check the authentication servers.

-HM

Or they wouldn't.

Think about it, they'd be going out of business. They wouldn't care if we couldn't play their 10 year old games.

[Hollow Man]

You have to go through the forums at steampowered.com. They've already stated that they've developed and will release that version of Steam in case they go belly-up.

Whether it happens or not is another story.

-HM

[Liquid 2]

I just got it for $8, and from what I've read, it's going to be a very well spent $8.


edit: I just got around to playing and installing it and beat it in just shy of 5 hours.
I'm personally very satisfied the with the game, esp the part with gunship shooting down at you throught the roof) and the final fight against the Strider. I also really liked the emotion in Alex's voice at the very end when everything is going white and she whispers "Gordon"

who else can't wait for Ep 2?:D

[ITDEFX]

Few weeks? i got it for $8 yesturday. 8-)

i got damned lucky to find it at CC restocked so quickly..... great game...too bad it hates my on board motherboard sound chip as it tends to crash to desktop or reboot my system every once and awhile. :(

other games play fine..

[Kayden]

I just finished it. Sure as hell glad I only spent $8. It was a fucking great game for $8!

$20, not so much. But 8 dollah...


Now I want Ep 2.... :joystick:

[ITDEFX]

I just finished it. Sure as hell glad I only spent $8. It was a fucking great game for $8!

$20, not so much. But 8 dollah...


Now I want Ep 2.... :joystick:

well your damned lucky to play it at all... this is current the only game that takes a shit inside my machine everytime i load it up... it either locks it up on title menu, stutters to lock on title menu, immediatly lock IF i get as far as loading up a game.

FUCK

[Kayden]

:lol: Yea... HL likes to do that to some people.

[erehwon]

Yea, it does that to me also. I get lockups on looping sounds and loading screens. It really bugs me that it does this when I have a pretty decent machine.

[ITDEFX]

Yea, it does that to me also. I get lockups on looping sounds and loading screens. It really bugs me that it does this when I have a pretty decent machine.

I think the shit started happening when they added the lost coast and HDR updates :( because before I could run half life 2 and hl2:MP with NO PROBLEMS... actually I was able to run HL2 AND two instances of SWG at the same time :O

my specs are
P4-3ghz
2gigs of ram
4 hard drives (60,80,200,300-sata)
sony dvd burner
use to have the sb live 5.1 card but I pulled that out cause it was acting wierd on me, so now im using the onboard sound chip of my mb. Could that be the problem?

[Hollow Man]

On board sound can take up a fair amount of CPU cycles, unless you're using something like NVIDIA NForce2 Soundstorm. Try disabling the sound chip and see what happens.

-HM

[Vegan]

actually I was able to run HL2 AND two instances of SWG at the same time :O


Good god, who can live at that speed?!

[arbiter]

I finished it. I'm half way through the commentary. I loved every minute. I thought many of the new puzzles were a good tweaked spin on some of the good parts of HL2. I'm looking forward to the new environments hinted at in the trailer for EP2.

I think that $20 was totally worth it, and that considering you got a few online goodies with it as well, along with not having to own HL2 to play...it was a great deal. I think maybe Valve should offer a loyalty discount for those who keep buying their stuff.

I have to agree with Tycho @ Penny-Arcade's assessment. He equated it to the Half-Life 2, extended club remixes album. It's all the good parts off the original, hyped up and represented.

Anyway...I'm ready for the next one. I'm also hoping that they get a few more episodic content vendors into Steam....I could go for playing 2 or 3 titles based on the Source engine if they're deliver ing somethign every other month or so.

[sfriedlander]

I'm honestly not that excited about this... Half Life 2 was okay... but I didn't think it was anywhere near as good as stuff like FEAR or Far Cry. And there's the fact that I absolutely hate everything about activating via Steam. But yeah, I'm sorta interested to find out how it turns out.

Half Life 2 was genuis i think the Physics system (which you can screw around with in the free GMOD) is better than any XBOX 360 game or other PC games that I've played.

I think I'm gonna wait for all the episodes come out and buy it all together.
I'm thinking steam will have some sort of package deal.

[sfriedlander]

I think the shit started happening when they added the lost coast and HDR updates :( because before I could run half life 2 and hl2:MP with NO PROBLEMS... actually I was able to run HL2 AND two instances of SWG at the same time :O

my specs are
P4-3ghz
2gigs of ram
4 hard drives (60,80,200,300-sata)
sony dvd burner
use to have the sb live 5.1 card but I pulled that out cause it was acting wierd on me, so now im using the onboard sound chip of my mb. Could that be the problem?

crap thats alot of hard drive.

i personaly have a dual core AMD processor that is smooth

[pop311]

I think these are my computer's specs:

Dell Dimension
Intel(R)
Pentium(R) 4CPU 2.80GHZ
2.7GHz, 504 MB of RAM
Physical Address Extension

That is all it says on the "View System Information" Window. Is that good, bad, 50-50, etc?

Also, What would you guys say is the best mouse for this Game?

[msdmoney]

I think these are my computer's specs:

Dell Dimension
Intel(R)
Pentium(R) 4CPU 2.80GHZ
2.7GHz, 504 MB of RAM
Physical Address Extension

That is all it says on the "View System Information" Window. Is that good, bad, 50-50, etc?

Also, What would you guys say is the best mouse for this Game?

Do you know what video card you have? If you have a dell it is possible it is just onboard video.

[pop311]

Do you know what video card you have? If you have a dell it is possible it is just onboard video. I don't know.I'm not sure if this means anything, but I think I have at least a DirectX7.0.

[Vegan]

I don't know.I'm not sure if this means anything, but I think I have at least a DirectX7.0.
I should hope so, DirectX 7 was released in 1999.

[Roufuss]

I finished it. I'm half way through the commentary. I loved every minute. I thought many of the new puzzles were a good tweaked spin on some of the good parts of HL2. I'm looking forward to the new environments hinted at in the trailer for EP2.

I think that $20 was totally worth it, and that considering you got a few online goodies with it as well, along with not having to own HL2 to play...it was a great deal. I think maybe Valve should offer a loyalty discount for those who keep buying their stuff.

I have to agree with Tycho @ Penny-Arcade's assessment. He equated it to the Half-Life 2, extended club remixes album. It's all the good parts off the original, hyped up and represented.

Anyway...I'm ready for the next one. I'm also hoping that they get a few more episodic content vendors into Steam....I could go for playing 2 or 3 titles based on the Source engine if they're deliver ing somethign every other month or so.

Why would you ever buy anything from Steam when the games go on sale for $7.99 at Circuit City... Valve dosen't have loyalty to anyone except their own pockets.

[ITDEFX]

crap thats alot of hard drive.

i personaly have a dual core AMD processor that is smooth

when you do motion graphics and video editing, yea that stuff will eat you hard drive up like candy. I just finished copying all the videos from my friends TIVO. 100 GIGS of data and I still have to edit it out so thats going to add more space usage :(

[ITDEFX]

i finished Episode 1 last night, finally after going through like 6 lock ups and crashes just to play off the game ...i would have beaten it sooner if it wasn't for these lock ups and crashes :( anyways great game. I just read the PC gamer mag and it said that the next two episodes, well guess what kiddies, they are going to INCLUDE the previous episodes...so if you wait out for episode 3, you will get parts 1 and 2 for free :( FUCK

man maybe I should have waited a year or so ...now im going to have multiple episode copies that are tied to my steam account so I can't share it :(

[pop311]

How do you find out what your internet connection speed is?

[Moxio]

How do you find out what your internet connection speed is?

Try this (http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial_s&hl=en&q=test+internet+speed&btnG=Google+Search)

[pop311]

Ok, I was just wondering which one I should choose. I have three options,
1)>768K
2)>2MB
3)>10MB

Does it make a huge difference which one you choose when playing Deathmatch?

[ITDEFX]

Try this (http://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla%3Aen-US%3Aofficial_s&hl=en&q=test+internet+speed&btnG=Google+Search)

or see how long porn takes to download and that should give you an idea.

[Kayden]

Ok, I was just wondering which one I should choose. I have three options,
1)>768K
2)>2MB
3)>10MB

Does it make a huge difference which one you choose when playing Deathmatch?

I really don't know what difference there'd be. Games don't take much bandwidth. I'd say just put it at 2mb.


or see how long porn takes to download and that should give you an idea.

:lol: That wouldn't really work if the server was clogged with everyone else trying to get the porn.

[ITDEFX]

That wouldn't really work if the server was clogged with everyone else trying to get the porn.

relax my friend there is plenty of porn on the net for everyone