Half-Life 2

[Jace]

Anyone else read the write up about Half-Life 2 in Computer Gaming this month? ::::drool::::

Normally, I'm an RPG kinda guy, but since I'm currently playing PlanetSide and with HL2 due out in 6 months guess I'm an FPS kinda guy for the forseeable future.

[Father]

there is a 5 page writeup on gamespot.

Worth a read if you liked the first one, which is still one of the best single player FPS games ever.

A brilliant atmosphere is the only thing that can get me to play an FPS offline. This one might have that again.

[Jace]

Theres a gameplay video that was shown at E3 now available for download at fileplanet.

The vid is quicktime (.mov) 600MB and runs for 25 minutes. If you have the bandwidth its definately worth a look. You'll spend 25 minutes with your jaw dropping onto the keyboard. I wont post details, best to see for yourself, but I don't think gaming has seen anything like this before.

[Rickety]

You may as well post the details Jace. We here in Aus are generally on usage based ISP's so I doubt anyone is goign to download 600MB just for a movie ...

I downloaded the short E3 movie and what I saw was damn impressive. To me the backgrounds look more impressive than the Doom3 movie!!

[Janus]

If you post the link, Jace.. I might get it at the end of my usage period.

I don't play BF1942 like the other guys around here, and so don't have that heavy netcode to contend with.

'course.. then there's the problem of sharing it with people - but I could always burn copies and go Australia Post, I suppose!

[Jace]

Ah, apologies, didn't realize Aus accounts were usage based. Anyway here is the link if you have the usage in your account:

http://www.fileplanet.com/download.aspx?f=123983

As for details, here is what I found most impressive.

Real world phsyics and materials. Wood is wood. Metal is metal. The movie demonstrates how objects interact with the game environment and it was the most advanced physics engine I've personally seen in a game. Wood objects crack, splinter, float, burn and generally react as you would expect wood to react. Metal objects clank, clang, dent, sink and are maleable as you would expect metal to be. Same can be said for glass, water, and fresh fruit which were some other materials shown.

As we all know, in most games if an object is not scripted as interactive you can't manipulate it in game. The HL2 environment does not appear to be scripted at all. The movie showed a city envirionment where all objects were independent and could seemingly be manipulated at will. Yank a sign down and toss it at an enemy, crash through a billboard, roll the trash can down the steps, push the desk over to block a doorway, etc.

Non-Scripted AI. In one scene the main character is a lab with an NPC scientist. The scientist is fiddling with something, the character walks over to a near-by desk and bumps a monitor knocking it to the floor. The scientist stops turns and says, "Hey quit messing with that."

AI controlled friends and allies in the game gave the appearance of being aware of what the player controlled character was doing in game and reacting to it, rather than following the AI "script".

Well those are the details that spring to mind from the movie.

[Solis]

Derelict just abused his work internet priveleges and downloaded 600 meg of the half life demmo at G3- OH MY GOD

[Bennett]

LOL@Derelict. Now there's someone who knows how to get around the download caps.

[Father]

Pull the plug on Tel$tra and optus and simultaneously on download caps.