Half life 2 expantion. Team fortress due spring?

[Michaelz]

"Petter Engelin got himself a talk with Doug Lombardi about last year's best experience, and the things that didn't reach the final game. Many of you behind the monitors have ask us about what actually happened with the parts of Half-Life 2 which was shown at the E3 2003, only to disapear later, and be impossible to find. We called the boys at Valve to hear the history behind it all.

Half-Life 2 was awarded game of the year in 2004 by a agreed council (not quite sure how to translate "Redaktionspanel". It means thoose behind the news. Thoose who write them) How does it feel?

Of course it is a great honour for everyone who works at Valve, and I definately believe that it is the first award which Half-Life 2 so far has received - at least of what I know about. The first game won more than 50 awards. But thanks a lot for the award, it is extremely nice to hear.

There are parts of Half-Life 2 which were shown at the E3 2003 and later ECTS 2003, which never found themselves all the way to the complete game. For example the episode with the Blue waterworm - what happened to thoose pars of the game?

It was actually more than 10 scenes we showed at E3 and ECTS, which were later cut, or changed a lot in relation to the complete game. We probably have had more than 30 other enemies and a bit more vehichles, we also had to cut. The main reason to why it was cut, was actually that we found another and better way to create a feeling of drama, or thrill. That's the way it is with games. It is a flowing process, where changes and improvements always happen. Sometimes stuff must be changed for a better result. When we are talking about the Water Worm also know as "The Hydra" then it was actually a quite painful decision both for the design team, and Ken Birdwell, who was behind the graphical challenge, and the AI, to drop the idea.

Most of all it hurt because a whole chapter of the game actually was built around that odd creature. We had created some big environments which the Hydra could move in, and there was a lot of exciting stuff included
in that meeting. At last we dropped it all. We also had to cut a Combine-Executer called "Cremator", a so-called "Stalker", a flying vehichle called a Synth, and a creature from space, which is captured by the combined
and is later used in the battle against Gordon. Until a year ago the hoverboat actually was a Jetski, with a machinegun attached.
The reason why it was changed was because it actually felt more like running or driving instead of sailing.

Half-Life 2 has already sold really good, and the total gamepress describe the game as the best in the world. The best action game ever. Did you expect that?

When we are talking about the game sales figures then we are of course always hoping for the best. But we had not expected that it would sell that good, and that fast. We were, as always, very nervous just before the game was released. When it comes to those incredibly nice reviews, then it feels nice to have reached your goal. We wanted to give the gamers' a follower which lived up to its name, a follower that made some movement in the game development buisnes. And at the same time gave those many who played the first Half-Life an incredible continuation, exactly as they wanted. A good game is infact, by us, a little like a good movie. Except the main person doesn't know the script. Of what we have heard and read, well we seem to have accomplished that. The development of the game was a large task, and it has taken a lot of time to finish it. It has taken all the employees of Valve a lot of work, and in the last months we have worked hard to make it perfect. And it has been worth it. You can feel that clear enough, when you see the reactions we get back from the many gamers.

What is the idea behind the registration proces on Steam?

Our goal with the registration on Steam, was to limit the pirating of our game. In the late years we have seen how some of the greatest games from other companies have been available for download weeks before the release date. And we did not want that to happen for Half-Life 2. We had some problems with the large number of gamers who suddenly all regged there game on the same time on Steam the 16. November, but we quickly solved it, and haven't had problems since.

Excatly how long did the development of Half-Life 2 take?

We started in february 1999.

Who, or what is the Combine?

The Combine is in many ways a word for an evil empire which, in Half-Life 2, has invaded Earth. The Combine isn't so much a species, but more like a power (force) that live and develop and advance their strength of apdaption. Their way to do so, comes in form of their specialisation ability. None of the civilizations the Combine so far have invaded, and enslaved, have given a lot of resistance. Because the Combine hits with a lot of different attacks, and an ocean of different species, restistance seems almost meaningless. The humans are just the latest race which the Combie has lead to enslavement. We see that in Half-Life 2 in form of the Metro Cops and Combine Soldiers.

When Gamereactor last spring visited your office, Gabe Newell almost said to much. He revealed in fact parts of the plans you at Valve had for Half-Life 3. Can you tell us a bit more of those plans?

Of course we're interested in telling more about the universe we have created and therefore we will continue making sequels to the game. At the moment we're working on a game where you play as Alyx and her well-known robotdog - Dog...
I can't tell more at the moment.

When will we get to play Team Fortress 2?

We're working full steam on realising Team Fortress 2, which of course wil run on the same game engine as Half-Life 2. We will reveal more in the Spring.

Here at last, are there anything you wish to say to Gamereactors many readers?

That must be a thank you to all who have bought the game, and enjoyed it. We love to create these games and will, as said, continue to develop games in that universe. I hope the many gamers will continue to play them.

According to Gabe Newell, who is in charge at Valve, the company is already working on Half-Life 3, which takes place some time after the latest game. They are also working, as Doug Lombardi revealed, on an expansion where you take control over Alyx."

Well.....playing as alyx maybe not but playing as dog, heh thats an idea!
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Screw you suckers!!!!

[V1rus]

I voted Doggy really loved it when he helped me
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Ain't no thing but a Chickin' wing

Even bigger newbie at free running then steve

[Pacific]

what on earth is a head crap, if its what i think it is i definately dont want those in the game!

[Steve]

I think he means head crab.
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Moderator, Developer, Free Running newbie

[James]

Wow i'm really confused. Are you asking who you are going to be playing as in Team Fortress 2? If so, then it's obviously going to be the soldier people... have you played Team Fortress 1 ? It's two teams of soldiers fighting to control forts. It doesn't have anything to do with the Half-Life 2 characters.

And, where did you get that interview from? Because the rumour that you play as Alyx in Half-Life 3 or a mod was old mis-quoted information. What's the source?

I voted "Meh, all crap"
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[Pacific]

[James]

I think he meant Half-Life 2 Expansion
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[Pacific]

lol, michealz you need to learn how to spell!

[Michaelz]

What! so i made one mistake, doesn't mean i dot no ow o sell.

But yeh they said it might be a halflife2 expansion, i dont wanna play as alyx
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Screw you suckers!!!!

[James]

[Michaelz]

yeh i got that issue of pc gamer, ptetty cool actually. They guessed that it would be before she met gordon and start of showing her as a kid and showing how dog develoed, also it shows models of her gun, u know the gun that she has (the pistol even) well it can change into an smg and a sniper which is very handy and cool. I hope the expantion costs less, I don't think ill pay more that £25
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Screw you suckers!!!!

[darkmonkey]

Did you write the first post, [strike:85a71bc002]James[/strike:85a71bc002] Michael?
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aiii

[James]

Huh? Michaelz wrote the first post.
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[Michaelz]

[James]