Half-Life 2

Half-Life 2 is a first-person shooter computer game and the highly anticipated sequel to Half-Life, developed by Valve Software. It was released on November 16, 2004 to very positive reviews {{ref|reviews}}, following a protracted five-year development cycle during which the game's source code was leaked to the internet. The game utilizes the advanced Source game engine, coupled with a heavily modified version of the Havok physics engine, and was critically acclaimed for ground-breaking improvements in computer animation, computer graphics, artificial intelligence (AI) and physics. Since its release, the game has sold about 3 million copies so far {{ref|sales}}.

Technical

Game engine

For Half-Life 2 Valve developed a new game engine called the Source engine, which handles the game's visual, audio, and artificial intelligence (AI) elements. The Source engine comes packaged with the Havok physics engine that allows for an extra dimension of interactivity in both single player and online environments.

Related Topics:
Game engine - Source engine - Artificial intelligence - Havok physics engine

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Additionally, when coupled with Steam, the engine can be easily upgraded to include many new graphical technologies. One such example is high dynamic range imaging, which Valve intends to release as a free outdoor level, known as "Lost Coast."

Related Topics:
Steam - High dynamic range imaging

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Steam content delivery system

Integral to Half-Life 2 is the Steam content delivery system developed by Valve Software. All users playing the single player or multiplayer game are required to have Steam installed and an account with Steam to play. The accounts allow customers to purchase games (or any other software) straight from the developer and have it downloaded directly to their computer in addition to having their games updated with "micro updates". These updates also make hacking the game harder to do and has thus far been somewhat successful in staving off the introduction of cheats and playability for users with unauthorized copies. Steam can also be used for finding and playing multiplayer games and features an integrated server browser and friends list.

Related Topics:
Steam - Cheats - Unauthorized copies

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Users have had numerous problems with Steam, to the extent that the content delivery and multiplayer system is a well-marked part of the game, and is in some cases enough to prevent a reviewer from recommending the game. In other cases review scores have been lowered. Long download times, unnecessary updates, and verification checks are criticisms levelled by critics of the system's use for single player games such as Half-Life 2.

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Release and distribution

A 1 gigabyte portion of Half-Life 2 became available for pre-load through Steam on August 26, 2004. This meant that customers could begin to download encrypted game files to their computer before the game was released. When the game was released in the shops, customers were able to pay for the game through Steam, unlock the files on their hard drives and play the game immediately, without having to wait for the whole game to download. The pre-load period lasted for several weeks, with several subsequent portions of the game being made available, to ensure all customers had a chance to download the content before the game was released.

Related Topics:
Gigabyte - August 26 - 2004

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Half-Life 2 was simultaneously released through Steam, CD (most initial US "bare-bones" retail copies), and on DVD in several editions. Through Steam, Half-Life 2 had three packages that a customer could order. The basic version ("Bronze") only includes Half-Life 2 and Counter-Strike: Source, whereas the "Silver" and "Gold" (collector's edition) versions also include Half-Life: Source (a port of the original Half-Life to the new engine), as well as the right to download all previous games by Valve through Steam. The collector's edition/Gold version additionally includes merchandise such as a t-shirt, and a strategy guide. Both the disc and Steam version require Steam to be installed and active for play.

Related Topics:
CD - DVD - T-shirt - Strategy guide

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A single-CD demo version was later made available in December 2004 at the web site of graphics card manufacturer ATI Technologies, who teamed up with Valve for the game. In September 2005, Electronic Arts published the Game of the Year edition of Half-Life 2. Compared to the original CD-release of Half-Life 2, the GOTY edition adds Half-Life: Source.

Related Topics:
CD - Demo - December 2004 - Graphics card - ATI Technologies - September 2005 - Electronic Arts

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An Xbox version is scheduled for an October 2005 release, also published by Electronic Arts, but will not feature any multiplayer.

Related Topics:
Xbox - October - 2005

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