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'Black Mesa,' the fan-made 'Half-Life' remake, finally has a release date
Black Mesa has had a lengthy development journey, to say the least. In 2006, fans of Half-Life decided to port the game to the then-new Source engine (upon which Half-Life 2 was based). Valve had actually done so itself, but the results were poor. Crowbar Collective aimed to make a version of Half-Life that offered the same level of polish as its 2004 sequel. But as a small team, updates have been sporadic. Finally, 14 years after the first Black Mesa mod was released, the full version of the game will launch on March 5th via Steam.
Valve has made me believe in Half-Life again
Just over two years ago, I left Valve's Half-Life franchise for dead. It had been ten years since Half-Life 2: Episode Two left fans with a massive cliffhanger that it seemed would never be resolved. But three days ago, Valve revealed that the story wasn't over, not quite: Half-Life: Alyx would be a full-fledged new entry into the series, built from the ground up for VR. Perhaps even more surprising was yesterday's reveal that the game is basically done and set to arrive in March of 2020.
Cyberpunk Half-Life 2 mod, NeoTokyo, now available on Steam for free
Five years after it debuted as a fan-crafted Half-Life 2 modification, and following a lengthy Greenlight campaign, NeoTokyo has arrived on Steam as a standalone release. Best described as an amalgamation of Counter-Strike's creeping, deliberate gunplay and sci-fi influences that fall somewhere between Neuromancer and Ghost In The Shell, NeoTokyo has earned a devoted following over the past half-decade. That should only increase, as the standalone Steam release bears a $0 price tag, and does not require players own Half-Life 2 or any other game containing the Source engine. Full technical specs and game details on NeoTokyo can now be found on the game's Steam page. [Image: Studio Radi-8]
Rise and shine, Half-Life 2, on Nvidia Shield
Half-Life 2 crowbarred itself into Portal's launch party on Nvidia Shield, and both games are out now for the Android-based console. Nvidia, who handled the ports, confirmed to Joystiq the Android versions are currently only available on Shield. According to Nvidia, the Shield ports of Valve's revered shooter and puzzler offer "the full PC versions natively on Android." While the company's $200 system can stream PC games, the two Valve adventures are downloaded to the device and played locally. Half-Life 2 and Portal are available via Google Play, each priced $10. [Image: Nvidia]
Valve: Trust in employees is key to good game development
If you treat your workers with kindness and compassion, they'll reward your support with better work - at least, that's the stance Valve Software takes. In an interview with the Washington Post, Valve CEO and co-founder Gabe Newell explains this philosophy by examining how the company handles employee sick days. Specifically, Valve doesn't handle them, and employees are trusted to be responsible with their time. "[W]e don't track vacation time or sick time - we just tell people we trust you to make all of these other decisions, of course we are going to trust you to manage your own time," Newell said. "It's actually a pretty minor issue in terms of how much time people actually spend on vacation or sick leave." "But it's a really important issue for someone who is say, coming out of Hollywood," he added. "When you tell them that - and it's really true - it seems to be useful in getting them to start to realize that there is a rationale behind how the company works. There's sort of the flashy public things like desks on wheels, but it really is intended to create a better environment for a highly technical set of tasks that vary fairly quickly over time." While other companies have different tactics in dealing with the inevitability of employee illness, it's hard to argue against the games Valve has produced. Half-Life and Half-Life 2 regularly feature on "best games of all time" lists, and Team Fortress 2 is heading into its seventh year of operation with no indication that it will lose popularity any time soon.
Steam adds VR support category, Oculus Rift games now easier to find
We're inching slowly toward the virtual reality future the 1980s promised us with the addition of a "VR support" category on Valve's digital distribution service Steam. Currently, nine games can be found by searching for VR support in Steam. Highlights include the Valve Complete Pack, Surgeon Simulator 2013 and Strike Suit Zero. Notably absent from the list is Euro Truck Simulator, though its omission could either be the result of the search query still being fleshed out, or because the game's Oculus Rift support is still in the testing phases. It should go without saying, but if you want to experience these games in their fully immersive glory, you're going to also need to own an Oculus Rift headset. Unfortunately we still have no pricing or release date information for the gadget. (Image credit: Sergey Galyonkin)
Garry's Mod tops 3.5 million sold, continues to pick up steam
In the nearly 10 years since Garry's Mod first debuted as a modification for Half-Life 2, the open sandbox physics simulator has sold over 3.5 million copies, while doubling its sales each year. Garry Newman, the game's creator and namesake, cites a number of reasons for its success: the ever-increasing popularity of Steam, user-generated content, additions from other Valve games like Team Fortress 2, and the modern prevalence of video game footage on YouTube. That last one is crucial, as Garry's Mod thrives on its weirdness. The game itself allows players to place any Source Engine object into the world to manipulate as they see fit, and as the above screenshot demonstrates, the best results are often bafflingly weird. Surprisingly, Newman believes that Minecraft – a similarly open, wildly popular sandbox game – is more of an aid than detriment to sales of Garry's Mod. "You'd think Minecraft would kill GMod's popularity ... but it's kind of the opposite," Newman told Rock Paper Shotgun. "People play Minecraft to death – they love it ... so they go out looking for other games that are a bit like it. Minecraft has attracted a lot of people that aren't really PC gamers too. They play the game on the 360 or the iPad and everyone tells them that the PC version is better." While current monetary figures don't exist, Newman revealed in March that at the time Garry's Mod had generated $22 million in sales so far – quite a haul for a $10 Steam title that's never seen a proper retail release.
Half-Life revamp Black Mesa head(crab)s to Steam for a 'low price'
Black Mesa, the fan-made Half-Life mod that re-imagines the game with current technology and a bunch of extra goodies, is coming to Steam soon for "a relatively low price," the development team says. Black Mesa started as a free mod, and there will still be a free version, but the team wanted to give players a chance to support its efforts financially. "For us, Black Mesa is purely a labor of love," the team writes. "We believe this philosophy has significantly contributed to the overall quality and feel of the game. Our decision to sell Black Mesa rests on two key points. One is we believe we can make the game even better by having full access to the Source engine. This lets us tackle and fix limitations instead of working around them. The second is because frankly, our team could really use the financial help." The paid version will include a few features not in the free game, but soon after the paid version launches on Steam, a brand new free version will go live, too. Black Mesa was one of the first 10 games to make it through Greenlight in September 2012, granting it a spot on Steam. The current, free edition of Black Mesa is available now through a number of hosts, including Mod DB. Check out the complete list under "Download" here.
PSA: The Stanley Parable is out now, 20 percent off
The Stanley Parable is now available on Steam, and is 20 percent off ($11.99) until October 23. Originally a Half-Life 2 mod, the first-person exploration game centers on Stanley, employee number 427 of a nameless company, who pushes buttons on a keyboard at his desk as instructions appear on a monitor. Compared to the 2011 mod, The Stanley Parable "returns with new content, new ideas, a fresh coat of visual paint," and voice-overs by Kevan Brighting. The game's description underscores the "everything is not as it seems" nature of the game, as over time "meaning begins to arise, the paradoxes might start to make sense." Developer Galactic Cafe encourages players to check out the game's demo to learn more, which is also available through Steam.
Insurgency gameplay video and screens are being dramatic
This gameplay video for Insurgency, a team-based online FPS from New World Interactive, includes some rather dramatic music. We get it, a trailer for a game based on a popular Half-Life 2 mod by the same name deserves a little extra spice. The fact that the game is already available on Steam through the platform's Early Access service for $14.99 says something else to us, though. Given Insurgency's tactical online play for up to 32 players, the game seems more inviting and inclusive than the dramatic music makes it sound. If New World Interactive is stumped while matching music with its trailers in the future, however, we'd recommend something more lighthearted. %Gallery-194176%
Half-Life 2 on the Oculus Rift looks like double the trouble, fun
Oculus Rift owner and YouTuber Vaecon recorded a 15-minute session of Half-Life 2 on Oculus Rift, and the entire experience can be summed up in a few words, spoken less than two minutes into his gameplay demo: "Whoa. This is really cool." Valve launched official support for Half-Life 2 on the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset, in beta form, on Friday. Valve programmer Joe Ludwig cautioned that this beta was "a bit more raw" than Team Fortress 2's Oculus Rift prowess, noting HUD and UI issues. Vaecon sported some anti-motion-sickness bands during his Half-Life 2 session, since previous games on the system left him woozy. Whether because of the bands or the game itself, Half-Life 2 on Oculus Rift didn't appear to affect Vaecon's stomach. "This is the perfect scene to show on the Oculus because there's a lot of action, jumping and – oh, I feel like I'm swimming," he said.
Half-Life 2 gets official Oculus Rift support
Valve has updated Half-Life 2 with Oculus Rift compatibility, Valve programmer Joe Ludwig announced on the device's developer forums. "We just shipped a beta for Half-Life 2 that includes Oculus Rift support," Ludwig writes. "To get it, open the properties for HL2 in Steam, set your command line to '-vr,' and opt-in to the SteamPipe beta. This should ship to everybody in a few weeks." Ludwig also cautions that Half-Life 2's Oculus Rift support is "a bit more raw" than the implementation found in Valve's other provisionally Rift-supporting game, Team Fortress 2. Specifically, he mentions slight UI issues and acknowledges that the game's HUD is difficult to read, and encourages developers to let Valve know of any issues they encounter while charging around City 17. In other Half-Life 2 news, a Linux version of the game has been released as a beta – the client can be downloaded from your Steam Library like other Steam Play-enabled titles. Well, assuming you own Half-Life 2, of course. It's not that beta. [Thanks, Rasmus!]
Half-Life 2 mod 'Minerva' gets Director's Cut on Steam
Six years after its initial release, Adam Foster's acclaimed Half-Life 2 mod MINERVA has been re-released as a free "Director's Cut" version on Steam. MINERVA is an atmospheric first-person adventure game in which players explore an underground Convent base with help from Minerva, an unseen companion character. The mod was impressive enough to land Foster a job at Valve, where he still works today. Friendly pressure from co-workers resulted in the game's eventual overhaul and Steam release. Foster notes that the Director's Cut boasts "tweaked visuals, bug fixes, better puzzles and all kinds of subtle improvements." MINERVA is available as a free download, though it requires players to have Half-Life 2: Episode One installed in order to play it.
Oculus Rift still on for March, has lens caps for vision-impaired, adjustable assembly now
With Oculus Rift's initial developer unit launch scheduled for next month, the folks at Oculus have understandably been busy. After CES, they went to Hong Kong to oversee the initial manufacturing run of their "pilot" dev kit prototypes – 40 in total – and are on-track to meet their March ship deadline for the final Oculus Rift. Kickstarter backers will receive their units sometime in April.With the extra time, Oculus added two small features the start-up hopes will make for a better experience: swappable lens caps for the inside viewing area and an adjustable assembly for a more fine-tuned fit. So if you're near-sighted or far-sighted, the three different lens caps will allow you to adjust your depth of focus to meet your vision needs; and with the adjustable assembly, now you can possibly leave your glasses on when using the Oculus Rift and get the best fit possible.If you're late to the Oculus Rift party, know it's a virtual reality headset that has mesmerized some of the industry's most notable talent, including John Carmack and MineCraft creator Markus "Notch" Persson. In fact, they aren't the only ones – a recent Half-Life 2 head-tracking and gun-tracking mod created by Nathan Andrews, designed for the Oculus Rift, has gotten a lot of attention. Andrews put up his own AMA on Reddit to answer questions and provide more information – if you want to see the mod in action, head past the break for a video demonstration. Trust us, it's totally neat!
Half-Life 2 Gravity Gun on sale in April, sign up for updates
NECA's full-size Half-Life 2 Gravity Gun replica can be yours, but getting it won't be easy.The Gravity Gun will go on sale on Think Geek in April for $150, but there will be a limited quantity. Like the Portal guns that sold out in just 30 minutes last year, once they're sold out, they're gone forever. To give yourself the best chance of scoring a Gravity Gun, sign up for an email alert now on its Think Geek page.The NECA Gravity Gun is stocked with sound effects and LEDs, and a kickstand for all those times you're not acting out Gordon Freeman fantasies with it. Check out the full run-down on Think Geek, and if you're interested, don't forget to sign up for that email reminder.
Natural Selection 2 makes it to Steam, set for October release [update]
Ten Halloweens ago, the absurdly popular Natural Selection mod transformed Half-Life into a multiplayer shooter with real-time strategy. Today, its long-developed sequel is finally up for pre-order on Steam, attached with a very convenient 'October 2012' release window. Yup, we'll eat our pumpkin hat if Natural Selection 2 isn't out by October 31. Until then, the game remains in beta with over 40,000 active players according to developer Unknown Worlds.Natural Selection 2 now offers a tactical team-based shooter in a proprietary engine, with one side the marines, the other the aliens. One member of each team plays the "Commander" role, overseeing the fight from above and influencing it through RTS features like defenses, buildings, and upgrades.Pre-orders on Steam are being rewarded with Natural Selection 2's deluxe version. That includes the official soundtrack, a digital art book, and some in-game armor amongst other goodies, all for $24.95. Sadly, there's been an oversight regarding a pumpkin hat.Update: Clarified release window and corrected engine information.
Valve reportedly preparing second-generation Source engine, kinda explains the Episode Three delay
ValveTime has dug through the Source Filmmaker code to reveal references to "Source 2," reportedly a next-generation revamp of Valve's famous game engine. Given that the three major consoles are all due a refresh, it's unsurprising to see preparations being made. That said, however, the second (and major) launch title for the original Source was Half Life 2, so we're gonna be getting a complaint letter ready if we don't get some more time with Gordon, Alyx and Dog in a beautifully rendered future dystopia.
Gordon Freeman action figure has no push-button catch phrases
NECA's latest Valve figurine features a surprisingly smooth-skinned Gordon Freeman in a hazard suit, and comes with two sets of interchangeable hands, even though limb detachment is a feature we don't quite remember from Half-Life 2 (at least, not voluntary limb detachment).Freeman stands 7 inches and has 20 points of articulation, and also comes with four separate accessories: crowbar, bugbomb, gravity gun and headcrab.The Freeman figurine runs $18 and will launch in September, Lambda Generation notes. Just in time to get grandma that headcrab she's always asked for during the holidays.
Valve Source Filmmaker makes a movie out of any Source game, now you're directing with Portals (video)
Creating machinima with a video game engine usually requires accepting one of two truths: either that it will require a lot of fudging or that it will have all the sophistication of playing with action figures. Valve Software isn't very happy with that dichotomy, which is why it's posting its very own movie-making tool, Source Filmmaker, as a public beta. Any game that runs on the Source engine, whether it's Left 4 Dead 2, Portal 2 or another in the family, can have gameplay run-throughs edited and dissected right down to custom facial expressions. As Valve expounds in the video after the break, throwing a gaming-grade PC at the task gives directors the advantage of seeing exactly how any changes will look in the final scene; there's no rough wireframes or pre-rendering here. Budding Francis Ford Coppolas can sign up for an invitation to the Filmmaker beta at the project page. If you'd just like to see how far someone can go with the end results, we've also included the latest Team Fortress 2 character profile video, Meet the Pyro, after the jump.
Jetpack Joyride beta now on Facebook
Those of you who work in an office environment: we suggest you just keep right on movin'. For everyone else, please enjoy the following news: Jetpack Joyride is now playable on Facebook for free. Yes, adventure after adventure after adventure with Barry Steakfries is now just a few clicks (and a few onerous Facebook permissions) away.It's worth noting that the game is currently in beta, and some of the seams are definitely showing. The visuals aren't terribly sharp and we even ran into some display issues, specifically if your browser view settings are zoomed in.Again though, it's Jetpack Joyride, excitingly and horrifyingly more available than ever.
