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[Elektro Demon]

I just read an article saying that you won't be able to play it without a vr headset.
And I ain't into vr. Damn.

 

[lensoftruth]

What a big fuck you to all the Half Life fans out there....

Let's analyse this situation. So 2 years ago, many big companies, including Valve thought that VR is the next big shit (despite VR being around for decades, albeit with less graphical fidelity). Lot's of big companies threw billions into this new technology.

Pretty soon, however, it became evident that VR is NOT the next big thing. Actually most people didn't give a shit. The big companies tried everything. Shilling the hell out of VR on the internet (even on OLD Gaf), producing new games for example, yet it all turned out to be a typical dreamcast situation: VR sells bad because nobody gives a shit > developers are reserved to release games for it and are waiting until it sells better and install base gets bigger > VR install base doesn't grow because there are no good games for it > developers get more reluctant to commit > VR base still doesn't grow because of no games, and so on.

This situation has been going on for 2 or 3 years. It should be evident that VR is a failure, yet companies like Valve undertake ridiculous messures to turn VR around. I mean, they have to, right? They spent so much money on a technology that wasn't the next coming of jesus.

Seeing Valve use Half Life as one of those desperate messures is pretty upsetting. Many years fans have been asking for a new entry, and only now they are bringing it to life, but only because they were so gullible to fall for the VR-meme, not because they thought developing a next entry of Half Life (one of the most successfull FPS of all time) would make SENSE.

Amazing, in your world mobile gaming is a tiny part of the market as well right?

 

[fantomena]

Except he is pretty much wrong on every count

I know, my sarcasm failed me.

I just read an article saying that you won't be able to play it without a vr headset.
And I ain't into vr. Damn.

You have until march to get into VR. Lots of time.

 

[Katsura]

I know, my sarcasm failed me.



You have until march to get into VR. Lots of time.

Might just as well be my reading comprehension that failed

 

[Elektro Demon]

I know, my sarcasm failed me.



You have until march to get into VR. Lots of time.

But I don't want to. It's a gimmick, and a failed gimmick at that. It should have been dead a long time ago.
I have faith in modders to make this playable for normal people with m/kb.

 

[mckmas8808]

This is E3 worthy!

 

[gifgaf]

failed gimmick at that

Oculus Quest consistently in amazon's top 50 PC and Video games list but it's a failed gimmick? And Time magazines best invention of 2019. Sorry you are upset but at least try to pretend you know what your talking about.

 

[fantomena]

But I don't want to. It's a gimmick, and a failed gimmick at that. It should have been dead a long time ago.
I have faith in modders to make this playable for normal people with m/kb.

It's not a gimmick. Have you ever played a VR game bult up from the ground? I have.

Modders won't be able to covert to game to non-VR. They need to completely redesign the game to do so.

 

[Barakov]

Glad we're getting something else Half-LIfe. I don't like VR but I'm glad it's there for people that do.

 

[Ribi]

I just read an article saying that you won't be able to play it without a vr headset.
And I ain't into vr. Damn.

Already expected that someone in the modding community will make it payable without vr. However don't expect that to come close to the intended gameplay experience and expect bugs.

 

[fantomena]

Why no mouse and keyboard:

"We would love to be delivering a version of this where you can play with a mouse and keyboard," said Casali. "But as we've said, [Half-Life: Alyx] began as an exploration of VR. The more we used the controllers and the headset--the amount of interactions and possibilities these things gave us-- and the more we explored it, the more we realized that there's so much opportunity that we can't translate back to the keyboard when you can track your hands separately from your head. They're all in 3D space--all simultaneously tracking and moving. And when you put that into game mechanics with the kinds of interactions you can do now, you couldn't possibly do that with a mouse and keyboard."

Why Half-Life: Alyx Is VR-Only

In a recent interview, Valve explained exactly why Half-Life: Alyx can only be played on VR headsets.

www.gamespot.com

 

[Romulus]

Oculus Quest consistently in amazon's top 50 PC and Video games list but it's a failed gimmick? And Time magazines best invention of 2019. Sorry you are upset but at least try to pretend you know what your talking about.

Like swatting headcrabs with a crowbar in this bitch.

 

[Romulus]

The gimmick stance reveals you've never tried real VR. That's all it does.

 

[Jigsaah]

I need more money.

 

[Dr.brain64]

OMFG it's beautiful

 

[Elektro Demon]

Oculus Quest consistently in amazon's top 50 PC and Video games list but it's a failed gimmick? And Time magazines best invention of 2019. Sorry you are upset but at least try to pretend you know what your talking about.

The thing is, VR is for casual people. How many people here actually own a VR headset and think it's any good?
And the problem I have is that Half life games weren't made for casual people, you know, facebook type people.
And now all of a sudden, Valve is making a game for them? It's clear to me that they're just chasing money.
Maybe I'm just getting old or something, I don't know.

 

[fantomena]

Maybe I'm just getting old or something, I don't know.

I think this is it.

 

[gifgaf]

The thing is, VR is for casual people. How many people here actually own a VR headset and think it's any good?
And the problem I have is that Half life games weren't made for casual people, you know, facebook type people.
And now all of a sudden, Valve is making a game for them? It's clear to me that they're just chasing money.
Maybe I'm just getting old or something, I don't know.

Have you been reading the comments here? Reddit also has a big VR community that are passionate about VR. Please don't dismiss it until you have had a good test, it's worth it I promise.

I dunno how old you are but I'm 45 soon, I don't feel too old for VR and I'm definitely not super casual.

 

[Alexios]

I'd didn't say it was an experiment (or a tech demo), but it certainly isn't a sequel versus a prequel to HL2. The whole reason they would want people to replay Episode 2 would be because invariably the game will round out some of Alyx's and Eli's relationship. Personally I'm hoping Mossman is in it.


TBH I think the smarter move though would have been to come up with a distinct VR IP free of any existing associations. Valve's name alone would carry enough Cache to garner interest and it would also free them up from peoples expectations.

Well that's not what they were passionate about.

“Everyone at Valve is excited to be returning to the world of Half-Life,” Valve founder Gabe Newell said in today’s announcement. “VR has energised us. We’ve invested a lot of ourselves in the technology. But we’re also game developers at heart, and to be devoting ourselves to a VR game this ambitious is just as exciting. For that to come in the form of Half-Life feels like the culmination of a lot things we care a lot about: truly great games, cutting edge technology, and open platforms. We can’t wait for people to experience this.”

 

[Grand Theft Scratchy]

I like the Half-Life series and I'm intrigued by VR gaming so this was an excellent trailer.

 

[pr0cs]

The thing is, VR is for casual people. How many people here actually own a VR headset and think it's any good?
And the problem I have is that Half life games wer

There are a lot of us VR enthusiasts on GAF. Yeah it took a while to start getting top tier software but it's coming. Just the last 2 months we got two AAA titles and the trend continues with Respawns reboot of Medal of Honor in VR as well has Alyx next year.
I suspect you just haven't tried a good VR setup with some compelling titles. I set up my entertainment room so it's easy to make room scale VR and every single person that has tried VR here, from casual people to my hardcore gamer friends that initially despised the idea of VR leave with a very different impression. It's not an age thing, I'm 47, my parents in their 60s, my kids in their teens. EVERYONE looks forward to playing VR when new titles come out

 

[Kadayi]

Well that's not what they were passionate about.

Everyones passionate when they're selling you something.

 

[Alexios]

Everyones passionate when they're selling you something.

But if they made a non VR Half-Life 3 you wouldn't claim this because then they wouldn't be trying to sell you a game? Like you said they could have made a new IP and it'd hold just as much sway coming from them, they wanted to make Half-Life so where is this "it's just a cash grab" talk end?

 

[Guardian's Light]

Never been AN expert or a big fan of hl2, I know it too little, but I played it many years ago
I Also hate 3d, and the only - hands interface

This said, this game looks very massive, and the shooting in particular really is incredible
I'm salivating, even if I'll never get to play it

 

[sol_bad]

Man, I knew it would be good when they showed it and damn it does look really good.
I'm very jelly of anyone that can play this.

 

[infinitys_7th]

The Rayman hands look so bad when everything else looks so great

"VR" as it is now is so unappealing, but I want this to be better. Maybe we will get HL3 finally if it does well (which I'm sure it will).

 

[Honey Bunny]

Do we know what they're doing for locomotion? Analog sticks?

 

[Kadayi]

But if they made a non VR Half-Life 3 you wouldn't claim this because then they wouldn't be trying to sell you a game?

Do you have this weeks lottery numbers?

How about in future you stick to operating with what is, versus what isn't

They've had several years to be passionate about concluding the Episodic trilogy, yet it never happened. You watched exactly the same video as I did and the key narrative was all about making a AAA VR Title in order to promote a technology they have a market stakehold in. HL happened to be the existing IP they found most viable to achieve that, nothing more nothing less.

 

[gifgaf]

Do you have this weeks lottery numbers?

How about in future you stick to operating with what is, versus what isn't

I think what he means is when they started making this game 3 years ago the Index didn't exist. The devs felt passionate about VR in general and felt Half Life would be a good fit for VR. So yes they may have been trying to sell you a game but its no more than any other game dev anywhere, which makes your comment kinda irrelevant.

 

[Kadayi]

I think what he means is when they started making this game 3 years ago the Index didn't exist. The devs felt passionate about VR in general so felt Half Life would be a good fit for VR. So yes they may have been trying to sell you a game but its no more than any other game dev anywhere, which makes your comment kinda irrelevant.

As you missed it

They've had several years to be passionate about concluding the Episodic trilogy, yet it never happened. You watched exactly the same video as I did and the key narrative was all about making a AAA VR Title in order to promote a technology they have a market stakehold in. HL happened to be the existing IP they found most viable to achieve that, nothing more nothing less.

 

[gifgaf]

As you missed it

They've had several years to be passionate about concluding the Episodic trilogy, yet it never happened. You watched exactly the same video as I did and the key narrative was all about making a AAA VR Title in order to promote a technology they have a market stakehold in. HL happened to be the existing IP they found most viable to achieve that, nothing more nothing less.

I didn't miss it, I just think your bitter and ignored it.

 

[Kadayi]

I didn't miss it, I just think your bitter and ignored it.

No counterpoint then. Good to know.

 

[eot]

So what, you rescue Eli so he can ... later you know? Nothing post Ep.2?

 

[Kadayi]

So what, you rescue Eli so he can ... later you know? Nothing post Ep.2?

Pretty much. But remember Valve, they're 'Passionate'

 

[gifgaf]

Pretty much. But remember Valve, they're 'Passionate'

No bitterness in that comment, no siree.

 

[Romulus]

Everyones passionate when they're selling you something.

Why not sell us HL3 without VR then? It'd be an easier sell.

 

[Alexios]

Do you have this weeks lottery numbers?

How about in future you stick to operating with what is, versus what isn't

They've had several years to be passionate about concluding the Episodic trilogy, yet it never happened. You watched exactly the same video as I did and the key narrative was all about making a AAA VR Title in order to promote a technology they have a market stakehold in. HL happened to be the existing IP they found most viable to achieve that, nothing more nothing less.

I don't see "but they want to make money" as any kind of argument against "they're passionate about half-life vr" like you used it and yes it's vr that got them excited about game development again, that's also a good thing for people who like vr games, not bad. Every time someone presents something as exciting you go but but but they just wanna make money, no shit, everyone does, saying someone is excited to work on this or that doesn't also say "no they don't want money" so responding with "but they want money for it" is silly, that was never up for debate, it has a price tag. You don't go around stating that in every other game's thread that people have a positive impression about its announcement so no I don't have to guess that you wouldn't do that if it wasn't a vr half-life either, you're already not doing it for the vast majority of games, just any you wanna put down.

 

[Allnamestakenlol]

Buncha salty motherfuckers up in here.

 

[Phase]

Oculus Quest consistently in amazon's top 50 PC and Video games list but it's a failed gimmick? And Time magazines best invention of 2019. Sorry you are upset but at least try to pretend you know what your talking about.

This is true, but for those who love half-life but aren't sold on VR yet it's basically a $460 dollar game. Personally, I'm going to wait until VR develops further so there will be an actual solid library worth buying a $400 headset for.

 

[Romulus]

This is true, but for those who love half-life but aren't sold on VR yet it's basically a $460 dollar game. Personally, I'm going to wait until VR develops further so there will be an actual solid library worth buying a $400 headset for.

Just curious what sort of games do you want?

 

[Dr. Acid Avatar]

This is what I've been waiting for. A reason to upgrade my potato PC and get a PC VR headset. After that trailer I know what I'll be using some of my savings for.

 

[gifgaf]

This is true, but for those who love half-life but aren't sold on VR yet it's basically a $460 dollar game. Personally, I'm going to wait until VR develops further so there will be an actual solid library worth buying a $400 headset for.

I completely understand, I know it's a hard sell for a lot of people.

 

[Tesseract]

they were already treading muddy waters with episode 2, having to package it up like they did to push sales

this is as much an advancement for vr as it is their engine and services, should be a fun couple of years of maps and mods

that's where i wanna get back to, shit like insurgency, pvk, obsidian, neotokyo, insects infestation, fortress forever, empires, minerva, garry's, dystopia, on and on

 

[Phase]

Just curious what sort of games do you want?

More like HL: Alyx. I did a quick search "best vr games" and there just isn't much that interests me at all. Many of the games seem like gimmicks and/or would be better on pc anyway. If more solid quality comes out that will actually entice me. I'm just assuming I'll have to wait a few years.

 

[Grinchy]

Buncha salty motherfuckers up in here.

VR gets some people really angry for some reason.

 

[Alexios]

they were already treading muddy waters with episode 2, having to package it up like they did to push sales

this is as much an advancement for vr as it is their engine and services, should be a fun couple of years seeing what kinds of maps and mods come forth

that's where i wanna get back to, shit like insurgency, pvk, obsidian, neotokyo, insects infestation, fortress forever, empires, minerva, garry's, dystopia, on and on

The thing is the kind of talented folks that made awesome free stuff like that now can just make it as indie games on a multitude of freely available competent engines and easily publish it for sale on far reaching platforms like Steam itself, it's not so much the lack of modable games that have caused less awesome mods to come out, it's the ease of making and selling games. I'm sure we'll still see awesome fan projects, just not on the level of the Doom, HL, HL2 (already diminished compared to HL tbh) or even UT2004 days, maybe less total conversions, more expansion type stuff.

 

[Wonko_C]

Those who want HLA modded for non-vr play can look forward to "fantastic" hand controls straight out of Trespasser:

 

[CuNi]

I will pick this up in a few years when VR screens don't look like shit and are affordable. I like VR, played at a friend's house, but man seeing pixels really ain't my thing and I think the tech is just not there yet.

Sad this is a VR only game.,but hopefully it will push valve to make more HL games in the future!!

 

[What A Shame...]

Daaaamn, this looks good.

The Index controllers look absolutely necessary and they haven't been released here in Australia yet. I might have to consider waiting until they come out. I don't want to gimp my experience with the wands.

 

[Romulus]

More like HL: Alyx. I did a quick search "best vr games" and there just isn't much that interests me at all. Many of the games seem like gimmicks and/or would be better on pc anyway. If more solid quality comes out that will actually entice me. I'm just assuming I'll have to wait a few years.

Okay. To be fair theres alot though. Lots of gimmicks too but dont let those drown out the solid full length games. Asgards Wrath one of my personal favorites this gen.