New to Half Life 2 and got a lot of questions

[Roland Deschain]

First, I heard something about Half life 1 being included with HL2 what up with that.

Second, will the CD code for HL2 work with all of the previous software, like counter-strike or do we have to enter all of the CD codes seperatly.

Will it be DVD or CD (ie how big is the game).

Will they have those electric mosters from Half life 1 cause I didn't see them in any of the demoes (my favorite monster).

Is steam going to be free once you purchase Half LIfe 2 or will there be a montly charge, I'm kinda confused about this issue.

Well I got a lot more but these are the most pressing.

 

[Gojin]

I highly doubt a monthly charge to answer one question. To answer another, the Alien Slave (electric monster/vortigaunt(sp?)) will be there. He's friendly though and is on your side. Big faq's by HL2 fan sites prob answer the other questions. Just search around for HL2 FAQ's

 

[EC]

Half-Life 1 is being ported into the Half-LIfe 2 engine (Source).

Seperate codes.

Both as far as we know. (2gb compressed)

If you are referring to the Vourtagaunt (SP) then yes it's in there, but I'm not sure if it is an enemy.

Steam has always been free. The games are the things that cost money. If you buy Half-Life 2, that is the only price you have to pay (unless you buy other games)

 

[evil^milk]

I'd post all the info you need, but sadly someone already beat me to it.

there is no spoon.

edit: DIDDYASEETHAT!? ALL AT THE SAME TIME!

 

[Sparta]

There has never been a monthly charge for steam
The game is 3.5 GB, First it will come out on CD then DVD.
The CD Code will only work with HL2
Yes those monsters are in it
And Valve are porting Half-Life over to the Source engine, so it will have the fancy graphics and physics that HL2 has, were not sure if thats going to be free yet.

 

[Gojin]

It's like we're twins

 

[[Dragoon]]

1: Valve is supposedly remaking all of the official mods, and HL1, on the source engine. No word on if they will come with the game, or after, or if they will cost extra.

2: It will probably come with a unique code, that will only work with HL2.

3: No word on that, but I'm guessing CD.

4: If they're not in the videos, then I don't think anybody knows. Valve's been pretty tightlipped with info.

5: Steam is, and will be, free. Though, I think, you'll be able to pay a monthley fee that will get you all future Valve games.

Feel free to ask any other questions.

 

[Gojin]

To answer the Alien Slave question more in depth for others, they're friendly because in the latest E3 footage you see one on a level talking to a scientist, the you see one talking to Dr. Vance and then he assists vance in powering up/fixing a machine. Also it makes sense because in their name, it says that they were slaves, so since you have defeated their masters, they are in service to you and thank you.

Edit: But you also killed them off, I know, but they were under control and couldn't control themselves.

 

[ShadowFox]

How do we know all of them are friendly though? Could be ones that are friendly and ones that are hostile.

 

[Gojin]

Nihilanth was killed and I'm guessing he controled the Slave Masters, or that collar on their neck, so I'm guessing they can think for themselves. And they can probably think since they needed to be enslaved. Most of this came from another friend and I'm just taking his points. (Guy with original ideas was AC7, don't wanna disclose his full tag without asking) But your right, some could still be evil. Total possibility.

 

[Neutrino]

There has never been a monthly charge for steam
The game is 3.5 GB, First it will come out on CD then DVD.
The CD Code will only work with HL2
Yes those monsters are in it
And Valve are porting Half-Life over to the Source engine, so it will have the fancy graphics and physics that HL2 has, were not sure if thats going to be free yet.

I'd just like to put a disclaimer on your last point. I highly doubt the HL1 port is going to have HL2 graphics. I think they are just porting it over to the engine. It would take a huge amount of work to replace actual game art like models, and maps. Valve even hinted themselves that there won't really be that much visual difference.

However, I think there is atleast one mod team out there that is planning on really updating the entire HL1 game with the new engine.

 

[urseus]

5: Steam is, and will be, free. Though, I think, you'll be able to pay a monthley fee that will get you all future Valve games.

Just on this....why would anyone be tempted to pay a monthly fee. It could be months between when good and popular mods are out, and your paying for nothing.

Ill buy HL2, with DOD:source and CS:Source. So ive payed for that upfront, dont have to pay anything else to play or continue to get patches correct?

Why would anyone pay a monthly fee, even if valve releases mods and so forth. I mean most of them could suck. Why wouldnt people just pay for the mods they want as they come out.

The monthly fee thing doesnt seem to make any sense to me. The only thing that scares me about steam is the demise of the free mod. Mod makers will most likly make mods then put them on steam and charge. Sub-par mods (which they all are at the beggining before tweaking) need to be free so that everyone will download them and beta test them.

 

[RoguePsi]

First it will come out on CD then DVD.

How did you work that one out? All versions will be available from the first possible release date.

 

[mortiz]

erk 3.5 GB.

Looks like I need a new HDD.

 

[ferd]

How can you be new to HL2?
Were you in a coma the last year?

 

[brokenjago]

Valve have stated that they are going to be releasing new stuff every month to make the monthly free very worth it

 

[epmode]

Valve have stated that they are going to be releasing new stuff every month to make the monthly free very worth it

close. gabe said that if they go with a monthly fee (which he admitted seemed unlikely, at least at launch,) there would be enough content released monthly to make the fee seem reasonable.

 

[Dr. Freeman]

Just on this....why would anyone be tempted to pay a monthly fee. It could be months between when good and popular mods are out, and your paying for nothing.

Ill buy HL2, with DOD:source and CS:Source. So ive payed for that upfront, dont have to pay anything else to play or continue to get patches correct?

Why would anyone pay a monthly fee, even if valve releases mods and so forth. I mean most of them could suck. Why wouldnt people just pay for the mods they want as they come out.

The monthly fee thing doesnt seem to make any sense to me. The only thing that scares me about steam is the demise of the free mod. Mod makers will most likly make mods then put them on steam and charge. Sub-par mods (which they all are at the beggining before tweaking) need to be free so that everyone will download them and beta test them.

well for starters..what i am about to say does not ususally apply to most pple browsing this site or most other HL2 sites.. which is.. not everyone is a fan of the HL series... in other words.. there are pple out there who may only have mild interest in the game at best.

that said, those who are "fringe" fans can use the monthly fee option to "rent" HL2 or any other Valve game/content because essentially that is what the monthly fee is... "renting the game"

its a good way for a person to decide whether a game is worth the money or not...or a mod.. or whatever else that is available.

as far as Mod makers charging a small fee.. well look, they work hard just like anyone else.. and do deserve to get paid..especially if the mod recieves attention like CS/DOD did.
perhaps at first they may not charge anything.. and if it becomes somewhat of a success.. who knows.. maybe make it "official" and charge a small $10 dollar fee or something..

hey at least this way it eliminates "the middle man" where we know products do get marked up for profit.. :|

 

[Brazooka]

sorry if this is a noob question, but whats with that, a game coming in DVD? Why? How it works?

 

[Roland Deschain]

Oh, a DVD just has more space on it, so Unreal 2004 came on 6 CDs or you can buy the game on only 2 DVD's, it's a convinience issue nothing more.

 

[Brazooka]

Oh, a DVD just has more space on it, so Unreal 2004 came on 6 CDs or you can buy the game on only 2 DVD's, it's a convinience issue nothing more.

wow, didn't know that... gotta update!!! Thx

 

[urseus]

well for starters..what i am about to say does not ususally apply to most pple browsing this site or most other HL2 sites.. which is.. not everyone is a fan of the HL series... in other words.. there are pple out there who may only have mild interest in the game at best.

that said, those who are "fringe" fans can use the monthly fee option to "rent" HL2 or any other Valve game/content because essentially that is what the monthly fee is... "renting the game"

But why would somone want to pay like $20 dollars a month for a game, when in 3 months worth theyd have payed enough to have bought the game, and if they again after that actually want to buy it they have to spend even more money.

It just seems really odd, and valve would have to release a tonne of content, like 3 new mods a month, charge $10 each for them or $20 for a monthly subscription to encourage people to take advantage. Thats alot to live up to though and see as valve havent been all that speedy at development i dont think its possible.

 

[Dr. Freeman]

But why would somone want to pay like $20 dollars a month for a game, when in 3 months worth theyd have payed enough to have bought the game, and if they again after that actually want to buy it they have to spend even more money.

It just seems really odd, and valve would have to release a tonne of content, like 3 new mods a month, charge $10 each for them or $20 for a monthly subscription to encourage people to take advantage. Thats alot to live up to though and see as valve havent been all that speedy at development i dont think its possible.

well to be honest about it, they haven't even set a price "officially" on the monthly fee.. and i doubt it will be $20/month.. thats a bit high me thinks.

and the thing about this subscription is, u can.. or at least should be able to cancel it any time u want.. and a month should be more than enough to determine if a game is worth ur money.

there has been speculation about that Steam fee being somewhere around $10/month.. but its best to wait and see what Valve announces.