Half-Life: Alyx - Valve's full-length flagship VR game set between HL1 and HL2

[Egosphere]

Make Valve Great Again

 

[GewuerzKahn]

Oh wow, I still have hope for Valve as a game developer.

 

[Sentinel]

The Valve employees admit in the video interview with Geoff that it is not financially viable to make this game for VR only, but that they were the only ones in a position to do so because it's Valve. So they're probably not expecting 30 million sales or anything remotely close.

 

[a Goat]

Exactly, it'll be a flop just so dumb valvedrones don't feel stupid for buying their $400 paperweights, two version of these by now

 

[Wirdschowerdn]

The Valve employees admit in the video interview with Geoff that it is not financially viable to make this game for VR only, but that they were the only ones in a position to do so because it's Valve. So they're probably not expecting 30 million sales or anything remotely close.

Valve is defying capitalism?

Well, sometimes you have to take risk.

 

[Akratus]

 

[ADL]

Half Life: Dead On Arrival, pricetag at only $460 for a gimmick screen ducttapped to face effect.

You can use a $100 headset with embedded tracking and controllers included dude.

 

[ShadowSpectre]

Most people will not bite the bullet and get a full VR set just for this one game. However, Half-Life: Alyx will probably be the most watched Let's Play due to the VR exclusivity and everyone waiting ages for HL3.

 

[a Goat]

You can use a $100 headset with embedded tracking and controllers included dude.

I can also play good game instead.

 

[ZVERMIX]

Most people will not bite the bullet and get a full VR set just for this one game.

I'm leaning on doing just that. Was curious for VR for a long time, I think now might be the time to do it. Just waiting for Index worldwide release/discounts.

 

[Whipped Cream]

The Valve employees admit in the video interview with Geoff that it is not financially viable to make this game for VR only, but that they were the only ones in a position to do so because it's Valve. So they're probably not expecting 30 million sales or anything remotely close.

Yes, its pretty obvious that the reason they're making the game is because part of the reason that so few people buy VR headsets is that VR is lacking a "killer app". And whats the ultimate exclusive killer app for a gaming device? Half-Life 3. But if they called it Half-Life 3 then more people would be annoyed that it is VR only and expectations would be even higher then they already are, so they made a Half-Life prequel spin-off instead.

Take note Epic and Google, this is how you push a platform that people are sceptical towards.

 

[Sentinel]

The Valve employees admit in the video interview with Geoff that it is not financially viable to make this game for VR only, but that they were the only ones in a position to do so because it's Valve. So they're probably not expecting 30 million sales or anything remotely close.

Yes, its pretty obvious that the reason why the're making the game is because part of the reason that so few people buy VR headsets is that VR is lacking a "killer app". And whats the ultimate exclusive killer app for a gaming device? Half-Life 3. But if they called it Half-Life 3 then more people would be annoyed that it is VR only and expectations would be even higher then they already are, so they made a Half-Life prequel spin-off instead.

Take note Epic and Google, this is how you push a platform.

They also give an hint as to why no Half-Life 3: everyone is way too scared to work on it. I think that even if Valve continues to work on the Half-Life world, a game called "Half-Life 3" is not something we'll ever see. Maybe it's for the best.

 

[Egosphere]

The Valve employees admit in the video interview with Geoff that it is not financially viable to make this game for VR only, but that they were the only ones in a position to do so because it's Valve. So they're probably not expecting 30 million sales or anything remotely close.

Yes, its pretty obvious that the reason why the're making the game is because part of the reason that so few people buy VR headsets is that VR is lacking a "killer app". And whats the ultimate exclusive killer app for a gaming device? Half-Life 3. But if they called it Half-Life 3 then more people would be annoyed that it is VR only and expectations would be even higher then they already are, so they made a Half-Life prequel spin-off instead.

Take note Epic and Google, this is how you push a platform.

They also give an hint as to why no Half-Life 3: everyone is way too scared to work on it. I think that even if Valve continues to work on the Half-Life world, a game called "Half-Life 3" is not something we'll ever see. Maybe it's for the best.

Imo after Laidlaw leaked the plot of Episode 3, it's become apparent that Valve never had an actual story arc for the series. They were just making it up as they went along.

 

[Whipped Cream]

Imo after Laidlaw leaked the plot of Episode 3, it's become apparent that Valve never had an actual story arc for the series. They were just making it up as they went along.

I agree that they didn't really have a solid long term plan for the series, but I think that the ending of the series (if they ever decide to end it permanently) is pretty obvious considering that they were planning on introducing the Borealis as a time travel device, namely: Gordon Freeman travels back in time to Black Mesa and prevents the G-man from starting the resonance cascade, killing himself in the process. The combine never invade earth as a result. The end.

 

[Junmarko]

Requires a virtual reality headset.

Half-Life: Alyx is set between the events of Half-Life and Half-Life 2.

Source Engine still looks nice though. Kudos to dev team in that regard.

 

[Egosphere]

Imo after Laidlaw leaked the plot of Episode 3, it's become apparent that Valve never had an actual story arc for the series. They were just making it up as they went along.

I agree that they didn't really have a solid long term plan for the series, but I think that the ending of the series (if they ever decide to end it permanently) is pretty obvious considering that they were planning on introducing the Borealis as a time travel device, namely: Gordon Freeman travels back in time to Black Mesa and prevents himself from starting the resonance cascade, killing himself in the process. The combine never invade earth as a result. The end.

That wouldn't really square with G-man's shenanigans throughout the whole series, especially since he was always dropping hints about some 'employers' of which we know nothing. The series kept hinting at some grand inter-dimensional conspiracy happening behind the curtains, so if they make sequels they'll have to do something with it.

They do have Adrian Shephard still stuck in limbo in outer space. It'd be interesting to see him brought back into the fold, especially since he's an unknown entity, free of the messianic reverence surrounding Freeman

 

[kain30]

Feels like is going to be a fun shooter BUT unfortunately i´m no going to buy a vr set for this, not even a cheap one.

 

[Wirdschowerdn]

"Citizen, you'll be taken off-world for jaywalking!"

Alyx: "Niggas..."

 

[frajaq]

 

[Dexter]

The butthurt this will cause with VRlets is gonna be amazing, we're off to a really good early start!

 

[Whipped Cream]

That wouldn't really square with G-man's shenanigans throughout the whole series, especially since he was always dropping hints about some 'employers' of which we know nothing. The series kept hinting at some grand inter-dimensional conspiracy happening behind the curtains, so if they make sequels they'll have to do something with it.

The best fan theory that I've heard for what the G-man's true motivations are is that his "employers" are an alien civilization at war with the Combine and that the G-man caused the resonance cascade and the resulting invasion of earth in an attempt to divert the Combine's attention so that his "employers" had a slightly better fighting chance. This would explain both why he caused the resonance cascade in HL1 and why he later guided Freeman to destroy the Citadel in HL2.

Thus the last Half-Life game would end with the player travelling back in time to Black Mesa to end the resonance cascade, leading to a boss fight against the G-man. When the G-man looses he explains his true motivations and the player is given a chocie with two options: 1. Kill the G-man and himself, prevent the resonance cascade from happening and saving earth. The events of the Half-Life series never happen, but the Combine are implied to eventually conquer most of the known multiverse in the long run or 2. Not prevent the resonance cascade from happening, the G-man's employers get a slightly better fighting chance, but earth is doomed. Gordon gets "hired" by the G-man to spend the rest of eternity helping him fight the Combine.

Thats the best ending I can think of, but of course, its pretty much impossible to end the franchise in a way thats going to be completely satisfying to everyone.

Personally though, I do suspect that you're right in that Valve are just making it up as they go along.

 

[Venser]

Instead of Boneworks telekinetic powers she has gravity gun tech on her gloves. Nice

 

[Anthedon]

Seeing City 17 and its environs with up-to-date graphics is nice and all (G-Man is looking especially dapper). But if it remains VR only I'll pass and watch the salient story points online.

 

[Lyric Suite]

You care about this shit story line? Why?

 

[Dayyālu]

The butthurt this will cause with VRlets is gonna be amazing, we're off to a really good early start!

If it kills everything, well, good for ye. Maybe we'll get VR games that don't look like Trespasser.

If it fails, and remember what happened with the Episodes (THE FUTURE IS EPISODIC GAMING) Half Life will be killed again by a fad.

Time will tell.

I like the graphic design, even if the humans look a tad too cartoony and the weapon design looks completely off. 1911 guys seriously what the fuck