Half-Life 2 (PC)

[ascender]

Here's a non-fileplanet link.....

http://www.downloads.jolt.co.uk/index.php?page=download.php&action=filenotes&id=2769

[Spatial]

While the forum was down the 2D Flash game based on HL2 was released.

Codename : Gordon is avaliable over STEAM or it can be downloaded direct from www.halflife2.net

Its around 40mb

[capcom_suicide]

Well I am well and truly gagging for this now. I have pulled out the old ti4400 and banged in a 9800 Pro, which should do the game a good degree of justice at 800x1024. (I can't justify 400 quid for a new card, and at 140 quid, the 9800 Pro is a fair price, and should be OK I think.)

*sigh*

Still months to go.

Oh well.

[nips]

Some people claim that the 2D game is pretty ****... ah well, better try it before I complain!

Back to HL2:

Am I the only one really worried that this game is just going to be too scary. I'm a little jumpy with games. I actually scare with Resident Evil etc. The graveyard scenes and the haunting screams of flaming zombies will make them hard to kill... emotionally it'll be difficult.

The Zombies don't look hard to kill, actually quite easy to avoid, but when then get caught on fire They sound like they really are in immense pain. This game looks so scary, it's so real that anything could be taken as actually happening. I can honestly say that I'm really worried that this game will be too scary.

However, on a side note, I'm a little concerned about the instant deaths. I've watched that E3 video about 5 times now (that's Spatial ) and the Stalkers (big things with long legs) have a kick ass move that seems to kill you pretty much instantly if you are directly hit. That will make this game hard. They appear almost impossible to kill, even with 20 other men shooting at them, but with a 1HK attack like that lazer thing, they may be impossible. I think it may be necessary to get a rope and take them down AT-AT style!

This game is really getting me excited. I really do want to hear some kind of date though because I want to get a new graphics card (mine is steady as a rock in 2D mode, but as soon as 3D acceleration starts it just crashes every time. I think that it may genuinely be broken, not just a software problem)! I want to buy a new card, but not until the last second so I can hopefully get a pretty good price on a card!

But this game can't come out between 13th July-13th August!

Fairplay, between this and Halo 2 my console and PC gaming life is set for... well ever!

[demon9k]

I can't wait either nips.

I love scary games, it makes it much more fun to play. I don't really get scared but I do jump if something gives me a quick shock. Thats one of the best bits about scary games for me. Which should make this game even better.

I think those Stalkers will be easier to kill later in the game when more weapons are revealed, or they will be saved for boss fights. I can't imagine they will make it that difficult/annoying.

As for the graphics card thing I am going to get myself a X800 Pro XT pretty soon after they come out. I will just read a few reviews first to make sure I am making the right choice. Seems the right one from all the pre-release reviews.

[nips]

x800 XT!! Is that with 12 or 16 rendering pipelines!!!!

I'm gonna get a 9800 Pro. That'll do me! I'm not made of money! I think that someone on the Rllmuk forums was selling x800s for a really low price from America. Buy at your own risk and all, but it may be worth it. He says it may take a while, but he's offering them at about 60% of the RRP.

I'd love an x800, but I've had a look around, and currently they don't seem to do that much more than the current crop. I'm sure in the future it'll become more evident, but it's not worth the HUGE price jump! I'm sure you'll love it though (lucky ****)

I can't wait to move some crates!

[demon9k]

I love my 0% Student overdraft

Now I wouldn't recommend using an overdraft but I am stupid you see, so all is well.

The X800 Pro XT does double the frame rate on Far Cry compared to 9800 Pro XT 8) Which is more than enough to convince me to buy it

However the 9800 Pro is still a great card and at ?150ish its a good buy, but maybe waiting is the answer for just now. With the new cards coming out surely their must be a price drop for the older cards?

[nips]

Serious? Double the frame rate!?

Sweet. I didn't realise it was that good. I checked a few benckmarks and graphically it wasn't all that. It looked quite dark compared to the nVidia card actually. But if it is pumping out double the frame rate on Far Cry and games will just keep looking better an better that sounds like a wise investment.

Sweet!

I'm certainly hoping for a price drop... maybe, if I'm good and HL2 doesn't come out for a good few months I'll be able to pick up a boxed 9800 Pro for ?100 inc VAT.

That'd be what I'd want... I'd just hope it doesn't break like this card appears to have!


Have you got any links to some specs on the x800? Like I said, I've seen a few benchmakrks, but to see some more information is always welcome

[demon9k]

Here is a link to the full review of the X800 Pro and X800 Pro XT:

ATi's X800 Pulls Off Another Coup in the Graphics Performance War

As you can read from that review the new cards are very, very impressive!

On lower resolutions the power of your CPU will hold you back though so make sure you get a decent CPU to go with your card.

Here is a quick look at some scores though:



As you can see the X800 Pro XT pwns!!!1!!!1!! With double the average framerate and double the lowest framerate too.

This sort of performance increase cannot be dismissed, certainly by me anyway. But I will probably have someone come along and tell me that I am a fool for buying the card for one reason or another.

[Stuart Smith]

Some people claim that the 2D game is pretty ****... ah well, better try it before I complain!

The 2D game isn't anything special, but it is definitely worth a look for the novelty value! It's also technically rather impressive (they have a working, 2D version of the gravity gun, for example), and has a cute style and nice line in wry humour throughout (the fact that it's 2D is a running joke as well as the basis for the plot).

[ascender]

Well, if anyone finds a good place to buy one of the new cards at a good price, could you post the details here please? I'm keen to upgrade for HL2 but I don't want to pay silly money for a new card that'll come down in price within a few months.


-Mike

[Len]

Well this weeks MCV has a short piece on VU Games line up for the rest of the year with no concrete mention of HL2 except a throwaway line at the end saying, 'Long awaited PC shooter HL2 is now expected in November'.

Make of that what you will, complete guesswork if you ask me but who can tell...

[ascender]

The mags still seem to say summer, but I just can't see it at this rate. Surely there would be an official release date set by now if it was due soon as there's a marketing campaign to be kicked off as well?


Mike.

[Len]

Totally agree, though Summer can stretch to late Sept in their minds but like you say if they want the marketing campaign they need a min of 3 months pre-release surely?. And weren't we supposed to be getting a concrete date from Valve themselves sometime during E3, yeh right...

The wait for my new pc goes on then, this money is burnig a hole in my pocket!

[Moodmon]

Anyone think of any big PC games coming out at Christmas? I can't. I bet Valve can.