Half-Life 2

**Shane R. Monroe** · 11-17-2004, 07:16 AM

Originally Posted by Nectar

So it's finally happening. Welcome to the future of computer software. God save us all

When it gets bad, I'll just snapshot myself in 2004 and continue to use the products and applications as they are now. Hell, there are a LOT of people still on Windows 98 for God sakes ... I can live on XP forever if need be.

**batwinky** · 11-17-2004, 07:45 AM

Originally Posted by Shane R. Monroe

You sure its not "user error"? Cite your source

nope i am pretty sure it is a kitten :O). gonna try the fix that was released, seem to work for some, but i am not having high hopes

**Chewchilla** · 11-17-2004, 08:15 AM

BAH-HA-HA!

Glad I didn't "rush-out" to buy it yesterday.

Half-Life 2 users bitten by bugs
Some who purchased copies at retail experience technical difficulties; Valve acknowledges troubles, addressing problems.

Several Half-Life 2 users who finally got the long-delayed game into their hands yesterday got exactly what they didn't want--more delays.

The Half-Life 2 forums have been busy with gamers saying online authentication delays have rendered their copies temporarily useless. Of note, no users who downloaded the copy directly from Valve's download service, Steam, have reported problems.

In a statement from Valve posted on its Web site shortly after 4:30 p.m. PST, the company stated: "We've received a number of reports from people experiencing delays with Half-Life 2 authentication. We are investigating the issue and will update everyone as soon as possible. We appreciate your patience and hope to have everyone in the game very soon."

By Tim Surette -- GameSpot
POSTED: 11/16/04 06:04 PM PST

**Shane R. Monroe** · 11-17-2004, 08:41 AM

Let us hope the general public learns from this and denounces this sort of behavior from game publishers.

I know of at least 3 people that are returning their copies. GOOD.

**batwinky** · 11-17-2004, 09:42 AM

the fix works for me, but not for some

**WorknMan** · 11-17-2004, 10:33 AM

The game picks up alot faster than the original (In the 15 min mark. I know Shane, that is a pain. But its like a movie, they don't normally jump right into the action. There's a few mins set aside to introduce characters, set the tone, get a rough idea of the plot).

In so much as I've heard, Half Life 2 is a video game, not a movie. If I wanted to watch a movie, I'd go rent one. Perhaps they should just sell these things as an interative movie and have them reviewd by Roger Ebert and his ilk. Because basically, if the storyline sucks, you have no game to back it up with.

**Shane R. Monroe** · 11-17-2004, 11:42 AM

What's so funny is... people that hate "REAL" interactive movies eat this sh*t up. At least with Dragon's Lair we got Bluth's amazing animation. At least with Night Trap, we got a little innovation and Dana Plato to look at.

Both of those games brought something new to the table. This is all just regurgatated nonsense we're being shoved now ... tech demos with last year's game.

**kittendaddy** · 11-17-2004, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by WorknMan

In so much as I've heard, Half Life 2 is a video game, not a movie. If I wanted to watch a movie, I'd go rent one. Perhaps they should just sell these things as an interative movie and have them reviewd by Roger Ebert and his ilk. Because basically, if the storyline sucks, you have no game to back it up with.

Wow, feel the hate.

Many games can be said to be mediocre games with way too many cut scenes gluing it together, but I never considered Half Life to be of their ilk. I guess different strokes for different folks, but I don't mind lull at the beginning of the game to set the mood/setting/etc so long as I'm not just *watching* it.

The calm at the beginning of the first game made me that much more tense and hesitant, wondering when things were going to go bad. It was basically survival-horror light - make the player tense before throwing them in the middle of things. I liked it, but then I've always liked games that had stories, and it was better to tell it this way than to just make the player watch a movie before starting the game.

It may be that Half Life's attempts at innovation within the confines of the FPS genre amount to a flashier, prettier, Half Life. It's not the second coming, but there's no reason it can't be fun anyway, if you liked the original.

And Dragon's Lair is the prettiest rhythm game ever made

**jamcat** · 11-17-2004, 10:40 PM

Wow, Night Trap. That was a blast from the past. And remember Sewer Shark? And there was one animated one where you "flew" a attack chopper around New York.

As for Night Trap, when I worked at Best Buy I had made a video of the game from start to finish, as well as the game Silpheed from start to finish to promote the Sega CD. Funny thing was, little kids would sit in front of the TV and just watch the whole thing. Then one day one parent bitched about it because he found his kid watching the Night Trap part of the video. Though the supervisor of the department told the guy it was not our job to police what somebody elses kids watch. Which I do agree. Shortly after they pulled the TV and VCR from the department. Not because of the video, but because of the rug rats that would sit in front of the TV blocking the isle.

**Shane R. Monroe** · 11-18-2004, 05:28 AM

WOW! Cool story.

Night Trap is a pivitol point in gaming - love it or hate it, it began the challenge of video games against the moral majority.

For those that believe that Night Trap is a B movie version of Dragon's Lair - you should really re-assess it. The game is actually pretty interesting in design. The follow up, Double Switch, had a slightly better story and the ability to 'charge' traps vs. just button smash.

Interactive movies continue to get a bad rap - and I find that to be unfair.