Half-Life
News, coverage and analysis tracking Half-Life across the outlets.
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Hideo Kojima went to Valve and like a master troll took a photo of himself with 3 Half-Life gravity guns
Hideo Kojima visited Valve's headquarters in Seattle, sharing photos of himself with iconic items like gravity guns and portal guns from the Half-Life series. The visit also brought to light Kojima's past admiration for Half-Life's design and attention to detail, which influenced his work on Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty.
Hideo Kojima said Half-Life had a "kind of soul" which Japanese games lacked, and Metal Gear Solid 2 was directly inspired by Valve's classic FPS
Hideo Kojima reflected on the original Half-Life, stating it possessed a "soul" that Japanese games lacked and directly inspired features in Metal Gear Solid 2. He praised Valve's attention to detail and atmosphere, noting how the game's interactivity and environmental destruction influenced his own work.
Enjoying Valve's famous paid "vacation in Hawaii," engineer jokes he's "in a dark room like a vampire" on Github anyway – a fitting use of Steam bucks
Valve engineer Fletcher Dunn confirmed he is enjoying the company's paid Hawaii vacation while working on his laptop, sparking discussions about Valve's unique company culture. The article contrasts Valve's employee perks with recent layoffs at Epic Games and examines the intense fan investment in Valve due to Steam's dominance in PC gaming.
Some takes don't age: Back in 2009, a creative director warned about the risks of 'obsessively self-referencing' existing hit games
In a 2009 interview, Paul Barnett, then creative director of Warhammer Online, criticized the industry's tendency towards 'design memes' and 'obsessive self-referencing,' warning that replicating successful formulas stifles innovation and funding for new ideas. He also discussed the distinction between games as art, design, and business, emphasizing the importance of the business aspect for long-term studio sustainability.
The Marketing Mystery: How Does Steam Actually Promote Itself?
This article explores the unique and largely invisible marketing strategy of Valve's Steam platform. Despite hosting over 100 million active users, Steam relies on organic growth, community engagement, and its essential role in PC gaming rather than traditional advertising. This approach has made the platform indispensable, turning users into advocates and embedding it deeply into the gaming culture.
You can finally rescue Half-Life's guards and scientists thanks to this mod inspired by Lemmings
A new mod for Half-Life: Source, inspired by Lemmings, allows players to rescue scientists and guards who were previously unrescuable in the original game. The mod enhances NPC navigation and combat capabilities, covering approximately half of the game's content from the 'Unforeseen Consequences' chapter up to 'Apprehension'.
Half-Life writer was surprised how few FPS games followed Valve's approach to story: "Medal Of Honor, for instance, and Call Of Duty both followed those principles, but it was inconsistent"
Marc Laidlaw, writer for the influential game Half-Life, expressed surprise that more first-person shooter games did not adopt Valve's approach to storytelling. While games like Medal of Honor and Call of Duty showed some influence, their application of immersive, first-person narrative techniques was inconsistent. Laidlaw believes this approach is risky but can be highly effective when executed well.
Decades ago, Gabe Newell revealed that Super Mario 64 influenced Half-Life, and it seems future Steam god GabeN was a lot better at Nintendo's platformer than Valve's FPS classic
Gabe Newell revealed in a 1998 interview that Super Mario 64, along with Ultima Underworld and Resident Evil 2, were significant influences on the development of Half-Life. Newell also admitted he was not particularly skilled at Half-Life's multiplayer, contrasting it with his perceived proficiency in Super Mario 64, which he later called his favorite game of all time.
Evening Patches
A patch for Sacred 2 has been released, with a new beta for Steam Workshop browsing available on PC. The article also briefly mentions unofficial games, patches, and mods, including a Half-Life mod.
Gabe Newell Reveals Why He Stepped Back from Valve Game Development After Portal 2
Valve co-founder Gabe Newell stepped back from hands-on game development after Portal 2 because his team's constant agreement stifled creative friction. He believed this was necessary to preserve the collaborative environment that fostered Valve's early innovative titles. While this decision explains Valve's shift towards being a platform and hardware company like Steam and the Steam Deck, it also leaves fans disappointed about the lack of new major single-player game releases.
Gabe Newell stepped back from game design during Portal 2's development, because 'he always wanted to be part of the team, but being Gabe and being in his position, that never really worked'
Valve CEO Gabe Newell stepped back from active game design during the development of Portal 2 because his position made it difficult to be a collaborative team member. While he was involved in earlier titles like Half-Life and spearheaded acquisitions, Newell realized his presence could stifle developer creativity. He now focuses on higher-level company strategy and other ventures.
Half-Life & Portal Writer Says Itd Be Silly Not To Look Into Generative AI
Erik Wolpaw, a writer for Half-Life and Portal, revealed that Valve has been exploring the use of Generative AI for research and development. He believes it would be unwise not to investigate the potential of this technology.
Half-Life & Portal Writer Says It’d Be “Silly Not To Look Into” Generative AI
Writer Travis Howe stated that it would be "silly not to look into" generative AI for game development. He also revealed that a team had previously pitched a fan-made remaster of Jak & Daxter to Sony, which involved creating an animated sequence to showcase the updated visuals.
There's a new Payday game, this time in VR
Payday: Aces High, a new virtual reality installment of the co-op heist franchise, is set to release for Meta Quest and SteamVR later this year. Developed by Fast Travel Games, it features four-player co-op, role specialization, and the series' signature gameplay loop of planning heists and upgrading gear. This release marks another major franchise experimenting with VR, following titles like Half-Life, Assassin's Creed, and Horizon.
Gamer Discovers Dad’s Incredible PC Gaming Legacy After His Passing
A Reddit user discovered their late father's extensive PC gaming library, which included classics like Doom, Half-Life, and SimCity. The user shared fond memories of their father, known as 'Mad Max,' playing these games and highlighted the importance of PC gaming's history and the generational connection it fostered.
Biting the silver bullet: AI in the games industry in 2026 and beyond | Opinion
Dr. Tommy Thompson argues that while AI has potential in game development, the current focus on generative AI is misguided and driven by corporate greed, overlooking genuine breakthroughs and ethical concerns. He emphasizes the need for a more nuanced industry discussion on responsible AI adoption, distinguishing between hype and practical application.
Counter-Strike Got Its Name in an ICQ Chat 27 Years Ago Today
The name "Counter-Strike" was decided upon in an ICQ chat on March 15, 1999, by modders working on a Half-Life project. This simple decision led to the creation of one of the most enduring names in competitive gaming. The name perfectly reflects the game's tactical, skill-based gameplay, a principle that continues to define the franchise, including the current iteration, Counter-Strike 2.
22 years later, this classic Half-Life zombie survival mod shambles onto Steam with all new features
The classic Half-Life zombie survival mod Zombie Panic! has been released on Steam with new features, 22 years after its initial debut. Developed by the Zombie Panic Team, this updated version includes improved compatibility, Steam Workshop support, new player models, weapons, animations, reworked maps, a fatigue system, and a hardcore mode. The original mod, released in 2004, was a precursor to the more well-known Zombie Panic! Source built on Half-Life 2's engine.
Morning Patches
A beloved Half-Life zombie mod has officially launched on Steam 22 years after its initial debut. Additionally, Resident Evil Village received a substantial 20GB HD texture pack, enhancing its visual fidelity.
Beloved Half-Life zombie mod finally comes to Steam 22 years after it debuted
The multiplayer mod Zombie Panic, originally released for Half-Life 22 years ago, has now officially launched on Steam. This marks the culmination of a long wait for fans of the beloved zombie mod.