Half Life 2 Goes Gold

AhabTheArab writes "IGN is reporting that Half Life 2 has gone gold. After months of speculation and delays, it is finally true this time."

Cool!

I can't get enough of first person shooters! Why, there just are so many of them out there that I can't make up my mind which one to play. And it's not like they are at all similar to each other. The weapons in one are completely different from the weapons in the other ones. Also the enemies in one are completely different than the enemies in the others.

I can't wait until next year when they update this with a booster pack that includes different weapons and enemies!

In other news...

Hell reported to be experiencing record-breaking temperature lows. Predictions show that Hell will freeze over just about when Duke Nukem Forever goes gold.

Re:In other news...

and here was me thinking "Steam" was just a Valve insider joke for the fact that HL2 was going to be Vaporware :)

-- james

That's not what IGN is reporting

Valve Software's Half-Life 2 has been submitted to the BBFC for certification, we've learnt this afternoon, news which adds credence to recent rumours that Vivendi is shortly to announce that the hotly anticipated first-person shooter sequel has finally 'gone gold'.

Re:That's not what IGN is reporting

Its already been leaked in France. I'm playing it as I type now but it seems a bit buggy. the controls only let me to drop my weapon or retreat.

Kalinga

No

After months of speculation and delays, it is finally true this time.

...errr, or years.

Re:No

Years are just a whole lot of months. I've been waiting for Duke Nukem Forever for weeks now.

What's it saying...

...when games where you shoot people (Half-Life) and games where you play God (The Sims) becomes one of the most important aspects for the lives of millions. Both of those games have gone gold.

Does it reflect our desires or the nature of humanity to any extent?

Re:What's it saying...

Does it reflect our desires or the nature of humanity to any extent?

In my view, yes, to a very small extend it does... but it is an extent many times smaller then the extent of experimental psycological research like the millgram experiments [wikipedia.org]. which far predate DooM and half-life.

Try comparing what these experiments showed about human nature compared to what the often observed but never scientificly proven desire among a group of people for shiny fast cars.... If you are excited about the things that sport car buying behaviour can tell us about ourself then you might just be a psycologist, the same goes for games I guess.

You can speculate on what part of human nature these games expose. Personnaly I like to think they show that there is still a strong will to survive in even the most boring office dwellers. Little else would explain why a dark spacestation filled with creatures that can kill you, just not for real, can be excisting.

Its funny (and perhaps a little telling) how people always talk about how first person shooters are about shooting other humans or creatures totaly ignoring that the player spends hours in an environment filled with entities that fight back, fiercly, and in a way optimized for player fear. Look at which first person shooters are a succes, its not the ones where you can shoot the most creatures (anyone excited for serious sam 3?), its the ones where even very few creatures can hurt you very bad, very fast, when you least expect it. The tactical shooters where getting spotted and hit once pretty much means game over are perhaps the most populair subgenre ever. This to me says something, just not as much as the stanford prison experiments. (Which btw, show some simalairity to the sims, shit, way to smash my own argument)

No It Hasn't

Read the article on IGN (actually, it is Voodoo Extreme), and you will see that Valve has submitted the game to BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) and PEGI (Pan European Games Information) for rating. While this would most likely require the game to be in final build status, there has been NO announcement from Valve or Vivendi as of yet.

And soon, Vampire: Bloodlines

For those who haven't heard, Vampire: Bloodlines [vampirebloodlines.com] is a vampire game done by Troika. It also uses the Half-Life 2 engine and looks to be a very interesting game. Reports are that Vampire should ship soon after Half-Life 2.

week

hmmmm.. time to plan a week of sick leave in november.

Well...

What if Half Life 2 became available to download in a week's time, before it hit stores? Would Valve still release it ahead of time? Better yet, would people download it from Steam or get it for free anyways?

Furthermore, I just want to take this moment and talk directly to developers and publishers who have worked so hard to get their games out just before this holiday season: Sucks to be you. This year is filled with some immense competition from a lot of sequels, especially in the console arena... Doom 3, Half Life 2, San Andreas, GT4, Halo 2, and I believe the newest Biohazard is coming out, as well as Metal Gear Solid, right?

That being said, I just bought HL2 "Bronze" (I couldn't see myself spending $90.00 just to get a hat and a soundtrack).

I need to see to believe

After all this time, I need at least a photo of something a bit on the golden side to believe ANYTHING about HL2

what are you talking about

i've had it downloaded on my HDD for days...havent really played it though ;-p

Except.

Except for the litigation between Valve and VU, I'd believe you. With that going on, VU could hold the game and not even announce that it has gone gold. They can even hold the game until March if they wanted.

When I see a Press Release, I'll finally believe.

This is still speculation

There has been no confirmation from Vivendi or Valve yet.

The same old story ...

New algorithms and canonfodder for armchair killers. I wonder how many times we can save the universe before itself self destructs because of boredom ...

Deep Breath

There should be some sort of law against posting headlines like that - my heart went quite aflutter.
Sadly, it's not true, and until Valve AND Vivendi issue a press release saying "Gold, and you'll be able to play it on this date" none of these "nearly gold", "almost gold", "so almost gold I can taste it" announcements really mean anything.
Mod headline -1.

And in 2008...

Sometime in mid 2008, a computer actually capable of running the game will be announced...

This story...

..is all speculation. This is yesterdays news, and hasn't involved an official PR by Valve or Vivendi. As much as I would like this to be true, there aren't any facts to substantiate it.

Between playing CS:Source and reading the steampowered.com forums, I'd be amazed that it will be available for a November release.

There are tons of bugs, exploits, and cheats going around any CS:Source (HL2 powered) servers. IMHO, it looks like they really rushed CS out the door, and it's pissed off a lot of steam subscribers. I should only hope with the official gold announcement comes a big patch to address the many issues they've already got.

Dupe?

I remember having read this story before... Damn those editors!

About time

Now we'll see if the game lives up to the hype it has been subjected to. Doom 3 suffered much from this (don't look at me, i loved it).

Is anyone else torn between...

...using Steam to get HL2 vs. buying it retail? If I recall correctly you can only get the package that includes the Source rework of HL1 via online purchase and I *really* want that, but I still don't like the idea of dropping $50 or so on a game and not getting anything physical to hang on to. I know it's old-fashioned, but I still like having a backup copy to hang on to just in case my drive dies or something.

Re:Is anyone else torn between...

...using Steam to get HL2 vs. buying it retail? If I recall correctly you can only get the package that includes the Source rework of HL1 via online purchase and I *really* want that, but I still don't like the idea of dropping $50 or so on a game and not getting anything physical to hang on to. I know it's old-fashioned, but I still like having a backup copy to hang on to just in case my drive dies or something.

Amen to the "I want tangible stuff" comment. Check out this [steampowered.com] post for a solution. Basically, you'll have to archive all of the \steamapps folder with winrar, and back it up on DVD/CD. About 2 1/2 DVD's or a fsckload of CD's are your options.

Re:Is anyone else torn between...

If you lose your PC or your hard drive you can just login to Steam from your new PC and all the games you bought can be downloaded again. I've done it on the three machines I use all the time. You can also copy the Valve directory from machine to machine over the top of a fresh Steam install.

So, backup your Valve directory to a DVD-R, and if you ever lose that you can download it again any time.

Certified != Gold

if you look on the BBFC page http://tinyurl.com/6t96x [tinyurl.com] you'll see that GTA:SA completed certification on 4th October, a week before going gold. Vampire: Bloodlines a week prior to that and that one hasnt even gone gold yet afaik. Factor in that the process takes a couple of weeks then you could still be looking at anything up to a month before it even goes gold.

You really have to love this

The journalistic quality of these supposed news sites. All it is, is a bunch of news sites such as IGN [ign.com], Computer and Video Games [computeran...ogames.com] (Registration may be required) and Gamespot [gamespot.com] shifting about a whole bunch of rumours and maybees.

Purhaps they should do what real journalists do and actually search out for the truth by contacting Valve or Vivendi Universal, rather than trying to connect the dots or use sources like "An Industry Insider". That way they don't sound like trashy womens magazines that get their sources from "Close Friends" and the like.

-

Already Reviewed

PC Gamer's latest issue has an early review of Half Life 2. They gave is a 98% rating and said it's "arguably the best game ever made".

Gold? Ok... but tell me about a Linux client

I'm not too thrilled about it "going gold." So it's [B]finally[/B] going to be released. Booyah.

What would really make my day is if they declared HL2 went gold [B]and[/B] they have a Linux client. Because until they get that second part down, the first is rather meaningless (for me at least).

And don't tell me to get Windows if I want to game. I have my reasons :o).

Re:Get an xbox

See here [gamespot.com] for information on HL2 for the XBox.

Gentlemen, Start your clocks!

How long until "demi vie deux" is available ;)

Full review of the game is on the newsstands

PC Gamer's latest December 2004 issue has a very extensive review of the completed HL2 with loads of screenshots and spoilers. They call it "history in the making" and "arguably the best game ever made," finally giving it a 98% rating. For comparison's sake, the same issue also rates Call of Duty:UO at 93%, Evil Genius at 88% and The Sims 2 at 85%.

Re:Full review of the game is on the newsstands

Which is total horseshit. You think PC Gamers 'exclusive' reviews actually use final code? dont be so naieve! the magazine will be allowed to play a beta copy under supervision from marketing people, and told that the numerous bugs and missing bits will be finished before it ships. In return for the 'exlcuive' they agree to give an unfinished game a 95% score, and both companies are happy. The poor schmucks reading PC Gamer usually dont realise whats going on.
magazine reviews are total bullshit. if you want to know what a game is like, the ONLY way to know is to play the demo. If there isnt a demo, set suspicion=suspicion_max

Well, there goes the GPA!

Professor: James, what's happened? It seems like your studies have become disorganized - and your test scores have taken a turn for the worse. Is there anything I need to know?

Me: I'm having.. trouble sleeping, Professor. It .. it's hardest to watch for .. these.. these headcrabs.. especially at night.

Professor: *leans closer* I know; scary little bastards.

In related news...

Some "jerk" in the production line has swiped a copy of the French version...

The only weapon in the French version allows you to shout obscenities at each other until you pass out.

My Steam just started re-downloading HL2

Yesterday, it had told me I had "100%" of the preload (Silver Pack), and now that dropped to 80% and its downloading again.

Perhaps this is a seed of the final changes. I wonder if Steam can do incremental patching of the other preloaded content. Seems likely now.

So does it have...

So does the retail version also have the MS-like product activation "feature"? Well, Microsoft has forced that down my throat once with XP, but since I'm interested but not an avid ego shooter fan, this could definitely be a reason for deciding against purchasing it, regardless of how much praise the game gets...

Oh oh I know the answer!

gaben

Uh...gold?

First of all, this is 2 or 3 day old news. Second of all it does not indicate that Half-Life 2 is gold. Third of all, where is the official announcement?

Gold?

First of all, this is not bleeding edge news. This was known a couple days ago: http://www.halflife2.net. Second of all, even this news does not constitute gold status. Until Valve officially announces that the game has gone gold (which I will admit will probably happen on Monday) I don't want to hear any more rumours or speculation.

Don't celebrate yet...

This is not a gold announcement. It just says that Valve has applied for a game rating. Plus you need to keep something in mind. Even if Valve does make a gold announcement, it doesn't mean that HL2 is going to ship anytime soon. If you remember, Counter-Strike: Condition Zero went gold and then it took another 6 months before it finally hit the store shelves. And don't forget that little legal dispute between Valve and Vivendi which could keep HL2 off the shelves.

The deal is that Valve has no real control over when the game ships. So a gold announcement from Valve is largely meaningless in terms of when it's going to ship. Wait for an *official* announcement from Vivendi (not Valve) because they are the ones who have the final say as to when it going to ship.

Ideally, if everything goes well, HL2 might be on the shelves in late November because it takes about 6 weeks from going gold to reach the stores. Also, buying thru steam won't let you get it any faster. Valve cannot release HL2 thru Steam until it appears on retail store shelves.

What the hell is wrong with you morons?

Morons being the story submitter and editors who published it in its current form.

I fail to see any indication anywhere, even in the text of the linked story itself, that this is any different from any of the other hundred rumors. It is entirely conjecture and extrapolation of information coming entirely from third-party sources, nobody official will confirm anything, yet suddenly "it's finally true"? This has only slightly more credibility than the dates on pre-order diplays in Game Stop from 6 months ago. But by all means, phrase the headline and synopsis in the most sensational way possible with no regard for the facts whatsoever.

Bye bye karma.

Possible leaked press release?

Spotted this on a certain messageboard, either an actual leaked press release (in which case it's a kick in the nuts), or it might be a fake.

quote:
---
HALF-LIFE 2(TM) HAS GONE GOLD

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (October 16, 2004) - Vivendi Universal Games announced today that Half-Life 2, the highly anticipated next installment in the best-selling and beloved franchise, has gone gold and will be released December 6th in North America, and December 20th in Europe.

"Half-Life 2 offers an unprecedented gameplay experience," said Michael Rouling, EVP, Vivendi Universal Games. "It features the most advanced AI ever seen in a game, combined with state of the art graphics and sound.".

Developed by Valve, Half-Life 2 is the highly anticipated sequel to the best selling Half-Life title, named "Best PC Game Ever" by PC Gamer. By taking the suspense, challenge and visceral charge of the original, and adding startling new realism and responsiveness, Half-Life 2 opens the door to a world where the player's presence affects everything around him, from the physical environment to the behaviors even the emotions of both friends and enemies.

The player again picks up the crowbar of research scientist Gordon Freeman, who finds himself on an alien-infested Earth being picked to the bone, its resources depleted, its populace dwindling. Freeman is thrust into the unenviable role of rescuing the world from the wrong he unleashed back at Black Mesa. And a lot of people he cares about are counting on him.

Half-Life 2 carries a suggested retail prices of $54.95 and has been rated "M" for Mature by the ESRB with descriptors for blood and intense violence. For additional information please go to www.half-life2.com.

About Valve
Founded in 1996, Valve creates entertainment software titles, including Half-Life®, Counter-StrikeTM, and Team Fortress®. Valve's portfolio accounts for over 12 million retail units sold worldwide, and over 88% of the online action market. More information about Valve is available through the company's Web site at www.valvesoftware.com.

About Vivendi Universal Games
Headquartered in Los Angeles, VU Games is a leading global developer, publisher and distributor of multi-platform interactive entertainment. Its development studios and publishing labels include Blizzard Entertainment, Sierra Entertainment, Fox Interactive and Massive Entertainment. VU Games' library of over 700 titles features multi-million unit selling properties such as Warcraft, StarCraft and Diablo from Blizzard Entertainment; Crash Bandicoot, Spyro The Dragon, Empire Earth, Ground Control, Tribes and Leisure Suit Larry.
---

Did hell just freeze over?

http://www.aardvarktravel.net/chat/images/pics/hel l.jpg [aardvarktravel.net]

Hell, It looks that way...

Holy crap, press release might be real...

Found this on ESRB's site, it has been rated...
Half-Life 2 Sierra Entertainment (Vivendi Universal) PC CD-ROM Mature (17+) Blood,Intense Violence 10/9/2004

bout time

Bout time they announced HL2 went gold, considering the source code has been sitting on Steam(people who bought a copy using steam, had an unactivated HL2 on their hard drives) users hard drives for a week or so. Pretty awesome that they already gave steam users the ability to download the game pre-release, though they can't play HL2 till it goes on sale in retail establishments.

Yeah...

And pigs fly.

Yeah ok....

I can't shake this feeling that I've already heard this news already??? Or maybe I'm just stupid, and I need a lot of sleep.

Gabe Newell Shot!

The plan: to bust the sucker (piñata) open when the game achieved goldIn other news, Bellevue, WA police arrived at VU games this morning to discover a bizarre scene after responding to a call of attempted homicide. On site, officers discovered two additional piñatas cowering in the corner of the room babbling "My god, what are you doing?!" "Stop attacking! He's a friend!" and "Are you insane?". Suspect, and company director, Gabe Newell, was taken to Bellevue-Sinai hospital still clutching what appears to be a gold-plated crowbar and is listed in critical condition after being shot by VU security, who, clearly shaken by the whole incident, could only keep commenting ""Hey stop that!" and "Are you crazy? Leave him alone!"

Gold?

I'll believe it's gold when someone here posts a torrent / emule link.

Someone telling porkies?

I had a look at Steam News - on Oct 14th Valve started preloading the maps. Does this mean that only now they have the final maps and that their 'announcement' that they had handed the final game to VU in August was a lie? Or does it mean it takes Valve 3 months to prep an update to Steam?

Now it's REALLY gold!!!

LOS ANGELES (October 18, 2004) Vivendi Universal Games (VU Games) today announced that Half-Life® 2, the sequel to one of the most critically acclaimed PC titles in gaming history, will ship to retail outlets around the world in November. The Company confirmed that Half-Life 2, developed by Valve Software, has gone gold with a planned retail street date of November 16, 2004. The countdown to the highly anticipated retail street date has begun around the world, as VU Games completes plans to ship localized versions of Half-Life 2 simultaneously in English, French, Spanish, Italian, German, Traditional and Simplified Chinese, Korean, Thai and Japanese.

"Half-Life 2 has surpassed our expectations in every sense - its high-quality graphics, ground-breaking physics and immersive first-person shooter gameplay set a new standard for PC action games," said Bruce Hack, CEO of VU Games. "Half-Life 2 will go down as one of the best-selling PC titles, and we are thrilled to deliver this ground-breaking title to the worldwide gaming community this fall."

press release

Well, it is now officially official :) Here is a link to the press release: http://www.vugames.com/news_story.do?storyId=1963

Now, when can I unlock it through Steam?

Re:What the hell does "gone/going gold" mean?

Terminology used when software is burned onto a "gold" cd that will be sent to the CD manufacturers to be reproduced. So named because of the CDR burnable CDs are gold backed normally. Also See Going Glass.

Taken from Gamedev.Net [gamedev.net]

Re:What the hell does "gone/going gold" mean?

From the Halo 2 Gold announcement (I'm not sure how accurate this is conserning pc games):
"Gone Gold" is a somewhat archaic expression, since the "gold discs" are actually digital tapes and eventually silver discs. But it certainly feels golden. This basically means that the game has been shipped to retail manufacture. Somewhere in the world, a gigantic DVD pressing factory has started making Xbox game discs with the utterly complete version of Halo 2. Maybe there IS a gold disc somewhere. Perhaps it's time for an epic quest!

OT "Closet Conservative"

I'm really not a "closet conservative", but I learned to stop arguing politics a long time ago, because nothing good comes from it.

Re:Duke Nuken Forever

Duke Nuken Forever

The grey-market knockoffs are out BEFORE the original product? Duke Nukem Forever continues to set the standard for embarrassingly late completion.

Re:Who the hell cares?

game is going to be worthless other than for single player

Good thing it's single player, huh?

Re:Umm.. I still can't BUY this game, but it's GOL

Well duh. If a game doesn't go gold before it is released, people would be buying "OMGZ IT'S ALMOST FINISHED" copies.