Half-Life 2's Technical Details, Cost Estimates

Thanks to Computer Graphics Magazine for its feature on the graphical technology being used in Valve's eternally-awaited FPS Half-Life 2. Among the specifics discussed are innovative paths to graphical variety ("Using the same morph targets sculpted for facial animation, the system automatically alters the facial geometry to create, for example, a flatter or broader nose, or a squarer jaw. As a result, all the scientists, soldiers, and other homogeneous characters appear as unique, differentiated models"), and potential game mod options ("To firmly entrench itself in the future of game development, Softimage will package XSI EXP, a lite version of XSI, with every PC copy of Half-Life 2 [and make it available on the Softimage site this week].") Elsewhere, a Maxitmag interview with Valve's Gabe Newell has him musing: "Last time I checked, we were about $40 million into the project. Yikes, that's a scary number."

Sex and gaming

[0x0d0a]

You know, we had a discussion in the Games section on how sex and videogaming journalism had a lot of ties.

The MaxitMag [maxitmag.co.uk] site, the one doing the HL2 article, really drives that discussion home.

Randomised facial features...

[Singletoned]

What a genius idea!

I can't wait until all FPS's have randomised appearances for the enemies so that they all look slightly different. They are going to be so much better when rather than a flood of identical enemies, they all have an individual look (maybe even slightly different AI and therefore 'personality').

A side effect might be that it felt a little more like they were real and you could start feeling a little guilty for killing them.

$40 million, drop in the bucket

[mrshowtime]

Get real, $40 million dollars is chump change today. $40 million dollars spent on RandD and development for HL2 is a sound investment. HL2 IS the reason why I upgraded to a new pc earlier than I would have. Unfortunately, I was not expecting it to be delayed almost a half a year, or more. But really, in retrospect, nothing has happenned dramatically in terms of computing power over the past year. We went from having 3.0 ghz processors to 3.4 "hyper" processors. 9700 radeons to 9800 radeon pro turbos. It's almost like the industry is in a holding pattern waiting for HL2 to be released! :) For what HL2 will bring to the table, it's worth $500 million in my book. :)

Failed economics?

[SmallFurryCreature]

Half Life 2 doesn't have to BE 40x better then a 1 million dollar game. It got to SELL 40x better.

Big difference. After all "better game" is a highly subjective term. Better sales isn't. If everyone thinks HL2 is the best game in history but they don't buy it, look at all Looking Glass games, then valve is in the shitter. If on the other hand everyone considers it a mediocre game, think movie tie-ins, but everyone buys it then they are pleased as punch.

Re:Why put so much effort into faces?

[irokitt]

Check this [homelanfed.com] out.