Half-Life 2 Deathmatch Confirmed 470
Satertek writes "Following up a previous post, a teaser was posted on the Steam website with the image HL2DM.jpg entitled 'Soon', confirming rumors of a Half-Life 2 Multiplayer Deathmatch game. It was also brought up on the forums by Valve. It will be released alongside the SDK sometime this week." Update: 12/01 13:49 GMT by T : Since this was written, "this week" has turned into "now"; the update was released last night.
Was there any reason- (Score:4, Interesting)
-thewldisntenuff
Too much lag... (Score:5, Interesting)
Whereas I'm getting around 60FPS in the single player game, the amount of crap (i.e. radiators, filing cabinates, chairs) that's being thrown around in the game really slows the game down and makes it jump around and stutter. I've also been experiencing quite bad lagging on the few servers I've tried.
It also appears that there's only two maps included... Well, that or every server admin out there has already decided that they'll only put two particular maps on rotation. (I may be wrong, I haven't checked this out properly yet.)
All in all, a nice addition, but either my computer or the game could do with some optimisation before it becomes playable.
Re:Was there any reason- (Score:1, Interesting)
then released it steam-only.
Re:Was there any reason- (Score:2, Interesting)
1. game gets released
2. game gets cracked and dumped onto a gazillion ftp servers
3. pirates play single player.
4. multiplayer gets released through steam which renders the game crack patch for the original useless.
5. ppl that play pirated single player still want deathmatch, a % of those wont be able to find new and updated hackes/cracks whateveryouwanna call it
6 they buy the game.
7 profit !
Huge performance drop- in single player! (Score:5, Interesting)
I havent had any of the problems I see others mentioning about multiplayer performance hits- deathmatch has run just as smoothly for me as singleplayer, but all at only 50fps. I dont understand this, performance has been cut sharply in half, and the framerate is now noticeable
Anyone else experience this?
Who is Zonk? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Hopefully all the server problems have been fix (Score:4, Interesting)
I never had problems with Steam before, but now those complaints from two weeks ago hold a lot more weight. I couldn't even play single-player or Counterstrike.
Re:Was there any reason- (Score:2, Interesting)
So, if it's that easy to support, why not just make that support official?
Re:Too much lag... (Score:2, Interesting)
The way it is now, HL2 gets reviewed only on what was advertised and was in the box. Valve is happy and so is everyone who bought the game. Now, when death match is released, some will be a bit disappointed about performance, but as it was never part of the initial game, Valve will get credit for releasing a free extra instead of complaints about a product they charged money for.
Note: I don't have anything against Valve, and this is not an attempt to bash the company, but simply an attempt so see things from a marketing POV. And, of course, there's always the possibilty that they weren't able to finish DM-mode in time for the release.
Replying to some previous posts... (Score:2, Interesting)
Some dude said that no other game has a gravity gun [fileplanet.com], well doom3 has it, just download the mod from planetdoom.com
Now about doom3 modding and mapping check doom3world [doom3world.org] and take a look at this very interesting project [doom3world.org].
What I'd like to see added... (Score:1, Interesting)
It is a simple deathmatch, and for now that's fine by me - I never really got into Counterstrike, and I tried CS: Source but the problem with CS being "the most popular online game in the world" is that many of the people you wind up playing with play a LOT. To say they know the maps and strategies well is a major understatement. I don't much care for that kind of learning curve in a team game, to fail as an individual is one thing, to bring down a team with you is quite another. Same reason I hated Little League - my own team wanted to kill me for missing easy catches and not being able to hit even the easiest pitch.
Anyway, that's the nice thing about a simple deathmatch, if I stink up the place (at first - I'm actually fairly decent at these sorts of games) no one gets pissed but me.
Having said that though, it is a bit too simple, so I really hope that Valve keeps improving it, or some industrious modders do. Here's what I'd like to see (very minor and vague spoiler warning for the single player game):
The option to give everyone the gravity gun and ONLY the gravity gun. It's a nice weapon but if someone has the missile launcher, RPGs or any other powerful weapon it kinda sucks in comparison - however a match with everyone on equal footing, no extra weapons, just a lot of objects to throw around and optionally some health and shield packs.
Smaller explosives to throw with the GG. You can hurl exploding barrels at people, but they fill up the field of vision, so if you find a barrel running around with it isn't really an option. On a side note - this game really makes the best use of fiery barrels since Donkey Kong. It takes the exploding barrels that have been standard issue in every game of this type since Doom 1 and makes a couple simple changes that make them so much more interesting.
Also like to see an option for vehicles. Can we get drivable versions of those Combine gun-trucks? Maybe the flying vehicles too?
I'd like to be able to make a custom deathmatch which uses a modified versions of the Super Gravity Gun - modified so it can't grab other players but can grab their corpses. It'd work like this - you get one point for killing another player with an object, two points for killing another player with a player corpse and five points for killing another player with their own corpse. When killed a player respawns but their corpse stays as an object in the game. If they're killed again the first instance of their corpse disintegrates. Each round is to 40 points by default, but this should be definable on the server.
Lastly - more maps - two are fine for now but they'll get old quick. This is the one thing I have complete confidence I will see however, so no worries there.
One additional thing, I don't have a great deal of experience running servers for FPSes but I tried it out tonight, both the create game option in HL2: DM, and the Source Dedicated Server - however I did not see my server show up on the list in either case. I was able to join other open games with no problem. Anyone know if there is a trick to this, or can I not run the server and play on it at the same time?
If you've got some info on this please email me at zippyzero@yahoo.com - thanks
Servers (Score:3, Interesting)
Honestly, I had a blast playing it this morning... lots of action... people improvising with the gravity gun all over the place; there's nothing quite so cool as getting kills with a thrown filing cabinet. People were very good-humored about it too. Getting fragged with a filing cabinet is new/different/cool... without the humiliation of getting knifed in the original CS).
Tip: get the RPG launcher and camp on the roof... you'll rack up some serious frags.
I think a lot of people have missed the point... (Score:5, Interesting)
This multiplayer and movable objects is really what HL2 is all about. The build options are really very striking.
I played deathmatch, but it really isn't what it is all about. Deathmatch is a taste to show the community what it is really all about. Imagine a capture game with breachable walls and doorways, and people slapping up chickenwire and "nailing" wall objects to keep the windows from getting naded, things like that. The piles of junk to keep the attacker options down, and the attackers blowing debris to get to it. rfare, they are urban-like warfare on a map that only looks like urban warfare on the outside. When you can use a couch for cover and move it to hide, then we will be happier. Much happier. Deathmatch is too fast. Counter Strike is aggavatingly fast. It gives you no time to give an option about outplaying your opponent. With objects and physics, you will soon be able to do it.
Look, most of you are crabbing this one... but if it was team deathmatch with liftable steel plate barriers, and sticky mines, you would be screaming like a monkey at the top of your lungs with joy. Don't worry. It's coming. Either by Valve in a week or two or by some modders. Some things are just downright obvious. Movable barriers, wall covers, breachable areas, and everything like that is coming, it is just a matter of who is going to do it.
But why stop there?
The good news is it isn't going to stop there. With an independent physics based system, imagine the "space marine" fantasies that we always had as a kid. You and some buddies online blowing out an airlock and gravity catapulting your way through a chain of asteroids to infiltrate a stranded mothership.
Right now we are playing with standard physics settings, what is going to happen when they start messing with those settings? "Woot, I say, my good fellow, woot indeed."
IMHO, Valve solved the largest problem and my biggest gripe with 3D video games when they made a physics engine that wasn't so wonky it made me laugh. It is simply a matter of time before the next killer multiplayer comes out, and it isn't going to look like CS. I personally can't wait to flip someone's minitank with my little Somali street trash barrier. But hey, keep griping, you'll shut up soon enough when you throw someone through a building in a superhero mod.
very very good reason (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:Party Pooper (Score:2, Interesting)
I have no idea how anyone can claim it's better than any of the more recent FPSes. If you want variety, options, and not just boring kill everything modes, then CS does not deliver. Compare CS and Desert Combat. DC has real world vehicles, excellent weapons, a real need for coordinated attacks and movements.. and CS has... ummm.... errr..... nothing but the weapons. You want to talk team-based action? Come back to me when you can call in an air strike, artillery barrage, or naval bombardment when you get pinned down.
Re:Was there any reason- (Score:3, Interesting)
"I guess that after the way Valve has treated its customers, a lot of people don't see the problem in screwing Valve."
I really do see your point, but I think the logic it's predicated on is faulty.
Valve can't *do* anything to you, unless you buy their product, and that's a decision* you get to make. And FWIW, I haven't bought a game in years, but I don't dress myself up in the shreds of a moral tit-for-tat. I just play the warezed version and enjoy them.
* The only entity that can forcibly *do* anything to you is the Government. This anti-corporate nonsense is the best smoke screen corrupt leaders could ask for. "The best trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing people there is no Devil." The second best trick is to convince people that some other guy is the Devil.