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New Half Life game.... but VR only?

Posted By: Khai

New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/19/19 01:31 PM

well thats me out... no budget for grading for VR for a long long time...
Posted By: PanzerMeyer

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/19/19 01:32 PM

Can you post a link? Any info at all on this?
Posted By: Khai

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/19/19 01:37 PM

ops sorry

https://www.pcgamer.com/uk/rumour-valve-are-about-to-announce-a-vr-game-called-half-life-alyx/

https://kotaku.com/valve-announces-new-half-life-game-1839930385
Posted By: PanzerMeyer

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/19/19 01:41 PM

Ah ok, thanks! Yeah if this is VR only then I'm out as well. I guess Valve doesn't mind making a game for a very niche audience? The vast majority of gamers still don't have VR.


edit: I just read the official announcement and while Valve says it will be their "flagship VR" title it doesn't say directly that it will be VR-only. I guess we'll find out eventually.
Posted By: F4UDash4

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/19/19 01:49 PM

I'm a definite convert to VR gaming for flight sims but VR only for any game, and something like Half Life in particular, seems very odd to me.
Posted By: Khai

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/19/19 01:52 PM

oh don't get me wrong, I'd love to upgrade to VR... but the finances be lacking somewhat...
(mainly for Elite... VR... proper audio mixer for the sound.. some control upgrades on the HOTAS side.. making up some Raspi/android screens for controls.... please send cash to.......)
Posted By: PanzerMeyer

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/19/19 02:07 PM

I'll most likely get VR eventually but I'm in no rush. Track IR is good enough for now for my flight sims and space sims.
Posted By: Chucky

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/19/19 02:57 PM

Well I'd love to try out a VR headset for flight games etc I am NOT going to control those games (or any other type) by waving my hands around like a demented loon.
Posted By: BlueHeron

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/19/19 07:54 PM

While there are some fun VR games out there, the enjoyment tapers off very quickly and they all get shelved and forgotten in my experience. They don't come anywhere near the exciting experience of flying and racing in VR and I can't imagine HL being any different.
Posted By: Zamzow

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/19/19 09:58 PM

VR is still displayed on a flat "screen", so I don't see how having VR capability would prevent 2D gameplay - that's basically what you'd have just by closing one eye...
Posted By: Mr_Blastman

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/19/19 10:02 PM

I'm not interested in a VR only game.
Posted By: DM

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/20/19 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by Zamzow
VR is still displayed on a flat "screen", so I don't see how having VR capability would prevent 2D gameplay - that's basically what you'd have just by closing one eye...


If it's a Half-life game, then Valve are developing it right? Valve have also developed their own proprietary VR set. Half-life games are hugely popular. Make the most recent Half-life game VR only. Profit smile

Two years later, release a 2D version. More profit.
Posted By: Chucky

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/20/19 10:05 AM



The Valve VR Index kit is getting on for £1,000 so I do wonder how many HL fans will stump up that sort of money.
Posted By: F4UDash4

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/20/19 02:04 PM

Originally Posted by Chucky


The Valve VR Index kit is getting on for £1,000 so I do wonder how many HL fans will stump up that sort of money.


That price is nuts. I know it is better than an Oculus ($400) but not that much better.

I'll stick with my OR for probably at least 5 more years. I'll need to see a large increase in resolution before I upgrade. Wider FOV would be nice too, but resolution improvement is the only thing that will get me to upgrade.
Posted By: Mark Aisthorpe

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/20/19 06:09 PM

I'd like to stick with my OR for 5 more years too but I doubt it will last that long. I've used it so much that it's definitely getting a bit tatty now smile

If I do have to replace it any time soon I'll be more than happy with a Rift S to replace my CV1. I'm not paying that much for an inex.
Posted By: F4UDash4

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/20/19 06:23 PM

My OR is about 2 years old and holding up well, other than the silky fabric on the foam face pad coming off. I hope there is a reasonably priced ($500 or less) higher resolution solution available when it does wear out.
Posted By: Zamzow

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/20/19 06:36 PM

Originally Posted by DM
Originally Posted by Zamzow
VR is still displayed on a flat "screen", so I don't see how having VR capability would prevent 2D gameplay - that's basically what you'd have just by closing one eye...


If it's a Half-life game, then Valve are developing it right? Valve have also developed their own proprietary VR set. Half-life games are hugely popular. Make the most recent Half-life game VR only. Profit smile

Two years later, release a 2D version. More profit.


Seems to me you'd want to release in reverse of that order to maximize profits.

You may well sell more VR sets if you went VR only at first, but no way "restricting" your game sales like that is the path to more dollars...
Posted By: Crane Hunter

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/20/19 09:37 PM

Bold strategy cotton.

Conventional First Person games have evolved about as far as they can go as far as play mechanics go IMO, however I wonder if even upcoming VR tech is up to the task of carrying a AAA flagship franchise title?
Posted By: James McKenzie-Smith

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/21/19 12:51 AM

Originally Posted by F4UDash4

That price is nuts. I know it is better than an Oculus ($400) but not that much better.

I'll stick with my OR for probably at least 5 more years. I'll need to see a large increase in resolution before I upgrade. Wider FOV would be nice too, but resolution improvement is the only thing that will get me to upgrade.


I started on Oculus Rift, and moved to Samsung Odyssey+ when it was on sale. WMR inside-out 6DOF tracking is more than adequate for flight and driving sims, and the increases in resolution and lower screen door effect are more than merely noticeable. In fact, having used quite a few VR headsets, I would rate Odyssey+ above Vive Pro in visuals, and the price is about the same as Rift S. If you see one for sale on Black Friday, I would suggest that you pick one up if you have a few spare dollars.
Posted By: F4UDash4

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/21/19 01:01 AM

Originally Posted by James McKenzie-Smith
Originally Posted by F4UDash4

That price is nuts. I know it is better than an Oculus ($400) but not that much better.

I'll stick with my OR for probably at least 5 more years. I'll need to see a large increase in resolution before I upgrade. Wider FOV would be nice too, but resolution improvement is the only thing that will get me to upgrade.


I started on Oculus Rift, and moved to Samsung Odyssey+ when it was on sale. WMR inside-out 6DOF tracking is more than adequate for flight and driving sims, and the increases in resolution and lower screen door effect are more than merely noticeable. In fact, having used quite a few VR headsets, I would rate Odyssey+ above Vive Pro in visuals, and the price is about the same as Rift S. If you see one for sale on Black Friday, I would suggest that you pick one up if you have a few spare dollars.



Thanks. That won't happen this year but I will file this away for future reference and it could move my update timeframe "to the left" as they say in Pentagon-speak wink
Posted By: PanzerMeyer

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/21/19 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by Crane Hunter


Conventional First Person games have evolved about as far as they can go as far as play mechanics go IMO, however I wonder if even upcoming VR tech is up to the task of carrying a AAA flagship franchise title?




Agree with you about the conventional first person shooters. There's really only so many ways you can reinvent the wheel. As for VR tech, only a small percentage of the overall gamer market right now owns VR and right now I'm not convinced that it will ever go mainstream.
Posted By: DM

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/21/19 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by PanzerMeyer
Agree with you about the conventional first person shooters. There's really only so many ways you can reinvent the wheel. As for VR tech, only a small percentage of the overall gamer market right now owns VR and right now I'm not convinced that it will ever go mainstream.


Pretty much. It won't overtake the mainstream paradigm of a guy on a couch with a controller. With VR you need more equipment, more space, and more activity for your body.

However, if & when the tech gets to a state where the equipment is not much more invasive than a pair of wireless sunglasses, two wireless self-calibrating base stations and two controllers (in whatever form they eventually evolve into) at a cheap price then maybe it'll become very close to it.

I have to say though the other thing that'll need to change is the whole 1st person aspect of it, some new way of dealing with it that doesn't try to just copy the controller version of the game, and that killer app doesn't exist yet. I had thought, before I had tried it, that Skyrim VR would be the game I'd always wanted, but in practice I hated it. Movement was like standing on rollerskates and controlling tiny motors on it, but without the inner ear feedback. Wielding weapons was just dumb, massive dual-wielded battleaxes that I was flapping about like table-tennis bats.

Like F4, I found myself sticking to what I regard as VR's natural home so far - the cockpit. Whether it be piloting, driving, flying or racing. Even there it's not entirely clear-cut, anything you're flying is basically a 3D cockpit game only, everything outside is too far to be meaningfully rendered in 3D. Driving & racing though, that's the golden spot for me. Nice 3D cockpit, and everything outside is within sensible 3D rendering distances. With a wheel the illusion is very convincing.
Posted By: F4UDash4

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/21/19 04:13 PM

I can see myself in the future investing in a wheel setup to get further usage out of my Oculus Rift, driving sims like flying sims are perfect for VR.
Posted By: Zamzow

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/21/19 06:35 PM

I agree that anything "cockpit" based (driving, flying, and maybe something else I haven't thought of) is where VR really shines.

There's 2 other things I'm really looking forward to when (not if) I finally take the VR plunge - Google Earth VR (I can already get lost in Google Earth for hours sometimes), and there is (hopefully it still exists) some app that puts you into a VR "IMAX theater". If I had that I can't imagine choosing not to use it for movies, at least while watching solo...
Posted By: F4UDash4

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/21/19 07:09 PM

VR Imax exists, but the resolution is too low to make it a viable movie viewing opt in IMO
Posted By: Chaz

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/21/19 07:29 PM



March 2020

Pre-order: https://store.steampowered.com/app/546560/HalfLife_Alyx/
Posted By: Crane Hunter

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/21/19 07:29 PM

I believe VR will become the preferred format for shooters and other game types once better control schemes are figured out, particularly in regards to movement.

At that point VR should start becoming popular in venues other than gaming or movies; training, demos and virtual vacations come readily to mind.
Posted By: PanzerMeyer

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/21/19 07:44 PM

Originally Posted by Crane Hunter


At that point VR should start becoming popular in venues other than gaming or movies; training, demos and virtual vacations come readily to mind.



I"m sure **ahem** the porn web industry will be revolutionized too. biggrin
Posted By: Coot

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/21/19 08:22 PM

I hope this gets a normal 2D release. Its nice to see that it sounds like they were able to get some of the same voice actors again. It also makes me wonder if this game could be a stepping stone to Half-Life 3 with what also looks like a new or revamped game engine. This trailer kind of felt like they added in some of the fps suspense of a game like Alien Isolation. I don't mind playing a story as Alyx especially since Half-Life is known for having branching stories played from different perspectives but I hope they don't abandon 'ol Gordon Freeman. A return to Black Mesa would be really cool for a potential HL3.
Posted By: Zamzow

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/21/19 10:58 PM

Originally Posted by F4UDash4
VR Imax exists, but the resolution is too low to make it a viable movie viewing opt in IMO


One of the many reasons I haven't taken the VR plunge yet. I'm thinking 2020 might be the year I do though - there's newer gear out even now that looks tempting...
Posted By: DM

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/22/19 09:10 AM

Looks good smile

I know from experience though, that when something that's not-quite-human gets close to me, I freak out. Creatures & aliens - OK. Just that caricature - uncanny valley range.

That Kiwi voice actor - he sounds like the agent for the Conchords in the TV series.
Posted By: PanzerMeyer

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/22/19 11:43 AM

If and when I do get VR, I will most definitely be replaying "Alien Isolation" and I'll be using it extensively for Elite Dangerous and Project Cars 2.
Posted By: devere

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/24/19 01:13 PM

Just not willing to slap that sort of cash down for VR. My old faithful Trackir 3 is still going strong so that's me sorted for headtracking in sims. And TBH half life episode's one and two were pretty dull and forgettable affairs so I'm not that fussed about the new game.
Posted By: DM

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/24/19 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by PanzerMeyer
If and when I do get VR, I will most definitely be replaying "Alien Isolation" and I'll be using it extensively for Elite Dangerous and Project Cars 2.


Alien Isolation is a good VR experience actually, once you get over the idea that you still control yourself via the game controller and not the VR controllers. Almost perfect for VR actually, everything in the game is within a human range of 3D vision. Same with Project Cars 2, but in this case the wheel as controller positively reinforces the experience. I also own Assetto Corsa, and though the 2 games are approximately similar during driving, I found PC2 to be the better VR experience over all because of its total integration across the whole game. In AC you need to constantly take off & on the headset because only the actual driving is VR-friendly, any time you're doing anything else it's the monitor.

Elite Dangerous is a great experience also, the sense of volume & solidity of the cockpit is the best so far I reckon. And when you're on a planet surface in the SRV, it's even better because then the outside gameworld is within human 3D range, I only wish there were more to do in that particular environment other than wander around marveling at the experience itself.Which I'm OK with to a certain extent of course, but still. smile
Posted By: Master

Re: New Half Life game.... but VR only? - 11/25/19 10:00 PM

Originally Posted by Chucky
Well I'd love to try out a VR headset for flight games etc I am NOT going to control those games (or any other type) by waving my hands around like a demented loon.

Originally Posted by Zamzow
VR is still displayed on a flat "screen", so I don't see how having VR capability would prevent 2D gameplay - that's basically what you'd have just by closing one eye...


They probably COULD do it with a monitor etc but the whole point of most VR is the whole body movement. VR is more than just a dof headset. You are controlling the hands with the controllers. The new vive system has individual finger tracking.

This is a game coming out in a few weeks. This is where VR is headed.



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