Changelog:

* Fixed high CPU use during gameplay on some Hyperthreaded systems
* Fixed 100% CPU load at login screen
* Fixed the wrong dialog being shown when an error occured changing the contact email address
* Fixed the Half-Life 2: Demo preloader stopping at 20%
* Fixed a silent crash on exit when preloader is running

Half-Life 2: Deathmatch

Added spectator mode. If the server has mp_allowspectators set to 1, type spectate to enter spectator mode

Yep, that's right, the old poll has finally been done away with. Not too galling results, either:

Do you think Half-Life 2: Episode One will be ported to Xbox 1?

Yes. Xbox 1's lifespan hasn't succumbed into the conglomeration of legacy consoles *just* yet! - 19%

Perhaps. - 15%

Nah, probably not, it should be ported onto Xbox 360 instead! Or both systems, maybe? Heh? - 67%

As for the new poll... with the recent promulgation of Team Fortress 2 by VALVe Software, and all the bustle regarding that very thing... I thought it was duly to start a new poll about that. As always, feel free to vote.

Weighing about 103MB and embellishing upon Half-Life 2's next expansion pack, in WMV9 video/audio 720p 1280x720 128 Kbps transfer rate/44 kHz output rate HD format, be sure to download it at FileFront.

Need I say more!? Weighing about 28MB and being the same format as prior (720p, though), ModHQ is your constituent.

VALVe Software, altruistically keeping to their word, have finally released the Episode Two WMV9 1280x760 HD (weighing approximately 50MB ) trailer that flaunts the Portal game/map technology that the Episode Two version build release will make the inclusion of (and lucidly leverage, for that matter).

Be sure to download it at FileFront.

From IGN:

"But seriously, shizzle aside, the Portal demo blew our minds. In the demonstration, Newell walked us through the concept. I'll back up a step. If you've played or heard of Humanhead's Prey, then you know the game offers organic portals throughout a giant sentient alien ship. The portals are dimensional doors into different areas in the ship, and they're graphically and conceptually well implemented and work seamlessly. They're also stationery. In Portal, a seemingly independent game that ships with the PC version of Half-Life Episode 2, and the bundle of Half-Life 2, Episode 1, 2, and Team Fortress 2 on Xbox 360 and PS3, players use a tool that creates portals on the fly. Yes -- a gun that creates instant openings through walls that transport you in the bat of an eye to another place."

The folks over at IGN have ruffled up their new preview of Half-Life 2's next expansion pack, Episode Two. Here's a divvy from it:

"On top of Source's new cinematic physics feature, the engine has also been updated with soft particles and a few other minor tweaks. Gabe Newell did mention that Episode Two will feature not only new environments (one of which being giant outdoor spaces) and creatures (ala the tripods), but new weapons as well."

For further embellishing, check out the unabridged preview, as per usual.

Need I abruptly say more? From Gamespot:

2:26 Valve's Gabe Newell is now on the stage to show us an updated trailer for Half-Life 2: Episode 2. There are some new images of a strider and smaller walker-like enemies decimating a group of human fighters in the forest. Otherwise, this is pretty much the same trailer we saw at the end of Episode 1.

Newell talks about getting players out of City 17 in the next episode (duh), as well as giving them new weapons and new enemies to use them against. Looks like the Source engine will be getting a lot of upgrades in Ep 2. A "cinematic physics" system is coming from former Weta Digital employee Gray Horsfield, along with new particle systems, better foliage, and more.

2:34 Newell's gone on to discuss the episodic-gaming business model. Short version: Valve likes it. It will even let them explore new types of gameplay in a new upcoming game called Portal (which seems to be a working title). It looks like they took the portal concept from Prey and slapped it on a gun--you can shoot them into walls and floors to solve all kinds of crazy puzzles, teleporting objects around and stuff. Looks like a total mindbender.

TEAM FORTRESS 2. WHERE DID THIS COME FROM? Hey, they're still making it! It's got a totally exaggerated, crazy art style now. Looks a little like Spy vs. Spy or No One Lives Forever, kind of a '60s spy feel. It's going to be the included multiplayer mode in Episode 2! Class-based, etc. You know the drill. Great news for shooter fans. We all thought this game was dead years ago.

And hey, Half-Life 2: Ep 2 will ship for Xbox 360 and PS3 simultaneously with the PC. The console games will basically include all of the HL2 back content, so you'll get everything on there that you can get on the PC. Who expected all this Valve news?

Commence drooling.

Yes! It's done! The moment we've all been waiting for! VU Games is done testing it! VALVe have confirmed it themselves! A release date has been set for November 16th, 2004! Here's the Vivendi press release:

"VIVENDI UNIVERSAL GAMES ANNOUNCES PLANS TO LAUNCH THE MOST ANTICIPATED PC ACTION GAME OF 2004

Half-Life® 2 to Ship to Retail Outlets Globally This Holiday Season


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.”



Hailed as “...the best game ever made” by PC Gamer, Half-Life 2 earned a top-rated review score of 98, the highest score bestowed by the magazine in more than six years. The game has received numerous accolades for its technical excellence, captivating story and addictive game play, including more than 10 awards and nominations at the 2004 Electronic Entertainment Expo. In addition to being named “Best PC Game” by 1up.com (Ziff Davis) and Gamespy.com, the title also received a “Technological Excellence on PC” award from IGN.com. CNNMoney.com stated that “Half-Life 2 will redefine what gamers expect from their games visually – and the gameplay is a lot of fun as well.”



The global anticipation for Half-Life 2 has reached unprecedented heights, as consumers around the world mark their calendars to buy the game at retail on November 16th. The Half-Life 2 product will include Counter-Strike: Source. VU Games will also release a Half Life 2 Collector’s Edition that will include Half-Life 2 in DVD-ROM format, Counter-Strike: Source, Half-Life: Source, a free limited edition t-shirt, and a Half-Life 2 Prima strategy guide book.



The original Half-Life game was launched in 1998 under VU Games’ Sierra Entertainment publishing label. It earned more than 50 game-of-the-year awards and has been heralded as one of the best PC first-person shooter games of all-time.



About Half-Life® and Half-Life® 2

In 1998, Half-Life revolutionized the game industry with its combination of pounding action and continuous, immersive storytelling. Valve’s debut title was named “Best PC Game Ever” by PC Gamer and launched a franchise with more than eight million retails units sold worldwide. In 2004, Half-Life 2 will take the suspense, challenge and visceral charge of the original to new heights of realism and responsiveness. Half-Life 2 opens the door to a world where the player’s presence affects everything around him, from the physical environments 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 and its population 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 – people he cares about – are counting on him. The intense, real-time gameplay of Half-Life 2 is made possible only by Source, Valve’s new proprietary engine technology. Source provides major enhancements in the advanced facial animation system, physics, graphics and AI. Half-Life 2 will be available for the PC.



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®, Diablo® and World of Warcraft® from Blizzard Entertainment®; Crash Bandicoot®, Spyro The Dragon™, Empire Earth®, Leisure Suit Larry™, Tribes® and Ground Control®."

Gamespot have once again put their rumor control mill into fully fueled action in a short Q&A, and part of it suggests that HL2 has already went gold. This is not true for certain, but it could mean that on Monday HL2 might just go gold.

"RUMOR #1: Half-Life 2 is gold. Really. No foolin'. Honest.


Source: If we told you, we'd have to kill you.

The official story: Both VU Games and Valve declined comment.

What we heard: Ever since the release candidate for Half-Life 2 was submitted to VU Games in mid-September, a piñata has hung in the lobby of Valve's headquarters. The plan: to bust the sucker open when the game achieved gold status. Earlier today, GameSpot learned from an informed sourced that "the piñata has been broken" and the game has gone gold. Further evidence of the game's completion was a press release issued this afternoon touting the first review of "the entire game." Though nothing official has been announced yet, it appears the fat lady is at last clearing her throat.

Bogus or not bogus?: Not bogus."

Stay tuned, this could be for real.

CVG have an article up regarding the situation with HL2 and that a November release date is extremely likely now. They also said that HL2 is ready to be ceritifed by PEGI (Pan European Games Information age rating system) for classification. Although VU Games themselves haven't said anything on the situation yet, and these are basically just rumours, this could indicate that HL2's gold announcement is really right around the corner now. Here's a slice from the article:

"Speaking under strict conditions of anonymity, an industry insider squealed earlier informing us that 'as far as Vivendi is concerned, the game [Half-Life 2] is finished' before saying that the title had been passed to PEGI (Pan European Games Information age rating system) for classification, which in turn passed the sequel to the BBFC for certification."

Don't forget to check out the full article.

As seen over at the Steam Powered News Page.

"The sixth phase of the Half-Life 2 preload begins to Steam account holders today. This will allow users to download the Half-Life 2 maps in encrypted form. No purchase is required to pre-load Half-Life 2, but is required to activate the game. The moment the game is made available, those who have pre-loaded and purchased the game via Steam will be ready to start playing."

Over at My Guy Games, they have up a review of CS: Source, with a 9.1/10.0 score as the final verdict, here's a slice:

"The first-person shooter used to be a frag fest. Quick-paced action, rocket launchers, respawns, and overall chaos that we all grew to love with our twitching mouse finger. Then came a small modification for Half-Life that changed the community and fit into a little genre that I would call the tactical shooter. Games like SWAT, Delta Force and Rainbow Six helped fill the war buffs simulation needs, but something was always missing. Counter-Strike came along with its mix of the genre, and quickly became a cult classic, then mainstream addiction."

For the rest of the review check out the whole thing. As more and more CS: Source reviews are coming along, I suppose it's enough to keep us busy while waiting for the HL2 gold announcement... VALVe has still be exchanging RC betas with Vivendi and Doug Lombardi of VALVe says that HL2 will be totally complete very soon now......I'd anticipate a gold announcement within the next couple weeks or so. Watch this space for more updates on that current situation.