The world of Half Life 2

Sequals

2011-03-26T09:56:00.000-07:00

Since the release of Half-Life 2, Valve has released an additional level and two additional expansion sequels. The level, Lost Coast, takes place between the chapters Highway 17 and Sandtraps and is primarily a showcase for high dynamic range imaging (HDR) technology.

The Lost Coast

The sequels Half-Life 2: Episode One and Half-Life 2: Episode Two take place shortly after the events of Half-Life 2, with the player once again taking on the role of Gordon Freeman and with Alyx Vance playing a more prominent role and expanding the mysteries surrounding the G-Man and the Vortigaunts. Additionally, one further episode is set to be released in the future, dubbed Episode Three; being the last expansion, "in a trilogy".


Episode 1


Episode 2

The E3 Beta Leak

2011-03-23T03:22:00.000-07:00

Half-Life 2 was merely a rumor until a strong impression at E3 in May 2003 launched it into high levels of hype where it won several awards. The pushing back of HL2’s release date came in the wake of the cracking of Valve's internal network through a null session connection to Tangis which was hosted in Valve's network and a subsequent upload of an ASP shell, resulting in the leak of the game's source code and many other files including maps, models and a playable early version of Half-Life Source and Counter-Strike Source in early September 2003.

In June 2004, Valve Software announced in a press release that the FBI had arrested several people suspected of involvement in the source code leak

Release the hydra-kraken!

Reception

2011-01-24T01:48:00.000-08:00

Half-Life 2’s public reception was amazingly positive in a lot of reviews, and it had over 6.5 million sales as of 2008. But this does not include Steam purchases, these transactions are putting the estimate at 9 million sales of Half Life 2 alone.

Metacritic ranked Half Life 2 a astonishing 96 out of 100, it is the highest game ever rated for PC on the network.

Half-Life 2 earned more then 39 Game of the Year awards, including Overall Game of the Year at IGN, GameSpot’s Reader’s Choice — PC Game of the Year Award and Game of the Year from The Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.

Guinness World Records awarded Half-Life 2 the world record for "Highest Rated Shooter by PC Gamer Magazine" in 2008.

Source Engine

2011-01-22T13:01:00.000-08:00

The backbone of Half Life 2 and the episodes lie within the custom-made engine, built by Valve.
This engine, debuted June 2004, was written in C++ and incorporates everything from Platform Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, Xbox and Xbox 360 to PlayStation 3.

SDK:
On June 28, 2005, Valve opened the Valve Developer Community Wiki.
The Source SDK is a software development kit compiled by Valve Software that is used to create maps or mods for the Source engine, with the exception of Left 4 Dead, Left 4 Dead 2, and Alien Swarm. These games are packaged with their own SDK.

The Source SDK currently has three engine versions. Choice between the 2006 version of the Source Engine, which is only used by Half-Life: Source, Half-Life DM: Source, and various mods built on old Source 2004 code.

Valve Hammer Editor:
The VHE is a program included in the Source SDK, all versions, that allows users to create maps for the games of the Source Engine, Team Fortress 2, Counter-Strike: Source, and Portal are some examples.

Don't forget to check out my Portal Blog

Check out the new addition.

2011-01-17T19:53:00.000-08:00

World of Portal

My new blog about Portal and everything Portal!
It speaks for itself of course that nothing changes here and I will continue to make posts about our beloved Half Life 2 and everything it has to offer!

The infamous GLADOS

http://worldofportal.blogspot.com

The Citadel

2011-01-16T12:58:00.000-08:00

The City 17 Citadel is the most important Citadel for the Combine, this is the base of their operations.
The Citadel was the headquarters from which the Combine govern the Earth.
Its associated portal is the primary means of communication with offworld Combine forces. The super portal is probably how the Citadel came to Earth.

It was located in City 17, and resembled a massive skyscraper, rising several kilometers into the sky from ground level, and extending some distance underground as well.
Before reaching the very top of the citadel, Freeman passes through many open areas of the citadel where enormous segments of the citadel exterior wall open and close to allow Dropships and gunships to quickly exit and enter the citadel's interior.

In the first few chapters of Half-Life 2: Episode One, the player is given a firsthand look at much of the lower levels of the Citadel.
Whilst mostly looking very much the same as the rest of the Citadel, no war factories or synth manufacturing plants are located in this area of the structure.

Style - City 17

2011-01-14T12:58:00.001-08:00

"Welcome. Welcome to City 17. You have chosen, or been chosen, to relocate to one of our finest remaining urban centers. I thought so much of City 17 that I elected to establish my administration here, in the Citadel so thoughtfully provided by our benefactors. I have been proud to call City 17 my home. And so, whether you are here to stay, or passing through on your way to parts unknown - welcome to City 17. It's safer here. "
―Dr. Wallace Breen

Dr. Wallace Breen

Prior to the Seven Hour War, City 17 was a grand city.
Taken over by the Combine, before the story of Half Life 2, it became their main headquarters on Earth.
City 17 visually resembles a Eastern Europe harbor city featuring mostly that style of architecture-ism.
It features styles dating from pre-World War II neoclassicism, post-war classical designs, Soviet modernism, and a mix of contemporary post-Sov design and modern EE design.

City 17 with the Citadel in the center.

The core of the city consisted predominately of wall-to-wall buildings, with blocks of clustered low-rises made out of a variety of old and new buildings.
In addition to highways and city streets, City 17 included underground road tunnels that traveled beneath the city.

The ever-deadly Razor Train

Back in City 17

2011-01-12T16:20:00.000-08:00

Well guys, I'm back from hiatus.
Hope you didn't miss me too much, let us continue the Half Life 2 World!

My next chapter will be about City 17 - expect something cool!

That was all for now, bye!

Hiatus

2011-01-03T13:21:00.001-08:00

Will be back soon!

Hunters (Mini-Strider)

2010-12-30T04:51:00.000-08:00

When these things creep up on you, nowhere is safe.

The Hunter (Mini Strider) is a fast walking synthetic used by the Combine as a scout and escort of combine Striders. The Hunter is first sighted in a video in Episode One, but not encountered until Episode Two, making several appearances.

Medium Assault and Recon Synth is the direct line of warfare they are being used on for in the Combine world.

Combine (Universal Union)

2010-12-27T23:27:00.000-08:00

The Combine are the main antagonist of our hero Gordon Freeman and his journey to save the world.

The Combine comprises various species and machines. The most common enemy throughout Half-Life 2 and its expansions are the post-human Overwatch and human Civil Protection, along with a variety of combat machines and synths, for example the Strider and the Hunter.

"Oh my God... Striders really tore the hell out of this place..."
―Alyx Vance

Barney Calhoun

2010-12-27T03:35:00.001-08:00

Barney Calhoun is one of the main characters of the Half-Life series. He was a security guard at Black Mesa before becoming a key Resistance leader. From Half-Life: Blue Shift and onwards, he turns from the Half-Life generic security guard into a standalone character, is given a surname, and an expanded role.

In the story of Half Life 2, this is a guy that always has your back when he's around.

Without him, Gordon Freeman would surely be lost.

Alyx Vance

2010-12-24T14:00:00.000-08:00

The Alyx Vance, the heroine on the side of Gordon Freeman!

Alyx is the daughter of Dr. Eli Vance. Her mother, Azian Vance, who is of Asian descent, can be seen in a family photograph appearing in the games but died during the Black Mesa incident (the event depicted in the first Half-Life game). Alyx was only a child when Gordon Freeman was employed at Black Mesa, but Freeman's stasis between the events of Half-Life and Half-Life 2 has erased most of the age gap between the two characters.

Alot of monsters

2010-12-23T14:03:00.001-08:00

In the world of Half Life 2 - there are alot of enemies.
This is a long list of them:

- Combine Soldiers: These hapless souls are simply humans who have
given up on life and work for the Combine themselves. They range from
easy to hard, depending on what weapon they are using. They use all
sorts of weapons: Pistols, Energy rods, fists, Shotguns, and Pulse Rifles as
well as Magnums and Grenades.
Difficulty: 1-5 to 4-5.

- Combine Elites: All of them use Pulse Rifles as well as the
secondary function on them. They also have reinforced white armor
and can take a beating.
Difficulty 5-5.

- Headcrabs: As annoying as usual. Hops up, Slice, dice, hide in
boxes, corners, come off the faces of Zombies. Their difficulty
is based on their element of surprise. Difficulty: 2-5.

- Black Headcrabs: These tough guysdrops your health to 1 in one
bite and take a little to kill. However, your suit gives you
a neurotoxin that brings your health back to whatever it was.
What makes these guys difficult is if they have standard headcrabs
with them and they drop you to one.
Difficulty: 3-5.

- Barnacles: They are pushovers who grab you with their tongues if
you run into them. What makes them a pain is that at points, they
are clumped together.
Difficulty: 1-5.

- Zombies: The zombies are pretty easy, slow moving, and susceptible
to head shots.
Difficulty: 1-5.

- Zombie Hulkers: They are humans who have been taken over by the
Black Headcrabs and they have up to 4 of them on their bodies. Also
they fling them at you too.
Difficulty: 3-5.

- Zombie Runners (Leapers): These skinny alien monsters are fast, climb poles,
and are relentless.
Difficulty: 3-5.

- Scanners: They are the flying orbs that follow you and relay your
position to Combine
guards. Difficulty: 1-5.

- Manhacks: These little orbs have rotating propellers and attack
you. You'll know one's near when you hear a loud whirring sound.
Difficulty: 2-5.

- Gunboats: Tough, tough, tough. RPG's are the only things that
can take them down. They are fast and can take you down quickly.
Difficulty: 5-5.

- Helicopter: These things drop mines and shoot pulse rifle charges at
you.
Difficulty: 3-3

- Mortar Tanks: Tough tanks that can level you in a few shots.
Difficulty: 4-5.

- Antlions: Fast, brutal, and they attack in packs. If you have the
unfortunate luck of fighting them, cry when your weapons go empty.
Difficulty: 4-5.

- Antlion Guard: This bad boy is a toughie who can take hits and runs
at you as an attack. Sidestep him and he's cake. He gives you your
Antlion Lure.
Difficulty 3-5.

- Striders: These things are Tri-legged 50 foot tall monstrosities
that are just…a pain to take down. They take at least 8 rockets on
Normal mode to take down. They have a pulse rifle
and a reality distorting beam as well as they can impale you.
Difficulty: 5-5.

- Turrets: Annoying things that can be knocked over.
Difficulty: 2-5

- Dr. Breen: The Central Antagonist. He is responsible for the post-
apocalyptic nightmare that has become Earth.
Difficulty: 3-5

Feedburner link

2010-12-23T12:02:00.001-08:00

You can follow me here:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheWorldOfHalfLife2

The Hero

2010-12-22T17:06:00.001-08:00

Before we start with the story, this is the picture of Gordon Freeman.

The hero of Half Life 2.

Campaign Chapters

2010-12-22T10:04:00.000-08:00

Point Insertion

Welcome to City 17! Take a look around and get aquainted with the game, but watch out for the Civil Protection!

"A Red Letter Day"

You will recognize many folks you meet in this level, as they were all your colleagues back in Black Mesa. Check out Dr. Kleiner's laboratory, reacquaint yourself with a familiar "suit," grab some weapons and start killing baddies!

Root Kanal

Wander the extensive canals of City 17, keeping an eye out for various Xen and Combine bad guys. Don't end up as a barnacle's lunch!

Water Hazard

Grab the gunboat and get ready to race down City 17's extensive canal system! Watch out for a variety of enemies including the dangerous hunter-chopper.

Black Mesa East

Join Dr. Mossman, Alyx and Eli in the Resistance's main area of operations. You also get your hands on the coolest gun in Half-Life 2 in this level!

"We Don't go to Ravenholm..."

Traverse the zombie-infested village of Ravenholm, where the only sounds to keep you company are the groans and screams of the headcrab victims and the demented laughter of a certain priest...

Highway 17

Hop into the dune buggy and race around the immense roads of Highway 17 and its surrounding areas. Stay in the buggy as much as you can and be sure not to fall off of the cliffside!

Sandtraps

Hop into the dune buggy and race around the immense roads of Highway 17 and its surrounding areas. Stay in the buggy as much as you can and be sure not to fall off of the cliffside!

Nova Prospekt

Hop into the dune buggy and race around the immense roads of Highway 17 and its surrounding areas. Stay in the buggy as much as you can and be sure not to fall off of the cliffside!

Entanglement

Hop into the dune buggy and race around the immense roads of Highway 17 and its surrounding areas. Stay in the buggy as much as you can and be sure not to fall off of the cliffside!

White Forest

2010-12-22T09:33:00.000-08:00

The road in episode 2 is a long one, and before we get started with the actual story I would like to show some pictures of episode 2.

Its pretty amazing stuff.

When the new world starts.

2010-12-20T18:12:00.000-08:00

At the beginning of Half Life 2; the following presents itself.

Rise and shine, Mr. Freeman. Rise and shine. Not that I wish to imply you have been sleeping on the job. No-one is more deserving of a rest. And all the effort in the world would have gone to waste until... well, let's just say your hour has come again. The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world. So, wake up, Mr. Freeman. Wake up and smell the ashes.

Half Life 2: Pictures

2010-12-18T20:11:00.001-08:00

Half Life 2: Wikipedia

2010-12-18T20:01:00.001-08:00

Half-Life 2 is the sequel to the highly acclaimed Half-Life, and similarly is a singleplayer science fiction first-person shooter video game and a signature title in the series. Developed by Valve Corporation, it was initially released for Windows XP on November 16, 2004, following a protracted five-year, $40 million development cycle, during which a substantial part of the project was leaked and distributed on the internet.

So why would I blog about this?
This game has totally changes lifes, in the meaning of this blog I will take you on the road of change.

More soon!