Talk:Half-Life 2/Archive 3

Because
Remember when Gordon is on the train there are two men that are saying that they were "put/reasighned" to the city 17. And other people also mention that they moved to city 17. Most likely that people were "reasighn" to Europe, when actually people of Europe(not all ofcourse) are moved to other locations. Another thought you have to add is that the settings are in the future, near, but future. Even now, in the present we know that English is worl-wide spoken languge because it is uncomplicated, unlike most, is it not possible that English became a major (or common)languge spoken almost(or complitly)perfectly by people of the Earth. Kniaz Saturday 15, 16:09 pm
 * I'll argue with the "English is uncomplicated" thing- I have an ESL friend and he thinks it's a pain. And, Chinese is more widely spoken than English, so it might make more sense to use. But, there IS an Eastern European accent in the game- Father Grigori. And maybe that was the English sector of City 17, or maybe City 17 is where they took the survivors from the U.S.? We could speculate forever on this.

And this should have been tacked to the second one above. AK-17 19:12, 11 May 2006 (UTC)

"Cuts from the game" section - contradiction
"'The player meeting Samuel, a character of Asian descent, on the Wasteland Train. Samuel's character model would eventually be used for a nameless train passenger at the start of the storyline of the final version. Samuel's model was later re-used for hostage in Counter-Strike: Source. In addition, the train ride was originally planned to be much longer, and allowed players to view the wastelands outside the New City (the original name for City 17).'"

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I recalled seeing only two passengers in the train: One of Caucasian descent seated at the front end of the car, and another passenger, who is apparently of African descent, standing near the door (and mentioning he "didn't see you get on" the train). There are neither present passengers with any noticeable Asian facial features, nor any who resembles the sole Asian hostage in CS:S.

Can someone clarify this? ╫ ２５ ◀RingADing▶  19:12, 25 April 2006 (UTC) ╫


 * Not that I play CS, but I just updated myself with Concerned : the half-life and death of Gordon Frohman, and that mentions (at some length) an Asian hostage in CS. Hardly a primary source however!  --Plumbago 19:20, 25 April 2006 (UTC)


 * The four hostage models are made up of three Caucasians and one Asian; the passengers in Half-Life 2s train are only made out of one Caucasian and one African. Anyone who has played both games should notice that. Hence, the paragraph is creating some confusion, unless Samuel is neither Asian nor African, but is actually Caucasian. A look in HL:RTB should help clear things up. ╫ ２５ ◀RingADing▶ ' 11:40, 26 April 2006 (UTC) ╫

Image
I updated this image. The "new" one is of the same area, but has a better background (the other one was mostly drab sky). The old one has been bothering me for some time. Thunderbrand 03:32, 30 April 2006 (UTC)
 * I also uploaded a new image for the infobox. I scanned my copy. At least the "RP" is gone. Does it look better? Thunderbrand 16:11, 30 April 2006 (UTC)

Featured drive
I'm interested in bringing this article up to featured status. If anyone's interested in helping me, please drop a note on my talk page. I'm going to be contacting Valve later today to get more information. Linuxbeak (drop me a line) 20:13, 4 May 2006 (UTC)

Current Status

 * 1) Start a new article: Completed!
 * 2) Do some research: Completed!
 * 3) Write a great article: Complete!
 * 4) Check against the featured article criteria: Complete!
 * 5) Get creative feedback: Complete!
 * 6) Apply for featured article status: Complete!
 * 7) Featured articles: COMPLETE!

Tasks to be completed
We currently need the following tasks to be completed before we can even think about nominating this page for featured article status:


 * Add a section describing the reception of the game. Most of the other game FA's (Wind Waker, Final Fantasy X) have them.
 * Done. Linuxbeak (drop me a line) 05:05, 20 May 2006 (UTC)

Things that have been [constructively] complained about
List here...

remixes and general soundtrack questions
i have a question about the supposedly remixed tracks that appear in HL2. at least one is obviously a remix- the ending theme; but the other two, for example vague voices/black mesa inbound, are identical to each other, at least to my ear. am i just insane?

i should note that the valve theme in HL2 is a significantly shorter version of the version we hear in HL1.

one other thing- should we try and get a hold of kelly bailey and ask him for song titles for the rest of the game music (including the songs in HL1 that weren't recycled/remixed) 72.49.242.131 05:48, 8 May 2006 (UTC)dethtoll


 * I've already shot an e-mail to Valve asking for information. They have yet to respond. Linuxbeak (drop me a line) 23:56, 9 May 2006 (UTC)

Redundant?
Surely there is no need for stating that the the game won at least 35 game of the year awards in the awards section? Isn't it a bit redundant? Arkracer 16:04, 26 May 2006 (UTC) Arkracer


 * Uhh... no? Why would it be? Heh. Linuxbeak (drop me a line) 16:35, 26 May 2006 (UTC)

I know it is, but why?
Not a while ago one of my friends asked me why do i think HL2 is such an awesome and good game. I wanted to explain but just couldn't pick the right things. More, when I called the things that I think are great about the game(physics, weapons, settings), another person said that there are other stuff(story/twisted plot, graphics) that are really sweet about the game. So, what should be considered cool about the game? Kniaz May 15, 2006
 * This talk page is only for discussion about how to improve the article. Thunderbrand 21:59, 15 May 2006 (UTC)
 * I would go with the gameplay and the stuff that isn't in other games. It will make it harder for them to critisize it.--169.203.127.195 15:09, 25 May 2006 (UTC)

Featured Article Push: Need resources
Hello, everyone,

I was wondering if anyone has/could get their hands on Raising the Bar. For those who don't know what I'm talking about, Raising the Bar is a substantial book published by Valve about how Half-Life 2 was designed, developed, and created. This type of book would be a wonderful resource to use towards making this article a featured one. Linuxbeak (drop me a line) 00:10, 20 May 2006 (UTC)
 * I have it, but I'm not sure what to add besides what's already been covered. Then again, it's been awhile since I've read this article in its entirety. Nufy8 00:14, 20 May 2006 (UTC)

Featured article push: May 19
Whew! I spent three hours editing and chipping at the article. I have a few things to say:

First: I hate the cquote template. Others may disagree with me, but I personally find cquote to be ugly. I put a few quotes up but I removed the usage of cquote. I hate cquote. *grin*

Second: Although not necessarily critical, I would like to get some development or alpha pictures up. Perhaps I or someone else can convince Valve to send some examples and let us use them.

Third: tense. I modified the tense so that it wouldn't jump between past and present so much. When referring to Half-Life, I used the past tense, and for the plot of Half-Life 2, I used the present. It is much easier reading now.

I'm going to do some more behind-the-scenes stuff and then we'll see what happens. Who knows, maybe we'll get this article up to FA in a few days! Linuxbeak (drop me a line) 03:45, 20 May 2006 (UTC)

We're up for Featured Article Status
You may find it at Featured article candidates/Half-Life 2/archive2. Let's hope all goes well! Linuxbeak (drop me a line) 05:25, 20 May 2006 (UTC)
 * Huzzah! We did it! I would like to thank Linuxbeak and everyone else who helped out. Thunderbrand 23:59, 24 May 2006 (UTC)
 * Yeah, Linuxbeak did help a lot in the FAC, kudos to him and all who pitched in. On a side note, no cake? :( ╫ ２５ ◀RingADing▶  13:10, 25 May 2006 (UTC) ╫
 * Nice job, Linuxbeak and co. – Gurch 08:38, 26 May 2006 (UTC)

Lighten up
Damn, man. Can't you guys just lighten up a bit? Some people are kind enough to refer to your opinion on what's going on in their lives and you just tell 'em that this page is for discusison of the article. You guys really have to you know.--169.203.127.195 15:07, 25 May 2006 (UTC)
 * What are you talking about? Linuxbeak (drop me a line) 20:58, 24 May 2006 (UTC)
 * I assume he/she is referring to Kniaz's comments above about why the game is considered cool. Since talk pages are for discussion of the article, anon, there's no reason why Thunderbrand shouldn't have pointed that out. Nufy8 21:36, 24 May 2006 (UTC)

Exactly what I am talking about, Nufy. p.s. I am a he, or just refer to the user as "you"--169.203.127.195 15:07, 25 May 2006 (UTC)

"Hλlf-Life"?
I noticed that the logo for both the original Half-Life and Half-Life 2 feature a lower case lambda symbol in place of the "a" in the names. Perhaps we can include this as an alternate name in the introduction. Comments? ╫ ２５ ◀RingADing▶  18:40, 25 May 2006 (UTC) ╫
 * I am opposed to this. That is just part of the logo and I am rather sure you don't write it with the lambda in the title. Have you seen Valve ever use it? Thunderbrand 19:35, 25 May 2006 (UTC)
 * I have to agree with Thunderbrand. The "λ" seems purely artistic and not part of the technical, official title. Nufy8 19:49, 25 May 2006 (UTC)
 * I also agree on this, and I echo what Thunderbrand and Nufy8 have said. Linuxbeak (drop me a line) 22:44, 25 May 2006 (UTC)
 * "λ" is just a stylized version of "a". Even Valve itself calls it "Half-Life 2". Matveims 04:10, 26 May 2006 (UTC)
 * I think it should atleast be mentioned. As it is being used for all the game covers, and title ingame. Just a notice about the "λ" being called a Lambda. They wouldn't use it in their title if they didn't think it was important, also considering they have trademarked the logo with and without the "λ". Havok (T/C/c) 07:50, 26 May 2006 (UTC)

We got an FA award
User:Philwelch has composed a limerick of sorts dedicated to the people who helped bring this article up to FA status. Here it is:


 * There was once a sequel to Half-Life
 * Feat'ring death and destruction and much strife
 * Though to play it was fun
 * Once the player was done
 * He, depressed, spilled his bowels with his knife

Charming ;-) Linuxbeak (drop me a line) 12:54, 28 May 2006 (UTC)

Fix "expansion pack" mentions
Could someone fix the mentions of the episodes as "expansion packs"? As they don't require HL2, I don't think the name is appropreate. I tryed fixing it myself, but my brain is malfunctioning and I couldn't word it in a way that made sense. --Kinkoblast 00:45, 29 May 2006 (UTC)

Release Dates
I believe the Release Date for the EU is wrong - I received my copy on the 16th of November 2004, in the UK, and not from Steam. It may have been released on the 25th in the rest of the EU but definitely not in the UK.

Neilgravir 12:31, 1 June 2006 (UTC)

A few things to clarify regarding capitalization
Half-Life 2 has indicated through its subtitles that the word "vortigaunt" is written without a capital "V". The "gravity gun" is also written as such, but the term "Zero Point Energy Field Manipulator" is seen with capital letters. This has to be corrected in both this article and relevant pages, although I do not doubt that there are still more that has been missed. ╫ ２５ ◀RingADing▶  14:38, 1 June 2006 (UTC) ╫
 * The strategy guide and Raising the Bar seem to disagree with the subtitles. I can understand "gravity gun" not being capitalized, but I don't know why "vortigaunt" wouldn't be. Nufy8 16:31, 1 June 2006 (UTC)
 * The subtitles are kind of part of the game. It just won't get more official than that. ╫ ２５ ◀RingADing▶  14:38, 1 June 2006 (UTC) ╫
 * Valve itself uses lowercase in the developer Wiki: Vortigaunt article -- Jordi&middot; ✆ 15:14, 6 June 2006 (UTC)
 * Valve didn't make that page. It's a Wiki, you know? ;-) Anyway. For my part, I think that all of these things should be capitalised as normal. Regardless of the precise capitalisation in-game, this is a different context and names should be identified as such. --Tom Edwards 15:43, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

PS3/X360 Versions?
Does anyone know the status of whether or not their is going to be a PS3/X360 version of Half-Life 2? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.189.32.38 (talk • contribs)


 * No clue. Linuxbeak (drop me a line) 02:16, 5 June 2006 (UTC)
 * I read that on GameStop's site it is listed for the 360 and my friend who works there said you can actually pre-order it, but Valve has said nothing so far, so we should refrain from adding it to the article unless confirmed. Thunderbrand 02:23, 5 June 2006 (UTC)
 * Gabe says:We've announced that we're doing development work on the engine for the 360, but key titles and whatnot are all speculation. I saw a cover for an official PlayStation magazine that said we'd announced a PlayStation 3 version - that was interesting! We see a lot of that stuff... Looks like it's best to leave it out. --Tom Edwards 21:10, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

What links here stuff
From now until the article is on the main page, I'm going to go through most, if not all, of the articles that are linked here and doing some clean-up. I started on a couple of mods which needed cleaned up a few days ago. If anyone is bored or wants to help, you are more than welcome. Also I'll be putting many of the articles on my watchlist to check for vandalism, since I'm sure they will be targeted when HL2 will be live on the main page. Thunderbrand 16:49, 5 June 2006 (UTC)
 * Sure. I'll be there in a minute. Linuxbeak (drop me a line) 17:56, 5 June 2006 (UTC)

Cuts appearing in the Episodes
"Given the storyline of the episodes thus far cuts are less likely to be seen..." This is actually completely wrong! ;-) There are several hints that cut content will be reused, and beyond that no reason to think that most of it won't. Episode One featured a broadcast from Mossman from an artic location of some sort, of precisely the kind that HL2 was originally designed to make extensive use of. It's already sprouted speculation about Kraken base and the Borealis, and in fact I'm going to add that to the game's article in just a minute now you've reminded me. Then there is the liklihood that the Episodes will continue past Three (heck, Four has already been quietly confirmed). It could even be that, over the course of the Episodes, the cut ideas will slowly be reintroduced until the world has become what Valve originally intended it to be. I think that the removed text is perfectly justified in the article. --Tom Edwards 17:36, 6 June 2006 (UTC)
 * Maybe true about the arctic cycle, with the implied total destruction of City 71 and complete failure of Combine systems though I doubt other locations such as the relay system, atmosphere converter, sea drain etc. will feature in their original planned form. -- Jordi&middot; ✆ 18:39, 6 June 2006 (UTC)
 * The air exchange was outside City 17 in the first place, and the sea drain is out there somewhere, but I take your point anyway. What do you feel about going for a middle ground? --Tom Edwards 19:05, 6 June 2006 (UTC)
 * That's why I left the "it's possible" part in—but if you feel the "it's likely" should also go back I'm fine with that. No real preference either way. -- Jordi&middot; ✆ 19:22, 6 June 2006 (UTC)

The big leak, and controversies article
I think that the leak of both the source code and a playable beta was notable enough to get at least a few sentences in the Half-Life 2 article. I realize that there is this article: Half-Life 2 controversies and criticisms, but I think it needs to be discussed a little more in the main article. I also think the mention is out of place in the second sentence of the article lead. Plus, if that article is going to be linked in the second sentence of the lead when it's on the main page, it could definitely use a bit of work. Ziggur 08:36, 7 June 2006 (UTC)