Half-Life 2 specs revealed News

Phew, I should be looking at full performance. And my system's a year old this month, too! :)

ooooooooohhhhhhhhhhh

/jumps up and down with radeon98xt

im excited again. hurry up and be released dammit!!

Hmm... A directX 9 card. Thats a bit vague really. My radeon "M10" started chugging when I threw FarCry at it, and that needs a "DirectX 9" card.

I'll be looking at full works then. If I get it.

Dunno. Probably not.

That's not half as bad as I expected...

Hmmm I seriously doubt it'll look any good using that spec.

Peej

I should be looking at full performance then.......Woo and all that.

DirectX 9 = Radeon 9500 and onwards. I remember them making a big deal of DX9 features like displacement mapping in the first E3 demo. The leak ran fine on a 512MB Athlon 3200+ with R9800 Pro, and it's pretty obvious that the engine will have been optimised a lot since then.

edit: 'fine' means above 40fps at all times in 1024x768. It wasn't my PC so I didn't try it with AA on though.

Should be able to run it quite hapilly on my PC...#

As for X-Box compromises... wouldn't it make sense to hold out for 6-12 months? And wait for the Xenon/NeXt-Box/XB2/Whatever? Since that is meant to be due mid next year sometime?

Smaller screen and everything might help the X-Box as is, but I'm not exactly 100% on how important an X-Box version is... most of us will no doubt get the PC version anyway, surely?

real fps-gamers know one thing and that is : you dont play fps-games with a joypad...

What about pretend fps gamers?

Real gamers understand that it doesn't matter what you play a game with so long as you enjot it.

Frod: Hear hear. M/KB is VERY unrealistic IMO.

Eyecandy is for singleplayer anyway, wont use it for multi

Disc -I'd disagree with that as Goldeneye and Halo would be two prime examples of FPS that work fine ona controller. In the end it comes down to whatever someone prefers.

The XB version of HL2 probably won't be that badly cut down, if the E3 footage of Doom 3 is anything to go by then it should be alright.

m/kb is just as unrealistic as a joypad. However, mouse/kb is the most accurate and therefore least limiting control method. And I want the difficulty of my games come from the game itself, not from the fact that the control method limits me. It's a subjective thing though, the Xbox controller certainly feels "right" for FPS games with the triggers.

I disagree UL that the joypads are more unrealistic. Simply put, no human on earth can "twitch" shoot like you can with m/kb. It also fells VERY unnatural walking around be pressing a button. There's zero analogue in the forwards/backwards direction, and there's no vibration. Driving a vehicle in a PC FPS is just meh, where as slaloming a warthog around in Halo (xbox) is much more fun, given the fact you can "feel" the engine, as you would be able to do were you actually sat there.

I agree when you say the difficulty should come from the game itself, but with m/kb you add in a VERY large dose of un-realism, making it harder to get better AI.
The controls of joypads, and the subsequent tougher aiming, add in something that m/kb cannot, a simulation of air/wind resistance.
Besides, you can be very friggin accurate with a joypad too once you allow for momentum, yet another thing totally missing from PC FPSs.

Also using the slightly more inaccurate joypad means people have to compensate for things, rather than just point and shoot. It also removes the uberness f sniper rifles to some degree and forces player to think of strategies, rather than walking through a game getting constant head shots.

It's much more rewarding, IMO, to outsmart the enemy with tactics, than to fill each one with a bullet in the skull.

I didn't say joypads are more unrealistic, mind, but they're both as remote from walking around with a gun in your hand as possible. True, noone can aim as fast in RL like you can with a mouse/kb, but to me it feels as if I am moving my eyes/head with the mouse. And i can certainyl move thwm faster and more accurate than anyone can with a controller. ;-)

And the control method shouldn't have any influence on the AI programming, only on hitpoints (enemies and character) and the enemies' aiming.

And the control method shouldn't have any influence on the AI programming, only on hitpoints (enemies and character) and the enemies' aiming.

No, but with any FPS I'd say the AI needs to be as good a shot as the human. Meaning in PC terms you've got an AI with pinpoint accuracy and on the xbox/PS2/GC you've got an AI who's shooting is a bit "fuzzy". The tactics the AI will use on the PC then will inevitably be "shoot to kill" where as on the console the AI will have to THINK.

Having played PC FPSs I've not seen any decent AI TBH (Although I've not played the latest crop of releases admittedly, but I see no reason to given previous efforts) however in Halo I've seen tactics from the AI that is superior to some of the people I've played at LANs etc (Yes, Peej. 9 seconds. I'm looking at YOU sir. ;) )

haha, are you really saying using a keyboard and mouse is somehow cheating? And that using a control method which affords you less control is more realistic and enjoyable?

I think I've seen it all now...

Grom: Have you ever actually fired a real gun? If so you'll understand how un-realistic a m/kb actually is.

Joypads are DEFINATLY more enjoyable though. Momentum, smoothness, analogue, vibrations... all these things you just don't get with a m/kb

If I had vibration in my mouse I'd turn it off instantly!

Froce Feedback is great, but vibration....

Is a Geforce 4 128mb good enough ?

The only problem I have with joypads and FPS is this, and coorect me if I'm wrong:
You have a maximum (and sometimes constant) turning speed, and that just doesn't make any sense. It's enough to be fighting enemies with 2 impaired senses only (seeing and hearing), and I can't be constantly turning my head around?

there's two e's in week

Errol: Probbaly not mate. I had a 128mb GeForce 4 and it was WORSE than my old 64mb Geforce 3.
GF4s are pretty mucha GF2 with more memory.
With X2 I was getting 16 FPS with the GF4. I get 80 FPS with my radeon 9800pro.

I thought you had a pro too?

I bet Errol has a Ti card, while you obviously had an Mx card, Lutz.

Its a geforce 4 ti4600, and it runs Farcry with everything (almost) on High.

"GF4s are pretty mucha GF2 with more memory."

You're thinking of the GF4mx. The GF4 TI cards were an improvement on the GF3s.

/slaps self.

Of course, forgot about the Ti cards. My bad.

I did indeed have the MX card.

Striker: Erm… then whack up the turn ratio, if you can that is. Halo, max turn ratio, is bloody quick at turning around. With a mouse though you're limited to the desk space you have too… Something you're not with joypads.

Sorry, but I never really ran out of desk-space when using a mouse, and it feels pretty smooth and analogue as well. Admit it, you never used a mouse, you use joysticks with your PCs! ;-)

Sorry, UL, never owned a joystick in my life! :)
I have used a mouse, but how can you say it's smooth and analogue? Analogue left and right yes, but the forward just isn't to me. At all. And the whole twitchy feeling just doesn't feel right in the slightest.

Saying this I do have the demo of FarCry to play. I'll see if that's any better.

The mouse bit of PC FPS control is great, but the keyboard?? How backwards is that?!! ;)

I think if you've been gaming for a while with a kb+mouse it's difficult to accept the relative lack of control playing FPS's on consoles. When I first played Halo on the XBox I felt it was such a waste on a gamepad. Of course after a while you do adjust and get used to it, allowing for mistakes as previously mentioned. However, as with others here I'll always prefer the more nimble, accurate kb/mouse method with increased difficulty any day.

I'm talking only of FPS's of course; football, racing, platform, fighting - all better on gamepad.

Subquest: I fail to see how a PC FPS is more difficult than a console one... unless you're talking people, not AI.
PC AI is simply hit, kill. At least in my experience.

Have I fired a gun? Yes.. but what has that got to do with it? Surely the point is to have a fun game unfettered by being unable to control your character in the way you want. If a controller or control system ever limits you, it has failed.

What do you mean about 'forwards' on the mouse, do you mean mouse look, ie looking up and down as you move forwards and backwards, or are you talking about actually moving your character with the mouse? I don't think anyone would agree that's a good idea, which is why most people use the keyboard to move the character and the mouse to look around. The correct tool for the job :)

The keyboard is old and a poor concept for a game controller, but it works. Playing any game on the keyboard you have fingertip access to about 15-20 keys and slightly less easy access to another 80 or so.

Every controller type has its place.

PC AI is simply hit, kill. At least in my experience.

/hands Lutz "generalisation of the day" award

Lutz, what I was suggesting was that I would prefer increased game difficultly ie. Playing a game at a harder AI level, but with a more flexible control method which allows for maximum player performance - merely echoing what was suggested by a previous contributer. I want the limiting factor to be the game or me, not my controller.

Sorry, but for me turning speed is another kick in the realism nuts of the kb/m. If I could turn like that in real life I'd be the next Ian Rush.
You can't turn, but you can turn your head and arm and shoot. If you don't please never join the military :)

Oh frod you crazy guy. I guess you'd better not play any game where you can jump carrying a gun, or run for minutes on end and aim a gun afterwards without shaking...

Or where you can swim underwater with all your clothes on while carrying a gun, or be able to reload any type of gun you care to, or hack into a computer system, or pick a lock, or climb up a load of walls without losing your breath...

...because you can't do those in real life either! Oh no! The game is ruined! I did something unrealistic! Damn that seductive and sinful escapism!

Have I fired a gun? Yes.. but what has that got to do with it? Surely the point is to have a fun game unfettered by being unable to control your character in the way you want. If a controller or control system ever limits you, it has failed.

But the joypads DON'T restrict my movement at all, I can control a console FPS character EXACTLY how I want to. I can do pin-point accuracy, I can do circular or ecliptic strafing, I can sneak, wall hug, whatever.
Taking FPSs for consoles and PCs together I can play both. I can play with m/kb and joypads. However the joypad "feels" more real. I fell like I'm actually there, whilst with a PC FPS I feel like I'm a floating gun.
I meant forwards on the keyboard BTW, as in moving.

UL: Thanks! But it's true. I've yet to see PC AI that goes beyond either "Charge and shoot" or "Stand still and shoot".

Subquest: Yes, make the AI tougher to beat by all means, but that SHOULDN'T be done by making the AI have pinpoint accuracy. It should be doen by making the AI outsmart you. I can get maximum player performance out of a joypad, much more so than a m/kb cos it "feels" right. The m/kb makes me feel like I'm playing a game, the joypad makes me feel like I'm there. I seriously fail to see how a joypad is the limiting factor, when it's you that's using it and it's decent AI you're playing against. If you have to fight against the control of a joypad then it's not your cup of tea or you haven't practised enough.

I guess you'd better not play any game where you can jump carrying a gun, or run for minutes on end and aim a gun afterwards without shaking...
Or where you can swim underwater with all your clothes on while carrying a gun, or be able to reload any type of gun you care to, or hack into a computer system, or pick a lock, or climb up a load of walls without losing your breath...

Erm… to some degree I think that the inclusion of all of the above would make a game MUCH better...

Wooooo! Radeon 9200 128mb and (hopefully) Radeon 9700 Mobility here i come. Graphics on a budget has never been so fun.

"Have you ever fought your way out of a science compound that's been overrun by aliens and the military? If so you'll understand how un-realistic games actually are.

Story and physics, two separate things, not to be confused.

If you want realism go play painball. Or join the army. Maybe you'll find out about another wholly unrealistic aspect of games - getting shot.

Yes, been there done that, very fun it is too. Your point?

Realistic physics and player enjoyment, two seperate things, not to be confused.

Are they? They often go very much hand in hand... Ever played a racing game with shite physics? Not very enjoyable IMO...

I thought that was pretty clear, but obviously not. Games aren't realistic.

True, but there's somethings that can easily be encorporated into games to make them more so. With the exception of physically doing anything to you there's nothing that shouldn't be "do-able" in a game.

Lutz, I appreciate what you're saying about the practise - I agree I could use more time on a gamepad to offer an opinion from a position of impartiallity.

I also agree with you about the AI - I too want it to be smarter, not more accurate - that would just be frustrating.

It just horses for courses as regards the kb/mouse vs. gampad thing. I just prefer the mouse. Imagine writing your name in Paint using a thumb-pad as opposed to a mouse. A ridiculous example of course, but I'm just trying to convey what small evidence I base my argument on as regards control.

Subquest: I agree with you entirely. At no point did I say the joypad was more accurate. Getting down to the pixel level the mouse owns all (With the possible exception of a pen)
However for the sheer enjoyment level I find the joypad much better and can be more than accurate enough.

In all honesty, is it fun getting a 100% hit rating? I like to miss every now and then, watch as the little swine I've missed clocks onto the fact there's a sniper on him and dives for cover.

Maybe it's just me, but I miss plenty when using the mouse...

Oh I do too, that comment was aimed at the ninja twitch shooters out there. :)