Half-Life 2 is the sequel to Valves smash hit 1998 game, Half-Life, which shook the gaming community and in many respects set the tone for future games of its kind. Delivering a very versatile engine Half-Life created many opportunities for inspired games developers and eventually brought us MOD’s, such as Counter-Strike, Firearms and Day of Defeat. Half-Life 2 is expected for release in September 2003.

Known facts:

1) Half-Life 2 sees the return of characters from the original game, including a new character named Alyx who is the daughter of a scientist from the original game.

2) Half-Life 2 is expected to provide up to 36 hours of game play split over 12 chapters, each lasting roughly 3 – 4 hours.

3) Unlike the original game, which was mainly based in one huge complex, Half-Life 2 will take place in many other facilities and outside locations based on Earth, such as City 17, a harbour, a jail, the suburbs, a dried up ocean, and an icebreaker ship. Gordon will not return to Xen.

4) Half-Life 2 will incorporate GeoMod technology that will enable you to destroy or modify parts of the level. Ultimately this will enable the player to use normal world objects, such as barrels, boxes and chairs, as weapons or shields. The player can also damage structural objects in the level to bring them crashing down on enemy opponents.

5) Half-Life 2 will incorporate a technology that will enable objects to absorb light, therefore providing more realistic real-time shadow effects.

6) Half-Life 2 will require a minimal spec system consisting of a PIII 700MHz or equivalent (P4 2GHz optimal), 128MB RAM and a DirectX 6 compatible video card.

7) Half-Life 2 will be one of the first major release games that users will be able to download via the Steam client, instead of having to make that journey to the shops!

8) Half-Life 2 has a cliff hanger ending as Half-Life 3 has already been planned!

Half-Life 2 Movies:

• Half-Life 2 trailer (Hosted by FileFront)
  
• Full E3 Half-Life 2 Movie (Hosted by FileFront)
  
• Half-Life 2 Tunnels Video
  
• Half-Life 2 Traptown Video
  
• Half-Life 2 Lab Video
  
• Half-Life 2 G-Man Video
  
• Half-Life 2 Docks Video

• Valve Software's website
  
• Sierra's HL2 info page
  
• Half-Life 2 official website