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'''''Half-Life 2''''' is a ] ] and the highly anticipated sequel to '']'' that is currently in development by ]. The game is not expected to be released until ] ], though this could change. Although there has been no official word on this, many fansites and online-stores seem pretty sure about a release on the 3rd September 2004, which could very well be considering Valve's latest comments on the progress of the game (saying the game is complete and that the last bugs are currently being fixed).
{{Short description|2004 video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Half-Life 2
| image = Half-Life 2 cover.jpg
| caption = Box art featuring ]
| developer = ]
| publisher = Valve
| writer = ]
| artist = ]
| composer = ]
| series = '']''
| engine = ]
| platforms = {{Unbulleted list|]|]|]|]|]|]|]}}
| released = {{Collapsible list|title={{nobold|November 16, 2004}}|'''Windows'''{{Video game release|WW|November 16, 2004}}'''Xbox'''{{Video game release|NA|November 15, 2005|EU|November 18, 2005}}'''Xbox 360'''{{Video game release|NA|October 10, 2007|EU|October 19, 2007|AU|October 25, 2007}}'''PlayStation 3'''{{Video game release|NA|December 11, 2007|EU|December 14, 2007|AU|December 20, 2007}}'''Mac OS X'''{{Video game release|WW|May 26, 2010}}'''Linux'''{{Video game release|WW|May 9, 2013}}'''Android'''{{Video game release|WW|May 12, 2014}}}}
| genre = ]
| modes = ]
}}


On August 27th 2004 a post by ] from ] said "going gold on Monday". Going gold means that the game is finished and simply needs to be pressed onto CD's and packacged into boxes. This caused much excitement amung the '''Half Life 2''' community but it later turned out that the post was a hoax and was posted by someone who had guessed Gabe's password. It is expected that the game will be finished and released in the next few weeks, although Valve has not announced an official release date.
'''''Half-Life 2'''''<!--Do not add stylization in this since it's only used in box art and title screen.--> is a 2004 ] game developed by ]. It was published by Valve through its distribution service ]. Like the original '']'' (1998), ''Half-Life 2'' combines shooting, puzzles, and storytelling, and adds features such as vehicles and physics-based gameplay. Players control ] as he joins a resistance movement to liberate the Earth from the control of an alien empire, the ].


In the original ''Half-Life'', researchers at a remote underground laboratory called the Black Mesa Research Facility accidentally open a doorway into an alien world, unleashing strange and deadly creatures into the facility. The player acted as Gordon Freeman, one of those research scientists, in his attempt to escape the facility. ''Half-Life 2'' picks up the story many years after the Black Mesa incident in a futuristic Eastern European 'City 17', once again pitting Gordon Freeman against an alien invasion.
''Half-Life 2'' was created using Valve's ], which was developed at the same time. Development lasted five years and cost {{USD|40}}{{nbsp}}million. Valve's president, ], set his team the goal of redefining the first-person shooter genre. They integrated the ], which simulates real-world physics, to reinforce the player's sense of presence and create new gameplay, and developed the characterization, with more detailed character models and realistic animation.


For ''Half-Life 2'' Valve produced a new ] called "]" that features some of the most advanced interactivity and graphics to date. To get the highest level of graphics, most gamers are expecting to upgrade their ], explaining why ] manufacturer ] has partnered with HL2's release . The game engine's interactivity promises to tie emergent gameplay with the scripted sequences that ''Half-Life'' is already known for. Valve is already working on licensing the Source engine to other developers for use in their own games. One game that has already bought the engine is ].
Valve announced ''Half-Life 2'' at ], with a release date for that September. It was delayed by over a year, triggering a backlash. A year before release, an unfinished version was stolen by a hacker and leaked online, which damaged team morale and slowed development.


Like its predecessor ], Half-Life 2 has already been the base of which many ] has been planned. Many of them are sequels of original ] mods, like ] and ]. Valve is also planning on having a version of Counter-Strike: Source (Counter-Strike for Half-Life 2) in the retail version of Half-Life 2.
''Half-Life 2'' was released on Steam on November 16, 2004, and received universal acclaim. It won 39 ] awards and has been cited as one of the ]. By 2011, it had sold 12 million copies. ''Half-Life 2'' was followed by the free extra level '']'' (2005) and the ] sequels '']'' (2006) and '']'' (2007). In 2020, after canceling '']'' and ], Valve released a prequel, '']''.


== Gameplay == == Steam ==
] with a pulse rifle. Along the bottom of the screen, the player's health, suit charge level, and their ammunition is displayed.]]
Like the original '']'' (1998), ''Half-Life 2'' is a single-player ] in which players control ]. It has similar ] to ''Half-Life'', including health-and-weapon systems (though with less overall weapons) and periodic physics puzzles, except with the newer ] engine and improved graphics. The player also starts without items, slowly building up their arsenal over the course of the game. Despite the game's mainly linear nature, much effort was put into making exploration rewarding and interesting; many optional areas can be missed or avoided.


Integeral to '''Half Life 2''' is the Steam content distributon system developed by ]. This allows customers to purchase games (or any other software) directly from the developer and have it dowloaded directly to their computer. This system also allows 'micro updates' to games - games are continually updated and only the most recent version is allowed to be run. This makes it a lot harder for hackers to crack the game. All users playing a game must also have an account on the Steam servers to play the game. Steam is also used for finding and playing multiplayer games.
A diverse set of enemies is present, which usually require being approached with different tactics: some coordinate in groups to out-maneuver or out-position the player; others, such as the Manhack, fly directly at the player through small openings and tight corridors. Others use predictable but powerful attacks, while others hide before swiftly attacking the player. Gordon can kill most enemies with his weapons, or make use of indirect means, exploiting environmental hazards such as explosive pressurized canisters, gas fires or improvised traps. In chapter 10 and 11 of the game, Gordon can be joined by up to four armed Resistance soldiers or medics and can send his team further from him or call them back.


'''Half Life 2''' became availiable for pre-laod theough steam on August 26, 2004. This means that customers can begin to download encrypted game files to thier computer before the game is released. When the game is released in the shops customers will be able to pay for the game through steam and unlock the files on their hard drives and play it straight away without having to wait for the game to download. It is expected that the pre-laod period will last for several weeks to ensure all customers have a chance to downlod the content before the game is released. To stop the systme from becoming overloaded only certain numbers of people are allowed to downlaod the game at a time. so it may be some time before everyone has downlaoded it.
Many of the game's new features utilize the source engines's detailed physics simulation. Two sections of the game involve driving vehicles. Instead of button-oriented puzzles from ''Half-Life'', environmental puzzles are also introduced with makeshift mechanical systems, revolving around the player's new ability to pick up, move, and place objects. Solutions involve objects' physical properties, such as shape, weight, and ]. For example; In chapter three, "Route Kanal", the player is required to stack cinder blocks on a makeshift see-saw ramp to proceed over a wall. Alternatively, the player can build a crude staircase with the blocks, so the puzzle may be solved in multiple ways.


In the initial downlaod only assets "set in stone" are downloaded such as textures and sound. As the game code is still being worked on it will not be downloaded until the game "goes gold".
Part-way through the game, Gordon acquires the ], which allows him to draw distant objects towards himself or forcefully push them away, as well as the ability to manipulate larger and heavier objects that he cannot control without the weapon. These abilities are required to solve puzzles later in the game, and can also be used to great effect in combat, as any non-static object within proximity to the player has the potential to be used as a makeshift defense, such as a file cabinet, or a deadly projectile, such as a gasoline can or ] blade. The player can learn this through cleverly placed hints in the environment.


== Source code leak ==
The game never separates the player with pre-rendered ]s or events; the story proceeds via exposition from other characters and in-world events, and the player can control Gordon for the entirety of the game. Much of the backstory to the game is simply alluded to or told through the environment. Even tutorials are mostly placed in the environment or in dialogue. The few pop-ups that actually appear only tell the player keybindings for actions.


''Half-Life 2'' was merely a rumor until a strong impression at ] in May 2003 launched it into levels of hype only equalled by '']''. It was due to come out in ] ], but has been delayed; ] says that they are aiming for a ] ] release. This pushing back of HL2's release date came in the wake of the ] of Valve's internal network, through bugs in ], resulting in the leakage of the game's ] in early September 2003.
== Plot ==
''Half-Life 2'' takes place approximately twenty years after the incident at the ] from the first game, in which scientists accidentally opened a portal to the hostile dimension Xen. The game begins with ] being awoken from stasis by the mysterious ]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bell |first=Joe Grant |title=Half-Life: Prima's Official Strategy Guide |date=November 25, 1998 |publisher=] |isbn=978-0-7615-1360-5}}</ref> (]) who reveals that the Black Mesa incident attracted the attention of a multidimensional empire called the ], which conquered Earth in seven hours. The Combine have implemented a brutal ] by biologically assimilating humans and other species, including the peaceful Vortigaunts (] and ]). The G-Man inserts Gordon into a train arriving at ], the site of the ], where ] (]), the former Black Mesa administrator who negotiated Earth's surrender governs as the Combine's ].


The source-code leak had more of an effect on morale for the developer than it did on the schedule&mdash;it was later revealed by both Valve CEO Gabe Newell and PR man Doug Lombardi that the September 2003 release date was 'aggressive' and could not have been met even if the leak had never occurred. Many gamers were not surprised by the early delays, recognizing that Valve's first public mention of the game came just four months before its intended release date.
After eluding the Combine forces, Gordon joins a resistance led by former Black Mesa scientist ] (]), which also includes Vance's daughter ] (]), former Black Mesa security guard ] (Shapiro), who works undercover as a Civil Protection officer, and another Black Mesa scientist, ] (]). After a failed attempt to teleport to the resistance base, ], from Kleiner's makeshift laboratory, Gordon progresses on foot through the city's canal system. The teleportation attempt accidentally alerts Breen and the Combine to Freeman's return, leading to them sending forces to attack him. He obtains an ] and battles through sewers and rivers.


In June ], ] announced in a press release that the ] have arrested several people suspected of involvement in the source code leak.
At Black Mesa East, Gordon is reintroduced to Eli and meets another resistance scientist, ] (]). Alyx introduces Gordon to her pet robot, ], and gives him the ], an instrument that can manipulate large objects. When the base is attacked by Combine forces, Eli and Mossman are captured and taken to the Combine detention facility ]. Separated from Alyx, Gordon detours through the zombie-infested town of Ravenholm, aided by its last survivor, ] (]). Escaping the town, Gordon discovers a resistance outpost. He uses a customized ] to travel a crumbling coastal road to Nova Prospekt, fighting off alien antlions, and helping the resistance fend off Combine raids.


== Beta leak ==
Gordon breaks into Nova Prospekt and reunites with Alyx. They locate Eli but discover that Mossman is a Combine informant. Before they can stop her, Mossman teleports herself and Eli back to City 17's Citadel. The Combine teleporter explodes moments after Gordon and Alyx use it to escape Nova Prospekt.
Roughly at the same time as the source code leak, a ] of HL2 was leaked to the net. Initial claims that the leak was a hoax turned out to be in error as the beta quickly spread widely and was verified to exist by a large number of people. The beta reportedly contains parts of the game in a playable state, as well as some of the tools used to create game content.


==Related Articles==
Returning to Kleiner's lab, Gordon and Alyx learn that the teleporter malfunctioned and that a week has passed. In their absence, the resistance has mobilized against the Combine. With the aid of Dog and Barney, Gordon fights his way inside the Citadel. A security system inadvertently supercharges Gordon's gravity gun, allowing him to fight his way up the Citadel.
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==External links==
Gordon is captured in a Combine transport pod and taken to Breen's office, where he and Mossman are waiting with Eli and Alyx in captivity. Breen explains his plans to further conquer humanity with the Combine, contrary to what he told Mossman.<ref name="darkenergy while-face-to-face2">{{Cite video game |title=Half-Life 2 |developer=] |publisher=Valve |platform=], ], ], ], ] |level=Chapter 13: Dark Energy |date=November 16, 2004 |quote='''Dr. Breen''': Having both of you in my keeping ensures I can dictate the terms of any bargain I care to make with the Combine.}}</ref> Angry, Mossman frees Gordon, Alyx, and Eli before Breen can teleport them off-world. Breen tries to escape through a teleporter, but Gordon destroys its reactor with energy orbs launched from a gravity gun, killing Breen. Just as the reactor explodes, the G-Man reappears and freezes time. He praises Gordon's work and mentions offers for Gordon's "services", before placing him back into stasis.
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== Development == ===HL2 source leak===
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Development of ''Half-Life 2'' began in June 1999, six months after the release of the original '']''. It was developed by a team of 82.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Geoff |first=Keighley |author-link=Geoff Keighley |title=The Final Hours of Half-Life 2 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-final-hours-of-half-life-2/1100-6112889/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226173658/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-final-hours-of-half-life-2/1100-6112889/ |archive-date=December 26, 2019 |access-date=November 30, 2019 |website=] |language=en-US}}</ref> With voice actors included, this number is 100.<ref>{{cite web |first=Mike |last=Musgrove |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52849-2004Nov15.html?nav=rss_technology |title=Half-Life 2's Real Battle |newspaper=] |date=November 16, 2004 |accessdate=September 27, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Mike |last=Musgrove |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/86018623/northwest-herald/ |title=Tougher life |newspaper=] |page=16 |date=November 29, 2004 |accessdate=September 27, 2021 |via=]}}</ref> Valve's president, ], wanted to redefine the FPS genre, saying: "Why spend four years of your life building something that isn't innovative and is basically pointless? If ''Half-Life 2'' isn't viewed as the best PC game of all time, it's going to completely bum out most of the guys on this team."<ref name=":0" /> Newell gave his team no deadline and a "virtually unlimited" budget, promising to fund the project himself if necessary.<ref name=":0" /> The game was built with Valve's new in-house ], ], developed simultaneously.<ref name=":0" />
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Whereas ''Half-Life'' was set in a single location, the Black Mesa research facility, Valve wanted "a much more epic and global feel" for the sequel. One concept had the player teleporting between planets, which was discarded as it would make continuity between levels difficult. At the suggestion of the Bulgarian art director ], the team settled on a city in an Eastern European location. In this early concept, players would start the game by boarding the ''Borealis'', an ] bound for the city.<ref name=":0" /> ] was conceived as a small rail depot built on an old prison in the wasteland and grew from a stopping-off point to the destination itself.<ref name="raisebar2">{{Cite book |last=Hodgson |first=David |title=Half-Life 2: Raising the Bar |publisher=Prima Games |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-7615-4364-0}}</ref>{{Page needed|date=April 2022}}

After observing how players had connected to minor characters in ''Half-Life'', the team developed the characterization, with more detailed character models and realistic animation. The animator Ken Birdwell studied the work of psychologist ], who had researched how facial muscles express emotion.<ref name=":0" /> The writer ] created family relationships between the characters, saying as it was a "basic dramatic unit everyone understands" rarely used in games.<ref name=":0" />

The team integrated the ], which simulates real-world physics,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stanton |first=Rich |date=November 16, 2014 |title=Half-Life 2: 10 years on |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-11-16-half-life-2-10-years-on |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726132459/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-11-16-half-life-2-10-years-on |archive-date=July 26, 2019 |access-date=December 1, 2019 |website=Eurogamer |language=en}}</ref> to reinforce the player's sense of presence and create new gameplay.<ref name=":0" /> To experiment, the team created a minigame, Zombie Basketball, in which players used a physics-manipulating gun to throw zombies through hoops.<ref name=":0" /> In mid-2001, to test the engine, Valve built a street war between rioting citizens and police, featuring tanks, ]s, hand-to-hand fighting, and looting. The designer John Guthrie described it as "an early attempt at getting something ''–'' anything ''–'' in the game that used non-player characters and physics".<ref name=":0" />

In late 2001, Valve began creating a ], hoping to demonstrate it at ] 2002.<ref name=":0" /> For several months, Newell let the team work without his input so he could provide unbiased feedback, and focused on developing ], Valve's upcoming digital distribution service. The team presented the showreel to Newell, showcasing physics, environments such as the ''Borealis'', and a dialogue-heavy scene with the scientist character Dr. Kleiner. Newell felt the showreel did not adequately show how the physics would affect gameplay and that the Kleiner scene was overlong. Reflecting on the failure, Laidlaw said: "The dramatic scenes with the characters are important, but they have to be in service of the interactivity and gameplay."<ref name=":0" />

In September 2002, the team completed a second showreel, featuring a buggy race along the City 17 coast, an encounter with headcrabs on a pier, an alien strider attacking the city, and a greatly shortened Kleiner sequence. In October, Newell told the team they would announce ''Half-Life 2'' at E3 2003 and release it by the end of the year.<ref name=":0" /> As with the original ''Half-Life'', the team split into "cabals" working on different levels. Designers created levels using placeholder shapes and surfaces, which then were worked on by the artists.<ref name=":0" />] Valve announced ''Half-Life 2'' at E3 2003, with demonstrations of the characters, animation, and physics. The reaction was positive, and the game won the E3 Game of the Show award.<ref>{{cite news |title=E3 2003 wiki |url=https://www.ign.com/wikis/e3/E3_2003 |access-date=January 2, 2021 |agency=IGN |issue=June 8, 2003}}</ref> Newell also announced a release date, September 30, 2003, hoping this would motivate the team. They worked long hours to meet the deadline, but by July it had become clear they would miss it. Rumors spread of a delay, but Valve made no announcement until September 23, when they released a statement targeting a "holiday" release, leading to fan backlash.<ref name=":0" />

Newell had been hesitant to announce a delay without a new release date. He said later: "We were paralyzed. We knew we weren't going to make the date we promised, and that was going to be a huge fiasco and really embarrassing. But we didn't have a new date to give people either."<ref name=":0" /> The ] manufacturer ] had arranged a promotional event on ] to coincide with the planned release of ''Half-Life 2''; Newell, unable to pull out of the event, gave a prepared speech, demonstrated the Source engine, and left without addressing questions.<ref name=":0" />

On September 19, the ''Half-Life 2'' ] was obtained by a German hacker, Axel Gembe, who had infiltrated Valve's internal network months earlier. According to Gembe, he shared it with another person, who leaked the code online in early October.<ref name=":1" /> Fans soon ] a playable version of ''Half-Life 2'', revealing how unfinished it was. The leaks damaged morale at Valve and slowed development.<ref name=":0" /> In March 2004, Gembe contacted Newell and identified himself, saying he was a fan and had not acted maliciously. Newell worked with the ] to invite Gembe to a fake job interview, planning to have him arrested in the United States; however, police arrested him in Germany.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Parkin |first=Simon |date=May 25, 2014 |title=The boy who stole Half-Life 2 |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-02-21-the-boy-who-stole-half-life-2-article |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191128020137/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-02-21-the-boy-who-stole-half-life-2-article |archive-date=November 28, 2019 |access-date=December 1, 2019 |website=Eurogamer |language=en}}</ref> In November 2006, Gembe was sentenced to three years' ].<ref name=":1" />

In 2004, the development team returned after Christmas to long hours, stressful working conditions, and no guarantee that the game, which was costing $1 million a month to develop, would be finished soon. However, Newell felt that progress was speeding up, with the team producing about three hours of gameplay per month. In March, they created the first version playable from start to finish and stopped production for a week to play through the game. Major changes by this point included the cutting of the ''Borealis'' sequence, the replacement of the jet ski with a hovercraft, and the physics-manipulating gravity gun being introduced earlier in the game. Feedback was positive across the company. Newell recalled: "The fact that you could go from one end of the game to the other was a really big thing for us. Then we knew it just had to get better ''–'' but it was all there."<ref name=":0" /> After several months of bug fixes and ], ''Half-Life 2'' was completed on October 13, 2004.<ref name=":0" />

== Release ==
Valve made a 1GB portion of ''Half-Life 2'' available for download in an encrypted format through Steam on August 26, 2004. On the day of release, Steam customers were able to pay, unlock the files, and play the game immediately, without having to wait for the game to download.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=David |date=August 18, 2004 |title=Gabe Newell on CS: Source, HL2 Preloads |url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/540/540054p1.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113161546/http://pc.ign.com/articles/540/540054p1.html |archive-date=January 13, 2009 |access-date=September 21, 2008 |website=]}}</ref> In retail, distribution of the game was handled by ] through their ] subsidiary.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/game-industrys-steam-powered-war/1100-6112757/ |title=Game industry's Steam-powered war |date=November 9, 2004 |website=] |access-date=December 21, 2021}}</ref>

''Half-Life 2'' was simultaneously released through Steam, CD, and on DVD in several editions. Through Steam, ''Half-Life 2'' had three packages that a customer could order. The basic version ("Bronze") includes only ''Half-Life 2'' and ''Counter-Strike: Source'', whereas the "Silver" and "Gold" (collector's edition) versions also include '']'' (ports of the original ''Half-Life'' and ''Day of Defeat'' mod to the new engine). The collector's edition/"Gold" version additionally includes merchandise, such as a baseball cap, a ] and CD containing the soundtrack used in ''Half-Life 2''. Both the disc and Steam versions require Steam to be installed and active for play to occur.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Van Autrijve |first=Rainier |date=October 6, 2004 |title=Blow Off Some Steam and Pre-Order Half-Life 2 (PC) |url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/half-life-2/554654p1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081006131105/http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/half-life-2/554654p1.html |archive-date=October 6, 2008 |access-date=October 3, 2008 |website=GameSpy}}</ref> The retail copies of the game came in two versions, standard and Collector's Edition. The Collector's Edition differed from the physical items in the "Gold" edition, and included a T-shirt and sample of the Prima strategy guide.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=David |date=September 29, 2004 |title=Half-Life 2 Packages Revealed |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/09/29/half-life-2-packages-revealed |access-date=May 31, 2022 |website=IGN}}</ref>

A ] version with the file size of a single CD was made available in December 2004 at the web site of ] manufacturer ], who teamed up with Valve for the game. The demo contains a portion of two chapters: ''Point Insertion'' and ''"We Don't Go To Ravenholm..."''. In September 2005, ] distributed the ''Game of the Year'' edition of ''Half-Life 2''. Compared to the original CD-release of ''Half-Life 2'', the ''Game of the Year'' edition also includes ''Half-Life: Source''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Half-Life 2 Demo now available |url=http://ati.amd.com/gitg/promotions/halflife2demo/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206061933/http://ati.amd.com/gitg/promotions/halflife2demo/index.html |archive-date=December 6, 2008 |access-date=October 3, 2008 |website=ATI}}</ref>

The soundtrack was written by ]. ''The Soundtrack of Half-Life 2'', containing most of the music from ''Half-Life 2'' and many tracks from the original ''Half-Life'', was included with the ''Half-Life 2'' "Gold" edition and sold separately from Valve's online store.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 27, 2013 |title=Half Life 2 Packages Revealed |url=http://ie.ign.com/articles/2004/09/29/half-life-2-packages-revealed |website=IGN}}</ref> Valve released a ] in 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Adams |first=David |date=December 1, 2004 |title=Half-Life 2 Deathmatch Released |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/12/01/half-life-2-deathmatch-released |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108095226/http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/12/01/half-life-2-deathmatch-released |archive-date=November 8, 2012 |access-date=March 23, 2014 |website=]}}</ref>

=== Cyber café dispute ===
On September 20, 2004, '']'' reported that Sierra's parent company, ], was in a legal battle with Valve over the distribution of ''Half-Life 2'' to ]. At this time, cyber cafés were important for the Asian PC gaming market where PC and broadband penetration per capita were much lower (except Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Feldman |first=Curt |date=December 15, 2004 |title=Valve vs. Vivendi dogfight heats up in US District Court |url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/halflife2/news_6107712.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930145805/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/halflife2/news_6107712.html |archive-date=September 30, 2007 |access-date=September 21, 2008 |website=GameSpot}}</ref>

According to Vivendi Universal Games, the distribution contract they signed with Valve included cyber cafés. This would mean that only Vivendi Universal Games could distribute ''Half-Life 2'' to cyber cafés&nbsp;— not Valve through the Steam system. On November 29, 2004, Judge Thomas S. Zilly, of ] in Seattle, Washington, ruled that Vivendi Universal Games and its affiliates are not authorized to distribute (directly or indirectly) Valve games through cyber cafés to end users for ] activities according to the parties' current publishing agreement. Also, Judge Zilly ruled in favor of the Valve motion regarding the contractual limitation of liability, allowing Valve to recover copyright damages for any infringement as allowed by law without regard to the publishing agreement's limitation of liability clause.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 30, 2004 |title=Half-Life 2 maker wins legal case |work=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4054643.stm |url-status=live |access-date=October 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208192206/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4054643.stm |archive-date=February 8, 2009}}</ref>

On April 29, 2005, the two parties announced a settlement agreement. Vivendi Universal Games would cease distributing all retail packaged versions of Valve games by August 31, 2005. Vivendi Universal Games also was to notify distributors and cyber cafés that had been licensed by Vivendi Universal Games that only Valve had the authority to distribute cyber café licenses, and hence their licenses were revoked and switched to Valve's.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Valve cyber café program |url=http://store.steampowered.com/?area=cybercafespPublisher=Valve |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921205315/http://store.steampowered.com/?area=cybercafespPublisher%3DValve |archive-date=September 21, 2008 |access-date=March 6, 2007}}</ref> Valve subsequently partnered with Electronic Arts for the retail distribution of its games, including the forthcoming Xbox version of ''Half-Life 2''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/ea-to-publish-half-life-2-xbox-distribute-valve-pc-titles |title=EA to publish Half-Life 2 Xbox, distribute Valve PC titles |first=Rob |last=Fahey |date=July 19, 2005 |website=] |access-date=December 21, 2021}}</ref>

=== Ports and updates ===
In 2005, Valve released an extra level, '']'', as a free download to anyone who purchased ''Half-Life 2''.<ref>{{cite web |author=Pinckard |first=Jane |date=October 27, 2005 |title=Lost Coast Out Now |url=http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3145123 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031171241/http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3145123 |archive-date=October 31, 2007 |access-date=November 20, 2008 |publisher=1UP}}</ref> On December 22, Valve released a ] version of the Source engine for ] processor-based systems running ], ], ], or ]. This update enabled ''Half-Life 2'' and other Source games to run natively on 64-bit processors, bypassing the ]. Newell said it was "an important step in the evolution of our game content and tools", and that the game benefited greatly from the update.<ref name="amd64">{{Cite web |date=December 22, 2005 |title=Valve unveils 64-bit source (TM) gaming technology developed in conjunction with AMD |url=http://store.steampowered.com/news/496/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418034254/http://store.steampowered.com/news/496/ |archive-date=April 18, 2010 |access-date=March 23, 2006 |website=Steam Powered}}</ref> Some users reported major performance boosts, though technology site Techgage found stability problems and no notable ] improvement.<ref name="techgage">{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Rob |title=Review: Half-Life 2: 64-Bit&nbsp;— Reason to get excited? |url=http://techgage.com/article/half-life_2_64-bit_-_reason_to_get_excited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061116010914/http://techgage.com/article/half-life_2_64-bit_-_reason_to_get_excited |archive-date=November 16, 2006 |access-date=March 23, 2006 |website=Techgage}}</ref>

In 2006, Valve partnered with ] to release ''Half-Life 2: Survivor'', an ] version for the Japanese market.<ref name="gamespot">{{Cite web |date=November 29, 2005 |title=Half-Life 2 to hit Japanese arcades |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/half-life-2-to-hit-japanese-arcades/1100-6140527/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170411135522/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/half-life-2-to-hit-japanese-arcades/1100-6140527/ |archive-date=April 11, 2017 |access-date=April 10, 2017 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Gantayat |first=Anoop |date=February 17, 2006 |title=AOU 2006: Half-Life 2 Survivor Debuts |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/02/17/aou-2006-half-life-2-survivor-debuts |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170411061306/http://www.ign.com/articles/2006/02/17/aou-2006-half-life-2-survivor-debuts |archive-date=April 11, 2017 |access-date=April 10, 2017 |website=]}}</ref> Valve rereleased ''Half-Life 2'' as part of the 2007 compilation '']'' for Windows, ] and ].<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 18, 2007 |title=Orange Box packs action, value |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/marcsaltzman/2007-10-18-orangebox_N.htm |url-status=live |access-date=October 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106051332/http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/marcsaltzman/2007-10-18-orangebox_N.htm |archive-date=January 6, 2009}}</ref> On May 26, 2010, ''Half-Life 2'' and its two episodic sequels were released for ].<ref name="osx announce">{{Cite web |date=March 8, 2010 |title=Valve to Deliver Steam & Source on the Mac |url=http://store.steampowered.com/news/3569/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826011221/http://store.steampowered.com/news/3569/ |archive-date=August 26, 2013 |access-date=March 8, 2010 |publisher=Valve}}</ref> In 2013, Valve ported the game to Linux,<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 10, 2013 |title='Half-Life 2' Hits Linux, Available on Steam |url=https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2013/05/half-life-2-steam-linux |access-date=March 2, 2021 |website=OMG! Ubuntu! |language=en-GB}}</ref> and released a free update adding support for the ] ] headset.<ref name="Polygon: Valve gives">{{Cite web |last=Blagdon |first=Jeff |date=May 10, 2013 |title=Valve gives 'Half-Life 2' official Oculus Rift support |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/5/10/4317926/half-life-2-gets-official-oculus-rift-support |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607044302/http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/10/4317926/half-life-2-gets-official-oculus-rift-support |archive-date=June 7, 2013 |access-date=May 10, 2013 |website=] |publisher=]}}</ref> An ]-exclusive port for ] was released on May 12, 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Salov |first=Vlav |date=May 12, 2014 |title='Half-Life 2' and 'Portal' arrive on Android, but only for the Shield |url=https://www.theverge.com/2014/5/12/5709518/half-life-2-and-portal-arrive-on-android |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102040929/http://www.theverge.com/2014/5/12/5709518/half-life-2-and-portal-arrive-on-android |archive-date=January 2, 2017 |access-date=March 16, 2017 |website=]}}</ref> In January 2022, a new UI designed for the ] was released through an update in the beta branch.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Subhan |first1=Ishraq |title=Half-Life 2's UI is getting Steam Deck ready |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2022-01-27-half-life-2s-ui-is-getting-steam-deck-ready |website=Eurogamer |access-date=February 28, 2022 |language=en |date=January 27, 2022}}</ref>

== Reception ==
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 96/100 (PC)<ref name="MC-PC" /><br />90/100 (Xbox)<ref name="MC-Xbox" />
| 1UP = A+<ref name=1UP>{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/reviews/half-life-2_4 |title=Half-Life 2 Review |first=Andrew |last=Pfister |date=January 17, 2005 |access-date=September 20, 2022 |publisher=]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402222427/http://www.1up.com/reviews/half-life-2_4 |archive-date=April 2, 2015 }}</ref>
| Edge = 10/10 (PC)<ref name="edgereview" />
| EuroG = 10/10 (PC)<ref name="europc" /><br />9/10 (Xbox)<ref name="euroxbox" />
| GamePro = {{rating|5|5}} (PC)<ref name="gameproreview" />
| GSpot = 9.2/10 (PC)<ref name="gamespotreview" />
| GSpy = {{rating|5|5}}<ref name="gamespyreview" />
| GRadar = {{rating|4.5|5}}<ref name="gamesradarreview" />
| IGN = 9.7/10 (PC)<ref name="ignreview" />
| MaxPC = 11/10<ref name="maximumpcreview" />
| PCGUS = 98%<ref name="pcgamerreview" />
| VG = 10/10<ref name="vgreview" />
| rev1 = '']''
| rev1Score = {{rating|4|4}}<ref name="cincin" />
| rev2 = '']''
| rev2Score = Positive<ref name="nytreview" />
}}

''Half-Life 2'' has an aggregate score of 96/100 on ]. Sources such as ],<ref name=1UP/> ],<ref name="gamespyreview">{{Cite web |title=Half-Life 2 review |url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/half-life-2/566585p1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060428054001/http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/half-life-2/566585p1.html |archive-date=April 28, 2006 |access-date=May 20, 2006 |website=GameSpy}}</ref> '']'',<ref name="cincin">{{Cite web |title=Half-Life 2: A Tech Masterpiece |url=http://www.cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/120204_half-life2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060316101825/http://www.cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/120204_half-life2.html |archive-date=March 16, 2006 |access-date=May 20, 2006 |website=Cincinnati Enquirer}}</ref> '']'',<ref name="nytreview">{{Cite news |last=Herold |first=Charles |date=November 25, 2004 |title=A Big Sequel That's Worthy of Its Lineage |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/25/technology/circuits/a-big-sequel-thats-worthy-of-its-lineage.html |url-status=live |access-date=May 20, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020103350/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/25/technology/circuits/a-big-sequel-thats-worthy-of-its-lineage.html |archive-date=October 20, 2016}}</ref> and ''VideoGamer.com''<ref name="vgreview">{{Cite web |last=Dick |first=Robert |date=December 14, 2004 |title="Half-Life 2" Review |url=http://www.videogamer.com/pc/hl2/review.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150626120537/http://www.videogamer.com/pc/hl2/review.html |archive-date=June 26, 2015 |access-date=May 26, 2015 |website=VideoGamer.com}}</ref> gave it perfect scores, and others, such as '']'',<ref name="pcgamerreview">{{Cite journal |date=December 2004 |title=Half-Life 2 |journal=PC Gamer |page=48}}</ref> '']'',<ref name="ignreview">{{Cite web |title=''Half-Life 2'' Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/11/15/half-life-2-review |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060524133916/http://pc.ign.com/articles/566/566202p1.html |archive-date=May 24, 2006 |access-date=May 20, 2006 |website=IGN|date=November 15, 2004 }}</ref> '']'',<ref name="gamesradarreview">{{Cite web |last=Brandon |first=John |date=December 18, 2007 |title=''Half-Life 2'' Review |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/half-life-2-review/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527000046/http://www.gamesradar.com/half-life-2-review/ |archive-date=May 27, 2015 |access-date=May 26, 2015 |website=]}}</ref> and '']'',<ref name="europc">{{Cite web |last=Reed |first=Kristan |date=November 18, 2004 |title=''Half-Life 2'' PC Review |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_half-life2_pc |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150624192250/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_half-life2_pc |archive-date=June 24, 2015 |access-date=May 15, 2015 |website=]}}</ref><ref name="euroxbox">{{Cite web |last=Reed |first=Kristan |date=November 21, 2005 |title=''Half-Life 2'' Xbox Review |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_halflife2_xbox |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518085033/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/r_halflife2_xbox |archive-date=May 18, 2015 |access-date=May 15, 2015 |website=]}}</ref> gave near-perfect scores. It was the fifth game to receive ten out of ten from '']''.<ref name="edgereview">{{Cite web |title=Reviews Database |url=http://www.edge-online.co.uk/edgedb/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070429124358/http://www.edge-online.co.uk/edgedb/ |archive-date=April 29, 2007 |access-date=September 3, 2006 |website=Edge Online}}</ref> Critics praised the advanced graphics and physics.<ref name="gameproreview">{{Cite magazine |title=Half-Life 2 - Australian Review (Reviews) |url=http://www.gamepro.com.au/index.php/id;1181166017;fp;2;fpid;36 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917115121/http://www.gamepro.com.au/index.php/id%3B1181166017%3Bfp%3B2%3Bfpid%3B36 |archive-date=September 17, 2008 |access-date=May 21, 2006 |magazine=GamePro}}</ref><ref name="nytreview" /> '']'' awarded ''Half-Life 2'' 11 on their rating scale which normally peaks at 10, calling it "the best game ever made".<ref name="maximumpcreview">{{Cite journal |date=January 2005 |title=Half-Life 2 Review |url=http://dl.maximumpc.com/Archives/MPC0105-web.pdf |url-status=dead |journal=Maximum PC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401052137/http://dl.maximumpc.com/Archives/MPC0105-web.pdf |archive-date=April 1, 2010 |access-date=March 13, 2010}}</ref>

In the United States, ''Half-Life 2''{{'}}s PC version sold 680,000 copies and had earned $34.3 million by August 2006. It was the country's 17th best-selling PC game between January 2000 and August 2006.<ref name="edgesales">{{Cite magazine |date=August 25, 2006 |title=The Top 100 PC Games of the 21st Century |url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/top-100-pc-games-21st-century/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017165955/http://www.edge-online.com/features/top-100-pc-games-21st-century/ |archive-date=October 17, 2012 |magazine=]}}</ref> It received a "Platinum" sales award from the ] (ELSPA),<ref name="platinumelspa">{{Cite web |title=ELSPA Sales Awards: Platinum |url=http://www.elspa.com:80/?i=3944 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090515224703/http://www.elspa.com/?i=3944 |archive-date=May 15, 2009 |website=]}}</ref> indicating sales of at least 300,000 copies in the United Kingdom.<ref name="gamasutrasales">{{Cite web |last=Caoili |first=Eric |date=November 26, 2008 |title=ELSPA: ''Wii Fit'', ''Mario Kart'' Reach Diamond Status In UK |url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/112220/ELSPA_Wii_Fit_Mario_Kart_Reach_Diamond_Status_In_UK.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918063107/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/112220/ELSPA_Wii_Fit_Mario_Kart_Reach_Diamond_Status_In_UK.php |archive-date=September 18, 2017 |website=]}}</ref> '']'' reported on February 9, 2011, that the game had sold 12 million copies worldwide.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chiang |first=Oliver |date=February 28, 2011 |title=The Master of Online Mayhem |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/forbes/2011/0228/technology-gabe-newell-videogames-valve-online-mayhem.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110213025041/http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2011/0228/technology-gabe-newell-videogames-valve-online-mayhem.html |archive-date=February 13, 2011}}</ref>

In a review of ''The Orange Box'', IGN stated that although ''Half-Life 2'' has already been released through other media, the game itself is still enjoyable on a console. They also noted that the physics of ''Half-Life 2'' are impressive despite being a console game. However, it was noted that the graphics on the Xbox 360 version of ''Half-Life 2'' were not as impressive as when it was released on the PC.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Goldstein |first=Hilary |date=October 9, 2007 |title=The Orange Box Review |url=http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/826/826062p1.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418163632/http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/826/826062p1.html |archive-date=April 18, 2010 |access-date=May 29, 2010 |website=IGN}}</ref> GameSpot's review of ''The Orange Box'' noticed that the content of both the Xbox 360 releases, and PlayStation 3 releases were exactly alike, the only issue with the PlayStation 3 version was that it had noticeable frame-rate hiccups. GameSpot continued to say that the frame rates issues were only minor but some consider them to be a significant irritation.<ref name="gamespotreview">{{Cite web |last=Ocampo |first=Jason |date=December 12, 2007 |title=The Orange Box Review for PlayStation 3 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-orange-box-review/1900-6183951/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302002221/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-orange-box-review/1900-6183951/ |archive-date=March 2, 2014 |access-date=May 29, 2010 |website=GameSpot}}</ref>

Several critics, including some that had given positive reviews, complained about the required usage of the program Steam, the requirement to create an account, register the products, and permanently lock them to the account before being allowed to play, along with installation difficulties and lack of support.<ref name="nytreview" />

=== Awards ===
''Half-Life 2'' earned 39 ] awards,<ref name="valve">{{Cite web |title=Valve Awards |url=http://www.valvesoftware.com/awards.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108083038/http://www.valvesoftware.com/awards.html |archive-date=January 8, 2014 |access-date=September 22, 2008 |website=Valve}}</ref> including Overall Game of the Year at ''IGN'', ''GameSpot'<nowiki/>''s Award for Best Shooter, ''GameSpot'''s Reader's Choice&nbsp;— PC Game of the Year Award, "Game of the Year" from the ] and "Best Game" with the ], where it was also given various awards for technology, characters, and writing.

The editors of '']'' nominated ''Half-Life 2'' for their 2004 "Single-Player Shooter of the Year" and overall "Game of the Year" awards, although it lost to '']'' and '']''. They wrote, "''Half-Life 2'', everyone's default pick to win this year, is indeed a fantastic roller coaster of a ride, not as great as the original but still leagues above most other shooters."<ref name="cgwpremier2004">{{Cite magazine |date=March 2005 |title=2004 Games of the Year |magazine=] |issue=249 |pages=56–67}}</ref>

''Edge'' awarded ''Half-Life 2'' with its top honor of the year with the award for Best Game, as well as awards for Innovation and Visual Design. The game also had a strong showing at the 2004 ], picking up six awards, more than any other game that night, with awards including "Best Game" and "Best Online and Multiplayer."<ref name="BBC">{{Cite news |date=March 1, 2005 |title=Half-Life 2 sweeps Bafta awards |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4308315.stm |url-status=live |access-date=May 22, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051113120121/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4308315.stm |archive-date=November 13, 2005}}</ref> '']'' named ''Half-Life 2'' the fourth-best computer game of 2004. The editors call it "a masterful single-player experience that plays a constant game of one-upmanship with itself." It won the magazine's "Best Technology" (beating out '']'') and "Best Writing" awards, and was a runner-up in the "Best Sound Effects", "Best AI" and "Best Voice Acting" categories.<ref name="cgm14th">{{Cite magazine |date=March 2005 |title=The Best of 2004; The 14th Annual ''Computer Games'' Awards |magazine=] |issue=172 |pages=48–56}}</ref>

'']'' awarded ''Half-Life 2'' the world record for "Highest Rated Shooter by PC Gamer Magazine" in the Guinness World Records: Gamer's Edition 2008. Other records awarded the game in the book include, "Largest Digital Distribution Channel" for Valve's Steam service, "First Game to Feature a Gravity Gun", and "First PC Game to Feature Developer Commentary".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Snow |first=Blake |date=January 28, 2008 |title=Guinness World Records: Gamer's Edition comes Mar. 11 |url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/158708/guinness-world-records-gamers-edition-comes-mar-11/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219133531/http://www.gamepro.com/article/news/158708/guinness-world-records-gamers-edition-comes-mar-11/ |archive-date=February 19, 2009 |access-date=September 22, 2008 |magazine=GamePro}}</ref> In 2009, '']'' put ''Half-Life 2'' 5th on their list of "The Top 200 Games of All Time", saying that "With ''Half-Life 2'', Valve redefined the way first-person shooters were created".<ref name="gi best">{{Cite magazine |date=December 2009 |title=The Top 200 Games of All Time |magazine=] |issue=200 |pages=44–79 |issn=1067-6392 |oclc=27315596}}</ref>

''Half-Life 2'' was selected by readers of '']'' as the best game of the decade, with praise given especially to the environment design throughout the game. According to the newspaper, it "pushed the envelope for the genre, and set a new high watermark for FPS narrative". One author commented: "''Half-Life 2'' always felt like the European arthouse answer to the Hollywood bluster of '']'' and '']''".<ref name="guardian1">{{Cite news |last=Stuart |first=Keith |date=December 17, 2009 |title=The Gamesblog 50 games of the Noughties: number one |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2009/dec/16/games-events2 |url-status=live |access-date=March 31, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104210109/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/gamesblog/2009/dec/16/games-events2 |archive-date=November 4, 2013}}</ref> ''Half-Life 2'' won ]'s Game of the Decade<ref name="crispygamer1">{{Cite web |date=December 11, 2009 |title=Game of the Decade: Championship Round |url=http://www.crispygamer.com/features/2009-12-11/game-of-the-decade-championship-round.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100421081351/http://www.crispygamer.com/features/2009-12-11/game-of-the-decade-championship-round.aspx |archive-date=April 21, 2010 |access-date=April 2, 2010 |website=CrispyGamer}}</ref> tournament style poll. It also won ]'s,<ref name="reviewsontherun1">{{Cite web |title=Best Games of 2004 |url=http://www.reviewsontherun.com/index/index/vid_id/20429/rp/10 |access-date=April 5, 2010 |website=Reviewsontherun}}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=Al83tito |fix-attempted=yes}}{{cite web |url=http://www.spike.com/articles/jhwbki/video-game-awards-video-game-awards-2004-winners |title=Video Game Awards |date=December 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223172214/http://www.spike.com/articles/jhwbki/video-game-awards-video-game-awards-2004-winners |archive-date=December 23, 2014}}</ref> ''IGN''{{'}}s<ref name="autogenerated1">{{Cite web |title=Best Games Overall |url=http://uk.ign.com/decade/best-games-decade.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619022832/http://uk.ign.com/decade/best-games-decade.html |archive-date=June 19, 2010 |access-date=April 5, 2010 |website=IGN}}</ref> Best Game of the Decade and ] 2012 Game of the Decade.<ref name="spikeaward">{{Cite web |date=December 7, 2012 |title=Backstage with Game of the Decade and Game of the Year Winners |url=http://www.spike.com/video-clips/wek7t4/video-game-awards-backstage-with-game-of-the-decade-and-game-of-the-year-winners |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622045721/http://www.spike.com/video-clips/wek7t4/video-game-awards-backstage-with-game-of-the-decade-and-game-of-the-year-winners |archive-date=June 22, 2015 |access-date=May 21, 2015 |website=]}}</ref> In December 2021, ''IGN'' named ''Half-Life 2'' the ninth-best game of all time.<ref name="I. G. N. Staff">{{Cite web |author=I. G. N. Staff |date=December 31, 2021 |title=The Top 100 Video Games of All Time |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-best-100-video-games-of-all-time |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406155741/https://www.ign.com/articles/the-best-100-video-games-of-all-time?amp=1 |archive-date=April 6, 2022 |access-date=April 6, 2022 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref>

== Mods ==
{{See also|List of Source engine mods|Source SDK}}

Since the release of the Source engine ], a large number of ] (mods) have been developed by the ''Half-Life 2'' community. Mods vary in scale, from fan-created levels and weapons, to partial conversions such as ''Rock 24'', ''Half-Life 2 Substance'' and ''SMOD'' (which modify the storyline and gameplay of the pre-existing game), ] and '']'' (which allow the player to experiment with the physics system in a ] mode), to ] such as '']'', '']'', ''Zombie Master'' or '']'', the last of which transforms the game from a first-person shooter into a real-time strategy game.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Young |first=Tom |date=January 27, 2006 |title=Source Forts |url=http://planethalflife.gamespy.com/View.php?view=Reviews.Detail&id=13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711071737/http://planethalflife.gamespy.com/View.php?view=Reviews.Detail&id=13 |archive-date=July 11, 2011 |access-date=June 3, 2010 |website=]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Francis |first=Tom |date=December 19, 2006 |title=Garry's Mod Review |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/152602/reviews/garrys-mod-review/?site=pcg |magazine=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607042507/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/152602/reviews/garrys-mod-review/?site=pcg |archive-date=June 7, 2013 |access-date=June 3, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> Some mods take place in the ''Half-Life'' universe; others in completely original settings. Many more mods are still in development, including ''Lift'', ''The Myriad'', ''Operation Black Mesa'', and the ] single-player mod '']''.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=August 8, 2006 |title=Half-Life 2 Minerva mod |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/144068/interviews/half-life-2-minerva-mod/ |magazine=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303040203/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/144068/interviews/half-life-2-minerva-mod/ |archive-date=March 3, 2011 |access-date=June 2, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> Several multiplayer mods, such as '']'', a predominately sword-fighting game; '']'', which focuses on realistic modern infantry combat; and '']'' have been opened to the public as a beta.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rogers |first=Thomas |date=February 18, 2014 |title=Pirates, Vikings, & Knights II Beta 2.0 |url=http://planethalflife.gamespy.com/View.php?view=HLMotw.Detail&id=194 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080304143009/http://planethalflife.gamespy.com/View.php?view=HLMotw.Detail&id=194 |archive-date=March 4, 2008 |access-date=June 3, 2010 |website=]}}</ref><ref name="insurgencywebpage">{{Cite web |title=Insurgency: Modern Infantry Combat |url=http://www.insmod.net |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080210045223/http://www.insmod.net/ |archive-date=February 10, 2008 |access-date=February 4, 2008 |website=Insurgency Team}}</ref> As part of its community support, Valve announced in September 2008 that several mods, with more planned in the future, were being integrated into the ] program, allowing the mods to make full use of Steam's distribution and update capabilities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 22, 2008 |title=Steam News Update Friday, September 26, 2008 |url=http://storefront.steampowered.com/Steam/Marketing/message/1843/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928091100/http://storefront.steampowered.com/Steam/Marketing/message/1843/ |archive-date=September 28, 2008 |access-date=September 22, 2008 |website=] |publisher=]}}</ref> In Sept 2022, after a decade of development, a fan made full-VR mod was released titled "Half life 2: VR". <ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-10-01 |title=Half-Life 2’s Excellent VR Mod Is Almost Too Good To Be True |url=https://kotaku.com/half-life-2-vr-mod-alyx-pc-valve-steam-gordon-freeman-1849603782 |access-date=2022-12-09 |website=Kotaku |language=en}}</ref>

== Sequels ==
''Half-Life 2'' was followed by two ]: '']'' (2006) and '']'' (2007).<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Marks |first=Tom |date=March 23, 2020 |title=Valve Explains Why Half-Life 2: Episode 3 Was Never Made |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/valve-explains-why-half-life-2-episode-3-was-never-made |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200323171744/https://www.ign.com/articles/valve-explains-why-half-life-2-episode-3-was-never-made |archive-date=March 23, 2020 |access-date=March 23, 2020 |website=]}}</ref> After canceling '']'' and ],<ref name=":3">{{Citation |title=Details of Multiple Cancelled Valve Projects Revealed, Including Half-Life 3 - IGN |date=July 9, 2020 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/half-life-3-left-4-dead-3-details-cancelled-valve |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200713154054/https://www.ign.com/articles/half-life-3-left-4-dead-3-details-cancelled-valve |language=en |access-date=July 19, 2020 |archive-date=July 13, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> Valve released a prequel, '']'', in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McWhertor |first=Michael |date=November 18, 2019 |title=Valve's Half-Life series continues with Half-Life: Alyx for VR |url=https://www.polygon.com/2019/11/18/20970733/half-life-alyx-vr-release-date-valve-announcement |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191119134619/https://www.polygon.com/2019/11/18/20970733/half-life-alyx-vr-release-date-valve-announcement |archive-date=November 19, 2019 |access-date=November 21, 2019 |website=Polygon}}</ref>

== See also ==
* {{Portal inline|Video games}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em|refs=

<ref name="MC-PC">{{Cite web |title=Half-Life 2 |url=http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/half-life-2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817224301/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/half-life-2 |archive-date=August 17, 2010 |access-date=September 22, 2008 |website=Metacritic}}</ref>

<ref name="MC-Xbox">{{Cite web |title=Half-Life 2 (Xbox) |url=http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox/half-life-2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830150538/http://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox/half-life-2 |archive-date=August 30, 2011 |access-date=September 12, 2011 |website=]}}</ref>
}}

== External links ==
{{Spoken Misplaced Pages|En-Half-Life 2.ogg|date=December 22, 2006}}
* {{Official website|https://www.half-life.com/en/halflife2}}

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Revision as of 23:09, 14 December 2022

Half-Life 2 is a first-person shooter computer game and the highly anticipated sequel to Half-Life that is currently in development by Valve Software. The game is not expected to be released until September 2004, though this could change. Although there has been no official word on this, many fansites and online-stores seem pretty sure about a release on the 3rd September 2004, which could very well be considering Valve's latest comments on the progress of the game (saying the game is complete and that the last bugs are currently being fixed).

On August 27th 2004 a post by Gabe Newell from Valve Software said "going gold on Monday". Going gold means that the game is finished and simply needs to be pressed onto CD's and packacged into boxes. This caused much excitement amung the Half Life 2 community but it later turned out that the post was a hoax and was posted by someone who had guessed Gabe's password. It is expected that the game will be finished and released in the next few weeks, although Valve has not announced an official release date.

In the original Half-Life, researchers at a remote underground laboratory called the Black Mesa Research Facility accidentally open a doorway into an alien world, unleashing strange and deadly creatures into the facility. The player acted as Gordon Freeman, one of those research scientists, in his attempt to escape the facility. Half-Life 2 picks up the story many years after the Black Mesa incident in a futuristic Eastern European 'City 17', once again pitting Gordon Freeman against an alien invasion.

For Half-Life 2 Valve produced a new game engine called "Source" that features some of the most advanced interactivity and graphics to date. To get the highest level of graphics, most gamers are expecting to upgrade their video card, explaining why GPU manufacturer ATI Technologies has partnered with HL2's release . The game engine's interactivity promises to tie emergent gameplay with the scripted sequences that Half-Life is already known for. Valve is already working on licensing the Source engine to other developers for use in their own games. One game that has already bought the engine is Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines.

Like its predecessor Half-Life, Half-Life 2 has already been the base of which many modifications has been planned. Many of them are sequels of original Half-Life mods, like Counter-Strike and Sven-Coop. Valve is also planning on having a version of Counter-Strike: Source (Counter-Strike for Half-Life 2) in the retail version of Half-Life 2.

Steam

Integeral to Half Life 2 is the Steam content distributon system developed by Valve Software. This allows customers to purchase games (or any other software) directly from the developer and have it dowloaded directly to their computer. This system also allows 'micro updates' to games - games are continually updated and only the most recent version is allowed to be run. This makes it a lot harder for hackers to crack the game. All users playing a game must also have an account on the Steam servers to play the game. Steam is also used for finding and playing multiplayer games.

Half Life 2 became availiable for pre-laod theough steam on August 26, 2004. This means that customers can begin to download encrypted game files to thier computer before the game is released. When the game is released in the shops customers will be able to pay for the game through steam and unlock the files on their hard drives and play it straight away without having to wait for the game to download. It is expected that the pre-laod period will last for several weeks to ensure all customers have a chance to downlod the content before the game is released. To stop the systme from becoming overloaded only certain numbers of people are allowed to downlaod the game at a time. so it may be some time before everyone has downlaoded it.

In the initial downlaod only assets "set in stone" are downloaded such as textures and sound. As the game code is still being worked on it will not be downloaded until the game "goes gold".

Source code leak

Half-Life 2 was merely a rumor until a strong impression at E3 in May 2003 launched it into levels of hype only equalled by DOOM 3. It was due to come out in September 2003, but has been delayed; Valve Software says that they are aiming for a summer 2004 release. This pushing back of HL2's release date came in the wake of the cracking of Valve's internal network, through bugs in Microsoft Outlook, resulting in the leakage of the game's source code in early September 2003.

The source-code leak had more of an effect on morale for the developer than it did on the schedule—it was later revealed by both Valve CEO Gabe Newell and PR man Doug Lombardi that the September 2003 release date was 'aggressive' and could not have been met even if the leak had never occurred. Many gamers were not surprised by the early delays, recognizing that Valve's first public mention of the game came just four months before its intended release date.

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

Beta leak

Roughly at the same time as the source code leak, a beta version of HL2 was leaked to the net. Initial claims that the leak was a hoax turned out to be in error as the beta quickly spread widely and was verified to exist by a large number of people. The beta reportedly contains parts of the game in a playable state, as well as some of the tools used to create game content.

Related Articles

External links

HL2 source leak

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