Half-Life 2
''Half-Life 2'' is a 2004 first-person shooter game developed by Valve. It was published by Valve through its distribution service Steam. Like the original ''Half-Life'' (1998), ''Half-Life 2'' combines shooting, puzzles, and storytelling, and adds features such as vehicles and physics-based gameplay. Players control Gordon Freeman as he joins a resistance movement to liberate the Earth from the control of an alien empire, the Combine. ''Half-Life 2'' was created using Valve's Source engine, which was developed at the same time. Development lasted five years and cost million. Valve's president, Gabe Newell, set his team the goal of redefining the first-person shooter genre. They integrated the Havok physics engine, 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. Valve announced ''Half-Life 2'' at E3 2003, with a release date ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Gordon Freeman
Gordon Freeman is the silent protagonist of the ''Half-Life'' video game series, created by Gabe Newell and designed by Newell and Marc Laidlaw of Valve. His first appearance is in ''Half-Life''. Gordon Freeman is depicted as a bespectacled Caucasian man from Seattle, with brown hair and a signature goatee, who graduated from MIT with a PhD in theoretical physics. He was an employee at the fictional Black Mesa Research Facility. Controlled by the player, Gordon is often tasked with using a wide range of weapons and tools to fight alien creatures such as headcrabs, as well as Combine machines and soldiers. Gordon Freeman's character has been well received by critics and gamers, and various gaming websites often consider him to be one of the greatest video game characters of all time, including UGO and ''GameSpot''. Character design ''Half-Life'' director Gabe Newell coined the name "Gordon Freeman" during a conversation with the game's writer Marc Laidlaw in his car. Laidl ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Steam (service)
Steam is a Digital distribution of video games, video game digital distribution service and storefront by Valve Corporation, Valve. It was launched as a software client in September 2003 as a way for Valve to provide automatic updates for their games, and expanded to distributing and offering third-party Video game publisher, game publishers' titles in late 2005. Steam offers various features, like digital rights management (DRM), Matchmaking (video games), game server matchmaking, Valve Anti-Cheat, anti-cheat measures, social networking service, social networking and video game live streaming, game streaming services. It provides the user with automatic game updating, saved game cloud synchronization, and community features such as friends messaging, in-game chat and a community market. Valve released a freely available application programming interface (API) called Steamworks in 2008, which developers can use to integrate Steam's functions into their products, including in-gam ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Unreleased Half-Life Games
''Half-Life'' is a series of first-person shooter games developed and published by Valve, beginning with the original ''Half-Life,'' released for Windows in 1998. The earliest known canceled ''Half-Life'' game dates to 1999. Between '' Half-Life 2: Episode Two'' (2007) and '' Half-Life: Alyx'' (2020), Valve canceled at least five ''Half-Life'' games, including '' Half-Life 2: Episode Three,'' a version of ''Half-Life 3,'' and games by the studios 2015, Inc., Junction Point Studios and Arkane Studios. ''Half-Life'' era (1998–2004) ''Half-Life: Hostile Takeover'' On November 23, 1999, ''GameSpot'' reported that 2015, Inc. was developing a ''Half-Life'' expansion pack to follow '' Half-Life: Opposing Force.'' 2015, Inc declined to comment. On March 18, 2000, the Adrenaline Vault reported that the new expansion was named ''Half-Life: Hostile Takeover'', and that it had appeared on retail product lists with a release date of late August. On August 7, the Adrenaline Vault reporte ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Episode Three
''Episode III'', ''Episode 3'' or ''Episode Three'' may refer to: * '' Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith'', a 2005 film *Episode 3 (Humans series 1), TV series episode *Episode 3 (Peep Show), TV series episode *Episode 3 (The Tudors), TV series episode *Episode 3 (Skins), TV series episode * Episode 3 (''The Casual Vacancy''), (2015), the third and final episode of the TV miniseries ''The Casual Vacancy'' *Episode 3 (Ashes to Ashes) '' Ashes to Ashes'' is a British science fiction/ police procedural drama television series, serving as a spin-off from the original series, ''Life on Mars''. The transmission dates given below refer to the original UK broadcast on BBC One. S ..., TV series episode * '' Half-Life 2: Episode Three'', a canceled video game {{disambiguation ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Episode Two
''Episode II'', ''Episode 2'' or ''Episode Two'' may refer to: * ''Episode II'' (album), an album by Safri Duo * ''Episode II'' (EP), an EP by Eiffel 65 * "Episode 2" (song), a song by Dragon Ash * "Episode 2" (''Ashes to Ashes''), an episode of ''Ashes to Ashes'' * Episode 2 (Humans series 1), an episode of ''Humans'' * "Series 1: Episode 2" (''Life on Mars''), an episode of ''Life on Mars'' * "Episode 2" (''Twin Peaks''), an episode of ''Twin Peaks'' * Episode 2 (''The Casual Vacancy''), (2015), the second episode of the TV miniseries ''The Casual Vacancy'' * '' Half-Life 2: Episode Two'', a computer game sequel * '' Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones'', a 2002 film * "Second Episode "Second Episode" is the second episode of the HBO television series ''The New Pope''. The episode was directed by series creator Paolo Sorrentino and was written by Paolo Sorrentino, Umberto Contrarello, and Stefano Bises. The episode takes place ...", the second episode of the HBO ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Episode One
''Episode I'', ''Episode 1'' or ''Episode One'' may refer to: * '' Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace'', a 1999 film * '' Half-Life 2: Episode One'', a 2006 computer game sequel * "Episode 1" (''Ashes to Ashes''), (2008), the first episode of the TV series ''Ashes to Ashes'' * "Episode 1" (''The Casual Vacancy''), (2015), the first episode of the TV miniseries ''The Casual Vacancy'' * "Episode 1" (''Humans'' series 1), the first episode of the TV series ''Humans'' * Episode 1 (company) Episode 1 is a venture fund set up to invest in early-stage technology companies based in the UK. The three partners behind the fund – Simon Murdoch, Damien Lane and Adrian Lloyd – are experienced entrepreneurs and investors, and have been thro ..., a UK investment company * ''Episode 1'' (EP), an extended play by Broiler * "Episode One" (''Dark Matter''), the first episode of ''Dark Matter'' * "Episode 1.1" (''Secret Diary of a Call Girl''), the premiere episode of ''Secret Diary o ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Episodic Video Game
An episodic video game is a video game of a shorter length that is commercially released as an installment to a continuous and larger series. Episodic games differ from conventional video games in that they often contain less content but are developed on a more frequent basis. Such a series may or may not have continuity, but will always share settings, characters, and/or themes. Episodic production in this manner has become increasingly popular among video game developers since the advent of low-cost digital distribution systems, which can immensely reduce their distribution overhead and make episodes financially viable. Alternatively, it can be used to describe the narrative of the game. Examples of episodic video games include most Telltale games, ''Alan Wake'', '' BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea'', '' Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City'', ''Life Is Strange'', '' Resident Evil: Revelations 1'' and '' 2'', '' Half-Life 2: Episode One'' (and ''Two)'' and '' Star Trek ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Lost Coast
The Lost Coast is a mostly natural and undeveloped area of the California North Coast in Humboldt and Mendocino Counties, which includes the King Range. It was named the "Lost Coast" after the area experienced depopulation in the 1930s. In addition, the steepness and related geotechnical challenges of the coastal mountains made this stretch of coastline too costly for state highway or county road builders to establish routes through the area, leaving it the most undeveloped and remote portion of the California coast. Without any major highways, communities in the Lost Coast region such as Petrolia, Shelter Cove, and Whitethorn are isolated from the rest of California. The region lies roughly between Rockport and Ferndale. At the south end, State Route 1, which runs very close along the coast for most of its length, suddenly turns inland at Rockport before merging with U.S. Route 101 at Leggett. At the north end, State Route 211 begins its journey at Ferndale, heading to ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Best Games Ever Made
This is a list of video games that multiple reputable video game journalists or magazines have considered to be among the best of all time. The games listed here are included on at least six separate "best/greatest of all time" lists from different publications, as chosen by their editorial staffs. List Publications The reference numbers in the notes section show which of the 46 selected publications list the game. # ''1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die'' – 2013 # ''The Age'' – 2005 # ''Collider'' – 2020 # ''Digitally Downloaded'' – 2016 # '' Electric Playground Network'' – 2013 # ''Edge'' – 2000, 2015, 2017 # ''Electronic Fun with Computers & Games'' - 1984 # ''Empire'' – 2009 # ''Entertainment Weekly'' – 2003 # ''Esquire'' – 2018, 2020 # ''FHM'' – 2010 # ''Flux'' – 1995 # '' G4'' – 2012 # ''GamesMaster'' - 1996 # ''Gamecenter'' - 2000 # ''Game Informer'' – 2009, 2018 # ''Game On! From Pong to Oblivion'' – 2006 # ''GameSpot'' – 2000 ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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List Of Game Of The Year Awards
Game of the Year (GotY) is an award given by various award events and media publications to a video game that they feel represented the pinnacle of gaming that year. Events and ceremonies British Academy Games Awards (BAFTA Games Awards) The British Academy Games Awards are an annual British awards ceremony honoring "outstanding creative achievement" in the video game industry. First presented in 2004 following the restructuring of the BAFTA Interactive Entertainment Awards, the awards are presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), and are thus commonly referred to as the BAFTA Games Awards. Czech Game of the Year Awards The Czech Game of the Year Awards are annual awards that recognize accomplishments in video game development. D.I.C.E. Awards The D.I.C.E. Awards are awarded by the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences (AIAS), a non-profit organization of industry professionals. The awards were previously known as the Interactive Ach ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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E3 2003
E3 (short for Electronic Entertainment Expo or Electronic Entertainment Experience in 2021) is a trade event for the video game industry. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) organizes and presents E3, which many developers, publishers, hardware, and accessory manufacturers use to introduce and advertise upcoming games and game-related merchandise to retailers and to members of the press. E3 includes an exhibition floor for developers, publishers, and manufacturers to showcase their titles and products for sale in the upcoming year. Before and during the event, publishers and hardware manufacturers usually hold press conferences to announce new games and products. Over time, E3 has been considered the largest gaming-expo of the year by importance and impact. Before 2017, E3 was an industry-only event; the ESA required individuals wishing to attend to verify a professional relationship with the video game industry. With the rise of streaming media, several of the press ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Havok Physics Engine
Havok is a middleware software suite developed by the Irish company Havok. Havok provides a physics engine component and related functions to video games. In September 2007, Intel announced it had signed a definitive agreement to acquire Havok Inc. In 2008, Havok was honored at the 59th Annual Technology & Engineering Emmy Awards for advancing the development of physics engines in electronic entertainment. In October 2015, Microsoft announced it had acquired Havok. Products The Havok middleware suite consists of the following modules: * Havok Physics: It is designed primarily for video games, and allows for real-time collision and dynamics of rigid bodies in three dimensions. It provides multiple types of dynamic constraints between rigid bodies (e.g. for ragdoll physics), and has a highly optimized collision detection library. By using dynamical simulation, Havok Physics allows for more realistic virtual worlds in games. The company was developing a specialized version of Ha ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |