Drill Instructor: "Okay maggot, listen up! I don't care what your previous outfit was like, but around here, we do things my way! Follow my instructions carefully, and you'll be eating danger and crapping victory!! Now move your butt soldier! I will see you on the other side, in the armoury!"...
*The NPC default sound footstep looping*
Yes, this all looks nominal.
Now I'd love to hang that over my fireplace! ..................Y'know.... if I had one!
You forgot:
+ Havoc ragdoll physics
+ 3D Skyboxes
+ Better lighting and shadows
+ Specularity on environment
+ Cleaned up sounds, bugs, textures, etc
+ Some content that is reasonable in places brought over from HL2 and replaced
+ New interface / menus with real-time backgrounds of...
VALVe has not as far as I know. I'm not taking my HL2 copy back and trading it in for a collector's edition either, and damn, VALVe better make HL: S seperate and purchasable for $5 or £5. Hell, it should even be free if you've purchased the original HL or HL2!
A heavily modified and upgraded version of the Source engine with Shader Model 3.0+ support and Havoc ragdoll physics 2 support for an example would be fine for Half-Life 3. I see no reason to use any other engine, or to waste time creating a new one as using a modified version of the current...
NO I'd price it at $5. I think I know they're strategy, they're trying to make more money of their customers by forcing them to purchase HL: S with a bunch of other games to cost $60 and above, not allowing them to buy it seperately and making more customers purchase the Silver and Gold editions...