Friday, February 4 Steam News.

[^Ben]

Over the next month or so there will be a couple of interesting releases via Steam, in addition to the upcoming Counter-Strike map de_compound.

First, we'll be releasing an update to Half-Life 2: Deathmatch that will include the Slam, Stunstick, and the Crowbar. We're not ready to release the contest winning maps just yet, but we will be releasing a new map we've built at Valve to tide people over while we sort out the contest winners. There will also be a release to Counter-Strike: Source around the same time that will address a few minor issues.

One feature that we'll be adding to the Source engine in the coming months is high dynamic range lighting. To showcase this we've taken a part of the Highway 17 chapter of Half-Life 2 and worked it into a single level that incorporates HDR along with some new gameplay. We're calling this short level "The Lost Coast," and it will be made available free of charge to Half-Life 2 customers that meet a specific set of high end hardware requirements. We'll be publishing those requirements soon.

Below are a few early concept sketches of the level early in its development.

 

[Iced_Eagle]

Just saw this, concept art looks neat, I can definetely see how they can add HDR in that

This is another reason why Steam rocks, I don't know of other game companies that add on things like HDR in patches... Cuz thats a pretty big thing

<3 VAlve!

 

[Computer5k]

Looks like people with low-end hardware won't even be able to run it on low detail...

 

[Scotsman]

yes, HL2DM update is soonish, even if we have to wait for the contest winners.

 

[Iced_Eagle]

Looks like people with low-end hardware won't even be able to run it on low detail...

Well if you have the absolute Min Spec, expect to get around 5 FPS I mean hell the Min Spec for the Unreal Engine 3 is a DX9 card and somewhere around a 2.8-3 GHz CPU (they will optimize of course) so thus get your GeForce Ti 4200 out the door! The 6800 and X800 prices will go down soon thanks to ATi and nvidia releasing new cards again, so then more people can enjoy HDR goodness :thumbs:

 

[cadaveca]

HDR=x800 or better, most likely. 9800pro/XT might fit, but i don't think so. 3Dc probably plays a role.

And now we know of the first ATI Level. Probably March (here's hopin' anyway).

 

[Dumb Dude]

I hope my 6600gt can pull it off.

 

[The Monkey]

Nice, a new map. :cheers:

 

[azz0r]

Double click the pictures in the steam window and a large version pops up.

 

[Iced_Eagle]

I hope my 6600gt can pull it off.

Of course it can! :thumbs:

 

[poseyjmac]

stoked!

 

[ailevation]

:cheers: Awesome news!

 

[Blakeb155]

CROWBAR!!!! This is the best news I've heard in a long time, I can't wait to get my hands on a crowbar in Deathmatch.

 

[Scotsman]

Shockstick > crowbar

"Citizen, come with me..."

 

[isis]

OK first, why did you make another thread when thers already one in the Announcements forums
Second, do you guys think these might be ATi only?

 

[^Ben]

First this thread was created before the announcment.

 

[isis]

owned :<

 

[frusion]

OK first, why did you make another thread when thers already one in the Announcements forums
Second, do you guys think these might be ATi only?

no valve wouldnt be so stupid my 6800 ultra owns any puny ati card

 

[Cukel]

OH MY GOD this are the best news in months, right after the HL2DM released-news Crowbar for HL2DM yay \o/ and the HDR, my 9600XT ran Doom 3 just fine. And I suspect there is a "HDR on [x] off [ ]" button, so the low-end ppl can still play.

And some new, free levels \o/ Ive been needing some good new HL2 levels since 18th november.

 

[Harryz]

I love Valve.

Whos the guy in the last screenie?

 

[Dumb Dude]

No one said it was only ATi only. I meant if my 6600gt can run it because I get so-so frames on medium.

The rest of my system is holding me back.

 

[BaconIsGood4You]

Pfft. No problem for my GeForce4 MX 440.

 

[Sanius]

I hope this works well for me..

don't want to be off-topic, so I will link to my topic here: http://www.halflife2.net/forums/showthread.php?p=1225572#post1225572

but other then that, this is awesome. HDR would make hl2 look loads better. :cheese:

 

[poseyjmac]

no valve wouldnt be so stupid my 6800 ultra owns any puny ati card

keep telling yourself that lol

 

[FireCrack]

Let's not tuern this into a flaewar.

 

[lordoftheroot]

Man i wonder if HL2 will take top of the line parts to run it well for the next 2 years because of the updates?

 

[gazoox999]

pah! Shocksticks, nothing compared with the almighty crowbar!

Do you think an X600 would take it?

 

[PvtRyan]

3Dc compression would be nice too, but first HDR

Hope my 9800 Pro will work. What do they mean with 'accesible to high end customers'? Will it refuse to work under minimum specs or is it just something they wouldn't recommend running on a lower or mid end system?

 

[Epsi]

Probably won't be downloaded to your computer if you don't meet the specs.

 

[Cukel]

No... im pretty certain you can launch it with a MX440 if you want to, it will just run like shit.
btw, Valve people are just amazing. Ive never heard that a game engine would be updated so much for free after the game was released :O Comparing to other gamehouses, which give you maybe 1-5 updates to the game after its released, and these are almost 100% bugfixes.

 

[ray_MAN]

I think it will work fine, because I believe the HDR demo with the AntLion on the roof was done with an ATi 9800 Pro. If so, that rocks becuase I have one!

 

[Varsity]

Whos the guy in the last screenie?

FM = fisherman is my guess. Probably a background character.

 

[sfc_hoot]

FM = fisherman is my guess. Probably a background character.

Interesting. There's an npc_fisherman in the Hammer level editor. Looks like he's character's already been made.

 

[Kirkburn]

Does he look similar?

 

[azz0r]

Its probably odell.

 

[Lincoln]

Given that the E3 demos from 2003 were made on a 9800 Pro, I think anybody with a Pro or higher will be able to play.

 

[sfc_hoot]

Does he look similar?

In Hammer, he looks just like Barney. Haven't tried spawning npc_fisherman in-game though.

Its probably odell.

No, Odell was supposed to be a captain, not a fisherman.