HL2 Preview at 1up.com

[Xtasy0]

http://www.1up.com/article2/0,2053,1590281,00.asp

Eventually, you make your way to a big outdoor courtyard featuring the same graphics style seen in many of the screen shots with tall buildings surrounding you. There seems like there will be a lot of coming and going from this area at different points in the game, since there are a few areas blocked off by what appear to be force fields that guards can walk through but you cannot. There's also an area in the middle of the courtyard with grass and some kind of statue that you can walk around. You can wander around and look at the shiny bricks on the ground, but that seems to be about all.

the last sentence is funny, hah.

 

[Rupertvdb]

the writing wasn't exactly inspired but it had some cool things to say, looks like everyone has been getting a taste of intimidating combine guards and buggy driving fun.

 

[Shuzer]

lol, poorly writen IMO.. they were excited, but they didn't make it sound exciting in the slightest

 

[Mechagodzilla]

I'd like to note, first off, that he does not mention any bad graphics in the preview like those we've seen in the recent screens.

It's a shame it's not a new area though.

 

[Spiffae]

by and large, i don't think a single article has mentioned the graphics looking worse... i think we don't have much to worry about.

It's odd that the online mags only got the intro and the buggy, while the magazines got the cemetary too and an interview with Gabe.

online mags are the way to go... valve should give them first dibs... see what PC gamer says. then again, i bet for every 2 people who read a gamespot feature, 200 read a PC Gamer cover article.

 

[Mechagodzilla]

It's odd that the online mags only got the intro and the buggy, while the magazines got the cemetary too and an interview with Gabe.

online mags are the way to go... valve should give them first dibs... see what PC gamer says. then again, i bet for every 2 people who read a gamespot feature, 200 read a PC Gamer cover article.

Actually, with the internet, I think that paper magazines are becoming somewhat less free compared to online.
These sorts of exclusives help them compete.

 

[Rupertvdb]

Magazines have always been more traditionally used to send out the news, they get more hype than websites and the nature of magazines means that companies can regulate what information they show and how it is 'leaked' to the public.

People are more likely to develop interest from a magazine article than an internet piece and print journalists are generally more qualified than web sites that can be staffed by talented amateurs.

Finally people pay more attention to what is written in print, editing our magazine at work can only go so far on the computer and then we need printouts to find the smaller errors, people just pay more attention. This means that things are more likely to stick in the minds of people and so hopefully encourage more people to buy the product. All very nefarious.

 

[Dougy]

by and large, i don't think a single article has mentioned the graphics looking worse... i think we don't have much to worry about.

Didnt some preview actualy say something along the lines off....

"Dont worry, recent concerns given over the latest screenshots are unfounded" or something....

i could have sworn i read that somewhere.

 

[Rupertvdb]

i dunno about that but articles have been commenting on the smoothness of the graphics and their general quality no end, the biggest thing for me is the fact they haven't slated the graphics at all, all these people yapping about boxiness and poor geometry made me worry but if the journalists haven't bitched about it then it is probbaly ok.

 

[Apos]

Pretty pedestrian, matter of fact writing. They praise it at the end, but it's obvious that Valve cut away as soon as any plot or anything else big is about to happen.

 

[obsidian]

or the journo's have no clue.

 

[Rupertvdb]

they seem to write like Valve was giving them a continuous level rather than different sections designed to give an overview of the game's playability

 

[ferd]

Didnt some preview actualy say something along the lines off....

"Dont worry, recent concerns given over the latest screenshots are unfounded" or something....

i could have sworn i read that somewhere.

i think i read that to somewhere

 

[JimJimBinks]

I think it was in the IGN article. I'd go look but I just got home from work and I'm too lazy to left click my mouse that many times in a row.
It basically said the aliasing issues in the screenshots aren't an issue in the actual game. Everything looks nice and smooth.

 

[x84D80Yx]

funny how it happens if the article doesnt really praise hl2 alot, alot of you guys say it was poorly written lol.

when they praise hl2 like it was the air they breathe, you guys go all out and estaticly say its "the best article evar!!!!111"

lol..ill shutup now

 

[marksmanHL2 :)]

lol, you have to admit. It was poorly written.

I dont mind what sites say anymore. I mean we are gona find out soon enough.

 

[Briderider]

and all seem to be well designed as you would expect, i.e. the shotgun isn't effective from far away, the pistol is extremely accurate, etc.

extremely accurate pistol's is not exactly what I would expect. Has this bloke ever fired a gun?