My theory for why HL2 is being delayed

[Max35]

Okay maybe its not the most well-thought out theory, but here it goes anyway. I think the real reason HL2 is being delayed is because of the graphics. Don't get me wrong--they're great but they are not revolutionary, they have the potential to be though. When compared to Stalker and D3, HL2 falls a bit short of next-gen graphics. It is relying on high-res textures and eerily realistic character face expressions to do most of the work, the lighting is good too, but not great (especially on other character models).

Valve has alot of expectations put on them, more so than D3 and Stalker (of course, time will tell which is the better game). Nowadays, graphics are one of the primary factors by which a game gets judged. So, I think Valve is trying to improve the graphics, like the lighting and whatnot as well as tweaking the physics engine. I don't care about graphics really, HL2's are more than sufficient, and it is the #1 game on my list, but as many others have pointed out (and its fairly easy to see why) Valve's entire reputation is at stake with this game. At the time of HL1, it had state-of-the-art graphics. I think when D3 and Stalker appeared on the scene, Valve reasoned to delay the game while tweaking the engine for graphics and optimization. Thats just my opinion though.

 

[x84D80Yx]

well you could be correct, but i beleive valve has had more than enough time to make the graphics looking good, and if my memory serves me right, the hl2 graphics were already excellent back in september 2003

but i dont think hl2 will make it this april, probally a few months after. april just seems too close, when they havent said anything really important in months!

 

[Zetahl2world]

Okay maybe its not the most well-thought out theory, but here it goes anyway. I think the real reason HL2 is being delayed is because of the graphics. Don't get me wrong--they're great but they are not revolutionary, they have the potential to be though. When compared to Stalker and D3, HL2 falls a bit short of next-gen graphics. It is relying on high-res textures and eerily realistic character face expressions to do most of the work, the lighting is good too, but not great (especially on other character models).

Valve has alot of expectations put on them, more so than D3 and Stalker (of course, time will tell which is the better game). Nowadays, graphics are one of the primary factors by which a game gets judged. So, I think Valve is trying to improve the graphics, like the lighting and whatnot as well as tweaking the physics engine. I don't care about graphics really, HL2's are more than sufficient, and it is the #1 game on my list, but as many others have pointed out (and its fairly easy to see why) Valve's entire reputation is at stake with this game. At the time of HL1, it had state-of-the-art graphics. I think when D3 and Stalker appeared on the scene, Valve reasoned to delay the game while tweaking the engine for graphics and optimization. Thats just my opinion though.

Photo realism not your cup of tea eh? From experience i find them to be quite impeceble. But perhaps you're right, maybe they are tweaking them a bit. Almost certainly due to the additional time period them have allowed themselves. However - competion in forseeable future from other games such as farcry and doom3, still offer graphics roughly the same standard as hl2, so i beleive a major tweaking session would not have been nessicary. Remember - non of the next gen games we've waxed lyrical about for the last 6 months have even been released yet so such a long delay really shouldn't be graphics related.

I smell a redesign.

 

[Chris D]

Speculation

 

[Shuzer]

I'd agree, but, if you compare the released screenshots/Bink videos/stolen build to the DX9 HDR video, you can see that, environment wise, it looks alot better. Disregarding all the DX9 effects in the video, it'd still look better than the HL2 media we've seen, just take a look at the skyscraper in the distance, its geometry is much higher and the windows/etc are modeled, not textured on.

Considering that the HDR video is the newest media we've seen, I'd say to expect quality even a little higher than that by the time the game is released.

 

[x84D80Yx]

Photo realism not your cup of tea eh?

only "true" photorealistic game ive ever seen is Grand turismo 3 and Grand turismo 4.

 

[Ti133700N]

I have a better theory: the game is not done Seriously I don't think they would delay the game only to improve the graphics. They are probably enhancing them but I’m pretty sure it's not the reason for a delay. HL2 has so much more to deliver than graphics. I think Doom3 is much more of a technological showcase. It has nice effects and lightning but .. The multiplayer seems really bad and the single player is exactly like the other fps... (Did Carmack say the story is not important..? duh! ) HL2 is looking pretty good imo and the engine is so flexible, indoor, outdoor maps, the physics are amazing, and of course the MOD tools !!! So I think they haven't finished the game and they are tweaking some stuff and optimizing it ... maybe for the next generation of video cards and technology (PCI express ?)

 

[Dougy]

heres my dads theory.


the game only ran on high end machines so they had to trash a lot of the engine and make it more low PC freindly like its supposed to be.

 

[G-Dub]

heres my dads theory.


the game only ran on high end machines so they had to trash a lot of the engine and make it more low PC freindly like its supposed to be.

I certainly hope that ain't the reason...

 

[Letters]

heres my dads theory.


the game only ran on high end machines so they had to trash a lot of the engine and make it more low PC freindly like its supposed to be.

People certainly didn't have problems running the stolen build... which wouldn't have even gone through much optimization...

 

[Kadayi]

Max35

Stalker was announced and had a trailer out a good few months before HL² was even mentioned, let alone showcased at E3. Doom 3 had also been showcased prior to HL² as well. Whatever the reason for HL²'s delay, it isn't as a resultant of valve feeling graphical 'pressure' from either of these games.

My 2 cents, I think they had a team meet and decided that they weren't happy with the game and decided to spend a year working on it until they were happy. They did this with HL¹ and with CS:CZ, so I wouldn't be at all surprised. The real test is going to be in what they showcase at E3.

 

[63]

I think its delayed because its *cough* not done *cough*

 

[Max35]

Like I said, it probably wasn't the most well-thought out theory, but t struck me at the time as a good reason. Probably the reason they delayed it was because of the gameplay itself. I think they even said in an interview that they gutted most of the levels or whatever. I think they thought HL2 plays to much like the original, they may be going for a more non-linear approach I am not sure. HL2 needs to be a bit like Deus Ex, in the sense that it should have been designed to be a hyrbid of sorts, have elements of other genres (Deus Ex: RPG/FPS) to make things more interesting. Of course I know HL2 will play good, even if it was released now, but I'm sure Valve has a very good reason for delaying the game, whatever it may be.

 

[Brian Damage]

I think that the interview that you're thinking of, Max35, is the one that was posted a couple of weeks back. Which was referring to the gutting of levels from the original HL, IIRC.

But, if not, post a link.

 

[Kadayi]

Like I said, it probably wasn't the most well-thought out theory, but t struck me at the time as a good reason. Probably the reason they delayed it was because of the gameplay itself. I think they even said in an interview that they gutted most of the levels or whatever. I think they thought HL2 plays to much like the original, they may be going for a more non-linear approach I am not sure. HL2 needs to be a bit like Deus Ex, in the sense that it should have been designed to be a hyrbid of sorts, have elements of other genres (Deus Ex: RPG/FPS) to make things more interesting. Of course I know HL2 will play good, even if it was released now, but I'm sure Valve has a very good reason for delaying the game, whatever it may be.

The half-Life experience and the Deus Ex experience regarding gameplay are very distinct from each other (despite the fact both use the FPS format). I wouldn't hold your breathe that Valve are delivering up a hybrid. I'd like to see some DX style games using the source engine, and I think they will come along, but from other developers or from the mod community. HL2 is more FPS RPG than RPG FPS.

 

[RotorHead]

Valve was noticing that the intrest in hl was dwindling so they anounced a release date they knew they could not meet.

intrest grew and they have us hanging on their every word in anticipation of release...........



they will give it to us when it is finished.................. :cheese:

 

[B_MAN]

if they're re-doing the graphics, why have they released new images that look the same as the demo