Here is a list of potential candidates for the surprise that will come along with the SDK in less than a week:
1. Half-Life 2 Deathmatch - this is certainly possible in my opinion. There has been a lot of pressure from reviewers and fans since the game's release. Gabe Newell, too, has been quoted many times in the past as saying that there was a working HL2 deathmatch, and it likely may have been planned. Further, most of the netcode and backbone is already there (as evidenced in the fact that many are now playing DM unofficially). I wouldn't be too surprised if this was it.
2. Steam Update - this is somewhat likely. It could be a simple update to expand Steam funcionality and user personalization (allowing the user to delete games from the games list, for example, or to create different groups). More exciting is the possibility that it could be an update to allow direct mod downloads from Steam itself - this would be a spectacular feature. It would greatly streamline mod download installation, and what's more, would make mod patches and updates an absolute breeze (automatic patch downloads!).
3. VAC 2/Anti-Cheat Update - this is somewhat possible as well. VAC 2 has been in the works for a while now.
4. DOD: Source/TF2 - both of these are highly unlikely. We haven't even seen more than one screenshot of DOD: Source yet, and from what we know, a lot of work still has to be done to update it. TF2 would be an amazing surprise, but this seems impossible. We haven't had any real update on the game, and it isn't reasonable to think that Valve has been struggling with the work on TF2 while at the same time grueling away at finishing HL2.
5. Counter-Strike: Source Update - this certainly makes sense. It was announced that we would recieve a hefty update for CS:S in December. Apparently we are probably going to get a new model (or more) and perhaps a new skin or more. Also, at least two new maps are planned, and we could also see some other interesting updates. Although this update certainly will happen, the question is whether this is indeed the surprise.
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There are of course of few other interesting possibilities to note. It could be an announcement for an expansion pack or a sequel to HL2. It could be an announcement for a totally new game using the source engine. It could also be something that we can't even fathom. Still, these are unlikely. Would Valve announce a sequel or expansion pack a week after HL2's release? As well, the news update at steampowed.com says they will be releasing the surprise along with the SDK, so it must be something tangible.
I have a hunch that we'll get a Steam update that'll give us direct-download mod support - and I wouldn't be dissapointed. I think that this a great feature that has been long overdue and would do wonders for Source as a modding engine. That said, it could very well be HL2 Deathmatch - it wouldn't take much to code.
Thoughts?
1. Half-Life 2 Deathmatch - this is certainly possible in my opinion. There has been a lot of pressure from reviewers and fans since the game's release. Gabe Newell, too, has been quoted many times in the past as saying that there was a working HL2 deathmatch, and it likely may have been planned. Further, most of the netcode and backbone is already there (as evidenced in the fact that many are now playing DM unofficially). I wouldn't be too surprised if this was it.
2. Steam Update - this is somewhat likely. It could be a simple update to expand Steam funcionality and user personalization (allowing the user to delete games from the games list, for example, or to create different groups). More exciting is the possibility that it could be an update to allow direct mod downloads from Steam itself - this would be a spectacular feature. It would greatly streamline mod download installation, and what's more, would make mod patches and updates an absolute breeze (automatic patch downloads!).
3. VAC 2/Anti-Cheat Update - this is somewhat possible as well. VAC 2 has been in the works for a while now.
4. DOD: Source/TF2 - both of these are highly unlikely. We haven't even seen more than one screenshot of DOD: Source yet, and from what we know, a lot of work still has to be done to update it. TF2 would be an amazing surprise, but this seems impossible. We haven't had any real update on the game, and it isn't reasonable to think that Valve has been struggling with the work on TF2 while at the same time grueling away at finishing HL2.
5. Counter-Strike: Source Update - this certainly makes sense. It was announced that we would recieve a hefty update for CS:S in December. Apparently we are probably going to get a new model (or more) and perhaps a new skin or more. Also, at least two new maps are planned, and we could also see some other interesting updates. Although this update certainly will happen, the question is whether this is indeed the surprise.
---
There are of course of few other interesting possibilities to note. It could be an announcement for an expansion pack or a sequel to HL2. It could be an announcement for a totally new game using the source engine. It could also be something that we can't even fathom. Still, these are unlikely. Would Valve announce a sequel or expansion pack a week after HL2's release? As well, the news update at steampowed.com says they will be releasing the surprise along with the SDK, so it must be something tangible.
I have a hunch that we'll get a Steam update that'll give us direct-download mod support - and I wouldn't be dissapointed. I think that this a great feature that has been long overdue and would do wonders for Source as a modding engine. That said, it could very well be HL2 Deathmatch - it wouldn't take much to code.
Thoughts?
