Water and reflections question

[gweedodogg69]

I wonder if u look straight down in the water if you'll see your reflection of Gordon. The water will reflect everything else, why not urself.

 

[SMT]

As has been discussed many times in the forum and especially in the "Info From Valve" thread, no.

 

[kaellinn18]

Nope. This has been answered in the info from Valve thread.

[EDIT:] Beaten by SMT

 

[switch]

Nope
valve dont like showing Gordon in any way, or letting him speak, they prefer to make it more believable that 'you' are Gordon.

EDIT: too slow!

 

[gweedodogg69]

well...I'm me, it'd be more believable if I can see me. If not, then I'm a ghost...oooooooo.

 

[Kifpe]

You don't get to see Gordon. That's part of the game - think I read it somewhere...

 

[gweedodogg69]

Oh well, if u have the ability to switch to 3rd person view like in HL1, then u can see urself. that'll be good enough.

 

[Chris D]

Yeah, to keep in-line with their thoughts about immersion and "you are Gordon Freeman", you won't be able to see yourself in mirrors or reflections.

It isn't yet confirmed if there'll be an available third person mode.

 

[Hectic Glenn]

Oh well, if u have the ability to switch to 3rd person view like in HL1, then u can see urself. that'll be good enough.

I didnt play HL1 much, but i never saw that? did i miss something big?

 

[gweedodogg69]

I forget the command to use in the Console (~), but I know there is one.

 

[chriso20]

Am i right in saying there's a command for showing third person AND first person (so can be reflected) ?

Cuz if so i'm turning it on, i'm not one of these "i AM gordon freeman!" im a "i am PLAYING as gordon freeman" when games make YOU the actual person it scares the bejesuz outa me lol jk but even so, no foolin me

 

[Takaitokuten]

Am i right in saying there's a command for showing third person AND first person (so can be reflected) ?

Cuz if so i'm turning it on, i'm not one of these "i AM gordon freeman!" im a "i am PLAYING as gordon freeman" when games make YOU the actual person it scares the bejesuz outa me lol jk but even so, no foolin me

yea there's a command for perspective switching in HL, for third person it's Thirdperson_1, and for 1st, it's Firstperson_1
...I think...

 

[Khayman80]

Mod to enable reflections?

Before anyone flames me, let me say that I don't intend to start a "let's whine about the fact that you can't see Gordon reflected in water/windows/mirrors" thread. I've seen dozens of those, and the repetition is annoying...

However, that being said, I must say that I'm one of those people who believes that Valve's commitment to "player immersion" has gone too far. I am interested in Half Life 2 for lots of reasons, but mainly for the eye candy and the physics. I believe that cutting out reflections of the player will actually REDUCE my feeling of immersion, because it takes away from the realism. I simply expect to see a reflection of myself whenever I look at a shiny object- the lack of a reflection will probably stick out like a sore thumb IMHO.

With this viewpoint in mind, does anyone think it will be possible to add a mod that corrects this "feature"? If so, would anyone else be interested in playing the game with said mod? Does anyone think they could handle the necessary programming? (seeing as how I certainly don't have the time/skills.)

 

[The Mullinator]

I remember way back in May 2003 or sometime around then something happenend that led alot of people to believe that there would be no actual 3d model of Gordon in Single Player, after all if you will never see it then what is the point in showing it?

So perhaps the ability to have reflections is in fact there but unless you actually create a Gordon model then you won't see anything in a mirror.

 

[Dagobert]

I bet there are no mirrors in the game.

Just don't look down at the water.

Do you really want to see a circle-strafing guy with a beard doing a short looping idle animation?

 

[Annihilator_91]

VALVe wants to create a game were you think that you play, as they have stated at several occasions! It would not work if you'd see Gordons reflection in the water!

 

[Calhoun]

It would not work if you'd see Gordons reflection in the water!

How wouldn't It work? Seriously, tell me.

All It's going to do is make reflective surfaces more realistic rather than make you feel like you aren't in control of Freeman in Half-Life 2.

 

[The Mullinator]

How wouldn't It work? Seriously, tell me.

All It's going to do is make reflective surfaces more realistic rather than make you feel like you aren't in control of Freeman in Half-Life 2.

Its just a design decision, the same kind of design decision that makes them decide what icons to have on your HUD. They felt that they could get maximum effect by not having your reflection shown, and its really a subjective thing so obviously not everyone is going to like it.

 

[Annihilator_91]

Its just a design decision, the same kind of design decision that makes them decide what icons to have on your HUD. They felt that they could get maximum effect by not having your reflection shown, and its really a subjective thing so obviously not everyone is going to like it.

Precisely! And It would not work with VALVe's idea of letting the player "be" Gordon Freeman!

 

[Someone]

This is one of those topics I never quite understand why people get upset/angry or whatever over it.

I understand why people would want to see their reflections (since you would in real life)...but in the end how many times will that happen in game? You might do it once or twice just to see yourself (Like I did in Doom3)...but after that what does it add to the game? Does it help anything or truly add something to make the game better?

 

[Khayman80]

By itself? Not really, no. BUT- realism in video games is very important to me. It's the little details that all add up to an immersive experience that count- wind on the power lines, realistic water, shadows, accurate physics, etc.

While I can kind of understand the motive behind *intentionally* screwing up the reflections, it still strikes me as one area in which the Source engine will be unrealistic.

This is one of those topics I never quite understand why people get upset/angry or whatever over it.

I understand why people would want to see their reflections (since you would in real life)...but in the end how many times will that happen in game? You might do it once or twice just to see yourself (Like I did in Doom3)...but after that what does it add to the game? Does it help anything or truly add something to make the game better?

 

[etzel90]

If there is a HL2DM and everyone was Gordon running around killing each other, wouldnt that screw with the whole "You are Gordon Freeman" thing? Seeing like 12 Gordons! I guess HL2DM will count as a different game and would have nothing to do with playing HL2 single player.

 

[Matthias]

Nope
valve dont like showing Gordon in any way, or letting him speak, they prefer to make it more believable that 'you' are Gordon

Given that explanation it seems odd to me that they bothered to define what Gordon looks like, I happen to know that I'm not a tall brownhaired guy with glasses and a beard, even if I am mute and invisible during the game...

 

[MaDMaXX]

Well, whilst its true thay you can't see your own reflection because of a design decission, you still wouldn't see yourself looking into the water, because of the franel calculations performed on water, making its really very pretty.
It reflects less and less as you view it closer to you, you see right into it when looking straight down, all swirly and stuff, as you look further away it starts reflecting very nicely.

 

[subtlesnake]

But is that something you think about when you play?

 

[MaDMaXX]

seeing yourself, or the water reflections?

 

[subtlesnake]

Sorry, I was replying to Matthias.

I mean that the fact that you're playing a bearded scientist shouldn't really occur to you if you're fully immersed in the game.

 

[MaDMaXX]

if it does occur to someone, they're not really playing the game, theyre having some strange fantasy...

 

[Glo]

reflection in water is seen only on certain angle, isnt it?
i meant, if you were to look straight down you would just see through the surface

 

[wayne white]

now what about seeing your feet?...

 

[Glo]

or climbing ladders without using the hands

 

[DrPowers]

wont be able to see your feet, wont be able to see refletion,

You will only be able to see your hands and weapons. And I'm sure you'll be able to see his suit before he puts it on.

Gordon would have to not be a vampire in order to see his reflection anyways... oops gave too much away.

 

[DrPowers]

or climbing ladders without using the hands

I always thought that was weird but I agree with it. Stopping to put your weapon away makes it too realistic for an action game and distracts from gameplay.

Plus as I said before he's a vampire and can just hover up the ladder.

 

[Glo]

actually i really dont mind not seeing him or having to hover up ladders.
this what makes this game so unique

 

[shad3r]

i kinda liked how in Tribes 2 u could see ur legs.

i found it less disconcerting than being a floating eye with a floating right hand and a massive invisible sack full of weapons.

 

[DrPowers]

i kinda liked how in Tribes 2 u could see ur legs.

i found it less disconcerting than being a floating eye with a floating right hand and a massive invisible sack full of weapons.

I'm not sure how a massive VISIBLE sack would look. Maybe its best its invisible... But I agree I like the realism of games like Ghost recon and the rainbow six series.

 

[Letters]

See... you are Gordon... if you want to see legs, just look down at your legs... unless you're Lt. Dan... then don't...

But people with LCD monitors kinda get ripped on in the reflection department I guess.

 

[DrPowers]

See... you are Gordon... if you want to see legs, just look down at your legs... unless you're Lt. Dan... then don't...

But people with LCD monitors kinda get ripped on in the reflection department I guess.

DAMN.. Gordon looks good.... oh wait... thats me.

 

[oldagerocker]

Do you get a reflection on your lcd monitor?
i dont, im confused. someone help. ;(

 

[DrPowers]

Sometimes you do but mostly just CRT monitors cuase they have a sheet of glass in front of the screen. Just a joke dont ponder over it too long.

aka. if you have no reflection you cant see "gordon"