Half-Life 3 Rumored to Have RPG, Open World Elements


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It sounds like Half-Life 3 may be more like Rage this time, only more interactive than id Software's latest post-apocalyptic open-world shooter.

Half-Life 3 is back on the rumor mill again, conveniently one day after Valve's hardware division spoke with Engadget about its 2013 plans. An unnamed source has reportedly spilled details regarding the mysterious Half-Life sequel, confirming that the game is indeed in development (duh), but there's a lot that still needs to be done.

Breaking away from the rumor for just a moment, there's a good chance Valve is working on Source 2 in conjunction with Half-Life 3 much like id Software did with Rage and id Tech 5. The original Source engine made its debut back in June 2004 with the launch of Counter-Strike: Source and shortly thereafter Half-Life 2. Thus, it's easy to assume Source 2 and Half-Life 3 will be connected and launched simultaneously.

Building on that, on a business level, it's probably time to update both the engine and Valve's flagship franchise, especially with Epic taking up all the licensing opportunities with its commercial-friendly Unreal Engine.

This Source 2 concept seemingly backs up the remainder of the current rumor which claims Half-Life 3 will be open-world with many RPG elements. The team has reportedly been so inspired by Bethesda's Elder Scrolls series that they want NPCs and "quests". This will likely be similar to Rage, staying true to its FPS roots while dishing out missions in a vast environment.

Now here's something else to think about: the release date. Sources claim that the game won't make an appearance until after 2013. Bummer we know, but we're betting Source 2 / Half-Life 3 will be next-generation console friendly. The 2013 marker also indicates that Valve's hardware ambitions may be tied into the project, as the first beta is expected to launch sometime next year.

Remember, this is all speculation and rumor save for the possible beta of Valve's first hardware attempt next year. But this latest rumor does make sense given that today's technology allows the Half-Life universe to be even more immersive than it was back in 2004.

http://www.tomshardw...-NPC,17751.html

Sounds kind of dumb but I'm still optimistic. HL just doesn't seem like the questing type of game. :s

Oh, and Rage was a steaming pile of ****. I hope Valve has been paying attention.

Please don't make the Half-Life series into a MMORPG.

Well considering the wild success of WOW, it's more likely to become a MMORPG since that is where the money is. I never got into the whole MMO[insert genre] fad in general but everything seems to be going down that path, even Elder Scrolls is (but thankfully seems to be more a spin off then actually sequel). Wait and see I guess. Been waiting for so long now, past the point of caring :p when we get concrete info on a possible release and details on what we are likely to get, concrete not rumours, I'll get excited for it again!

Well considering the wild success of WOW, it's more likely to become a MMORPG since that is where the money is. I never got into the whole MMO[insert genre] fad in general but everything seems to be going down that path, even Elder Scrolls is (but thankfully seems to be more a spin off then actually sequel). Wait and see I guess. Been waiting for so long now, past the point of caring :p when we get concrete info on a possible release and details on what we are likely to get, concrete not rumours, I'll get excited for it again!

Yeah, I'm sure that's where the money is, but I can guarantee *my* money won't be there if it's an MMO-type game.

I quite like the quiet quest parts from Episode 2. (Searching for radars in stashes) Although these were entirely linear, it was a nice change of pace.

The pacing is the one thing that is perfect in HL. They understand that FPS fatigue sets in and maybe any RPG elements would now allow for these changes to be at the player's discresion. (Rather than the linear method at the moment).

Open world & RPG != MMORPG

For example:

Sacred 2 is an open world rpg, and is not an MMORPG!

Did I say Open World & RPG = MMORPG? No. I just said "Please don't make the Half-Life series into a MMORPG." It would be an injustice to the Half-Life series if it were to be made into a MMO game. That is all.

Did I say Open World & RPG = MMORPG? No. I just said "Please don't make the Half-Life series into a MMORPG." It would be an injustice to the Half-Life series if it were to be made into a MMO game. That is all.

With that logic, I need to add, please don't make HL3 into a cartoon-kart based racing game.

Did I say Open World & RPG = MMORPG? No. I just said "Please don't make the Half-Life series into a MMORPG." It would be an injustice to the Half-Life series if it were to be made into a MMO game. That is all.

Seriously, what the hell are you talking about? Nobody said anything about making it into an MMO, ever, at any time. I hope they don't turn it into an arcade shoot-em-up, too... wtf?

With that logic, I need to add, please don't make HL3 into a cartoon-kart based racing game.

Seriously, what the hell are you talking about? Nobody said anything about making it into an MMO, ever, at any time. I hope they don't turn it into an arcade shoot-em-up, too... wtf?

And I hope no one would berate you for having your opinion. However, it appears I am not allowed to express mine.

Sounds odd - Valve are well known for experimenting, but at the same time, those experiments have to work really well for them to release them. It's quite possible they are testing a huge range of concepts internally.

And I hope no one would berate you for having your opinion. However, it appears I am not allowed to express mine.

The issue was, it seemed to be a completely random insert into the topic. No-one had suggested HL2 might be an MMO.

Whilst I'm not going to jump to assumptions until I see some tangible evidence, in my mind Half-Life always has been an FPS series, and it should end as an FPS series.

Reliable source? HAH.

Where did they get this "news" from, a random post on /v/?

I also have a reliable source that Valve are going to buy Microsoft and open-source Windows.

Honestly, is anyone really dumb enough to believe that Valve are going to take a series lauded for it's extremely high quality linear story-driven gameplay, and turn it into some sort of mutant crossbreed of Half-Life and RAGE, a game that failed?

Honestly, is anyone really dumb enough to believe that Valve are going to take a series lauded for it's extremely high quality linear story-driven gameplay, and turn it into some sort of mutant crossbreed of Half-Life and RAGE, a game that failed?

RAGE may have failed, but Borderlands didn't!

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    • Sihoo Doro C300 Pro V2 Ergonomic Office Chair review: The Ikea of chairs by Steven Parker I've reviewed a few gaming chairs over the past three years or so and generally found them to score well in our reviews. SIHOO reached out asking if I was interested in taking a look at their flagship chair, the Doro C300 Pro V2. I never got the chance to check out its predecessor, but the V2 is described as an "Adaptive Ergonomic Chair." It became available to buy in April of this year. Let's get things rolling with a closer look at the specifications and features. Specifications Doro C300 Pro V2 Model Ergonomic Materials Mesh Back and Seat; Soft PU Coated Armrests Height adjustability 45.5 - 53 cm / 17.5" - 20.9" Seat (w+d) 52 x 43 - 47 cm / 20.5" x 16.9" - 18.5" (adjustable) Backrest 52 – 60 cm / 20.5" - 23.6" (adjustable) Lumbar support Mesh built-in (adjustable) Armrest adjustability 8D Bionic Armrests Rocking angle 105°, 120°, 135° (fixed) Neck support Mesh built-in (adjustable) Net weight 27.3 kg / 59.64 lbs Weight support 150 kg / 330 lbs Colors Black, White Warranty 5 years (upon registering) Price $499.99, $539.99 Introduction At first glance, it looks like a chair that in another life wants to be a Herman Miller; It certainly looks like my Aeron Remastered, but the Doro C300 Pro V2 has quite a few more features and costs quite a bit less. SIHOO says that it is made up of a "DynaCore" system that tracks your movement and synchronizes the headrest, backrest, lumbar support, and armrests as you shift, twist, or recline. They also say that the "SyncroFlex Backrest" molds to your spine, which kind of describes how the mesh fabric works in most ergonomic chairs, but anyway. Below are the meat and potatoes measurements for the chair. Here is the same tech sheet, but in inches. Durability I would be remiss to not talk about the various durability testing this chair underwent before coming to market, as this is claimed on the product page. First of all, the chair is BIFMA-, SGS-, and TÜV-certified. As for durability, the tests undergone were: 100,000 Castor cycles tested 120,000 Armrest cycles tested 120,000 Recline cycles tested 120,000 Gas lift cycles tested 60,000 Armrest durability cycles tested 120,000 Rotation cycles tested Nothing about weights testing, though. Now that's all disclosed, now onto my own personal findings. Assembly The Doro C300 Pro V2 came in two large boxes (1) (2), and everything was packed very well, protecting the different parts of the chair. In the box, there is a folded sheet that explains the 12 steps to assemble it; they are: Remove the bottom cover on the aluminum base; Insert the five legs into the aluminum base and use ten screws to fasten them; Insert the castors into the legs; Replace the bottom cover on the bottom of the aluminum base; Place the Class 4 Hydraulics gas cylinder into the aluminum base; Screw the bottom part of the arm rests, taking care of the orientation using two screws on each side; Use three torx screws to fasten the footrest to the bottom of the seat; Fasten the backrest to the seat using four torx bolts; Fasten the armrests to the backrest using four Torx bolts (two on each side), taking care to note the orientation; Place the chair onto the Class 4 Hydraulics gas cylinder; Insert the headrest into the top of the backrest; Use two torx screws to fasten the headrest to the backrest. There's also an online guide you can refer to. Carefully unpacking the two boxes took around 15 minutes because almost everything is wrapped in plastic and protective foam; the chair assembly itself took around an hour. I say in the above assembly steps to take note of the orientation, because it's not obvious which way around the bottom portion of the armrests go, and although there is an L and R on the bottom of the armrests, it also wasn't clear from the instructions which was actually left or right, facing the chair, or in the seated down orientation? Anyway, I ended up putting the bottom portions on the wrong sides, and after securing one of the armrests, I discovered that although it was on the correct side, the armrest base could rotate a full 360°, but not when bolted to the chair, so I had to remove it, rotate it, and then bolt it back on. Truly an Ikea experience! Also, to complicate things further, although all the parts are labeled from A to X (yes, that's 24 parts) unhelpfully, these letters do not appear on the parts themselves or the package with the bolts, screws, and washers. There's also a pair of protective gloves in the box, but I think they were made for much smaller hands than I have. Even my friend, who is 5.1, had difficulty putting them on. Once assembled, I needed to sit down. Anyway, as I said, it looks quite similar to my Herman Miller. And here is the back of it. If you look at the product page and on Amazon, it seems like a lot of thought has gone into the chair itself and what it's capable of, but there is no mention at all about the castors, and this is an area where I think the chair trips up quite quickly. I found it difficult to move the chair in any direction. I asked a friend who came to visit me earlier this week to test my findings, and she said that the wheels were "no good," so it definitely isn't just me. I am 6'2 myself and a big guy, I work from home and gained a few pounds from mostly staying in and the hell away from other people. However, the Doro C300 Pro V2 is rated for up to 150kg (330lbs), which in my case is used well within its max rating. Ergonomics The number of adjustments you can make, right up to setting it in nap mode — which I haven't fully tested yet — is what you'd expect from a premium chair. Yes, you can go up and down (max 7.5 cm adjustment), rock back and forth (with tilt adjustment), and lock the chair between three stages of 105°, 120°, 135°, which is not quite as flat as the AndaSeat I tested at 160°. Some thought has also gone into the "8D" armrests, too, which are cushioned but quite firm; you'll only know it if you press hard into the PU-covered tops, which give about half a centimeter, but it's enough to ensure your skin won't get awkwardly stuck to it in warmer (or sweatier) conditions. It almost feels like plastic and is very easy to keep clean. However, the armrest positions move far too easily, and I am not sure what that "elbow" function is. Maybe it is good for a short person with short arms, anyway, I never used it and kept it flat at all times. There are eight levels of adjustment for the armrests, they are: backwards, forwards, swing left/right, height up and down, tilt, and 360° rotation, which can be handy for desk clearance. As I said, the armrest pads shift far too easily, which could give off an ergonomic vibe, but who wants the armrest sliding when you are shifting weight? The height adjustability does lock into place when lifting and adjusting. Comfort This is ultimately what it boils down to at the end of the day, right? Quite a lot of reviews praise the comfort of this chair, and I don't disagree that the mesh seating is quite comfortable. I am used to the material from my daily Herman Miller. 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In all honesty, they are just hollow metal tubes, so it is not recommended to let a kid sit on them. I also feel like it doesn't really go out far enough for my height, so that kind of puts the dampener on me being able to use it regularly. I'll just have to continue to use my subwoofer as a footrest! I do not like the armrests being able to shift around as easily as they can, and they are a little too forward-positioned in the chair to comfortably sit close to my desk, because even in the lowest height position, they don't allow me to go under the desk like is possible with my Herman Miller. I also feel like this chair could have been delivered partially constructed, especially the armrests on the seat, and why the aluminum base wasn't already pre-constructed (without the castors) is baffling, considering it would have fit in one of the two boxes that way. The instructions also need to be clearer. On the pamphlet, there's an A to X listing (which is also used in the steps), but none of the physical parts use this lettering system! What I did like I'll be honest, I haven't used it for very long, just one week, and seating comfort is subjective after all! Any spills wiped straight off it, the stitching, and the lines look great, not a fray to be seen or stitch out of place. It looks kind of cool, too. My favorite feature of these seats is the nap mode. While you're not lying completely flat, it leans far back enough to make you easily doze off after a heavy gaming or working session. Overall, this chair offers plenty of comfort features. The MSRP does vary quite a bit depending on the region, at £549.99 in the UK, and €580 in Europe, and $599 before tax in the U.S. However, shipping is free, which is a bonus for such a heavy item. Is it worth it, though? At three years' warranty, I think it's a decent deal. 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Check out Today's Deals on Amazon | or our recent tech deals. Become a Prime member (for Students or SNAP) via Neowin Get Prime Access - Prime for half price (for qualifying Medicaid, EBT, SNAP) Subscribe to Prime Video, Audible Plus, Music Unlimited or Kindle Unlimited via Neowin As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
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    • The only reason I want to know where you from is because if you are not from the U.K, then why should you care what we in the U.K do or don't do? Racist I am not, I am fed up with the amount coming over here and feel they can come over here and think we need to support them. Do you know how much it costs this country to support these people coming over here? Even when we give them a place to live it is not good enough. We had a barge that was being used to house immigrants, oh but that was not good enough. A mate said to me at the time, when he was homeless, he would have been happy to live on the barge, instead of ending up sleeping on a bench on the beach. I am not scared to say what my family heritage is, unlike you who is scared to say where they are from or where they live. Father side U.S, mother side Wales, still have family living in the U.S. A mate who sadly died a few years ago, had a load of people from different races recording in his studio, I got on with all of them. Skin colour don't bother me, where they are from don't bother me. Religion don't bother me as long as they don't push it onto me and it is not crazy stuff. I am not religious. But if you are not living in the U.K, then why should you care if we are in the E.U or not? This the problem, too many people poking their noses into where it don't belong. But you believe what you believe, if you think I am racist, then be it, I really do not care. Just grow a pair
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