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Feature: Deep inside Half-Life for PS2 and Dreamcast
(IDG) -- Valve Software's classic PC game is getting a serious dressing up. After selling millions of copies worldwide and garnering massive critical acclaim, the time has come for the game that turned the first person shooter genre on its ear to come home to console systems. Randy Pitchford, one of the owners of Gearbox Software sat down with GamePro's Dan Elektro to dish on the upcoming port of Half-Life for Playstation2 and the two separate Half Life Dreamcast games that are being put together. There have been significant changes made in the game for both platforms, but from the way things seem to be shaping up, both PS2 and Dreamcast gamers have a lot to look forward to when Half-Life makes the move from the PC. Better graphics with more detailed character models, new storylines, and a host of other surprises are in the mix, so strap yourselves in! Dan Elektro: The upcoming Dreamcast version of Half-Life has the original game plus the new Blue Shift story. What will be in the PS2 version? Multiplayer with bots? TF? Split screen? Opposing Force? Mods? It's too early in the lifecycle to support online components on PS2, right? Randy Pitchford: Just as Half-Life redefined the first person action game, Half-Life for Dreamcast redefines what an extension of a great PC game to console should be. Half-Life for Dreamcast offers enhanced game characters with more detail than ever before and includes an entirely new episode in the Half-Life saga - Half-Life: Blue Shift.
Beyond that, I'm proud to reveal that Half-Life for Playstation2 takes things even a step farther. Once again, all the stuff in the game is getting another overhaul to make the Half-Life experience more incredible than ever. Also, the Playstation2 version features multiplayer support and an entirely new multiplayer and single player game. We hope that in enough time before we're due to launch, the PS2's planned on-line capabilities succeed because we'd love to take advantage of that as well. Dan Elektro: Will the PS2 version ship on DVD? If so, is it a storage choice or a performance choice? Randy Pitchford: This still hasn't been determined, but we could probably use the extra space the DVD offers. Dan Elektro: Will you support USB mouse and keyboard on the PS2? Randy Pitchford: This already is in the game and works great. Of course, we try to force ourselves to use the controller more than a mouse and keyboard combo because we're already so familiar with the PC interface and want to make sure the controller is very fun to play with. Dan Elektro: What makes the PS2 an attractive platform for Half-Life? Randy Pitchford: The simple answer is that by bringing the game to the PS2, we're exposing it to many, many people who may have never had a chance to enjoy Half-Life. Otherwise, the PS2 itself is a remarkable computer and has the horsepower to allow us to do some incredible things like increase the detail of the scientist character to the point where he has facial expressions and can move his eyes to look around. Those kinds of things permeate Half-Life for PS2 and the ability to do those things was a factor in the decision to bring the game to the platform. Dan Elektro: Why PS2 over PS one? N64? Why not focus on the DC, for that matter, and be done with it? Randy Pitchford: Half-Life needs next generation hardware to thrive. The philosophy at Valve and Gearbox is that if things can't be done better, they shouldn't be done at all. The Dreamcast version of Half-Life is great - it looks better than the original PC version and it's the only way console owners can enjoy Half-Life: Blue Shift. But the PS2 version is incredible. The Playstation2 technically outperforms the Sega Dreamcast and we take advantage of the fact in the PS2 version at every turn. Dan Elektro: What about Half-Life makes it appealing to a console audience? Will they care, since the PC game has been out for so long? Randy Pitchford: Good entertainment is always welcome. Half-Life has been enjoyed by more than 2 million people worldwide on the PC - and those are great numbers on that platform. But, there are a very large number of console-only game players that have been looking forward to Half-Life coming to a platform that's affordable to them. We're very proud to bring the game to as many players as possible and want to reward them with an unprecedented experience. For the unabridged version of this story, click here. RELATED STORIES: Review: Hitman: Codename 47 RELATED IDG.net STORIES: Deep inside Half-Life for PS2 and Dreamcast (Page 2) Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
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