• Tempted (Half Life Alyx)

    From Spalls Hurgenson@21:1/5 to All on Tue Apr 11 18:32:18 2023
    Didja know, "Half Life Alyx" works with mouse-keyboard in non-VR mode.
    More specifically, it works /well/ with that combination, and can be
    played to the end at a desktop, instead of ensconced in an
    uncomfortable headset using motion-controls. Of course, you'll need a
    mod* to get it all to work (and there are a few compromises along the
    way), but for the most part, desktop users can finally play this
    latest chapter of Half Life.

    And I gotta say, I'm really tempted. I've never been big into the VR
    scene, but I looked at "Alyx" when it was first released, and it
    looked really good. But my lack of VR hardware meant that I could
    never experience the game for myself. But now? It's a viable option.

    Still...$60 bucks? I'm not sure I'm /that/ tempted. Even if it were a brand-new, made-for-desktop-from-the-start game, I'm not sure it would
    be worth that price (it's pretty short, and fairly limited in
    gameplay). As something I'd only get to experience as a hacked-up
    kludge, that $60USD price point looks very extravagant.

    But maybe when the game comes up on sale.



    * get the mod here: https://www.moddb.com/mods/half-life-alyx-novr/downloads/half-life-alyx-novr-script-update-6

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  • From PW@21:1/5 to spallshurgenson@gmail.com on Tue Apr 11 17:53:48 2023
    On Tue, 11 Apr 2023 18:32:18 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

    Didja know, "Half Life Alyx" works with mouse-keyboard in non-VR mode.
    More specifically, it works /well/ with that combination, and can be
    played to the end at a desktop, instead of ensconced in an
    uncomfortable headset using motion-controls. Of course, you'll need a
    mod* to get it all to work (and there are a few compromises along the
    way), but for the most part, desktop users can finally play this
    latest chapter of Half Life.

    And I gotta say, I'm really tempted. I've never been big into the VR
    scene, but I looked at "Alyx" when it was first released, and it
    looked really good. But my lack of VR hardware meant that I could
    never experience the game for myself. But now? It's a viable option.

    Still...$60 bucks? I'm not sure I'm /that/ tempted. Even if it were a >brand-new, made-for-desktop-from-the-start game, I'm not sure it would
    be worth that price (it's pretty short, and fairly limited in
    gameplay). As something I'd only get to experience as a hacked-up
    kludge, that $60USD price point looks very extravagant.

    But maybe when the game comes up on sale.



    * get the mod here: >https://www.moddb.com/mods/half-life-alyx-novr/downloads/half-life-alyx-novr-script-update-6

    *---

    Did not know that Spalls. I don't have a VR headset and really do not
    care about VR stuff.

    Like you, I am tempted. But not at $60!

    -pw

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  • From Ant@21:1/5 to iamnotusingonewithAgent@notinuse.co on Wed Apr 12 00:45:31 2023
    PW <iamnotusingonewithAgent@notinuse.com> wrote:
    On Tue, 11 Apr 2023 18:32:18 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

    Didja know, "Half Life Alyx" works with mouse-keyboard in non-VR mode.
    More specifically, it works /well/ with that combination, and can be
    played to the end at a desktop, instead of ensconced in an
    uncomfortable headset using motion-controls. Of course, you'll need a
    mod* to get it all to work (and there are a few compromises along the
    way), but for the most part, desktop users can finally play this
    latest chapter of Half Life.

    And I gotta say, I'm really tempted. I've never been big into the VR
    scene, but I looked at "Alyx" when it was first released, and it
    looked really good. But my lack of VR hardware meant that I could
    never experience the game for myself. But now? It's a viable option.

    Still...$60 bucks? I'm not sure I'm /that/ tempted. Even if it were a >brand-new, made-for-desktop-from-the-start game, I'm not sure it would
    be worth that price (it's pretty short, and fairly limited in
    gameplay). As something I'd only get to experience as a hacked-up
    kludge, that $60USD price point looks very extravagant.

    But maybe when the game comes up on sale.



    * get the mod here: >https://www.moddb.com/mods/half-life-alyx-novr/downloads/half-life-alyx-novr-script-update-6

    *---

    Did not know that Spalls. I don't have a VR headset and really do not
    care about VR stuff.

    Like you, I am tempted. But not at $60!

    I'll wait. Maybe it will go free. Ha ha. I don't think the previous Half-Life games went free. :(
    --
    "These [religious rules about what you eat and drink, keeping festivals and special Sabbath days] are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ." --Colossians 2:17. Slammy Easter weekend and new week so far with
    its peey and poopy Monday and spams. :(
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  • From rms@21:1/5 to All on Wed Apr 12 08:25:09 2023
    But maybe when the game comes up on sale.

    It was just on sale :) I'm getting the hankering to play through it
    again -- I have an Index -- I've heard this non-VR version will be way too
    easy for experienced FPSers, as vr games are way dumbed and slowed down to
    be playable, so look for a difficulty adjustment mod, I think they already exist.

    rms

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  • From Spalls Hurgenson@21:1/5 to Ant on Wed Apr 12 11:16:55 2023
    On Wed, 12 Apr 2023 00:45:31 +0000, ant@zimage.comANT (Ant) wrote:
    PW <iamnotusingonewithAgent@notinuse.com> wrote:
    On Tue, 11 Apr 2023 18:32:18 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson
    <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:


    Didja know, "Half Life Alyx" works with mouse-keyboard in non-VR mode. <snip>

    Did not know that Spalls. I don't have a VR headset and really do not
    care about VR stuff.

    Like you, I am tempted. But not at $60!

    I'll wait. Maybe it will go free. Ha ha.
    I don't think the previous Half-Life games went free. :(

    It doesn't happen often, but it /does/ happen. In fact, just prior to
    the release of "Half Life: Alyx", Valve made the entire series -
    original game, sequel, and all the expansions - free for a limited
    time. I seem to recall the gold-source games ("Half Life", "Blue
    Shift", "Opposing Force") have also been gratis now and again as well,
    usually in response to some Steam sale or something along those lines.

    So it's not inconceivable that "Alyx" will be offered for free... but
    I wouldn't hold my breath for it happening anytime soon.

    Given the game's age, shortness, and that it's a VR game, I think my
    pricepoint is around $15USD. Honestly, I'm surprised Valve charges as
    much as they do for the game; you'd think they'd use it as a
    loss-leader to push the sales of their VR headset. But I guess they
    figure the Half Life brand is valuable to get any discount. ;-)

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  • From Spalls Hurgenson@21:1/5 to Ant on Wed Apr 12 12:56:24 2023
    On Wed, 12 Apr 2023 16:26:53 +0000, ant@zimage.comANT (Ant) wrote:
    Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:

    I don't think the previous Half-Life games went free. :(

    It doesn't happen often, but it /does/ happen. In fact, just prior to
    the release of "Half Life: Alyx", Valve made the entire series -
    original game, sequel, and all the expansions - free for a limited
    time. I seem to recall the gold-source games ("Half Life", "Blue
    Shift", "Opposing Force") have also been gratis now and again as well,
    usually in response to some Steam sale or something along those lines.

    They did? Did I miss it in here? :(

    Probably; I don't recall mention of it either. It was a limited time
    offer in Jan 2020.* I didn't make any announcement of it in the
    newsgroup, but back then I wasn't so obsessive about that subject.
    Still, even if somebody else had posted an announcement, surely I
    would have thrown in my two cents on the topic. So I'm guessing that
    freebie skipped past us all.

    The other offers I only vaguely recall, but I think they were a long
    while back. I think that's how I claimed Counterstrike:GO.


    * there's a variety of news articles on the offer; here's one of them https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/01/every-classic-half-life-game-is-now-free-on-steam/

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  • From Ant@21:1/5 to Spalls Hurgenson on Wed Apr 12 16:26:53 2023
    Spalls Hurgenson <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:
    On Wed, 12 Apr 2023 00:45:31 +0000, ant@zimage.comANT (Ant) wrote:
    PW <iamnotusingonewithAgent@notinuse.com> wrote:
    On Tue, 11 Apr 2023 18:32:18 -0400, Spalls Hurgenson
    <spallshurgenson@gmail.com> wrote:


    Didja know, "Half Life Alyx" works with mouse-keyboard in non-VR mode. <snip>

    Did not know that Spalls. I don't have a VR headset and really do not
    care about VR stuff.

    Like you, I am tempted. But not at $60!

    I'll wait. Maybe it will go free. Ha ha.
    I don't think the previous Half-Life games went free. :(

    It doesn't happen often, but it /does/ happen. In fact, just prior to
    the release of "Half Life: Alyx", Valve made the entire series -
    original game, sequel, and all the expansions - free for a limited
    time. I seem to recall the gold-source games ("Half Life", "Blue
    Shift", "Opposing Force") have also been gratis now and again as well, usually in response to some Steam sale or something along those lines.

    They did? Did I miss it in here? :(


    So it's not inconceivable that "Alyx" will be offered for free... but
    I wouldn't hold my breath for it happening anytime soon.

    Given the game's age, shortness, and that it's a VR game, I think my pricepoint is around $15USD. Honestly, I'm surprised Valve charges as
    much as they do for the game; you'd think they'd use it as a
    loss-leader to push the sales of their VR headset. But I guess they
    figure the Half Life brand is valuable to get any discount. ;-)

    Yep.
    --
    "Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the LORD God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph." --Amos 5:15. Will hump day be quiet even though minor unexpectations (5h of Z, ELN, colony, etc.) came up?
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