Why Half-Life Alyx is in VR

See the ADAM SAVAGE'S TESTED interview in full here: • Inside Valve: Making H...
0:14 - Why VR?
1:56 - Challenges of VR
2:56 - Differences with designing for VR
4:09 - Compromises with interaction
5:07 - Designing VR hands
5:52 - Movement in VR (Teleport VS traversal)
7:45 - Gravity Gloves
9:20 - Conclusion
This video is a summary of that interview, condensed down and with my own thoughts added in. The interview's still worth watching- they elaborate on some of the points I touch on here, and share more anecdotal stories of their VR game-making journey.

[@ASMRinGames]

The physics and the amount of interactivity look next level. I hope it inspires other games to not only make their worlds more pretty, but immersive.

[@MlSTERSANDMAN]

I just want the next step to be an improvement in movement. A cheap/good 360 treadmill.

[@alexey_fsk6654]

@@MlSTERSANDMAN treadmills arent immersive at all,it was a concept in 2016 that kinda failed

[@EnigmaGameMaster]

It's a step down from Boneworks, unfortunately.

[@generalfeeessh7764]

@@EnigmaGameMaster Boneworks had really janky physics sometimes. Hl alyx's physics wont break if you don't try hard to do so.

[@TheDragonfriday]

In normal games it always about making it look pretty and no interaction of anything beside handful of objects

[@poopsanchez6449]

I think it's really exciting because I'm like 90% sure this is where Valve wanted to go with Half Life anyway. The Half Life series has always had first person interactions, instead of cutscenes. So something like this really sounds like it was exactly what they wanted.

[@Zero001LP]

Bro, you just posted good comment. You are gonna get like.

[@draken5379]

Very true. Everything that makes Half-Life, Half-Life, is only amplified by VR.

[@halo091]

They should done a normal fps version though. Especially after stringing everyone along for more than a decade

[@notimeforcreativenamesjust3034]

@@halo091 no I disagree

[@nickj2805]

@@notimeforcreativenamesjust3034 so half life is going to be a game only for rich people now ? Or you already have a htc vive or oculus rift so you don't care ?

[@user-pi1ut2yj7p]

the simple fact you can open a car door mid fight and use it as cover is just mindblowing to me

[@justanotherlolilover5590]

People out here talking about VR only gameplay and features while I'm thinking about the kind of shitpost workshop content we'll get to experience in VR.

[@runninglate9672]

The true VR experience nobody asked for or needed but we'll get it anyway.

[@imkaylie973]

@@runninglate9672 because memes

[@Herw768Offcial]

Wasn't VRchat enough???

[@runninglate9672]

@@Herw768Offcial n o

[@h4zemuny]

Just download VRMod on Garry's Mod

[@nzoththecorruptor9755]

The whole industry depends on a single game, wow. That's actually what valve always used to do!

[@TheSense13]

After counter strike every online fps was a pretty much a cs clone....after Team fortress 2 every online shooter was some a class based shooter...Valve has some serious influence over the industry

[@ZALYVES]

@@TheSense13 They have always been pioneers. And then they went silent. Now we know why.

[@De1usionsofGrandeur]

I didnt need a half life vr to know that vr is amazing though I am more then happy to take it

[@dr_UiD]

@@ZALYVES They went silent because they forgot how to make good games. Last game they made was pure garbage :D

[@basedphilosopher]

@@dr_UiD Valve isnt to be viewed as jsut one game making entity. There numerous developers and probably numerous developement teams working on different projects.

[@oxi9783]

I can't wait to see a person put their hands on a combine healing station and scream at the top of their lungs

[@underflip2]

@EA -Sports I dont understand why that would be cringe. People immerse themselves alot more in VR than regular gaming. Some people can even feel stuff that happens in VR in real life.

[@goober6112]

The word cringe sucks so bad.

[@Mr_Triscuit]

@EA -Sports I know what you mean, I'd find myself flinching at the headcrabs that jump at me in first person.

[@frisco1594]

Chris sure if they’re disabled

[@underflip2]

@@frisco1594 I dont have a clue what you are talking about? disabled?

[@philderkomischetyp4481]

I am happy that its vr, now I can finally try to put headcrabs on my head.

[@lunaborea]

Exactly this

[@DavidPrachtbrot]

komischer Typ

[@fenkupng]

And yeet your headset across the room when you try to take it off

[@olivethekitty5706]

@BT3Ks P4F no

[@notimeforcreativenamesjust3034]

@@olivethekitty5706 yes

[@riskia2733]

I mean every single half life was revolutionary, so maybe this one will make people realize that VR is capable of proper gaming, hell HL:A looks beautiful, for a VR game

[@sukun9437]

Sir, VR makes my head hurt :( and eyes too

[@Zero001LP]

@Sickunt Yes. Proper. "Oh no, I have to move, oh my achin back."

[@Requiemes]

@Sickunt Proper immersive gaming, that is. I wouldn't say just "gaming" of course.

[@Zero001LP]

@@sukun9437 Might be health problems. If you tried making the screen darker and it did not work, maybe try going to a doctor.

[@riskia2733]

Sudhanshu Priyadarshan well i too, get sick from VR, (even though i don’t own VR headset) P.S don’t call me sir, i’m a kid

[@Skrenja]

VR skeptics have no idea on what they're missing out with Alyx. No lie it's a MASTERPIECE. Game of the decade for me.

[@RahRah2535]

Hey VR Poor here

[@flippy08100]

Kliksphilip is being such a VR preacher that I really wanna get a setup even though I neither have enough room, nor money, nor time. That damned, filthy good video design!

[@UnknownSquid]

Sounds dumb, but the advice I give people is, learn to love rice. I work 13 hours a week, pay rent and bills, maintain a car, and own a Vive and Index +full body tracking. Good budgeting can get you stuff many consider impossible, if you know what you really want and what you don't need.

[@flippy08100]

@@UnknownSquid Actually, the main problems are really space and time. I'm thinking about getting a rift s to combat this though since it appears to be a bit more flexible with its play area and easier to set up.

[@xXYannuschXx]

@@flippy08100 How much space do you have avaible? I manage to play on 2x1,25m, having furniture all around it.

[@sidn13]

@@flippy08100 I got myself an Oculus Rift in 2018 für 280€ on ebay, today its even cheaper. Also I don't thnk the Rift s offers enough improvements to justify the higher price. But I can understand if people are not okay with buying a used VR headset since playing VR is a very sweaty thing :D

[@UsenameTakenWasTaken]

@@xXYannuschXx I live in a small apartment with two other people, so I really only have my bedroom with less than 1m^2 floorspace. I could probably afford the hardware if I wasn't saving to upgrade the computer itself, but I definitely cannot afford the space.

[@INeedAttentionEXE]

My first instinct about movement is that I might like it more if I use a thumbstick to strafe backwards while firing at an enemy in front of me.

[@Thornfrey]

After 400+ hours in vr is free movement on thumbstick, finishing or doing small movements myself (big room needed:),for me the best way to move. But it takes some time to get used to free move. At start it made me sick... but it got better over time and after like 20-30 hours it was ok. Now I hate teleporting around.

[@madensmith7014]

People just need to warm up to the new view your eyes are seeing. I remember getting sick from playing cs and hl when I was a kid, and it was mostly because my eyes can't really process the whole new fast motions of fps back then.

[@OwlskiTV]

As someone who easily gets motion sick, I'm curious how well I'd handle this sorta stuff, and if I'd ever be able to get used to it.

[@laartwork]

You can with locomotion setting.

[@failedGraphics]

Owlski you have to take it VERY slow. As soon as you start to feel sick stop playing and take a break. Make sure you feel 100% before you start playing again. Try to use as many mostion sickness reducing settings as you can and try to play any games you can sitting down. This will help you get your "VR legs." Now on how long it will take, I guess it's different from everyone and you may never get to 100% in terms of never getting sick but it does get better over time and that should be enough for you to enjoy most games.

[@Covidcola]

I came here for HL:A and stayed for the narrator's voice. Perfect after a erratic bartending shift, calm and soothing.

[@Zero001LP]

Try using his videos as background noise.

[@johndexterzarate6663]

....If valve are planning an "expansion" to hl:a, they should continue where Adrian Shepard has left of. And with that, the gameplay will not include gravity gloves and focuses bit more on melee combat (given that he was a part of the HECU). And maybe more on freedom of gun interaction.

[@krounos1]

Can we please call them the Grabbity Gloves?

[@Zero001LP]

@@krounos1 They are called the Russels *I love that name*

[@ezrac704]

@@krounos1 sounds good to me.

[@bachpham6862]

@Dallas Maybe Shepard even get to meet his brother Mitchell again.

[@dkskcjfjswwwwwws413]

@@bachpham6862 no

[@kat.3784]

"People are holding off for vr" yeah my reason is that im too poor

[@Speedbolt74]

Save up

[@scylla019]

Steam Index is 1000 euros. It’s way too expensive

[@JacksTunes]

The samsung odyssey+ is pretty cheap, and it works great with alyx

[@AIejandroide]

@@JacksTunes damn you rich people

[@BlueShift2000]

@@scylla019 talking about the Index is expensive but forget that a Rift S costs 450$... A VR ready PC (self built and new) costs you around 400-500$ then there comes a mouse and keyboard (both 20$ If you want it cheap). Will cost you less then 1k... Crying that VR is too expensive but overlooking the real price. Buying not the newest smartphone every 2 year, saving here and there a little bit and boom, there you have the money. I bought my VR system and PC with 17, I had a loan of 600$ and I must paid rent and food but after one year of saving hardcore I had my own PC with a rift. Try this in the year 2017, back then i must saved 1k only for the PC and with the Rift i was over 1.500$.

[@jozefsk7456]

4:33 calling half life 2 a 2D game. it just clicked how big the difference between monitor and vr really is.

[@MythicTF2]

As someone who owns a VR headset, it's extremely different. Steam Labs has a non-vr mod and playing it out of VR is like playing Half-Life with a guitar hero controller. It's extremely limiting and takes out a lot of the fun

[@ricksaburai]

Funny to think about, isn't it? Although the a vast majority of modern games are crafted and rendered in 3D, at the end of the day we're limited in what we see and interact on a 2D screen. VR is quite literally 3D, we experience it like we experience the real world. And that's just awesome.

[@saminamanat]

@@ricksaburai technically vr being 3d is the same logic as games on monitors being 3d. vr is still a monitor, just really close to your eyes, it's also technically 2d and tricking your eyes with two monitord

[@ricksaburai]

@@saminamanat you're just being pedantic. Yes, it isn't literally 3D, and it won't be as long as we don't get hologram gaming. But, differently from monitors, VR actually emulates 3D perfectly by cleverly tricking the way our brains form images using both eyes. It isn't 3D, rather the _experience_ of 3D. And that is already leagues above monitors.

[@DeadGuyOnTheBus]

@@saminamanat With Valve Index's canted lenses, it's technically 3d. The "monitors" themselves have depth to them. Combine that with the other two dimensions that exist, I think it equals three.

[@omegasynth2775]

Gimme a VR treadmill, headset, controllers and you can be damn sure I'll play for hours.

[@legit5918]

@Stellvia Hoenheim People also do sports to wind down and relax. I quite like the fact that VR doesn't have to be sedentary and doesn't make me feel like a fat piece of shit like playing flat games does.

[@benjaminv02]

@Stellvia Hoenheim imo vr is so much better than regular gaming. You can have tons of different mechanics that you wouldnt have otherwise. Also a lot of vr games can also be played seated. And the main reason i play any game is not to relax but to have fun. And vr is 💯% that

[@underflip2]

@Stellvia Hoenheim You don't understand at all what VR is about and if u think winding down is the only reason why people play games you are very narrow minded. VR can be used for all kinds of stuff not just gaming. You can do joga, work out, watching movies with friends, meditate and much more. You can also play games seated, not all games make you move around.

[@Intrepid17011]

A VR Treadmill would be pretty awesome imho. Since "walking" in VR Games is utter stupid, i hate that you have to point where you wanna be "teleported". Its gamebreaking and unimmersive. And that your Hand flloats around in your VIEW is also quite weird. VR is still a tech in its infancy and at this point not really worth it. And for people complaining about a treadmill, just make it an Option. Like you can switch between Mouse, Keyboard and Gamepad. Easy as that.

[@ricksaburai]

@Stellvia Hoenheim yes, a "failed concept" that's going through exponential growth. VR is an experience worth having, you don't have to like it, but you do have to recognize its potential. If you just wanna melt on your chair, go ahead. Actually, lots of VRs allow you to do just that. Either movies, or interactive novels, or just games that you can play sitting down. Don't be so quick to bash on it.

[@roddydykes7053]

Yeah I always knew a new half-life wasn’t actually shelved indefinitely, there just simply wasn’t a way to innovate to the same degree after Half-Life 2, because even though it was released back in 2004, FPSs have seriously stagnated for a very long time, and the only solution was a new interface all-together.

[@bachpham6862]

The most recent innovative fps must have been Doom, and even it was 2016 and was more of a "re-innovation" of 90s retro shooter. There is also Cyperpunk to look out for, but agree that after HL2 laying foundation for almost all future fps, the industry has grown stale.

[@iamrocketray]

Agreed! most of the innovation has been in improved graphics and HL2 was one of the 1st games where you needed to be online, That and Steam only was an offput for me in the beginning. Cannot imagine anything different now LOL.

[@xXYannuschXx]

@@bachpham6862 Aggreed. Doom and Wolfenstein simply went back to the roots, which kinda shows that classic FPS mechanics are basically at the end of their evolution already. Valve could have made a classic HL, but they wanted something more, something to innovate and VR gave them the possabilities.

[@feanorkiu]

My thoughts are that they originally wanted HL3 in VR. Although, not being stupid, they know that would enrage their fanbase. I'm guessing that they're testing the waters with Alyx, and if its successful, we'll see Gordan Freeman in VR in the future.

[@bluewuppo]

Im just curious what the elusive halflife 4 will be like.

[@wesdavis8797]

Without even watching, Half Life: Alyx is in VR because they're trying to take VR to the next level, designing a game made specifically for VR, in order to push VR further in the mainstream. They've said all this.

[@FightStreeting]

Yeah that's what the video said. This wasn't a test you didn't need to predict what was going to be said, haha

[@Ethorbit]

I love how the video instantly gets to the point, I wish all videos started like that.

[@underflip2]

Im playing gta5 in VR right now and I'm noticing things I never noticed before when playing on a TV. I feel the urge to explore more and I'm constantly getting away from the main objective because I saw something interesting. This is VRs greatest strength and why I prefer it so much over regular gaming. I love being inside these worlds and getting totally immersed in them.

[@laartwork]

Playing Resident Evil 7 in VR and Flat the difference is how slowly I move in VR. Peek around corners and holy crap it's so much scarier.

[@wendygo7962]

It's cool to see that Valve understands how important it is to only project player limbs which are actually tracked. But the bar is pretty high for Valve so I sort of expected it

[@kaseycombs6968]

As someone who has been following VR for a while, despite having little to no experience, I cannot tell you how fitting it is that Half-Life is revolutionizing the medium. The franchise is always about innovation; first pc gaming, and now VR.

[@crodojoe]

Well there is more than that then just pcgaming then vr but i get your point

[@kaseycombs6968]

Crodojoe I’m talking about the platforms Half-Life helped define gaming in.

[@FaceFirst]

I am so hyped. It was so fun to walk in the two environments! I spent like 3hrs just looking at russels base

[@jesuschrist194]

You're awesome my man, never stop producing

[@garnati355]

"Watching a movie in a radio" This guy is an absolute legend

[@Oqwert]

I still wish I could play it with mouse and keyboard, it's been so long waiting for a new HL game :(

[@feanorkiu]

I doubt it'd be enjoyable on mouse and keyboard to be honest. At the very least, there are much better M+K games on the market then this game would be, if ported out of VR.

[@laartwork]

Mouse and Keyboard is not very immersive.

[@ogremair803]

It will just another single player game at this point, not like the first time you played HL2.

[@solaris5303]

A flatscreen port/mod of this game would suck, there's a huge difference between VR game design and flatscreen game design.

[@nono7117]

Juicy hopefully if half life 3 ever gets made, it’s in both

[@maximthemagnificent]

I am reminded of the difficulty I had explaining why Tivo was such a good idea many years ago. I finally just started loaning my friends mine, and then they got it.

[@laartwork]

Yes it's a "gotta live with it" experience.

[@aomregcik]

I'm still really excited to see a visible arms mod, I think it could be done really well and its a nice option

[@ManiakPL22]

Half-life 1 - set a standard for early FPS games. Half-life 2 - set a standard for story-driven games. Half-life Alyx (3) - set a standard for VR games. in my opinion this is what half-life was and should be about, next to everything else.

[@peterjohnson1379]

Setting a standard for physics in games

[@myhops]

HL2 was innovation of their physics engine. Half life 1 didn't technically have physics.

[@accountdisbanded]

@@myhops but they did set some standards for early FPS games, and it's still a masterpiece for its own time

[@Zakru]

As a casual game programmer, I think this all is amazing. I hope this inspires people to create great stuff, including open source libraries for creating industry standard experiences.

[@Zakru]

@Shallex For sure, but I mean really high level stuff, like for the realistic hands

[@SvetlinDimitrov]

Nice video, very informative and highlighting the important pieces.

[@Xezian]

When you mentioned people with only one hand they reminded me of a dude who plugged his synth into his bionic arm and was able to control it with his mind, can’t wait to see someone do this with vr and control their in game hand with their mind

[@RatchetnessOldie]

Man I’m excited!

[@ashrafhaider598]

Yo 2 likes lmaooo

[@bgr341]

Lol

[@Augustborne]

I’m glad they’ll be implementing continuous locomotion for HL:A. I understand how it can easily induce motion sickness for some people but after playing boneworks long enough I view teleportation as an inferior form of movement.

[@BROKINVR]

You’re killin the info on Half Life Alyx! Love the vids keeps it up!! Let’s VR together!

[@xprexuu4752]

I can't wait for dem speedruns!

[@kynes9999]

Can't wait to pla... watch this on stream coz im too poor for vr experience :V

[@davidstan2987]

Nah i'd rather watch a let's play

[@henryfleischer404]

I have a headset but my computer can't run it :/

[@apyr1439]

Maybe you should look for a windows mixed reality, the system requirements are lower than any other headset, and its cheaper

[@holidayspirit-]

@Non-Existent Maybe because it's only half life Alyx he can't run?

[@cozmics1191]

@Non-Existent maybe he got a oculus quest

[@sernoddicusthegallant6986]

"People arent willing to try out VR for a single game - even if it is the best game ever" *Shows player fondling a dead synth in boneworks* Sounds about right

[@flakey414]

It's so weird to be this excited for a game i'm not even going to play... i can't wait for more videos on this!

[@jay-1172]

Looking forward to play this on launch

[@Crimsonterminator100]

What I think would be interesting is the final line was "Dr. Freeman I presume?"

[@DeadGuyOnTheBus]

Sadly I don't think you play 5 years worth of time in this game, as the game does take place 5 years before the events of Half-Life 2. And 2 years after Alyx and Eli arrive in City 17

[@GTAVREALISM]

This game not only looks amazing, it also looks very optimized, in some areas you can see the cutbacks done to stop frame time spikes, like the explosions being very basic without much volume to them, but this is fine with me, and it's one of the only areas where you can really notice a compromise for VR, it seems to run rock steady though. In totality this is easily one of, if not the best looking VR exclusive I've seen to date, lighting and level detail are very nice, characters look great, it's definitely an experience that VR as a platform hasn't received until this game, maybe some VR exclusives look as good, but none of them offer a full AAA story and a game that progresses and changes much, most high end VR games tend to remind me of mobile games, in that they use few highly detailed assets for player models or often seen closer meshes repeatedly throughout an entire level, with mostly low detail textures on slightly further away models and terrain, trying to trick the brain into thinking it looks good, in reality it's just very repetitive, HL: Alyx avoids this with extremely varied levels. I'm guessing if you own anything from a WMR headset, to an Oculus, or a Vive, this is the game that will make that purchase feel more than ever like a good investment, I'm also thinking if you are running anything over an RX 580 you'll have no issue playing this with details maxed at max resolution per eye.

[@1080pAdrenalinGaming]

Really enjoying all of this Alyx content, philip - any plans for some spoiler-free gameplay videos once it comes out? I'm going to get the game but with all of my uni work, I won't be playing it until the summer.

[@gopherchucksgamingnstuff2263]

Fantastic article, I agree that teleportation is fluid once you are in there, I use both at the same time in RAW DATA.

[@Alumx]

dude I can't wait to get my hands on this I spent my childhood playing HL, HL2 and Garrys mod

[@Husk-E23]

Cant wait til we get a mod of HL:A that makes it essentially gmod. That will be the best game on vr.

[@TasteTheRainbow346]

Cool to see you here Alumx I still crack up at your oh no vid

[@komazomecanet4991]

I dont think they have chosen VR for half life, it is more like they chose half life for VR.

[@Zero001LP]

Well, it was pretty much their only choice. No other IP would work.

[@knyt0]

@@Zero001LP i would have loved portal in vr too though, since i dont get motion sick

[@Sambhaid]

^ Volvos been passionate about VR for long time, HL is just best for selling it to players

[@Isaax]

@@Zero001LP Left 4 Dead

[@Zero001LP]

@@Isaax It could work, but it's mostly a shoot-em-up. But HL has a lot of elements that work amazingly in VR.

[@Fesiug]

Still loving the Alyx videos. Keep it up!

[@henry67278]

I would still like to know if there is going to be preloading as my internet is garbage.

[@RussianLearnsYou]

I can already see how speedrunners will be wearing one of the controllers on their feet just to have a longer reach

[@knyt0]

oh no, or even better, -selfie- controller sticks

[@Vezmus1337]

When you try to speedrun HL:A and accidentally break your neck

[@DaedricNZ]

I'm super happy with what Valve is doing. They really seem to be doing this for the greater good of gaming, to push the envelope and encourage others to do the same. I wouldn't be surprised if 10 years from now VR is the new standard for gaming, and that we'll all be looking back to this game as that one giant leap for mankind.

[@bronks1200]

this is so true i've been playing VR for 3 yrs now started with Vive,and now index, and when i put my friends in the headset, its nice to see how most just waste time interacting with everything without even focusing on the main mission. everything the developer made they want to mess with even just the walls.

[@MuppeSixtyFour]

Thanks for a well thought out assesment of this next "Great Leap Forward" (to quote Billy Bragg). As a 40+ years veteran of gaming, I'm really taken back to when the early machines were really actual machines (The Red Baron, end of Weston Super Mare pier c. mid 70's, then every phase of the consoles and computers since.), and it's great to be still part of this next chapter. It should be mentioned that Valve are making the game free to anyone buying their Index headset or controllers, which was a very pleasant surprise when I bought mine, as I only found out when I immediately went to pre-order the game. ;-)

[@xXYannuschXx]

Back when the first 3D games started requiring a dedicated 3D graphics card people called it an expensive gimmick. Back when the first FPS games started requiring a mouse, people called it an expensive gimmick. And now that the first AAA titles start requiring a VR system, people call it an expensive gimmick. I think I start to see a pattern here, the funny part is: a modern mid-grade VR headset is already cheaper than a graphics card or mouse back in the day; yet people complain about it, while having a 500-1000$ smartphone that they only use for WhatsApp and surfing the web.

[@disappointedcucumber]

Were mouses really that expensive? EDIT: First commercial mouse was the apple mouse which cost $195. $300 with inflation.

[@xXYannuschXx]

@@disappointedcucumber The first computer mice - that were soldm for "modern" PCs - cost about 300$ during the time that they started getting required by FPS games (The game "Marathon" 1994 was the first game to feature free look / mouselook as we know it today). With inflation, that's about 500$ in modern money!

[@TheDragonfriday]

@@disappointedcucumber um was the money difference was you know different?

[@disappointedcucumber]

@@xXYannuschXx What computer mouse are you talking about? The first commercially available one cost $195 which with inflation would cost $300. Still a lot of money and I get your point just don't understand where you're getting these numbers from.

[@disappointedcucumber]

@@TheDragonfriday bruh

[@JohnBread69]

When browsing the comment section, always remember to identify what comments are bait and which ones want serious discussion.

[@DeadGuyOnTheBus]

Never. I will waste my time replying to all the stupid b8 I want. I inject Headcrabs INTO MY VEINS

[@Official__RILO]

bait

[@wta1518]

@@DeadGuyOnTheBus OK Grigori.

[@deagin3830]

I got my valve index preorder in :) I'll be joining you in half life soon!!

[@ghostjohnson3839]

One thing I would like to point out, is that if you compare the HL Alyx minimum requirements with the hardware surveys that steam conducts, you can find that those minimum requirements do line up with what's popular among steam users. So if you have an average PC (by steam's standards at least) you will most likely be able to run this game with a smooth experience (aiming for 90+ fps for less motion sickness) after a few tweaks in the options menu. Valve used the data they get from users for making HL Alyx, and by extension VR (assuming you have or are buying a headset), more accessible for a good portion of their userbase, who won't need to upgrade their PC just yet.

[@thedrunkduckling2010]

The only question I'm asking is "will I be able to vibe check a combine at the speed of sound with a crowbar ?"

[@masterjak0137]

TheDrunkDuckling no you will not

[@jack_kassell]

@@masterjak0137 True, you've got Boneworks for that.

[@togashi8287]

Half Life Alyx coming out Kliksphilip: *It's free real estate.*

[@MetaPlay23]

I love your videos currently not gonna lie. The hype for HL Alyx is making me consume your videos about it like a maniac lol

[@GoodNight0wl]

I'm totally for pushing the VR market, and we need more games like this to help that happen. I don't think Half Life will be enough. But I firmly hold to the belief that the goal of Half Life: Alyx is to push the market to VR. I can't remember word for word, but during a Q&A Gabe was asked about the growth of VR, and he said something along the lines of "We need to put something out there". The nature of the question that I can't recall was related to a lack of growth in VR. Keep in mind this was a while ago. VR has grown since then, but It was like 4 or 5 years ago (?) that this Q&A happened. This has been a goal for a while.

[@Zero001LP]

Alyx and the few other recent games are the first games that will push it in the right way. Then others will make more games.

[@bunnyfreakz]

VR always been revolutionary. The problem is no flagship worth enough for platform and Half Life Alyx solve that.

[@Reloaded2111]

Does it?

[@EEEEEE1337]

I think Boneworks already took my "Whoooa! VR!"-hype If, I just could go back in time, stopping me watching all this VR videos! Damn.. Also, I can remember buying the newest Xbox just for Halo 3, so buying VR just for this one game is not stupid as you might think, this One-trick entertainment-station, every generation has there own. And in a few years, just like me with my Xbox, when VR is the new official input for gaming: you will hopefully smile, when remembering back on: how you bought your first VR-system.

[@AA-gl1dr]

Ebelel I too bought the 360 for Halo 3 and have absolutely no shame in buying VR for the newest half life game. The game library will grow and we’re about to get some phenomenal games.

[@feanorkiu]

I like Boneworks, but it feels more like a tech demo. The Forest is a better VR game IMO. Alyx will probably blow me out of the water.

[@williamsmith6921]

yeah I don't understand why paying 250-400 for the low-mid end headsets seems so crazy when you pay 400 dollars to buy a new console, or even more to update your gfx card to play the newest games

[@minesonic8101]

Kek

[@perumames225]

All of the movements in half life Alyx look so human and natural and I LOVE IT

[@dominikjust5802]

Will u do a lets play of this?

[@1fjeflistens]

Congratulations on the recent increase in channel traffic. Your excellent Half Life content is well deserving.

[@redhotbbqfries4L]

you are MILKING this my dude LOL

[@silviuapostol707]

I wish we'll get a vehicle chapter, it would be amazing in VR.

[@JCglitchmaster]

can't wait to play this in 10 years

[@joonglegamer9898]

I bought Htc Vive ca. 4 years ago, the first few months where absolutely amazing, since then I used in only here and there for some simple Unity builds, and checking out a few game concepts. The biggest issue for me was that the new games that flooded the market over the last few years, where essentially "unity made" kit-games, that felt and looked exactly the same, often simple 1-man-studio games that you with a little coding experience, could easily make yourself with all the tools available to you. The problem was the same, floaty, jittery, clumsy repetitive movement with little advancement in the potential of the technology, so to me it quickly got boring, It's safe to say my VR has been collecting dust the last 2 years or so, hopefully Alyx will change that, and any games that follows it after that. The Lab was solid, it was well coded, unlike the 1000+ games you'd find for VR in the store. I missed that solid immersion it gave us, for example the little Arcade game xortex 26xx was easily the best VR experience out there. Fallout VR 4 was interesting because it brought us into a real AAA title game, but the controls with Pip Boy was slow, cumbersome and downright annoying at times. We had to go into an interface that was essentially made for keyboard players, fiddling around with our "VR" finger to browse menues, it felt horrible and time consuming while bullets where flying past our ears.

[@Freezorgium]

Did you try Boneworks?

[@Zero001LP]

The games were pretty meh 4 years ago. Nowadays, there are many more better VR games.

[@joonglegamer9898]

@@Zero001LP The games where pretty MEH 2 years ago too, not much has changed, the coders just aren't good enough, still dangly "wobbly" controllers with no movement smoothing or solid "anti shake", like they coded properly in the Lab and a few other games, they're simply not good enough, not even today, sorry mate - I just don't see it yet. Alyx looks very promising though. Beat saber and other games can be fun, if you're into that stuff etc. But it's not for me.

[@MythicTF2]

@@joonglegamer9898 I share the exact same sentiment with my rift CV1. I played it a bunch at first but it got quickly boring because everything just felt like a glorified arcade game or was just bland. Don't get me wrong though games like Gorn or H3VR are amazing and are worth VR alone if that's your type of thing, but a game like Boneworks or HL:A is definitely what the industry needs to get gamers into VR. Boneworks is tons of fun and I 100% recommend it to everyone who wants to play VR(I ended up hurting myself quite a few times because of my small play space though, so try to be aware of that).

[@rossmclaughlin7158]

Vr is awesome hopefully gets bigger

[@willhart2188]

This was a good explanation. Thank you.

[@mog2182]

I'm gonna play Alyx a couple times with each locomotion setting. Can't wait.

[@grant3226]

At first I was against Half Life in VR however after that interview it makes sense... now to buy a VR set up...

[@Miguel-yh7le]

Grant Good on you for having a n open mind and not like some other people in this comment section

[@DeadGuyOnTheBus]

Welcome to the club, sir.

[@RusZugunder]

0:43 Their response is ok, but makes it sound like players can switch to VR just like that. Like everybody has VR set lying beside their mouse+keyboard set.

[@CatholicShrimp]

Can't wait to play this.

[@RainbowSlinky5]

the art direction of the game is really good

[@TheOnePistol]

Innovation, that's all you need to know. Valve is all about it and VR is still early and has so much more to offer.

[@IdleRain]

One innovative game every 15 years; yes that's stretching the praise a bit

[@TheOnePistol]

@@IdleRain I know, my point is that given their track record Valve wouldn't settle for something mediocre or same old same old no matter how big the gap of time is.

[@TheOnePistol]

@LEELe It will be a very short and boring game with Keyboard and Mouse. As someone who played and beat Alyx, I can confidently make that claim.

[@holidayspirit-]

Wow! I can't wait to wait 12 years for this industry to expand so I can afford a VR headset when the industry starts to expand and gets accepted by the general public!

[@radiant3329]

2:30 is so cool, this is why VR for Half-Life is very exciting

[@carpet163]

After this game I feel there will be way more VR games like it. Valve is such a trend setter with its games same as Rockstar where every game they make other games have elements from it that they either make it different or expand on that element. Can't wait for the future of VR.

[@Mxrris]

I will play with Smooth locomotion only, thankfully i'm not affected by Motion sickness at all.. I always hated games with Teleport only in VR.

[@jacobshirley3457]

I don't think I've ever been motion sick in my life.

[@Sloppy_McFloppy]

Can't wait for the Half-Life Alyx "Garrys Mod" equivalent!

[@DarkPeter]

Holy fuck literal demigod feels while playing it

[@crodojoe]

Gmod already has vr tho

[@Sloppy_McFloppy]

Gmod has a shitty VR mod. I am talking about a "garrysmod" built off of HL:A for source 2; which is made for VR.

[@gewiotevan]

Interesting video Phillip. I'm very interested how different people play the game and how they react to scenarios in game. I'm expecting stereotypes to come out of this, etc the burly guy likes to use items to smash it into the Combine's faces, etc. And of course the speedrunners. Oh god the speedrunners. Hope they have a 'real world cam' to see the absurdity of it. Edit: 9.3.20 - Updated localization files

[@vanlyman2317]

Very excited even just to try

[@rusted2084]

Now i wonder just how desinc would be at breaking the game.

[@elektra81516]

Half life innovated first person shooters with storytelling Half life 2 innovates first person shooters with physics Half life Alyx innovates with unprecedented interaction Those who complain that this is VR only don't know Valve and what they do. They innovative.

[@Manie230]

Louis Greenland which is one reason why half life three never happened. There was nothing to innovate. If this game is as good as it looks like many people may expect future games to be as similar to half life alyx as possible.

[@elektra81516]

@@Manie230 we are just beginning to innovate for games, there is so much more that can be done with it. VR is just the next big step.

[@ChisponGroxo]

​@@Manie230 Nah, all people wanted is to know what happens next on the HL story, HL2EP2 story was left so open.

[@thatpixelpainter8082]

4:22 I lost my mind XD that's too good of a feature

[@dirtdultra7369]

i have finished the game in two days. It is literally the best game i have ever played (AND I MEAN EVER). the feel of the game is just marvelous. i used teleporting, but i don't think it is cheating because of the combine's firepower.

[@mateusmeneghini3528]

when i was a kid, when playing a game, i always thought why i couldn't do some things, like, i was in a house and needed to get out, why couldn't i just remove the planks from the window, and just go through, or open the lockers, in VR developers can make a game that has way more possibilitys for both teh casual players, AND, the ones that have played HL and other games most of their lifes, maybe it will be even more difficult for the ones that go in with a understanding of games, because it opens so many possiblitys that they don't even of doing because in other games they can't, so why would they do in this one? for the new player, everything is new, they don't know what is right or wrong, htey will experiment new things, and be more imaginative than the "gamer", i think that with HL Alyx, everyone will be on the same level of understanding and difficulty. this is going to be quite a game!

[@GraveUypo]

you should play breath of the wild. that game is the impersonation of your wishes. and that's the reason why casual and new players enjoy it more than any other AAA title. if you think of a solution to something, it's doable. the game nudges you towards a direction but there's absolutely nothing keeping you from doing things your own way.

[@mateusmeneghini3528]

@@GraveUypo no switch unfortunately, it's too much expensive here in Brazil.

[@Chris5685]

It’s fokken awesome from what I can tell, but I can’t pay for a power plant to run it :(

[@mackandelius]

VR doesn't require a power plant. While a gaming pc might be expensive where you are, the minimum specs are nearing the lowest you can get with a new graphics card.

[@mis4vr877]

@@mackandelius I'm guessing you need to dish out at least 60fps at 1440p for a smooth VR experience? Never had the opportunity to try VR tho, and my PC can only dream of 1440p even on games from like 2015, so for me to play Alyx I would have to pay first $800 for a PC and then at least $500 for a VR set so that I could play properly. It ain't gonna happen

[@mackandelius]

​@@mis4vr877 it is 90fps and kinda 2 * 1440p. It is still just something gaming enthusiasts buy, but for an enthusiast thing it is cheap.

[@mis4vr877]

@@mackandelius for enthusiasts yes, for everyday folk, not so much. It does require a beefy GPU

[@mackandelius]

@@mis4vr877 The only headset right now for normal people is the quest/go. The only type of headset that could have a chance of going mainstream is a standalone headset. And while it might still be expensive a 200€ gpu is all you would need right now. 200€ is nothing compared to actually beefy gpu's which go upwards of 1000.

[@LazarusWilhelm]

the Nintendo Wii was really ahead of its time, controller tracking is the future of gaming

[@Ikaros473]

Honestly having a big name like this exclusive for VR is a BIG step for the VR industry . My hope is this will become a trend and in a few years VR will just be another console that millions of people enjoy everyday

[@MrHogGamer]

I loved Half-Life 2, but looks like I won't be getting this as VR isn't my thing.

[@Truces_Rj]

Sounds like you haven't try VR

[@FalbereChan]

i always get really baffled at people who never had experienced a VR headset and callout teleportation and no limbs as "lazy". They're comfort features and there're really good reasons VR games are built like this. You think it is hard to implement just moving a person with a joystick? The real hard problem is getting the player to move in VR without making them feel like their body is going to lean back like a really bad reverse rollercoaster ride.

[@deathbravo9926]

You here? Btw, I luv your Initial D videos dude!

[@slothfulfool5917]

Another problem is that Vr is too expensive as it is now. There is no reason for it to almost cost as much as a gaming pc, I'm looking at you valve index.

[@pjgppjgp]

Drexils get a rift s and problem solved

[@SirDankington]

@@slothfulfool5917 Where the hell do you live where a vive or occulus costs as much as a gaming pc?

[@ZALYVES]

Well if only they know how valve playtests their games in development like crazy and they would have never bothered to question those decisions. Valve devs are like actual mad scientists on the gaming industry when it comes to playtesting over and over.

[@zwerne42]

9:25 About normal computer controls... I had a great time on Jurassic Park Trespasser a couple years ago even with the limitations of a keyboard and mouse input for an interactive world with physics. Having played normal fps games to boredom, it was refreshingly fun to be in a game where your hands are not glued to the direction you are looking at. The most impressive part is that they did it in 1998.

[@ahawdjkmwodjikma6543]

VR is the simplest way to make a game, but it ironically isn't as simple to produce the hardware for it. In most games, people who aren't used to playing games can struggle with a lot of things since they're not used to needing complex timing and button presses to perform simple actions. With VR, it's less limiting on the more casual players since they can visually see what they can or can't do from the POV of the character. If their hands can reach it, they can just grab it instead of remember the button to pick it up. If they want to move somewhere, they have an option to just teleport there if it's possible for the character, which should be easier for a lot of new gamers. Valve is doing a good thing by making HL:A. VR will become more mainstream and therefore become cheaper to produce over time, meaning it'll become as common as owning an Xbox or Playstation. VR is basically the ultimate way to make a game (as of now). Your only limit on actions is what the developers allow you to interact with, not how many buttons you can press.

[@skeiter7]

To promote vr and push vr games development.

[@IAMSTRINDOM]

in an older interview, robin walker even said that when they started development they weren't sure if it was gonna be a portal or HL game they just wanted a big game to sell the headset they started manufacturing last year, idk why people are so starry-eyed about valve cashing in nostalgia to sell a toy (im sure the game itself is top quality, but this pretentious talk about how its *the next, transcendent level of gaming* when theyre swingin around a graduated Wiimote is fucking embarrassing)

[@itwontcomeout5678]

I sell propane and propane accessories.

[@Nikotheleepic]

@@IAMSTRINDOM thats because you are a myopic idiot. What makes VR a toy compared to normal games anyway, as if they don't all have that same quality. This fundamentally changes how you interact with the environment and your immersion within it.

[@hypsin0]

You could explore VR 360° yourself! Just imagine: "How Will He Die? Episode 43: Death Is All Around You!"

[@PerfectlyNormalBeast]

Watching that gravity glove footage: if done right, you would really feel like a force user

[@melonman7732]

5:01 *smiles devilishly*