Why Half-Life Alyx is in VR

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.

[poopsanchez]

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.

[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.

[-yn]

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

[justanotherlolilover]

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.

[nzoththecorruptor]

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

[philderkomischetyp]

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

[oxi]

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

[riskia]

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

[flippy]

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!

[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.

[johndexterzarate]

....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.

[kat.]

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

[Covidcola]

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

[underflip]

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.

[roddydykes]

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.

[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.

[wesdavis]

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.

[omegasynth]

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

[wendygo]

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

[ManiakPL]

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.