FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

   NOTICE: This FAQ is under-construction.

[1] General

    What is Half-Life 2?

    Who is developing Half-Life 2?

    Who is publishing Half-Life 2?

    What platforms will Half-Life 2 be ported on, Windows, Linux, Mac OS, Xbox, Playstation 2, Game Cube etc?

    When are we going to get to play!??!?!?

    When will a demo be released???

    What about system requirements?!?!?

    And the Half-Life 2 SDK?

[2] Single Player

    What is single player like?

[3] Multiplayer

    What is multiplayer like?
    What game modes are there?

[4] Steam

    Do I need Steam in order to play Half-Life 2?

[5] Modifications

      Will there be any modification support for Half-Life 2?

[6] Expansion Packs

      Are there any Half-Life 2 expansion packs planned?

[7] Information about this FAQ

    Who wrote this FAQ?
    What can we do with this FAQ (distribution wise)?
    When was this FAQ last updated?

[1] General

    What is Half-Life 2?

   Half-Life 2 is the sequel to the critically aclaimed GOTY Sci-Fi realistic FPS released in 1998 named Half-Life, of course. Half-Life 2 is a rather evolutionary game in general compared to it's prelude, which is decent to say the least.

    Who developed Half-Life 2?

   VALVe Software of course, since they are the developer of all Half-Life games in the series.

    Who published Half-Life 2?

   Vivendi Universal and Sierra Studios published Half-Life 2.

    What platforms will Half-Life 2 be ported on, Windows, Linux, Mac OS, Xbox, Playstation 2, Game Cube etc?

   Half-Life 2 will be a Windows and Xbox only game as far as we know.

    When are we going to get to play!??!?!?

   It's out! And as for the Xbox Version Port which just recently went gold, November 15th, 2005. The Xbox 360 version is to be unbounded and dislodged within no stated immediate timepriod, a very loose timeframe and the such... though Q2 2007, to be clear on this matter. Not to be in question, whether we can chalk it up to whatever, stemmming from given facts.

    When will a demo be released???

   It's out now! Weighing at 751.2MB and requiring Steam installed as well as a Steam account, but otherwise retaining the same requirements as the full HL2 game itself, taking you through some of the early transport levels of the game as well as Ravenholm, you can download it here.

    What about system requirements?!?!?

   Heh, one of the good things about Half-Life 2's Source Engine is that its scalable from a 3ghz/DX9 card system to a 1ghz/DX7 card system, so Half-Life 2 should work fine with balanced configured settings on most modern machines. For more known information on system requirements, please visit the system requirements section of this site. To find more info on the Source Engine, please visit and read/view our Source Engine preview and and the Game Engine feature list sections of this site.

    And the Half-Life 2 SDK?

   The Half-Life 2 SDK (Software Developement's Kit) is available, you can download it over Steam.

[2] Single Player

    What is single player like?

   Single Player is similiar to the original Half-Life, just you'll be fighting a lot more at outdoors, and realism and flexibility of you're environment will be extended and expanded to a much more realistic and greater degree, and also expect vehicle based combat as an option this time around.

[3] Multiplayer

    What is multiplayer like?

   For Half-Life 2 multiplayer, VALVe Software has decided to combine the power of the Source Engine's flexible: complex shaders technology, havok ragdoll realistic physics engine, advanced lifelike A.I support, and Direct3D surround sound high fidelity audio engine with the popular Terrorist VS Counter Terrorist online Half-Life multiplayer game known as Counter-Strike, and the popular team based online game known as Team Fortress, and the original Half-Life deathmatch multiplayer for Half-Life 2 multiplayer! Update: They've now released an offiical HL2 DM add-on.

    What game modes are there?

   The multiplayer modes included are: Hostage Rescue, Bomb / Defuse, Escape, Assasination, Deathmatch, Teamdeathmatch, Capture the Flag, and etc. Plus Team Deathmatch (Citizens VS Combine) and Deathmatch based modes in the recently released HL2 DM add-on.  

[4] Steam

    Do I need Steam in order to play Half-Life 2?

   Yes, you can pre-load Half-Life 2 via steam and you can purchase it through Steam and start playing right away, or you can purchase the game itself at your local electronics gaming store, but since Half-Life 2 is dependant and has been designed to work with Steam, you'll need Steam in order to evaluate your CD key and play it, it's now officially the new system interface of getting to use your games, completely replacing WON NET as it's officially dead now. For those who still can't get Steam running well and had WON NET running great, bad for them. For those who have Steam working great compared to WON NET, good for them, apparently.

[5] Modifications

    Will there be any modification support for Half-Life 2?

   Yes, a free out of the box Soft Image | XSI Modeling Editor and Valve Hammer Level Editor, which ships seperately from HL2 but is downloadable for free. The games ships with the Source SDK, which features a much easier to use than the original World Craft Editor "Hammer Editor" and a Model Viewer. The HL2 Game SDK itself has just recently been released, so modders can get to work!.  

    Are there any Half-Life 2 expansion packs planned?

   Yes, Half-Life 2: Aftermath was just recently announced by VALVe Software (yep, they're developing it), which is currently in development. For more information regarding Half-Life 2: Aftermath, please check out our Half-Life 2: Aftermath FAQ page.