PocketMatrix

I was looking around planethalflife.com and I discovered . It is basically the HalfLife client for free. From what I figure, since it was developed by Valve, Valve is making the source free or almost free. Although HL uses a vastly different and sophisticated graphics system than our PPCs, with the release of the 1910s, 5540s, and 2215s, it is obvious that PPCs are being advanced at a phenomenal rate. We are getting more memory, faster processors, and advanced software development. The main problem I see, besides the developmental problems with the HalfLife engine, is storage space. Since SD / CF cards are getting larger and cheaper, and microdrives are becoming more and more popular, soon (or maybe now) we may be able to place the HalLfe system on our pocket PCs. However, since much of that space (min 400 mb, if I remember correctly) is in high res textures and mods, I think that if we are able to tone it down to a PPCs size (lower res textures, simpler detail, etc. since the common PPC screen is half as large as HL's lowest res), we might be able to fit it on a far more common 256 mb SD / CF card. This could be a new cornerstone in PPC gaming and PPCs in general, as this is for (approx) the sixth year running the most popular online game ever. My current PPC (a 3835) is more powerful than my old P2 which I used to run HalfLife on perfectly.

Now, I have seen the HL porting thread with the satirical name in the PocketQuake forum. I think, though, that many of those problems pointed out there can be addressed since PPCs are moving along at an unprecedented rate. As an avid PPC gamer, I urge talented developers to think about this, or at least remember this for future consideration.

If you think I should post this somewhere else, just point me to it and I will. Thanks for your time,

~Neszis~

Hmm....could have sworn I had areg here a year or two ago...that's odd. Well, now I'm a member...again .

Yes, I do realize that PPCs are still struggling, and that's why I implied that the time is not now for an HL port. However, every time someone says we are at the height of perfection something better comes along. I'm saying that the Steam system is another step. We now virtually have licensing for the HL engine. Soon enough (my guess is in a year or two) Pocket PCs will be at a stage advanced enough to run such programs as Half Life, or more. THe main problem, as I said, is in the development of the port itself (since the graphics are far more advanced than PPCs are currently prepared for). I believe that we can take this step by step and actually come up with an HL port, albeit on a very long timescale by comparison to some games. The time is not now, but relatively soon.

~Neszis~

Neszis is right. They are planning on putting 3D cards in smartphones/PDA's in the near future, as early as 2004, according to some articles. Just be paitent; years go by fast. Before you know it, it will be 2010, just watch. The past few years have seemed shorter and shorter. I guess as you get older, years go by faster.

Like James said, I wouldn't really want Half-life on my PDA. It would be the same thrill as playing it on my desktop. I have already beaten the game, and I would rather want a brand new game made. Furthermore, I am very happy with the games out now, so I have nothing to complain about.

They've been saying that for, well, several years now.

Unless Dan has some insider info, I've been hearing claims of mobile 3D accelerators for a while, I'll believe it when I see it.

You have to admit that it's gotta happen sometime.

~Neszis~