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Valve's learning sign language for Half-Life 2: Episode 3 photo

Valve's Gabe Newell has been moving his hands around in very fast, repetitive motions in a room full of people. By that, I of course mean that he's been practicing sign language, and is looking at how to implement it in videogames, most notably Half-Life 2: Episode 3.

Why is Gabe doing this? First of all, it's a bid to develop and improve animation in videogames. Secondly, it fits in with Half-Life heroine Alyx Vance's backstory. She knows sign language, and Valve wants her to pull it off convincingly. 

"[Alyx] had a crush on someone who was hearing impaired, so she taught Dog how to sign so she could practice," explains Newell. "Something happened, maybe, the person is off fighting the Combine someplace else, but that's why she and Dog would start signing with each other when they wanted to communicate without making noise, or communicate without other people knowing ... It gave us the excuse to build the technology for signing."

This sounds like it'll be an incredibly ambitious undertaking for Valve's animators, especually given the nuances of sign language. It would be a very positive step forward for videogames, with potentially far-reaching implications, so I hope they pull it off. Check out a video of Gabe in action here. Video credit and image belongs to Samuel Sandoval.








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Jim Sterling serves as reviews editor for Destructoid.com, head of the Podtoid podcast, and produces a number of news stories, original features, one-of-a-kind videos. With his passionate argumentative style, controversial opinions, harsh delivery, and dedication to brutal honesty Sterling is a name that you can't help but recognize. Likes PS2, iPod Touch, Silent Hill 2, Metal Gear Solid, Dynasty Warriors 3 Meet the rest of the team



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44 comments | showing # 1 to 44
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MaSQuEdePuSTA's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2009 20:34
MaSQuEdePuSTA
I get it, if Freeman doesn't talk: it's just because VALVe's hasn't yet got the proper technology to render the sound as it would've been heard inside the scientists thick cranium.
And here you were, thinking that he stayed silent just because it helps the player get immersed in the game.
wanderingpixel's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2009 20:36
wanderingpixel
SO THATS IT! Gordan Freeman has been using sign language! IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW!
Vedicardi2's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2009 20:40
Vedicardi2
how can his fat fingers move like that?

(JUST IN, HALF LIFE EP 3 DELAYED 2 WEEKS)
bodybreak's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2009 20:42
bodybreak
haha, i like that alot,
Gordon's a mute.
Dan CiTi's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2009 20:48
Dan CiTi
Jim, who photoshopped the donut out of Gabe's hand?
Danl Haas's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2009 20:49
Danl Haas
Meanwhile, at Valve...
Jack8274's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2009 20:57
Jack8274
Hey, and a bonus we get to see a screen with L4D 2 in the back.
Vedicardi2's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2009 20:58
Vedicardi2
well there's full video of it out now (L4D2) so a screen doesn't mean much
Zuriki's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2009 21:02
Zuriki
I see lots of complaints in the future about the game being delayed because they had to cater for that "stupid" deaf community. (Not my person choice of words, but I've heard such a statement made).

But personally I support this no matter the delay (so long as it's within reasonable limits) it certainly shows some nice independent thinking and creativity. Good on Valve!
Rammstein's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2009 21:03
Rammstein
What's with the internet's(or Dtoid's users') obsession with fat jokes? Far too easy imo. Be more creative when you troll.

As for this post. *clears throat*

FUCK YES! HL2: Ep3!

This could also add a tally in the "Games As Art" debate, which is always a plus. Coming from VALVe I am both surprised and not surprised at the same time, as they always put out quality work.
Jack8274's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2009 21:10
Jack8274
@Rammstein

It's more poking fun at Gabe's 2 week delay he says will be put on EP3 at every fat joke directed towards him
ikiryou's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2009 21:32
ikiryou
I'm sure Valve is more than familiar with one particular bit of sign language. Hint: it's not "I love you" but it does rhyme with "duck fu".
CocoJambo's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2009 21:39
CocoJambo
Hahahaha, dear god, why did I laugh so much at the last two posts (salesnjhongjucn's posts).


Anyway, for some reason this new hyped me way more than it should.
CRAZYAPE69's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2009 21:40
CRAZYAPE69
see this is why i love Valve, always pushing forward
Tendonin's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2009 21:40
Tendonin
Holy god thats a huge tv!
Cough's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2009 22:07
Cough
With natal you can SIGN LANGUAGE CHARACTERS IN THE GAME! That would be awesome.

Still. I, for one, don't give a flying crap about Alex sign languaging!

Release the fucking game already!
ybfelix's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2009 22:19
ybfelix
Hey! I thought I'm the only Chinese commentor today on Dtoid! Hello there fellow Chinese spam bot! ÄãºÃ! <-that' Ni Hao for you unwashed western heathens ;)
Johnny Justice's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2009 22:35
Johnny Justice
Neato.

Those making links to Gordon aren't reading the article properly.
pascuz46's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2009 23:03
pascuz46
Thats great valve, seems like an interesting element to add into a game but, can you please release Ep 3 very very soon.
ybfelix's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/07/2009 23:57
ybfelix
@brainderailment

I think it's like "she taught Dog how to play chess so she could practice", it make sense doesn't it?
MasterGlitch's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/08/2009 00:43
MasterGlitch
@brainderailment: Signing is just like any other skill. Even if you're very fluent in doing it, you'll become rusty if you don't keep doing it. She was fluent enough to teach Dog to sign, and she did so because she wanted to have a way to use it frequently so she stayed just as fluent.


I do really hope, though, that they implement American Sign Language rather than English Sign Language(also known as Exact English). It does seem that Valve is doing their research among users of ASL, which is good. I just hope that's what they actually use, because it's what the majority of those who are born deaf use to communicate. If Valve is going to do this, they need to do it correctly.
The Decoy 13's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/08/2009 01:12
The Decoy 13
"Hey guys, before we start on half-life 2 episode 3, we're all going to learn sign language and try to animate it!"
Seriously valve, I love you guys, but goddamn you know how to put a game off.
Los255's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/08/2009 01:42
Los255
Half Life 2 Ep:3

2056 confirmed?
Rammstein's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/08/2009 01:46
Rammstein
To all the newbs saying things like;

"Release the fucking game already!"
"but, can you please release Ep 3 very very soon"
"but goddamn you know how to put a game off."

The game will ship when it's fucking ready, it's always funny to hear people bitch about VALVe's release timing, how soon have we forgotten id's delays and don't even get me started on Blizzard.

"It'll be done when it's done," sound familiar? I would rather have a quality game at a slower pace than a horrible rush-job.

When you grow up kids, you gain this little thing called patience. We can't always "have it and have it now!" like when mommy buys things for us.
WarZombie's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/08/2009 02:07
WarZombie
Awesome, great step forward for gaming. This just another one of those things that will make games more accessible to more people, and I'm totally down for that. It would certainly be a push forward for the industry, and that can't hurt. Now, one last thing...

Fucking release Episode 3 already. Please?
Amolloy's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/08/2009 02:08
Amolloy
Good the new came out. I am honestly happy valve is doing this. Couple years back a group of guys made a mod for the deaf for doom3 they got selected for a mod award at the GDC. I was impressed with that and that was just a mod.
exodus1925's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/08/2009 02:18
exodus1925
Go Valve Go!
Chronic Logic's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/08/2009 02:19
Chronic Logic
Gordon is fucked if he comes to a door lock that requires a voice command to open.
King Hippo's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/08/2009 03:45
King Hippo
How is that pushing forward? Even if they don't just mo cap someone signing, isn't programming gestures standard in video game programming?
megamonki's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/08/2009 04:39
megamonki
yay! now I know ep 3 is finally on the way! (and now this means Half Life 3 will be here in maybe 5 years! YAY)
PhazonYoshi's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/08/2009 04:41
PhazonYoshi
@King, signing is really quite complex. Similar to what hl2 did for facial animation, really.
mrsatan's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/08/2009 04:58
mrsatan
Man they better get working on this because standard Half Life 2 engine animation is terrible. I couldn't even imagine doing it was any current tools. This is actually pretty cool and could be really useful for things other then just sign language. It could bring a whole new level of animation in. Let's see it Valve because Source is a pretty terrible engine compared to other stuff right now.
Jack8274's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/08/2009 05:02
Jack8274
@Chronic Logic

FUCKING RETINAL SCANNERS!!!!!!
Darren Nakamura's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/08/2009 06:59
Darren Nakamura
Very cool.
Tubatic's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/08/2009 07:24
Tubatic
This is what your games as art banter hath created! METICULOUS PRODUCTION VALUE!

Put that in your Podtoid and smoke it. In a few years.
Kaspar's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/08/2009 08:13
Kaspar
I just saw "Half-Life 2: Episode 3" in the title and came.

So, uhm, whats going on?
The Decoy 13's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/08/2009 09:05
The Decoy 13
@Rammstein
I've got patience, I understand Valve's way of doing things. But I remember back when they said episodic content would allow games to be produced faster. So far they haven't made well with that promise.

I can wait, but its hard to wait when it looks like their procrastinating.
SSKudu's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/08/2009 09:31
SSKudu
@Rammstein

1) You direct your anger at weird things
2) Usually I'd agree with the basic point you're trying to make, and still do to an extent, but the entire point of episodic gaming is that content is released much more frequently, which is something that Valve have completely failed with. It's been nearly two years since Episode 2 was released, longer than it takes for many full sequels to be made, and this is one of the first bits of news about 3. This is the Duke Nukem Forever of episodic games.
HiddenAHB's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/08/2009 14:55
HiddenAHB
Valve surely love gamers, innovation's like these it's what make them what they are.

PS: Gordon doesn't need sign language, just give the man a fucking crowbar.
Matthew Blake's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/09/2009 11:56
Matthew Blake
Wow, this sounds really cool. I don't think I've ever seen sign language used in a videogame.
Jetsetlemming's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/09/2009 23:02
Jetsetlemming
Deaf people officially more important than PS3 owners.
TurboKill's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/13/2009 13:30
TurboKill
SSKudu: Get an avatar or STFUAJPG!

Again, that goes to everyone. If you have one, good.

And Valve will be ready when they are. Here's the thing, this isn't your typical episodic game. It is Half-Life 2. The series is known not only for being awesomely fun, but always being quite a technical achievement for its time. So if you don't appreciate that, we don't appreciate the comment.

And the sign language has nothing to do about deaf people. (READ THE BLOG JIM KINDLY BROUGHT HERE, note: kindly) It has to do with the story and Alyx. Also nothing to do about Gordon. (I appreciated the jokes at first though.)

Sure are a lot of people here making stupid comments....Not a surprise that I don't recognize those people around here.
FriskyApple's Avatar - Comment posted on 08/15/2009 18:31
FriskyApple
Amazing! I have been working on getting my deaf boyfriend into FPSs. Maybe this will be the incentive that works.
Flamma Man's Avatar - Comment posted on 12/09/2009 21:09
Flamma Man
...

I'm curious to see how Aylx will actually use sign-language in the next and final episode.

Hm...

Well, least we know they're working on the game.
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