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.
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.
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Contest:
8:30 PM on 08.07.2009
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And here you were, thinking that he stayed silent just because it helps the player get immersed in the game.
(JUST IN, HALF LIFE EP 3 DELAYED 2 WEEKS)
Gordon's a mute.
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!
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.
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
Anyway, for some reason this new hyped me way more than it should.
Still. I, for one, don't give a flying crap about Alex sign languaging!
Release the fucking game already!
Those making links to Gordon aren't reading the article properly.
I think it's like "she taught Dog how to play chess so she could practice", it make sense doesn't it?
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.
Seriously valve, I love you guys, but goddamn you know how to put a game off.
2056 confirmed?
"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.
Fucking release Episode 3 already. Please?
FUCKING RETINAL SCANNERS!!!!!!
Put that in your Podtoid and smoke it. In a few years.
So, uhm, whats going on?
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.
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.
PS: Gordon doesn't need sign language, just give the man a fucking crowbar.
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.
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.