4 ms·

Although I’d argue the real goal of Alyx was to entice more people to take the VR plunge. That’s bad luck with the pandemic, as I’m sure the $1k price tag (more

by city41 6y ago

Although I’d argue the real goal of Alyx was to entice more people to take the VR plunge. That’s bad luck with the pandemic, as I’m sure the $1k price tag (more if you need a better computer too) is hard to do for many in this climate.

zlsa 6y ago
You don't need the Valve Index to play Half-Life Alyx. Windows Mixed Reality VR headsets can be had for under $300.
- cactus2093 6y ago
  You still need a gaming PC though, lots of relatively casual gamers (like myself) still only have consoles.
  - egypturnash 6y ago
    You need to be able to clear out enough space to wander around a room blindfolded, too. That's really at a premium right now if you're not living alone; kids, roomies, parents, and spouses are all fighting for space in homes that were perfectly adequate when everyone went out to work or school most of the day.
    - filoleg 6y ago
      >You need to be able to clear out enough space to wander around a room blindfolded, too. You really don't. I have a 3ft by 3ft playspace (at most), and I played through Alyx (as well as tons of other VR games) just fine. Sure, having more space would've made it a little bit better, but the overall experience is just as great.
- wincy 6y ago
  The Oculus Rift has been out of stock since March when the pandemic started. It's really hard to find VR headsets right now.
duxup 6y ago
It's funny it took them this long to add something like that. Most companies when they introduce a platform do try to push it with some of their own high profile content. Valve not so much until recently.
- vkou 6y ago
  The whole reason Steam exists is because Valve pushed it with high-profile content, over a decade ago - initially Half-Life multiplayer (To a ton of community backlash), followed by Half-Life 2, as Steam exclusives. It's only been the past several years that Valve has completely stopped making games, and started working on other things.
  - city41 6y ago
    I would guess it took quite a shift for the Valve of today to make Alyx. I barely even think of them as a game dev anymore.
- GlennS 6y ago
  There was the Orange Box, which was an absolutely fantastic deal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Orange_Box https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Orange_Box

by city41 6y ago

zlsa 6y ago

You don't need the Valve Index to play Half-Life Alyx. Windows Mixed Reality VR headsets can be had for under $300.

cactus2093 6y ago
You still need a gaming PC though, lots of relatively casual gamers (like myself) still only have consoles.
- egypturnash 6y ago
  You need to be able to clear out enough space to wander around a room blindfolded, too. That's really at a premium right now if you're not living alone; kids, roomies, parents, and spouses are all fighting for space in homes that were perfectly adequate when everyone went out to work or school most of the day.
  - filoleg 6y ago
    >You need to be able to clear out enough space to wander around a room blindfolded, too. You really don't. I have a 3ft by 3ft playspace (at most), and I played through Alyx (as well as tons of other VR games) just fine. Sure, having more space would've made it a little bit better, but the overall experience is just as great.
wincy 6y ago
The Oculus Rift has been out of stock since March when the pandemic started. It's really hard to find VR headsets right now.

duxup 6y ago

It's funny it took them this long to add something like that. Most companies when they introduce a platform do try to push it with some of their own high profile content. Valve not so much until recently.

vkou 6y ago
The whole reason Steam exists is because Valve pushed it with high-profile content, over a decade ago - initially Half-Life multiplayer (To a ton of community backlash), followed by Half-Life 2, as Steam exclusives. It's only been the past several years that Valve has completely stopped making games, and started working on other things.
- city41 6y ago
  I would guess it took quite a shift for the Valve of today to make Alyx. I barely even think of them as a game dev anymore.
GlennS 6y ago
There was the Orange Box, which was an absolutely fantastic deal: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Orange_Box https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Orange_Box