Half-Life 2 is a science fiction first-person shooter computer game
and the sequel to Half-Life. It was developed by the Valve Software
Corporation and was released on November 16 2004 following a
protracted five-year development cycle during which the game's source
code was leaked to the Internet. The game garnered near unanimous
positive reviews and received critical acclaim, winning over 35 Game
of the Year awards for 2005. Originally available only for
Windows-based personal computers, the game has since been ported onto
the Xbox console, and is due to be released additionally for the Xbox
360 and PlayStation 3 in 2007. Taking place in and around the
fictional City 17 sometime in the near future, Half-Life 2 follows the
scientist Gordon Freeman. Dr. Freeman is thrust into a dystopian
environment in which the aftermath of the Black Mesa Incident has come
to bear fully upon human society. The game uses the Source game
engine, which includes a heavily modified version of the Havok physics
engine. Overall, the Half-Life franchise, including Counter-Strike and
Day of Defeat, has seen over 15 million sales.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half-Life_2
_______________________________
Today's selected anniversaries:
1787:
William Herschel discovered the Uranian moons Titania and Oberon.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Titania_(moon))
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oberon_(moon))
1879:
The Anglo-Zulu War broke out.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglo-Zulu_War)
1922:
Insulin was first administered to a human patient with diabetes in
Toronto, Canada.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insulin)
1923:
Troops from France and Belgium invaded the Ruhr Area to force the
German Weimar Republic to pay its reparation payments in the aftermath
of World War I.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occupation_of_the_Ruhr)
1964:
In a landmark report, U.S. Surgeon General Luther Leonidas Terry
issued the warning that smoking may be hazardous for one's health.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luther_Leonidas_Terry)
_____________________
Wikiquote of the day:
Has it been found that bodies of men act with more rectitude or
greater disinterestedness than individuals? The contrary of this has
been inferred by all accurate observers of the conduct of mankind; and
the inference is founded upon obvious reasons. Regard to reputation
has a less active influence, when the infamy of a bad action is to be
divided among a number than when it is to fall singly upon one. A
spirit of faction, which is apt to mingle its poison in the
deliberations of all bodies of men, will often hurry the persons of
whom they are composed into improprieties and excesses, for which they
would blush in a private capacity. -- Alexander Hamilton
(
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Alexander_Hamilton)