The Orange Box

Could it be? Could it really be? Yes. Yes it could. Sit yourselves down people, and regulate your breathing, because it looks like Valve's epic Portal 2 ARG might just be about to drop the motherlode.

That motherlode? Half-Life.

Yeah. Half-Life. Finally, blessedly, mercifully, after our years of frustration and faith, it looks like sweet, sweet Half-Life might be set for its next reveal. My feelings? Incandescent, explosive joy, obviously, and also a hint of smugness, because I called this one in an excitable semi-drunken tweet to Tyler Wilde the other night. If you want my (non-booze-related) reasoning for that tweet, and the evidence backing up this latest potential development, click on.

There are certain pleasures in life that just make existence worth it. Waking up thinking it’s Monday, only to discover it’s actually Saturday. Deep-fried Twixes. And of course, seeing Gordon Freeman brought to life in a charmingly lo-rent hand-drawn animation. Inside, you’ll see Gordon’s first two adventures recreated with pen, paper and a whole lot of zombie boogieing. Enjoy.

There's a very simple argument to the misguided notion that the PC is dead or dying. Not just the bog-obvious fact that people have been saying it's dead for years now with no sign of being right, much like a crap soothsayer knocking back the date of the apocalypse every time it doesn't happen. Oh no. The reason the PC is evergreen (though you've likely got a grey or black one, with neon bits depending on how hardcore you are) is that anyone can develop for it, meaning that it will always be gaming's biggest hotbed for new ideas...

What is it with Half-Life 2 fans and quality film-making? While fan films based on any other series tend to be variable like Star Trek movies, the H-L universe has some stunning non-professional cinematic entries. Like this. And this. And now there's Beyond Black Mesa, a professional-as-hell-looking fan-made short set five years after the seven hour war (during which the Combine made Earth its new back yard) which tells the story of the human rebellion pre-Freeman's return.

The hero is one Adrian Shephard, the protagonist of H-L1 expansion Opposing Force. In canon, he's still lost to space-time by way of G-Man tinkering, but it's good to see him back. And overall, this trailer gives the impression that the film is a brilliantly authentic effort, despite the brief lapses into Kung Fu leg sweeps and Max Payne window dives. The quick tease of Ravenholme however, more than makes up for those little transgressions.

Chances are, if Hollywood ever get round to making a Half-Life movie, it'll be rubbish. Hell, we'll probably have to make do with Matthew Maconahay shoved into a pair of specs and Paris Hilton as the 'believably' brainy Ms. Vance. Thankfully, an enterprising deviantART poster called agentscarlet has envisioned a Half-Life 2: Episode Two movie in incredible poster form...