First Non-VR Mod released for Half-Life: Alyx, allowing you to play with mouse and keyboard

DSOGaming writes: "A couple of days ago, we shared a video showing Half-Life: Alyx being played without a VR headset. And today, we are happy to report that the first non-VR mod for this latest Half Life game is available for download."

[specialguest]

The mod community is great. It did not take long at all. Anyone who wants to play for the story, go for it. However, it's simply not the same experience. I just played about an hr of Half Life Alyx in VR, and it's a pretty epic experience. I recently played Half Life 2 and completed it. Enemies like the huge walkers when it looms over you shows how truly menacing they are in VR. In Half Life 2, yes they are dangerous and to be avoided, but you simply cannot feel it when you're not virtually there in the world

[Neonridr]

games designed for VR don't translate well to the flat world. relegating things to simple button presses remove a lot of what makes VR so special or intimate. The mere act of reaching out for things, picking them up, throwing stuff, etc is something that really only VR can make feel interesting. Sure you get to experience the story as you said it and I can understand for those who don't have a PCVR headset. But I would never want to lessen my experience just to play it.

[carcarias]

It's hard to explain why VR works so well in a game like this but yeah, you've summed some of it up very well :)

That's why so many people upset by Alyx VR shouldn't be. Nothing is being withheld from them deliberately, there really isn't a traditional FPS game being 'held hostage' here.

[jjb1981]

I spent a good 10 minutes throughout the first chapter just picking things up and throwing them. It's this kind of interaction that makes VR. I wouldn't have been doing that by just pressing F. I'll be pressing F for anyone thinking it'll be the same experience.

[carcarias]

I agree. Going through for the story might be cool, but if they want a HL fps experience like they're used to then they can forget it.

If people think this is a FPS game with VR slapped on it, and that all they need is for non-VR mode to be switched on, then they're mistaken and will be disappointed. It's not the same simplistic difference as between 2D-3D movies. I lot of people still don't seem to understand this :/

[-Foxtrot]

Got to love the Mod community

Might not be the same, considering it's only a fan mod with very limited resources doing something in his free time, but like all people who make mods you have to applaud them.

It's a shame because Valve is one of the few, if not only developers, who have the funds and resources to take a VR built up game like Alyx and redesign it into a standard play for those who don't have VR and want a cheaper way to experience the story so they won't go into Half Life 3 confused at what the hell happened. Although if they built up a game that could offer both, which has been done before with games like REVII and the like they wouldn't have this issue.

Those who say "bu bu but you'll those what makes it special in VR", I don't care, because no one is taking those experiences away from you, you can still play it, you can still experience those things, you can brag about to your friends about having a more deeply enriched version. Options hurt no one, it's selfish to take that away from people.

Totally different if people were saying "I want a non VR version and for them to get rid of VR completely in all games"

[Neonridr]

but then what does the game become? A bunch of button prompts and poorly structured segments for flat gaming? Just to appease those who don't want to purchase VR?

[-Foxtrot]

"but then what does the game become?"

If they took VR out and restructured the game as a standard game?

Urm...it becomes a Half Life game like the previous ones. What's wrong with that? The old Half Life games are fantastic and if Half Life 3 came out without VR you and everyone else would be eating that shit up. You wouldn't stop and go "Urgh, non VR, it's going to be bland" would you.

"Just to appease those who don't want to purchase VR?"

Considering how expensive it is what's wrong with that? It's just coming off selfish from people who don't want Valve to make a standard version that plays like the old Half Life games. You are not loosing anything, the VR game continues to exist, no one is taking that away, it's just a choice for those who can't afford it due to money issues or maybe they don't like VR in general. It's not a bad thing.

People ask for VR versions of games that exist today, and I wouldn't go against that because if a developer wants to make a VR optional choice for a game then you know what? Good for them and good for those who get to experience that.

[xenz]

@Foxtrot, bro, you clearly have no clue of what makes VR special. This game simply would not work well on flat screen. So many design elements would have to be completly re-designed, combat would feel boring most likely since you are only facing a handful of enemies at the same time, and their AI is somewhat limited because it’s designed to ease people into VR. Literally everything that makes Alyx good, interesting and immersive would be taken away if it were flat-screen.

Hell, even the story which is good but simplistic would also lose so much of its intended effect on the player.

My point is, if Valve were to make this for both flat and VR, they would have to go back on so many things that makes this VR experience amazing in order for it to be fun and engaging in flatscreen.

Idk why I’m even trying to convince you.

[Neonridr]

@Foxtrot - so you want them to basically make a whole new game now? I mean you can't just convert the game to 2D and call it a day. You'd have to rebuild entire sections and the way the game plays. At this point why not just ask for HL3 or something?

[-Foxtrot]

@xenzz

Urgh...for the love of God, I am so SICK of repeating myself. You bring up the same repeated lines that I've already laid out in my other posts.

Like this

"bro, you clearly have no clue of what makes VR special. This game simply would not work well on flat screen. So many design elements would have to be completly re-designed"

I said, Valve with the money they have and resources, could restructure the game to look and play like a typical Half Life game. They are the one developer who could do this with how much money they rake in.

The whole special thing...I'VE SAID SO MANY TIMES ASWELL

You guys can KEEP THAT STUFF, no one is taking that away from you, if you want to play VR and be/feel special then go ahead, great, good for you. It would not remove that, it just comes across like VR owners want to keep this on VR for the sake of it, because they want to "prove" something. What? No one is downplaying VR people just want an option.

Fact is, if they recreated the game as a game that played like a past Half Life game you would eat that shit up and ask for seconds. Hell you'd probably do that if they come out and say Half Life 3 is non VR, what you all going to do then? Say it's shit because it's not a VR exclusive?

I don't why I'm trying to convince you or anyone when you completely step over my points I make, things I cover but you then go onto say questions which have already been stated.

@Neonridr

" I mean you can't just convert the game to 2D and call it a day "

One guy, in his own time, quickly put together this mod. It's no where perfect and it's going to look weird but the point is if this guy can do what he has done with limited resources, time and money in his own bedroom then I'm sure as hell convinced Valve could restructure the game to play like a normal title.

You still need to create the game before you add/develop VR into it so it can be done,

"At this point why not just ask for HL3 or something?"

Because people need to play this to understand Half Life 3...I'd rather see this game done in a way that accessible to everyone so no one is left behind for the next instalment.