Half-Life. How Valve Created the Iconic First-Person Shooter

Half-Life is an iconic game known to millions of players. It revolutionized the genre and forever changed first-person shooters. The action takes place entirely within the game space without the use of cutscenes; the character cannot be seen from the outside, which makes gameplay and plot a cohesive whole.
This book will tell you how the Half-Life series games were created, what innovative methods they brought to the industry, and what difficulties Valve faced during development. And, of course, the author will not overlook another brainchild of Valve – the online platform Steam.

Dive into the history of Half-Life and Valve, and you will learn:
• What works inspired the creators of Half-Life?
• Why does the main character Gordon Freeman not say a word?
• What helped the Valve studio find its unique style?
• How did the online platform Steam forever change the video game market?

«What is the phenomenon of Half-Life? What captivated fans who are still eager for a sequel? In search of answers, the author explores the development and legacy of the series, its narrative and gameplay, sources of inspiration, and internal philosophy. This book is for those who did not experience the era of Gordon Freeman—and for those who want to find themselves in it again. After all, is there anything more timeless than a crowbar in the hero's hands?» – Anton Bersenev, translator of Half-Life: Alyx and other Valve projects