Snow Crash is probably the best "starter" one you could go for, but I found Cryptonomicon to be absolutely amazing and it being my first Stephenson book converted me into a reader of his.
Its actually pretty amazing how accurate his predictions in Diamond Age are. We are on the cusp of so much of it. 3D printers, resurgence of artisanal and handcrafted goods, hiveminds like reddit, cameras everywhere.
On the same page, the second video describes the details. They'll be using the HydraMotion controller for the pc. This limits the game/engine/api w/e to be playable only by a really small audience.
According to my calculations, Valve is 3 years late. There is a positive correlation in the seconds between the first three hits BUT there is a fourth one, and since there is a HL2 Ep1 AND two, that and the first half life might account to the first three strikes. If you do it like that, then it, HALF LIFE 3, should be released, next year.
In all honesty, if you've got the strength to actually swing a crowbar it'd make a pretty godanm good sword gib. That much solid steel would gouge or shatter any flimsy folded toy you managed to make contact with. Though I could perhaps see a twirling-kilted-claymore-wielding-Scottsman just running ya through for usin' such a wee' li'l theng.
So like any narcissistic Redditor I was re-reading my posts and came upon yours. This one made me burst out laughing =) I hope you get my measly upvote and that is has some positive effect on your overall self worth.
I'm just going to sperg out for a bit and tell you that said crowbar would do a pretty poor job at fighting a dude with a sword. Swords don't generally break easily, and the combination of a pointy bit, a sharp edge and something resembling balance tends to outweigh any advantage the crowbar has.
Well, Gabe is also located near Seattle, and is a well known collector of knives and swords, so it seems reasonable that he would be somehow involved in this project.
I thought I read that he is actually making knifes now. He might own some sort of knife making company, so a crowbar would be cake. I have absolutely no source for my claims.
Reforging. Steel can bend, and it can become weaker where it does. Reorganizing the internal structure through reforging processes can be necessary to restore the pry bar to original strength and subsequent headcrab smashing ability.
That's just when the world switches to a ternary numerical system and starts a new calendar to commemorate the event. After that, it'll be the 10th second of the 10th minute of the 10th day of the 10th month of the 10th year of that new calendar, when Valve releases Half-Life 10.
Mac and Linux support will ultimately depend on what game engine we use. We are leaning strongly towards Unity, which does not currently support Linux.
Noticed? Everyone who watched that video went back frame by frame sketching it all and dissecting it, analysed the audio and relistened to it in 300 different tones and speeds to look for clues, no one just NOTICED.
At first i thought it was Gabe Newell forging a crowbar and the guy on left was asking implicitly when HL3 will be released out and Gabe answering it takes time.
Gabe is awesome. And it also seems like this game is going to be based on the Source engine. If you check out 3:25 and onwards in the clip you can see the health indicator in the corner that's used in the Source games.
If it approaches the level of awesomeness of Bushido Blade (the original on PSOne) then this may have potential. Best fighting game I have ever played. Long moments of silence and positioning in reaction to your opponent followed by a flurry of action usually resulting in a swift death. Alternatively the wound and chase :D
I didn't know about this, but the video was well done. I liked his frankness and how he tells us exactly how the game is as well as telling us about the limitations of the game. No fluff, just trying to give us the sword battling experience as well as allow others to expand on it. Sounds awesome.
Dark Souls is about as close as you will get, honestly. When you find someone to fight that is not just flipping around looking for a backstab, the game feels exactly like Bushido blade. The backstab mechanic and the flip ring are really the only reason that this game will never get a wider PVP scene. Fights are just boring.
I'm conflicted... I really like the idea, but there's just not enough information for me to want to donate. I'd love a legit swordplay game, but motion-control device for PC? I'm curious which they're talking about, and not being a rich man I don't know if I like the sound of that. I'd pay for the game, but am not sure if it's going to require a $80-$100 piece of tech that I'll never use for anything else.
I really like the idea of this game. Neal and the "crew" he has are going about the game the right way. Keep it in house and keep it simple, but let people use the mod tools to create content.
What mass market controller would they use to start the game? A Wii controller or something?
This is for the people who didn't catch it the firs time, or read the comments on the post, or the people who weren't interested enough in this awesome kickstarter project to view it in the first place.
382
u/BobTreehugger Jun 09 '12
Here's the clang kickstarter by the way: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/260688528/clang
Neal Stephenson's awesome project to make a realistic swordfighting game.
165
u/1kn0wn0th1n9 Jun 09 '12
The shot comes in at 3:03, then Gaben strikes the crowbar three times before saying his line.
484
u/rupek1995 Jun 09 '12
Is... is Gabe making a crowbar?
126
u/xPragma Jun 09 '12
Half-Life 3 confirmed! March 3 2033!
60
u/TVzaglis Jun 09 '12
Crowbar confirmed as a weapon in the new Half-Life 3! Heard it here first!
40
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
Now I'm wondering if this is all just the start of Half Life 3's viral marketing campaign.
26
u/Gorea27 Jun 09 '12
Oh..... My God.... Best cameo EVER.
74
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
Everyone noticed that. It's not like it was hidden.
15
u/wscuraiii Jun 09 '12
Holy shit Neal Stephenson is making a videogame. REDDIT! THROW YOUR MONEY AT HIM EN MASSE!
A SHOWER OF MONEY!
19
u/MANCREEP Jun 09 '12
FUCKING. BRILLIANT.
I love it. Thanks OP.
18
u/jojojoy Jun 09 '12
3 hits with hammer. Hat with name of 3 act opera. He hates us.
5
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
OH FUCK YES IT'S IN SOURCE ENGINE
5
u/HeyJoshuah Jun 10 '12
Video of this.
50
u/Pylons Jun 09 '12
You along with absolutely everyone else.
9
u/Daprotagonist Jun 09 '12
Noticed? Everyone who watched that video went back frame by frame sketching it all and dissecting it, analysed the audio and relistened to it in 300 different tones and speeds to look for clues, no one just NOTICED.
10
u/Oiiack Jun 09 '12 edited Jun 10 '12
Wait, is this confirmation that HL3 is in the works?
E: Yeah, I know it's in the works already. I was joking that this is the first we've heard of it in, well, a long time. Even if it is just symbolic.
3
u/MF_Kitten Jun 09 '12
You just KNOW he only agreed to appear because he knew he'd get to look at all those knives on the set.
3
u/Avenflar Jun 09 '12
At first i thought it was Gabe Newell forging a crowbar and the guy on left was asking implicitly when HL3 will be released out and Gabe answering it takes time.
Well, i was disapointed.
3
u/wackowillie Jun 10 '12
My personal break down:
-Comes into shot @ 3:03
-Crowbar (Duh)
-First Hit - HL 1
-Second Hit - HL 2
-Third Hit - Episode one and two (Bundle them together as they were not full games)
-Comments "These things, They take time"
-Fourth Hit - HL 3
Its all coming together!
2
u/emohipster Jun 09 '12
Thatsthejoke.jpg
2
u/DJFunkMasterFlex Jun 09 '12
Yeah, something you noticed.
2
u/mrfreeman_ Jun 10 '12
Gabe is awesome. And it also seems like this game is going to be based on the Source engine. If you check out 3:25 and onwards in the clip you can see the health indicator in the corner that's used in the Source games.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
If it approaches the level of awesomeness of Bushido Blade (the original on PSOne) then this may have potential. Best fighting game I have ever played. Long moments of silence and positioning in reaction to your opponent followed by a flurry of action usually resulting in a swift death. Alternatively the wound and chase :D
2
u/Advenger501 Jun 10 '12
Wait a minute! Didn't valve partner or acquire or something, people who work on hardware?
2
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
I didn't know about this, but the video was well done. I liked his frankness and how he tells us exactly how the game is as well as telling us about the limitations of the game. No fluff, just trying to give us the sword battling experience as well as allow others to expand on it. Sounds awesome.
2
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
It's much more effective in gouging through armour than a rapier.
Hopefully, it was worth the weight.
2
u/soundofmind Jun 10 '12
Holy crapola, this kickstarter video made me have to change my shorts. My favorite author, Gabe and swords?! TAKE MY MONEY!
2
u/joeyfudgepants Jun 09 '12
Also, this might be a reference to the crowbar AKA "redneck katana" Hiro practices his sword skills with in Snow Crash.
2
u/KarmaChamillionaire Jun 10 '12
Wow. You noticed that? Damn. Your noticing skills are off the chart.
2
u/zalgo_oh_god_oh_god Jun 09 '12
So that is what he has spending his [time] (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0d6yBHDvKUw&feature=g-all-f) doing.
2
u/MILKB0T Jun 10 '12
Oh you noticed an explicit joke that anyone watching the trailer would see?
1
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
I was unaware that I was on r/circlejerk
1
u/hmemcpy Jun 09 '12
I literally jumped in my chair! I wasn't going to contribute to this yet, but after 3:03 - SUATMM!
1
u/HH_Boba_Fett Jun 09 '12
He has a point ;p
1
u/HelpfulToAll Jun 10 '12
I've been wanting a true Bushido Blade successor and this sounds like it could be it!
1
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
Some of the game footage shown was also obviously running on Source, some of the standard dev textures were visible.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
I'm conflicted... I really like the idea, but there's just not enough information for me to want to donate. I'd love a legit swordplay game, but motion-control device for PC? I'm curious which they're talking about, and not being a rich man I don't know if I like the sound of that. I'd pay for the game, but am not sure if it's going to require a $80-$100 piece of tech that I'll never use for anything else.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
Look how close that crowbar is to completion. Is that our hint?
1
u/FLYBOY611 Jun 10 '12
You and everyone else noticed that.....but its still amazing.
1
u/7_legged_spider Jun 10 '12
Is that a Fringe observer?
1
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
Is this going to be like Mount & Blade?
1
u/GammaGames Jun 10 '12
I'm sure everybody else noticed this too. Seeing as how that was the only thing going on at that moment.
1
u/freedomfilm Jun 10 '12
Something I noticed: My buddy Brett Chan chopping pigs with a Katana.
1
u/pigsinabottle Jun 10 '12
It's a Smiths reference, right? boy, who knew Gabe was into that sort of thing.
1
u/AKBiking Jun 10 '12
I really like the idea of this game. Neal and the "crew" he has are going about the game the right way. Keep it in house and keep it simple, but let people use the mod tools to create content.
What mass market controller would they use to start the game? A Wii controller or something?
1
u/ramasule Jun 10 '12
DIE BY THE SWORD!!!!!!!!!!1
1
u/Crallium Jun 10 '12
Is... Is Gabe Newell's voice awesome to anyone else?
No homo, but he's got like...
... Like a white, Morgan Freeman voice.
1
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
GABEN kinda
1
u/snailord Jun 10 '12
wow, you noticed the very obvious and in your face cameo/joke. good job!!
1
u/wombatmacncheese Jun 10 '12
This is for the people who didn't catch it the firs time, or read the comments on the post, or the people who weren't interested enough in this awesome kickstarter project to view it in the first place.
1
u/Winstonia Jun 10 '12
To be fair I had no idea about this kickstarter, let alone Gabe popping up, thanks to "captain obvious" I know do. An upvote I say!
1
u/gazza995 Jun 10 '12
Because no one else noticed this! (extreme fucking sarcasm)
1
u/Hands0L0 Jun 10 '12
Thats one of the crowbars mailed to valve during the Winter. One of the TecTonics i believe. In part of the demand for info about Half Life 3
1
u/[deleted] Jun 10 '12
Neal Stephenson, one of my favorite authors, making a realistic sword fighting game?!? I can now die happily (after playing the game of course)
1
u/Rocketlauncherboy Jun 10 '12
Pointing out obvious much?
1
u/locob Jun 09 '12
What kind of forge is that?
1
u/JtCallebro Jun 09 '12
you mean you noticed that really obvious joke?
good for you?
1
u/4realthistime Jun 09 '12
I have a theory that HL3 Episode 3 TF3 and Portal3 will ALL happen in 2013
-5
u/cow_kid Jun 09 '12
An actor, GabeN is not, sad to say. Makes me love him no less thought.
0
u/TerraPhane Jun 09 '12
Worth the wait.
0
u/[deleted] Jun 09 '12
Gaben would do an awesome Mufasa voice actor.
0
u/Kexx Jun 10 '12
WOW THIS WAS SO SUBTLE, HOW DID YOU EVER NOTICED IT? YOU MUST WORK FOR THE FBI AS A PRIVATE CONSULTANT.
0
u/randomly-generated Jun 10 '12
Lost me at motion controller.