

It was followed by Gearbox Software’s expansion packs Opposing Force (1999) and Blue Shift (2001). It had sold over 9 million copies by 2008. It has received over 50 PC “Game of the Year” honours and is widely regarded as one of the most influential first-person shooter games as well as one of the best video games ever created. Half-Life was praised for its stunning graphics, realistic gameplay, and integrated storey.

Marc Laidlaw, a science fiction novelist, was brought in to help with the storey and design. Gabe Newell, a co-founder of Valve, expressed disappointment with the lack of innovation in the FPS genre, stating that the team sought to build an immersive world rather than a “shooting gallery.” They used GoldSrc, a substantially modified version of the Quake engine licenced from id Software, to create the game.

Unlike many other games at the time, the player has almost complete control over the player character, and the plot is primarily delivered through scripted sequences viewed through his eyes. Fighting alien and human adversaries with a range of weaponry while solving riddles is the fundamental gameplay. Players take on the role of Gordon Freeman, an alien-infested scientist who must flee the Black Mesa Research Facility. It was Valve’s first game and the start of the Half-Life franchise. In 1998, Valve released Half-Life, a first-person shooter (FPS) game for Windows that was developed by Valve and published by Sierra Studios.
