Half Life 2 and Portal Come to Android, NVIDIA Shield only

[XDel]

WHERE IS 3?!?!?!

Oh well, this IS cool!

Now where is Black Mesa for Linux and Android?!

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

Other android devices have Nvidia Tegra as well, some games on Google Play at least had Tegra HD version. I'm almost certain if they don't use some weird framework hackers will be able to extract files anyway. Of course it makes some sense to market their own device but that device isn't even available outside US.

I wouldn't say the biggest problem is weird framework or anything, it's more that there isn't any touch controls for the games and we've got no idea whether it will actually run (or run properly, rather) on lower-powered devices.

 

[Toad King]

It's probably Shield-only not because of controls but because the other mobile chipsets have notoriously shitty graphics drivers.

 

[Mario92]

I wouldn't say the biggest problem is weird framework or anything, it's more that there isn't any touch controls for the games and we've got no idea whether it will actually run (or run properly, rather) on lower-powered devices.

Require gamepad BOOM DONE! If every game on mobile is done in way they work on touchscreen we will never have something like Portal on them. I can use almost every controller I have in my house on either PC or Android phone from Wiimote, wired 360, PS3 and that fake bluetooth 360. Then there's dedicated gamepads like MOGA and Samsung controller. If 3D mark scores is to believe games should work with new android devices pretty well: http://www.futuremark.com/hardware/mobile/NVIDIA+Shield/review something like Nexus 5 and LG G2 are pretty much par with that. If like I said earlier they would give PC like graphic options it would be easy to disable something or lower resolution (I mean c'mon full HD under 5" screen? It just drains all the power and you can't tell difference anyway) and be able to play it on older phones as well. Reason why Ouya games aren't on other devices yet is their own framework.

How about if PC game is restricted to only people who have Acer or HP computer? That's what I'm trying to say. Nvidia already does PhysX and TXAA but they are just extra for those who have Nvidia, they don't deny whole game from AMD or even Intel users. I would almost say Ouyas fault was their own store as users had already invested for games on Google Play or Amazon or even Humble Bundles.

Of course they did it and can sell it wherever they want but device isn't available worldwide like I said earlier and from game perspective they would sell way more copies.

 

[Gahars]

I guess Portal would know all about Android hell.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Nvidia Shield only, eh? Well, we'll see what xda-developers has to say about that in a few days
If they release more Source games there are going to be a lot of FPS gamers buying a Shield in the near future...

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

So I'm playing Half Life 2 right now and...man does it take me back to the days when loading was frequent and took 30 seconds Otherwise it's quite fun.

 

[nukeboy95]

Iv tried loading Half-life 2 on my Nexus 7 flo (non terga 4 version) and it crashes on the menu.
iv also tried using GLTools to emulate shield's gpu/cpu and i get this (see video)

 

[KingVamp]

Even if I wanted a NVIDIA Shield, I would wait for a NS 2.

 

[cdoty]

Nvidia were the ones who did the port, so I wouldn't necessarily expect it to be made available for other Android devices. At least not officially.

I wonder how they would limit it specifically to the Shield? The Mojo is probably the closest, but the games require Android 4.4 or higher.

 

[Taleweaver]

This sounds like a trade, really.

Valve: guys...you really should get your drivers fixed for linux. windows 8 app store starts to seriously compete with steam!
Nvidia: so? Why should we care? The handful of people using linux write their own drivers in assembly just fine. Or so they say.
Valve: we're launching this steamOS thing! And steam machines. You do want to put your graphic card in there, don't you?
Nvidia: well...it's not like we don't want it. But we're indifferent to it. We sell the graphic cards anyway, thanks to all the brainwashing propaganda in AAA-titles.
Valve: and you can still do that on steamOS!
Nvidia: sorry...no deal. Besides...we've got our own handheld we're trying to sell.
Valve: yes...the shield. Which runs on android. Which is based on linux.
Nvidia: erm...possibly. So what?
Valve: ...
Valve: nevermind. How about this: you kick up the driver writing department and we will let you exclusively port half life 2 and portal to your shield. Deal?
Nvidia: deal!

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

Giving Portal a try now, and I have to say the loading times are a hell of a lot better here. Honestly, I think Half Life 2 was more of a quick "Hey I wonder if other Source games work?" instead of "Hey! Lets put Half Life 2 on Android as well!" type dealio. Half Life 2 is also missing a few textures as well, some parts in the beginning had that pink and black checkered thing instead of the actual textures. After putting an hour or so into the game, though, there hasn't been any other missing textures or anything.

The ports are quite nice though, they play alright with the controller (other than the obvious "Holy shit FPS games sucks with controllers part")

 

[Tomobobo]

Just amazing really that these handhelds are getting as powerful as they are. When I was a kid with my fat Gameboy I would have never expected games like San Andreas and HL2 to be running on a device you could fit in your pocket.

All hail android!

 

[TheCasketMan]

If the Shield can run Half Life 2, then imagine what the Shield 2 can run. I know HL2 is old, but still is impressive to see on a mobile device.

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

If the Shield can run Half Life 2, then imagine what the Shield 2 can run. I know HL2 is old, but still is impressive to see on a mobile device.

I'm actually more impressed to see XCOM Enemy Unknown on iOS/Android. Granted, it's a lower quality than the PC/Console versions, it's still quite impressive for a game released in ~2012.

 

[Drink the Bleach]

Keeping an android-version of Half Life/Portal exclusive to just shield is like keeping software exclusive to one version of Windows. Official or not, someone is going to open that box.

Alot of those Ouya-store games eventually just ended up in the Play Store so....

 

[Joe88]

they got hl2 running on a tegra note 7 with an external controller
they are working on snapdragon atm

 

[Drink the Bleach]

Rather have a Tegra Note than a shield.

 

[Cortador]

Can't wait for the Shield 2.

 

[ElYubiYubi]

I bet the Shield 2 will be a beast and with it will come a lot of ports to Android.

Anyone know the most powerfull Android Device at the momment? Its the Note 3?