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NoVR mod for Half-Life: Alyx gets a big animation update out now

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The work modders are doing to make Half-Life: Alyx not just playable but actually fun on traditional screens continues to impress, with the Half-Life: Alyx NoVR mod's latest animation upgrade out now. Still not done yet though, although this is a big step forward for the project.

Check out the update trailer:

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Here's the main additions in the update:

  • Alyx’s animated arms and hands.
  • Firing, idle, reload and holster animations for all weapons and grenades.
  • Upgrades for all weapons that can be visually seen with each enhancement.
  • Combine Fabricator changes for easier use by the player.
  • Reflex sight upgrades highlighting enemy weak points.
  • Dedicated inspect button.
  • Additional toner puzzles added throughout the game.
  • Enhanced flashlight.
  • Updated HUD with 3 animated hearts (not available on Steam Deck).
  • Fixes to the Jeff and Strider encounters for a smoother gameplay experience.
  • Other bug fixes and updates throughout the entire game.
  • Multi-tool (can be equipped and is animated but currently not functional).

More work is coming from their roadmap including making the full UI work on Steam Deck too. I haven't tested it for a while but even before this update is was massively impressive work. While playing it in VR is what it was designed for, and the best experience, that's simply not accessible to everyone.

See the announcement for more. Naturally you need a copy of the game from Steam to play the mod.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: FPS, Mod, Steam
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28 comments
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hardpenguin Nov 3, 2023
Valve's official line is that they do not believe in exclusives...
slaapliedje Nov 3, 2023
Quoting: hardpenguinValve's official line is that they do not believe in exclusives...
It's not exclusive; it works with any VR headset that works with SteamVR. :P
sherriw Nov 3, 2023
Quoting: GroganI somewhat resent that Valve made this game VR only. I bought the Half Life games and all the expansions and was thusly invested in it and I'd have liked another game. Especially after all that hype about Half Life 3, they come out with this and make it inaccessible to anyone that doesn't have the headgear. I don't ever plan to have a VR headset, I don't think it would be good for me.

Few games are "VR only", most devs realize that it's better to have a larger audience.

Enough resentment that I don't want to reward the game with a purchase, and use a third party mod so I can play it (that might be fragile come game update time, too)

So, I salute these guys for doing it.

I feel exactly the same. I had all the old games & expansions plus a re-buy for Xbox. The fact that they made this VR-only was a huge slap in the face.
anewson Nov 5, 2023
Quoting: slaapliedje
Quoting: anewsonI think this marks the denouement of the latest VR push... seems like it's going to stay an optional nice-to-have for supported games.
I suppose it's sort of akin to having a HOTAS setup for flight simulators. Sure, you COULD play it with a keyboard and mouse... but are you really getting the full enjoyment out of the game? Like I can't even imagine playing Elite: Dangerous with a keyboard / mouse, or for that matter a gamepad, though I've tried this on the PS4, it just doesn't feel the same.

This is one of the reasons I prefer real hardware over emulation; half the enjoyment is from using the original control scheme.

I had a lot of fun with Elite using M+KB, then switched to HOTAS, eventually sold the HOTAS, and now I can't go back to Elite, it's just not the same :(
slaapliedje Nov 6, 2023
Quoting: anewson
Quoting: slaapliedje
Quoting: anewsonI think this marks the denouement of the latest VR push... seems like it's going to stay an optional nice-to-have for supported games.
I suppose it's sort of akin to having a HOTAS setup for flight simulators. Sure, you COULD play it with a keyboard and mouse... but are you really getting the full enjoyment out of the game? Like I can't even imagine playing Elite: Dangerous with a keyboard / mouse, or for that matter a gamepad, though I've tried this on the PS4, it just doesn't feel the same.

This is one of the reasons I prefer real hardware over emulation; half the enjoyment is from using the original control scheme.

I had a lot of fun with Elite using M+KB, then switched to HOTAS, eventually sold the HOTAS, and now I can't go back to Elite, it's just not the same :(
Yeah, the peripherals / controls definitely make you more immersed in the game. I need to fire it back up now that I got chair mounts for my Thrustmaster Warthog setup... granted, I'll need to re-learn the controls, since it's been quite a while since I played it.
anewson Nov 6, 2023
Quoting: slaapliedje
Quoting: anewson
Quoting: slaapliedje
Quoting: anewsonI think this marks the denouement of the latest VR push... seems like it's going to stay an optional nice-to-have for supported games.
I suppose it's sort of akin to having a HOTAS setup for flight simulators. Sure, you COULD play it with a keyboard and mouse... but are you really getting the full enjoyment out of the game? Like I can't even imagine playing Elite: Dangerous with a keyboard / mouse, or for that matter a gamepad, though I've tried this on the PS4, it just doesn't feel the same.

This is one of the reasons I prefer real hardware over emulation; half the enjoyment is from using the original control scheme.

I had a lot of fun with Elite using M+KB, then switched to HOTAS, eventually sold the HOTAS, and now I can't go back to Elite, it's just not the same :(
Yeah, the peripherals / controls definitely make you more immersed in the game. I need to fire it back up now that I got chair mounts for my Thrustmaster Warthog setup... granted, I'll need to re-learn the controls, since it's been quite a while since I played it.

Spending the first 10 hours in and out of the control bindings screen is a classic elite W.
Purple Library Guy Nov 6, 2023
Quoting: slaapliedje
Quoting: anewson
Quoting: slaapliedje
Quoting: anewsonI think this marks the denouement of the latest VR push... seems like it's going to stay an optional nice-to-have for supported games.
I suppose it's sort of akin to having a HOTAS setup for flight simulators. Sure, you COULD play it with a keyboard and mouse... but are you really getting the full enjoyment out of the game? Like I can't even imagine playing Elite: Dangerous with a keyboard / mouse, or for that matter a gamepad, though I've tried this on the PS4, it just doesn't feel the same.

This is one of the reasons I prefer real hardware over emulation; half the enjoyment is from using the original control scheme.

I had a lot of fun with Elite using M+KB, then switched to HOTAS, eventually sold the HOTAS, and now I can't go back to Elite, it's just not the same :(
Yeah, the peripherals / controls definitely make you more immersed in the game. I need to fire it back up now that I got chair mounts for my Thrustmaster Warthog setup... granted, I'll need to re-learn the controls, since it's been quite a while since I played it.
"Thrustmaster".
Mounted in your chair, you say?
slaapliedje Nov 6, 2023
Quoting: Purple Library Guy
Quoting: slaapliedje
Quoting: anewson
Quoting: slaapliedje
Quoting: anewsonI think this marks the denouement of the latest VR push... seems like it's going to stay an optional nice-to-have for supported games.
I suppose it's sort of akin to having a HOTAS setup for flight simulators. Sure, you COULD play it with a keyboard and mouse... but are you really getting the full enjoyment out of the game? Like I can't even imagine playing Elite: Dangerous with a keyboard / mouse, or for that matter a gamepad, though I've tried this on the PS4, it just doesn't feel the same.

This is one of the reasons I prefer real hardware over emulation; half the enjoyment is from using the original control scheme.

I had a lot of fun with Elite using M+KB, then switched to HOTAS, eventually sold the HOTAS, and now I can't go back to Elite, it's just not the same :(
Yeah, the peripherals / controls definitely make you more immersed in the game. I need to fire it back up now that I got chair mounts for my Thrustmaster Warthog setup... granted, I'll need to re-learn the controls, since it's been quite a while since I played it.
"Thrustmaster".
Mounted in your chair, you say?
How else am I to derive pleasure from a game? If you're not doing it, you're gaming wrong! :P

Quoting: anewsonSpending the first 10 hours in and out of the control bindings screen is a classic elite W.
Ha, for sure. Though that's why I use a pre-created mapping. Got an etched layout for the Throttle control and everything.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=769637037
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