The first most notable difference between Half Life2 and Episode Two (other than the 3-year-long wait) is the huge demand on my PC. In order to give this game a fair and objective review, I have to point out that my graphics card (an nVidia FX5200) sucks and this ultimately affected the gameplay and subsequent enjoyment factor. I had to constantly tweak settings to get better FPS and to lessen the painful slide-show at large outdoor scenes and during heavy battle (which unfortunately is most of the game). So that being said, gameplay kind of sucked overall; not the fault of Valve, just simply due to my now inadequate system. *sigh*

The opening sequence takes us back where we left off, on the train heading away from City 17, except the train had crashed. Never fear, Alyx Vance quickly appears to help and damn it’s good to see her again. Her features are more detailed, more refined and thankfully she has the same voice. Alyx is by far my all-time favourite female model in any game and something other game developers need to take note of. But no time to admire her features, a lot happens quickly and before you know it, you’re running to keep up. I was giddy with anticipation and eager to explore but not long later, I had to reload the map a couple of times to register what had just happened, as the first time around I think I was in shock. I won’t spoil the surprise but it was certainly unexpected. This sets in motion a series of tasks to complete before you can continue on the main goal.

Of course there are the usual missions to complete and more clues and background information is provided at various intervals, which all lead to the final goal; to deliver information to the resistance in the White Forest. The missions this time around seemed a bit predictable in parts, but some required more puzzle-solving than before. All the same resistance characters are present, except my drinking pal Barney.. where are you Barn? Vortigaunts are a plenty this episode but with some added cool treats; instead of staying in the background they are up front and pretty bad-ass actually. I expected more story to be around those clever Combine but they seemed scarce as did some scarier moments (such as those found at Ravenholm when waiting, exposed on a dark roof listening to the fast head crab zombies rattling up the pipes as they come for you, howling…shiver).

There were some instances (again due to a sluggish system), where I felt I just couldn’t survive. The enemies seems impossibly hard to kill and ammo limited. Thankfully I had help, which saved my bacon as Alyx certainly did her part. There are no new weapons in Gordon’s repertoire, which is fine as the gravity gun provides variation in picking up and throwing things. Valve did add in some cool toys though, such as the muscle car, complete with GPS for finding goodies and for actually finding the car when you jump out and run around. I really like the dynamic of jumping in and out of the car at non-obvious places and Alyx would either follow or say she would rather wait in the car. Her method of knowing when you are going to get in the car and sliding over the hood to take a seat in the passenger side is pretty darn cool too.

I wasn’t especially excited about the Strider-Hunter combo attack teams, as it seemed a bit repetitious and overdone. Bringing down those long-legged and fast creatures was an exhausting venture when all was said and done. Despite my stripped config settings, the scenery and maps were gorgeous. The detail and gradients were amazing but I would like to run through it again with a better graphics card to get the intended “ooohh and ahhhs”. The sounds and ambiance worked well in the outdoor scenes; birds chirping, wind blowing through trees, as did the general camaraderie between the resistance (you eavesdrop into some funny conversations).

Overall, I thought the story was lacking in some respects mainly due to it not feeling as threatening or dire, but then surprising in others—I did not expect to feel some very emotional moments, such as seeing dog and at witnessing some intimate moments between Alyx and her father. I can’t wait for the next episode and believe me, it will come with a new decked out rig.

Was the wait worth it? Not especially for the meagre seven chapters (6 hours of gameplay), but for the story, consistency and amazing graphics—yes. It’s good to be Gordon Freeman.

On a side note: If you have played HalfLife 2 and have seen the movie Children of Men with Clive Owen, you’ve probably noticed some startling similarities. They both portray the dystopia of society, graffiti, overturned cars, droned brainwashing messages over loud speakers, imprisoned citizens, destruction and oppression. Clive Owen has to fight his way to get through the various controls to help the “movement” and this is also the main theme throughout HL2. In City 17 all of these elements exist, even the resistance graffiti. Ironically, in the second episode of HL2 there is also mention of the ship the Borealis which could be their salvation or their downfall, as it is largely a “ghost ship”. In Children of Men, it is the ship “Tomorrow” which may not exist, but turns out to be salvation. Thayer and I cannot deny the similarities between the two, maybe that’s why we love both the movie and the game. It’s all about breaking free from social control.

Music to Game by:
Try the Children of Men Soundtrack—great dubstep and retro British tracks.

It is safe to say that gamers make up a very large (and steadily growing) subculture but yet very little is known about them. It is also true that gamers are one of the most misunderstood groups in society today and as such it is conceivable that those who don’t game would dismiss the gamer’s (“gamer” isn’t even in the dictionary!) perspective or what drives them. Why do gamers choose to immerse themselves in what seems to be a one-dimensional and media-deemed antisocial environment? To know this answer is to be one—albeit an even scarcer, female one. But we are a homogeneous bunch and I have a few theories…

Your Whole World Travels with You…
LAN parties—take your persona on the road. Everything you need is on your computer, your connection to people, to the outside word and into a world that’s imaginary—where you control all. It’s funny watching people set up their own “little space” at warehouse-sized LAN parties or even in someone’s cramped house—everyone finds their spot, painstakingly sets up the cables, boots up and eagerly tweak settings. Some bring artifacts to enhance their space, including stuffed animals, good luck charms and anything else that makes them feel more “at home”. This new space becomes their shrine and it is a do not touch zone—you can check out the gear, but no touchy touchy. Everyone has his or her own way of doing things and their own way of setting up shop. It is true poetry to experience the feverish concentration of tweaking, clicking, and adjusting.

You can go everywhere and anywhere with your computer…

It *is* a Social Activity…
Socializing has taken on completely new meaning in this techno-age. We can be social, talk, get to know people and have fun playing a game without being in the same room (and without hearing or seeing anyone). It is amazing really; who would have thought that one day you would be playing cards with someone in another country? It is hard enough going to a coffee shop and striking up a conversation with someone at another table – let alone asking them for a game of cribbage! Because of the ambiguity, people are more willing to chat, share stories, laughter, resources and opinions. There is a certain freedom in getting to know someone by communicating in text only—without all the baggage associated with body language, looks and social acceptabilities. The initial awkwardness at getting to know someone does not exist here.

As for LAN parties, people come together from all over the country to participate in a group tournaments that are exhaustive, intensive and very satisfying. It is rewarding to finally put a face to a name and already have a connection with that person that defies ‘normal’ encounters. It is like an immediate kinship and bond between people that is unlike no other. I remember at a large warehouse LAN party playing against one fellow who I consistently challenged. He finally jumps up out of his seat and aggravatingly asks “WHO is Gemstone?!” I stood up, smiled and waved and we had this immediate and shared respect for one another.

Text communication can be rewarding and provide friendship connections around the world. Gamers are a community… a subculture… diverse group of individuals who share a common ground. We understand the concepts of the games and experience socialization unlike any other. Roles and rules change and social stigmas are non-existent here. Young and old alike can get together and come away feeling like they’ve been through something unique where stereotyping does not occur.

Misconceptions…
We are not all junk-eating, neo-geeks, with prehistoric social skills. Well okay some are, but that is true for a lot of non-gamers too. Many gamers have successful careers and families outside of online activities and we are quite capable of *gasp* talking in public. It is about balance. To become immersed in a project is to be passionate. However, if it detracts from other aspects, that passion can become compulsion and wreak havoc on family relations.

Another misconception is that women don’t (or shouldn’t) game. Let’s face it, we do and we should. Many websites devote their attention to gaming “girlz” and their presence in the gaming community. What is most bothersome is that many males believe women are either playing to hook up with some guy, or they are needy, hideous-looking women who have no choice but to find solace in online relationships. The truth is, the majority of women who game, are there for the same reasons men are—to play.

Problems…
Text communication has obvious weaknesses, whether it is with gaming acquaintances, group interactions, or that special someone. Most online relationships carry certain elements of assumption and skepticism. The same assumption made by non-gamers is that only the lonely and socially inept are online and this holds true for those online too. Many general conversations lead to a question and answer trials more nerve-wracking than most interviews. It can be important to “prove” to someone that you are not a man masquerading as a woman or that you are simply… normal. Then there are those that always remain elusive and do not disclose anything remotely personal about their lives. It is up to the individual to determine their own boundaries and choose what they wish to disclose or not. If the extent of the relationship is to game with someone, then personal details do not matter. It is easy enough to game alongside someone who shares your passion and is enjoyable to play with.

It’s all about balance…

Since I’ve been a girl gamer for a long time (well most certainly a girl longer than a gamer!), I often get asked, “how do I get my girlfriend to play?”, or “geez I wish I could get my girlfriend to play but she only likes puzzle games” or the most popular, “she’s tried but gets dizzy”. Most guys think it’s cool to have a girlfriend who plays first person shooter-type games and even more guys just wish their girlfriends would take an interest in their online gaming life—or at least not bitch about it when they do fire up a game! But how? There isn’t any one answer to this male dilemma, or female bane.

I have collected some tried and true tips and thrown in some observations from a woman’s perspective and come up with the following:

Tip #1 – Share, share, share (this is the ‘key’ guys!)
I’m not saying you need to constantly blab to her about all your online friends, your amazingly high score, or rant about some cheater you played against the other night. Believe me, before long she’ll have that glazed look (you know the one) and her eyes will glance toward the ceiling whenever you feel compelled to “share”.

I’m saying you need to invite her to see some of the maps, check out the weapons and hell yeah, even let her run around on an empty server for a while—encouraging her all the way. I know for a lot of people, it’s hard to share but if you do not want to give her equal time on the box, then it’s time to consider purchasing another.

Tip #2 – Show
Instead of droning on about adjusting the gamma, show her how the config works in determining different views, graphics, etc. and how ping and packet loss affect the game.

The coolest aspect for me was to see the female models and learn how they move. Let her get a feel for the movement of the player and the different sounds the models make. Show her the different style of maps, weapons and ammo. Now if she’s the dizzy-type, then I suggest shorter spurts.

One knowledgeable fellow wrote an article about getting girls to play and even went so far as to suggest that guys should ‘get her to make up her own cute chat binds, (because we all know how much women love to chat), that way she’ll feel more comfortable using her girlish chat binds to get to know other players! C’mon!!! I wanted to strangle that guy! Cute chat binds do not make a gamer. When I started playing online, all I wanted to do was play and get better. I rarely had time to “chat” as it was difficult enough to keep track of weapons and opponents. At that time my name was so nondescript so that no one even knew I was female. When I got a hang of the maps and became comfortable with my game, I changed my name to something a bit more feminine (and suiting for me) and took the time to acknowledge conversations, if I felt like it. I had absolutely no desire to go to a server to be social and to show off my cute girlie binds. So instead of encouraging her to pick a model that boasts the largest breasts, show her what’s available and why good gamers use certain models.

Tip #3 – Let go
Once you have done the above two tips, let go and by that I mean just let her load up a game and experiment—alone. You don’t need to be there telling her which direction to go, or which weapon works best in a certain situation. Let her learn for herself what works and what doesn’t. It’s a simple concept really. I learned Quake inside and out by trial and error and if my spouse was hovering around *tsk-tsking* then I would get frustrated and quit. If she has questions or problems, then by all means help out but then walk away.

If at this stage, she’s decided that she is just not interested in playing further (for whatever reason) then you can go back to Tips #1 & #2 and ask her to take part in your game. You can ask her for advice on what weapon to use for certain situations or strategies, and let her be that extra set of eyes on a server. This way, she can share in your gaming victories and you won’t see that “look” whenever you discuss the game with her.

Tip #4 – Encourage and be patient
Congratulate her for trying and sticking with it. Show her some of the tricks you’ve acquired and let her know she’s good enough to try some of the more complicated moves. I remember jumping on an empty RA server with my boyfriend and we’d run around together and try out different moves and show each other cool places to shoot from. We each found our own style of play and made a great team. So let her brag about her high score and be proud that she’s mastered the basics. Even if she’s not that great or if she does something you wouldn’t do, it’s her own style and she’ll figure it out. If you criticize she’ll resent it (and probably you too) and if you encourage her, she’ll be more likely to have patience when you play for hours on end.

Acknowledge differences in play style. I have madness to my method where I jump head first into the foray and blast away, while my spouse likes to silently stalk his prey. He gets annoyed by my ‘in your face’ tactics, but it works for me.

Again if she gets dizzy, then I suggest shorter spurts of play with lots of breaks but again encourage her to keep going back.

Tip #5 – Be a gracious loser (aka don’t be a jerk!)
Don’t kid yourselves…women have the same skills necessary to be great gamers and top players. So if a female opponent wins consistently or just once in a while, then be honourable about it. By that I mean, say ‘good game’ and mean it! Give her credit even when she loses.

I don’t know what it is about the male species that think women can’t possibly be good gamers, but it’s rampant on the servers. It amazes me how threatened men can become when a woman kicks their ass. Now, I’m not saying all men feel this way, but there are still many out there that do. I’ve heard the most outrageous, offensive and frightening comments when I have played well and won. It’s funny because as soon as my identity is revealed, I am either assumed to be a lesbian, fat and/or ugly, not a really a woman at all, or all of the above. As if I can’t possibly be a nice-looking woman who plays the game well. Wake up guys.

Tip #6 – She has become more popular than I am!
I know from personal experience that most guys like their girlfriends to play, but don’t like them to get wrapped up in the online gaming ‘community’. If she is involved with other clan mates or clan groupies (if she’s in an all-woman clan, the groupies are out there!) or gets a lot of attention from males on the servers, then this could be a potential problem for any relationship. It’s inevitable that if she’s a regular gamer, men will notice and want to get in touch with her to chat and/or play. How much or how little you two participate in the community is up to you but if you do hang out, know that guys will want to talk to her. Even when I told guys that I was happily married, they still persisted. Some claimed they just wanted to help me improve my rail skills—now that’s a true gamers’ pick-up line! It’s really up to her to curb any direct flirtations, but most of the time it is innocent chatting and there is nothing to worry about. I also think the guy has to be secure in the knowledge that he’s got what all other gamer guys would love to have, and he shouldn’t let the extra attention bother him.

Tip #7 – Don’t make it your life
It’s all about balance folks. Take time to game together as a team, against each other, or take turns playing separately, but either way make sure it’s not consuming your whole relationship. She’ll appreciate the time you spend together gaming, and be even more appreciative when you can walk away to do something else. This leads to the next category…
Benefits:

Happy gaming couples, have great sex! It’s true. I don’t know if it’s the competitiveness of the game, the feeling of accomplishment, or the fact that you just shared some laughs, but it’s all foreplay for good sex! (Even those in-game commentaries can make for some teasing fun!)

Most girl gamers are eager to try new games too. If they are accomplished or comfortable with one type of game then they are more likely to take up a new game. My boyfriend and I always tried out new games together. We have found that we both experience the “coolness factor” at the same time as opposed to him learning the game inside and out and telling me about it later. We often eagerly await new releases and even though I’m more of a FPS gal, and my boyfriend is more of a RPG guy, we each find our happing hunting ground.

It gives you (the guy) the excuse to sit down and play for hours without having to justify your time or listening to her complain about it.

Isn’t that what we all really want?

When I go out to do battle with the enemy, I strap on my nipple protectors, shimmy into my hot, pink g-string, sling my gun over my shoulder and I’m ready for anything. But wait…let’s not forget the matching stiletto heels! At least I’ll look sexy when I die, all sprawled out. Round one… I’m hit, moaning *ahhh*…my body ripples with the impact as my bouncy, abundant breasts heave forward bursting from my tight leather. I hear the cheers from my opponents as they scream “kill the whore!” The assault increases, more jolting, more orgasmic moaning. I collapse to my knees, well-rounded and naked buttocks gleaming in the lantern light as I fall forward… I lay battered…defeated…but yet – teasingly hot all sprawled out! The killers reap their praise, “you got the whore!”, “good job!” Round two…the whore changes her model to a nondescript male skin and the flaming taunts quickly die down. I am a woman gamer, a generic gamer, not an object to be taunted because of my skimpy outfit, but just a gamer—like everyone else.

It’s been over five years since I wrote that article about “Women in G-strings” and it was by far the most commented on, by women, men, gamers and non-gamers alike. I received hundreds of responses either bashing or applauding my opinion. I also received a lot of “why don’t you just make your own model if it bothers you so much?” advice. As a woman gamer I have always customized my model in one way or another but my point is—why should I have to?

Five years later, it is obvious that game developers still cater to men and have not faced the reality that women make up a large segment of gamers. I had high hopes that designers and/or gaming developers would see the need to include models that are of the non-humongous-breasted variety, but I see that variety is not what we got. It seems we have the same narrow-minded bimbo-themed models showing up in all genres of games, they cast spells, tantalize and whimper seductively.

My more recent foray into Dark Messiah started off great with the demo, showcasing cool effects, decent models and all the makings of an epic game, but then fell flat with the full release and the giggly, jealous bimbo sideline story. I ditched the game for that reason and for the obvious, it was buggy as hell. But the point is… they turned a potentially exceptional game into a mediocre sham by not offering ONE main female model, while the main male model interacts with fawning, stupid women, who want nothing more than to garner his attention. *tsk* Dark Messiah developers. Is this what female gamers want in a game? We already subject ourselves to the incessant flaming and harassment that goes on in game just because we are female, so why wear a model that looks something like a stripper or worse, play as a man with annoying bimbo sidekicks.

I’ve played a lot of games over the years and each time I participate in the forums, I ask about plans for female models, characters, etc. It is troubling to read (as in the case of Dark Messiah forums) that “historically speaking women were not warriors”, therefore there are no female warriors in the game. This is where I point out that ‘historically speaking’ mages did not kill with sticky magical fire grenades that bounce on the ground, explode and kill. My point got lost in the heated “historical fact” conundrum and I gave up. This issue of gender often gets lumped in with the political online debate that all ethnic groups should be represented or the game should be historically accurate, or worse be educational in terms of skill. I do not care whether a game accurately reflects history, but I do care that almost half of the gaming population have no choice but to play as stupidly dressed females or as men. Why not throw in some solid female peripheral characters or a main character that can be customized to be male or female? I understand that including both male and female main characters may not be so easy to do for single player games, since it involves changing dialogue, voices, interactions, and the physics of the game, but at least have some solid side characters.

There is hope as there are some developers that realize the potential in including decent female models and have adapted their games to include competent side characters. Half Life II did it right. In both HL I and II even though the main character is male, the females in the game are fighters, decently dressed and not stupidly orgasmic in sound. In other words, they are normal. I quite liked playing as Doctor Freeman because the gender-issue wasn’t an “issue” at all. For one, he doesn’t speak and the other characters treat him as somewhat gender neutral. His side-kick Alyx is the best damn looking female model I have ever seen—she’s tough, dressed normally AND smart. Even though she subtly flirts with Doctor Freeman from time to time, it is unobtrusive.

I don’t play online as much anymore as I’d rather spend the time on single player but I know that popular opinion on many forums is that women should stop whining and just play. I like to think I have a choice, but frankly when a new game comes out and its main character is male and the only other females in game are bimbos, then there is no choice. It is inherently impossible to enjoy such a game as a woman gamer.

Frankly I still believe that more women would take up gaming if their sexuality was not an issue during game play and modelers/developers responded with suitable model choices. My advice to any woman wanting to take up any game; wear a generic model/skin and/or purchase games that offer choices. Perhaps in our collective purchasing power, we can force developers to consider the other half of the spending gaming community.