A joint announcement by Microsoft and Valve has set the stage for Half - Life 2 to become the next benchmarking standard for DirectX 9.0. Ensuring that the long-awaited sequel to one of the industry's most groundbreaking games will not only live up to five years of anticipation, but will also give gaming enthusiasts a reason to fasten their seatbelts in front of their PCs, Microsoft DirectX 9.0 will bring scientist Gordon Freeman and his creeping, shooting alien nemeses back to life, with the vibrant graphics and enhanced gameplay needed for a truly immersive experience, with the release of Half-Life 2 by Valve Corp.
We see 'Half-Life 2' as a new benchmark for the type of amazing experiences that can be delivered on the Windows platform, and DirectX 9.0 is clearly serving as the catalyst for the development of these state-of-the-art games, said Dean Lester, general manager of Windows Gaming and Graphics at Microsoft Corp. 'Half-Life 2' emphasizes the trend we are already seeing: Games for Windows now deliver the most cutting-edge technology and immersive entertainment available anywhere.
DirectX 9.0 has been crucial in helping us create a worthy sequel to 'Half-Life,' one that gives Windows gamers everything they've been waiting for, a truly unequaled experience, said Gabe Newell, co-founder of Valve. We are thrilled that our relationship with Microsoft has produced a title that all of us can be proud of.
Among the singular advantages that the DirectX 9.0 API brings to Half-Life 2 are increased speed and improved graphics -- from more-detailed bump-mapped characters to more-nuanced lighting and delicate soft shadows that lend further realism to games on Windows. The central feature of DirectX 9.0, High-Level Shader Language (HLSL), allows for full-spectrum color graphics, video, 3-D animation and enhanced audio capabilities.