Valve Corporation
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The following article is a brief synopsis of Valve Corporation's official website.
[edit] About
Valve is an entertainment software and technology company founded in 1996 and based in Bellevue, Washington. The company’s debut title, Half-Life®, has won over 50 Game of the Year Awards and was named "Best PC Game Ever" in the November 1999, October 2001, and April 2005 issues of PC Gamer, the world's best-selling PC games magazine.
Valve's portfolio of entertainment titles also includes Half-Life® 2, Counter-Strike®, Day of Defeat®, Team Fortress®, and Portal™. This portfolio of titles accounts for over 20 million retail units sold worldwide, and Valve games account for over 80% of the PC online action market.
In addition to producing best selling entertainment titles, Valve is a developer of leading-edge technologies including the Source® game engine and Steam®, a leading platform for digital content with over 10 million registered users.
Today, Valve is composed of just over 120 of the industry's best artists, programmers, and writers. In the company's 10-year history, it has risen from "unlikely new entry" to industry leader, producing a string of best selling and critically acclaimed PC products and technologies.
[edit] Games
You can purchase any of these games from Steam.
[edit] Half-Life 2: Episode One
The first in a trilogy of episodic games, Episode One reveals the aftermath of Half-Life 2 and launches a journey beyond City 17. Episode One does not require Half-Life 2 to play and also includes a first look at Episode Two.
[edit] Half-Life 2
Half-Life 2 defines a new benchmark in gaming with startling realism and responsiveness. Powered by Source™ technology, Half-Life 2 features the most sophisticated in-game characters ever witnessed, advanced AI, stunning graphics and physical gameplay.
[edit] Counter-Strike: Source
Counter-Strike: Source blends Counter-Strike's award-winning teamplay action with the advanced technology of Source™ technology. Featuring state of the art graphics, all new sounds, and introducing physics, Counter-Strike: Source is a must-have for every action gamer.
[edit] Half-Life: Source
Winner of over 50 Game of the Year awards, Half-Life set new standards for action games when it was released in 1998. Half-Life: Source is a digitally remastered version of the critically acclaimed and best selling PC game, enhanced via Source technology to include physics simulation, enhanced effects, and more.
[edit] Half-Life 2: Deathmatch
Fast multiplayer action set in the Half-Life 2 universe! HL2's physics adds a new dimension to deathmatch play. Play straight deathmatch or try Combine vs. Resistance teamplay. Toss a toilet at your friend today!
[edit] Day of Defeat: Source
Day of Defeat offers an intense brand of online gameplay set in the WWII European Theatre of Operations. Players assume the role of light/assault/heavy infantry, sniper or machine-gunner class, and missions are based on historical operations. Day of Defeat: Source features enhanced graphics and sounds design to leverage the power of Source, Valve's new engine technology.
[edit] Half-Life
Named Game of the Year by over 50 publications, Valve's debut title blends action and adventure with award-winning technology to create a frighteningly realistic world where players must think to survive. Also includes an exciting multiplayer mode that allows you to play against friends and enemies around the world.
[edit] Counter-Strike
Play the world's number 1 online action game. Engage in an incredibly realistic brand of terrorist warfare in this wildly popular team-based game. Ally with teammates to complete strategic missions. Take out enemy sites. Rescue hostages. Your role affects your team's success. Your team's success affects your role.
[edit] Counter-Strike: Condition Zero
With its extensive Tour of Duty campaign, a near-limitless number of skirmish modes, updates and new content for Counter-Strike's award-winning multiplayer game play, plus over 12 bonus single player missions, Counter-Strike: Condition Zero is a tremendous offering of single and multiplayer content.
[edit] Day of Defeat
Enlist in an intense brand of Axis vs. Allied teamplay set in the WWII European Theatre of Operations. Players assume the role of light/assault/heavy infantry, sniper or machine-gunner class, each with a unique arsenal of historical weaponry at their disposal. Missions are based on key historical operations. And, as war rages, players must work together with their squad to accomplish a variety of mission-specific objectives.
[edit] Team Fortress Classic
One of the most popular online action games of all time, Team Fortress Classic features over nine character classes -- from Medic to Spy to Demolition Man -- enlisted in a unique style of online team warfare. Each character class possesses unique weapons, items, and abilities, as teams compete online in a variety of game play modes.
[edit] Deathmatch Classic
Enjoy fast-paced multiplayer gaming with Deathmatch Classic (a.k.a. DMC). Valve's tribute to the work of id software, DMC invites players to grab their rocket launchers and put their reflexes to the test in a collection of futuristic settings.
[edit] Opposing Force
Return to the Black Mesa Research Facility as one of the military specialists assigned to eliminate Gordon Freeman. Experience an entirely new episode of single player action. Meet fierce alien opponents, and experiment with new weaponry. Named 'Game of the Year' by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences.
[edit] Ricochet
A futuristic action game that challenges your agility as well as your aim, Ricochet features one-on-one and team matches played in a variety of futuristic battle arenas.
[edit] Awards
[edit] Half-Life 2
Half-Life 2 has been named "PC Game of the Year" 2004 by:
- Game Reactor Magazine (Sweden)
- Guardian UK Reader's Choice Awards
- SpikeTV's Video Game Awards
- Gamebiz.com.au
- Filefront.com
- Eurogamer
- Shacknews.com Reader's Choice Awards
- Gamespy.com
- Edge Magazine
- Voodoo Extreme.com
- IGN.com
- Mediacritic.com
- Playboy.com
- "Here" Magazine (Canada)
- Play Magazine (USA)
- JIVE Magazine
- OCModShop.com
- VG.no
- Driverheaven.net
- Gamearena.com.au
- FZ.se
- Associated Press
- Sydney Morning Herald
- PC Guru
- PC Zone UK (Editor and Reader's Choice)
- PopSoft (China)
- PC Gamer (US)
- Academy of Arts and Interactive Sciences
- Xbitlabs.com
- CPU Magazine
- BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts)
- Animation Magazine
- PC Games (Australia)
- Game Developer's Choice
- MeriStation.com (Spain)
- ComputerSweden
- PC Games Reader's Choice Awards (Germany)
- PC World magazine
- Future Media's 2005 Golden Joystick
[edit] Half-Life
"Best Game of All Time" - PC Gamer Half-Life was named "Best Game of All Time" by PC Gamer magazine in its November 1999, October 2001, and April 2005 issues.
The original Half-Life has been named "PC Game of the Year" by:
- Computer Game Developer Spotlight Awards
- The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Awards
- PC Gamer
- PC Games
- PC Accelerator
- Computer Gaming World
- Houston Chronicle
- CNET GameCenter
- Gamespot Reader's Poll
- Antagonist Games Network
- Adrenaline Vault
- Teen People Online
- Houston Chronicle
- Blue's News
- Gamers World
- Game Over Online Magazine
- Download.net
- Gamer's Depot
- Gamezilla
- Digital Entertainment On-Line
- Loony Games
- sCary's website
- Game Asylum
- Voodoo Extreme
- Intelligamer
- Electric Games
- The Electric Playground
- Game Power
- PC Player (German)
- PowerPlay (German)
- Gamesmania (German)
- NBC Giga (German)
- Missil.net (Sweden)
- Daily Telegraph (UK)
- Gry Komputerowe magazine (Poland)
- Pelit magazine (Finland)
- Slitz (Sweden)
- PC Home (Chinese Edition)
- Megascene (Austria)
- PC Gamer (UK)
- PC Format (UK)
- .NET (UK)
- Ultimate PC (UK)
- Game.EXE (Russia)
- Speltorget (Sweden)
- Generation 4 (France)
- ECTS Interative Entertainment Award 1999 (Game.EXE - Russia)
- ECTS Interative Entertainment Award 1999 (France)
- ECTS Interative Entertainment Award 1999 (Eastern Europe)
- Best Action Game & Game of the Year by the readers of PC Zone Benelux (Holland)
- Play Online Magazine (Japan)
[edit] Counter-Strike
Counter-Strike has won the following awards:
- Action Game of the Year 2000 -- Gamepen.com
- Action Game of the Year 2000 -- Actiontrip.com
- Online Game of the Year 2000 -- GameSpot UK and US
- Special Award for Multiplayer Gaming 2000 -- Gamespy.com
- Action Game of the Year 2000 -- Gamespot US, Readers Choice
- Game of the Year 2000 -- VoodooExtreme Readers Choice
- Best Multiplayer 2000 -- Electronic Playground
- Revolutionary PC Game 2000 -- Game Revolution
- Best Online Game 2000 -- Game Revolution
- Best Multiplayer Game -- Game Developer 2001 Spotlight Awards
- Special Achievement in Gaming -- Game Developer 2001 Spotlight Awards
- Online Game of the Year 2000 -- Computer Games
- Game of the Year 2000 -- Gamers.com
