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David S. J. Hodgson
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Half-Life 2: Raising the Bar Hardcover – November 23, 2004

by David Hodgson (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 54 ratings
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·Unprecedented access behind Half-Life and Half-Life 2
·A forward by Valve founder Gabe Newell
·Hundreds of art, design, preproduction, and other art pieces crammed into the book
·Over a dozen key members of Valve's staff interviewed
·Officially approved by Valve
·Behind City 17 and other locations
·The development of the Source engine
·A rogue's gallery of beasts, characters, and monstrosities
·Key weapons development revelations
·A tour of many of the game's locations, from inception to completion
·Filled with art, screens, and anecdotes from the Valve team
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    288 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Prima Games
  4. Publication date
    November 23, 2004
  5. Dimensions
    8.9 x 0.9 x 11.1 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0761543643
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0761543640
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Prima Games (November 23, 2004)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0761543643
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0761543640
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.76 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.9 x 0.9 x 11.1 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 54 ratings

About the author

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David S. J. Hodgson

David S. J. Hodgson

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WRITER OF TALL TALES AND HEFTY STRATEGY GUIDES

After fleeing from a rusting, condemned, dry-docked German fishing trawler slowly sinking into the River Thames, Manchester-born author David S J Hodgson spent his formative career years writing for the UK's premiere video game magazines. After a stint at MAXIMUM magazine and the Official Nintendo UK magazine, he emigrated to the United States, where he joined the crew at the part-fraternity, part-sanitarium known as GameFan magazine. He wrote his first guide in 1996, and has authored over 100 official video game books. Highlights include official guides for Metal Gear Solid (1998), Half-Life 2 (2004), Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006), Fallout 3 (2007), Skyrim (2011-2013), WatchDogs (2014), Fallout 4 (2015), Witcher 3 (2015-2016) and Fallout 76 (2018). He also wrote The Improved Emperor's Guide to Tamriel (TESO Imperial Edition), and The Hero's Guides to the Elder Scrolls Online (2014). He lives in a shed overlooking Los Angeles with his wife, dog, and an eight-foot statue of Great Cthulhu.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
54 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the art quality good and amazing. They also appreciate the beautiful commentary. Readers say the book is worth the money and a great coffee table book that shows insight into the making of HL2.

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Art qualityCommentary qualityValue for money
9 customers mention "Art quality"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the artwork in the book very good and amazing. They appreciate the concept art, commentary, and development. Readers also mention the pictures are great and there are lots of sketches.

"...It's not a guide on how the games were made, but more of a gallery of beautiful artwork and models that helped bring the games together, from pencil..." Read more

"...It also has very good artwork detailing some of the familiar characters in game. Well worth the read if you are a fan." Read more

"...Just lots of cool concept art and anecdotes from the development of the HL games...plus some other Valve stuff...CS and such...." Read more

"...Lots of sketches and even alpha information on HL1...." Read more

9 customers mention "Commentary quality"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the commentary quality of the book amazing, beautiful, and filled with commentary all the way through. They also say it's a great coffee table book that shows insight into the making of HL2.

"...the concept art from both Half-Life games, and it's filled with commentary all the way through...." Read more

"This is a very good book detailing all the behind the scenes stuff with Half Life 2...." Read more

"This book is a great coffee table book that shows insight into the making of HL2. Lots of sketches and even alpha information on HL1...." Read more

"...It is, simply, amazing...." Read more

3 customers mention "Value for money"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book worth the money and say it's well worth reading.

"...Yes, it's hard to find now and expensive, but totally worth every penny...." Read more

"...Well worth the read if you are a fan." Read more

"...Worth the money spent." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Verity
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Commentary on the Half-Life Games
Reviewed in the United States on June 29, 2014
Verified Purchase
This is definitely not to be missed. If you're a Half-Life fan, or just in love with concept art, this is a must! This is a in-depth look at the concept art from both Half-Life games, and it's filled with commentary all the way through. Yes, it's hard to find now and expensive, but totally worth every penny. It's not a guide on how the games were made, but more of a gallery of beautiful artwork and models that helped bring the games together, from pencil to screen. Absolutely beautiful, and lots to offer. I completely recommend this!
One person found this helpful
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C. Cox
5.0 out of 5 stars Great behind the scenes info
Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2020
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This is a very good book detailing all the behind the scenes stuff with Half Life 2. It also has very good artwork detailing some of the familiar characters in game. Well worth the read if you are a fan.
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Luke
5.0 out of 5 stars I love this book
Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2016
Verified Purchase
So I'm a huge HL nerd - full disclosure. I love this book. It was used...certainly showed it. Someone donated it to Goodwill somewhere in the midwest and they put it up on Amazon...smart cookies. Just lots of cool concept art and anecdotes from the development of the HL games...plus some other Valve stuff...CS and such. I love the architectural concept art. If you're as big a nerd as I am, you definitely need this book on your coffee table.
2 people found this helpful
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F. Sapone
5.0 out of 5 stars Great!
Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2013
Verified Purchase
This book is a great coffee table book that shows insight into the making of HL2. Lots of sketches and even alpha information on HL1.

If you're expecting a book with lots of interviews from the dev team prepare to be disappointed.
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ConsumerAdvocate
4.0 out of 5 stars Awesome collection of HL2 art work
Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2008
Verified Purchase
This book tracks the creation of the Half Life II world from concept art to final product. It is, simply, amazing. Not since a book of concept art for Star Wars (the original 3) have I encountered concept art so clearly building a complete world(s) with as much detail, passion, and creativity. It's been a few years since HL2 hit the market, and we've since seen the introduction of HL Lost Coast, Episode I and Episode II, each of which build and add to the HL2 world in a organized and entertaining way.

I have to believe the continuity throughout each installment of the HL world comes in large part because they laid such a solid foundation in their creation of so much beautiful, detailed concept art. Some of the materials displayed in the book missing from HL2 have shown up in later installments. It seems even years ago they knew where they were headed.

What you will not find in this book are details on the source engine, details on the writing process behind the storyline, or any mention of the delay in production of HL2. This is a book almost exlusively about the visual art present in the game.

No matter where the storyline for HL2 ends, this book will show where it began, and how concepts led to one of the greatest games, and franchises, in PC gaming history. If you're a fan of Half Life 2, buy this book. You will not be disappointed.
3 people found this helpful
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Brian
5.0 out of 5 stars Too good to sell
Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2013
Verified Purchase
I see some new copies of this book are selling for a lot. If I had an unwrapped copy, I wouldn't sell it for less than half what people are offering now ... simply because the art and game tidbits are amazing and I'm sure I'd want to buy another copy. It always gets a look on my coffee table.
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Jantzen S. Gambill
5.0 out of 5 stars Great collectible for the HL fans
Reviewed in the United States on February 5, 2014
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The book has everything regarding HL:1 and HL:2. Concept art, commentary and development. Its fantastic. The MOD section is particularly interesting.
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dickrunner
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect for the Half-Life nerd!
Reviewed in the United States on January 13, 2017
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This is the perfect book for the Half-Life nerd, such as myself. I can't believe it took me this long to purchase. I'm not a reader but I flew through this in a matter of days.
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Top reviews from other countries

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Nick B.
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
Reviewed in Canada on April 23, 2019
Verified Purchase
A Half Life fan must have
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Leon
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent - Product matched the description and arrived more promptly than expected
Reviewed in Germany on June 28, 2019
Verified Purchase
The product was shipped from the US to the Netherlands in quite a fast timespan.

The description matched the product, there were only minor blemishes on the dust jacket, and as far as I can see no blemishes on any of the pages.

The book itself is fantastic and a *must* for any true fan of the Half-Life series, giving deeper descriptions to the design of the NPCs, levels, atmosphere, etc. of Half-Life, Counter-Strike, and Half-Life 2. The images are of a high quality. I can highly recommended this rare book.
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Shadowman
5.0 out of 5 stars indispensable pour les fans de HL et HL2
Reviewed in France on July 16, 2015
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Un des meilleurs artbook, beaucoup de croquis et d'artworks, essais graphiques et contrairement à ce que le titre laisse penser, le livre aborde les deux Half Life. Et en plus des tas d'anecdotes (en anglais) sur les coulisses du développement. Un très bel objet.
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psyche
5.0 out of 5 stars Un des meilleur livre "making of"
Reviewed in France on June 7, 2012
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Ce livre est excellent. Le nombre de croquis de production est impressionnant.
Un livre de choix mais difficile a trouver.
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Lee
4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 20, 2011
Verified Purchase
This book and the game Half Life 2, has had a massive influence on me. Seeing the art and the world of Half Life 2 inspired me to 3d modelling and computer games design/level design.

I now work in the games industry, and even after all these years looking back at the game and this book still makes me think wow. Valve really did raise the bar back then and now look at where they are.

Lovely art book, with some insight.
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