Well might as well start with the news form the last few weeks if nobody has read.
That was apparently hanging in the Vavle offices since they sent HL2 out to Vivendi in september. It is a Piniata pretty much.
This was the scene when they made HL1 gold a few years ago (seems so long dosen't it?). That was them breaking the piniata sending the signal that they're game was gold.
Now the other day, Gamespots rumor control reported this:
Quote: "Rumor #1: Half-Life 2 is gold. Really. No foolin'. Honest.
Source: If we told you, we'd have to kill you.
The official story: Both VU Games and Valve declined comment.
What we heard: Ever since the release candidate for Half-Life 2 was submitted to VU Games in mid-September, a piñata has hung in the lobby of Valve's headquarters. The plan: to bust the sucker open when the game achieved gold status. Earlier today, GameSpot learned from a locally based source that "the piñata has been broken." Further evidence of the game's completion came in a press release issued this afternoon touting the first review of "the entire game." Though nothing official has been announced yet, it appears the fat lady is at last clearing her throat.
Bogus or not bogus?: Not bogus. "
That is located at
http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/10/15/news_6110731.html. Now, if that report is true, that means that Half-Life 2 is gold, and expecting a 2 week to 6 month release. Obvioussly, there has been a whole "November 1st" date going around for a bit. That is also IIRC (not actually have reading the full article) what PCgamer had said for its release.
Now there is little doubt that it is going to redefine PC gaming, as there has rarely been a game to get this good of reviews. But do you think we are gonna see it with in a reasonable time. Or is it gonna be another long wait, while my preorder i just did a week ago (been playing CS: Source madly) collects virtual dust?
Only time shall tell i suppose.