Hi everyone :) just finished Half-life Alyx and I have to say, I am lost beyond words. Half-life 1 was the first video game I had ever played, I must've been 5 or 6 years old when I played it, introduced to the game by my dad (who also ended up showing me Half-Life 2 a year or so later). Meaning that all of my friends growing up never even knew what half-life even was (being born in 2002 means everyones first introduction to videogames was call of duty on an xbox). In 2013, I saw an episode of "Good Game" an Australian video game review show on t.v. showcasing the original development kit of the oculus rift back when it had no motion controls, garbage resolution and absolutely no depth of view (you couldn't even lean in or away). Despite how flawed the product was, 11 year old me was so impressed with the ability to create true 3d in a video game, I practically begged my parents to buy me one. Luckily enough, they argued well enough that the tech wasn't ready for consumer use and to just wait until a newer version comes out. I waited all through highschool for the right time to pick up VR, and by the end of it I felt confident in buying my own headset, with my own money (even though my parents insisted I was being foolish with my money hahaha). VR was awesome, playing beatsaber, arizona sunshine and boneworks are especially games I would mention, but nothing really hit the mark, and even I was starting to really doubt my purchase of VR and If it really has a future in gaming beyond a niche audience. Then the day that 6 year old me would have never understood was coming, it was only going to take 12 years, Half-life Alyx was announced. A friend of mine (the only one I had ever met to have played half-life) texted me "DUDE a new half-life game has been announced with a trailer!!!" while it was enough to excite me, seeing that it was VR was never something I would have ever predicted. I was never spoiled, avoided anything half-life related online like the plague and If i hadn't have finished it yet I would have never have found this post that's for sure. I know it sounds ridiculous but I think all half-life fans would feel the same, it's unreal to be playing a new half-game in 2020.