corroded: Blue-Shift and Opposing Force are not considered canon. Only Half Life, Half Life 2 (and Episodes) are. Which means to Valve, Shepard doesn't exist. So don't get your hopes up.
Not actually true. The Gearbox expansions are "ambiguously canon" - obviously some things, like the teleportation gun in Opposing Force, constitute continuity errors when compared to the events and rules of the later Valve games, but Valve hasn't confirmed or denied how "canon" these expansions are. Additionally, according to this article, Doug Lombardi and Gabe Newell are expecting a comeback for Shepard at some point.
I think a bigger question is going to be who the heck is Gordon Freeman? How is he able to take down entire alien races and uses guns very well despite the fact that he's just some inexperienced scientist? Obviously the G-man sees something in Gordon that nobody else has because he picked him to make a contract for. Maybe its just a fluke that Gordon is so lucky but maybe that is something special about Gordon. What do we really know about the mute mass-murderer anyways?
Well, we do know a lot about Gordon. He has his own history - he wrote his Ph.D thesis at MIT on teleportation through solid matter, continued to study teleportation technology at Innsbruck University, and eventually got fed up with the lack of funds and had his old friend Dr. Kleiner reccommend him for a job at Black Mesa. I've also heard that we know for sure that the only combat training he's had was at the Black Mesa training process, though I'm not sure where that's confirmed. Basically, he's just a super-gifted scientist, who also happens to be pretty good at fighting his way through swarms of aliens. There might be something more to it, but I haven't picked up any hints in the games.
Uncompetative: I hadn't spotted the Gordon Freeman thing, myself; but then I hadn't been all that obsessed with the game, like some people - clever...
I'm utterly convinced that this is just a coincidence. It's the same as the whole Aperture Science Handheld Portal Device = ASHPD = Adrian Shepard - a complete fluke.
Well, we do know a lot about Gordon. He has his own history - he wrote his Ph.D thesis at MIT on teleportation through solid matter, continued to study teleportation technology at Innsbruck University, and eventually got fed up with the lack of funds and had his old friend Dr. Kleiner reccommend him for a job at Black Mesa. I've also heard that we know for sure that the only combat training he's had was at the Black Mesa training process, though I'm not sure where that's confirmed. Basically, he's just a super-gifted scientist, who also happens to be pretty good at fighting his way through swarms of aliens. There might be something more to it, but I haven't picked up any hints in the games.
If everybody in black mesa got the same weapons training, then why is Gordon one of the only guys who didn't end up dead? It might just be that he's really lucky and has some natural talent, but that doesn't seem like a very fun explanation.
All signs point to G-man being from a completely different race and it's frustrating how many people seem to not take note of the storyline and come to this conclusion simply because the G-man has adorned a human form.
Idiots. Gosh.
Maybe that's just what he wants you to think!
True, but then you could apply that attitude to any aspect of the story and brand any coherent storytelling as a fassaud?
I think the G-man is anything but human and if he turns out to be; A) Human B) A government agent And finally and most retardedly C) Jesus' messenger
I will eat a jar of ginger whilst writing Valve angry letters sealed with my tears.
I bet that at the end of the last game we'll hear Gordon speak, and it'll be with the same speech impediment.
This has been officially refuted by VALVe.
I think that he is a member of some multi-dimensional Combine resistance movement, and has recruited Gordon and Adrian because he believes they stand the best chance of stopping the Combine once and for all.
At the end of episode two now space slugs sucked some brain out and that was the end
Well, we do know a lot about Gordon. He has his own history - he wrote his Ph.D thesis at MIT on teleportation through solid matter, continued to study teleportation technology at Innsbruck University, and eventually got fed up with the lack of funds and had his old friend Dr. Kleiner reccommend him for a job at Black Mesa. I've also heard that we know for sure that the only combat training he's had was at the Black Mesa training process, though I'm not sure where that's confirmed. Basically, he's just a super-gifted scientist, who also happens to be pretty good at fighting his way through swarms of aliens. There might be something more to it, but I haven't picked up any hints in the games.
If everybody in black mesa got the same weapons training, then why is Gordon one of the only guys who didn't end up dead? It might just be that he's really lucky and has some natural talent, but that doesn't seem like a very fun explanation.
Well, it may not be especially lausible, but it's really fitting with the feel of the original game. Half-Life 2 is very different from Half-Life; in the latter, you were a messiah figure, a freedom fighter, a figure of hope for the oppressed citizens of Earth. In Half-Life, you were a theoretical physiscist thrust into the worst day at work ever, hanging on and surviving by the skin of your teeth.
Well, we do know a lot about Gordon. He has his own history - he wrote his Ph.D thesis at MIT on teleportation through solid matter, continued to study teleportation technology at Innsbruck University, and eventually got fed up with the lack of funds and had his old friend Dr. Kleiner reccommend him for a job at Black Mesa. I've also heard that we know for sure that the only combat training he's had was at the Black Mesa training process, though I'm not sure where that's confirmed. Basically, he's just a super-gifted scientist, who also happens to be pretty good at fighting his way through swarms of aliens. There might be something more to it, but I haven't picked up any hints in the games.
If everybody in black mesa got the same weapons training, then why is Gordon one of the only guys who didn't end up dead? It might just be that he's really lucky and has some natural talent, but that doesn't seem like a very fun explanation.
Well, it may not be especially lausible, but it's really fitting with the feel of the original game. Half-Life 2 is very different from Half-Life; in the latter, you were a messiah figure, a freedom fighter, a figure of hope for the oppressed citizens of Earth. In Half-Life, you were a theoretical physiscist thrust into the worst day at work ever, hanging on and surviving by the skin of your teeth.
Well, we do know a lot about Gordon. He has his own history - he wrote his Ph.D thesis at MIT on teleportation through solid matter, continued to study teleportation technology at Innsbruck University, and eventually got fed up with the lack of funds and had his old friend Dr. Kleiner reccommend him for a job at Black Mesa. I've also heard that we know for sure that the only combat training he's had was at the Black Mesa training process, though I'm not sure where that's confirmed. Basically, he's just a super-gifted scientist, who also happens to be pretty good at fighting his way through swarms of aliens. There might be something more to it, but I haven't picked up any hints in the games.
If everybody in black mesa got the same weapons training, then why is Gordon one of the only guys who didn't end up dead? It might just be that he's really lucky and has some natural talent, but that doesn't seem like a very fun explanation.
Gordon had the HEV suit on, thats why he survived over security guards and other scientists, he had a suit that made him slightly stronger and faster, able to survive dangerous conditions, monitor his health and assist in aiming weapons.
My image of Gordon was of a sort of semi-ubermensch, a really smart scientist who also physically fit (cycling, swimming, etc). Throw in basic weapons training and its a start.
I think the thing about Gordon, is he learns really fast, in Black Mesa he quickly worked out how to kill y and navigate x.
I'm not so sure Gman is an agent of a rebellion movement against the Combine. Sure, the Combine are the scourge of the pan-dimensional community, but the way Gman talks about his employers (not to mention the way he is portrayed) makes me think whoever he works for is bigger than the Combine.
It could be an individual, it could be a group, it could be a whole Empire. But I don't think Gman is rebel. His powers far outweigh those of the Combine and humans combined. Stopping time? Instant teleportation? Fearless to tread into warzones just to watch Gordon fight to the death? These aren't the tendencies of someone who'd be concerned for their personal safety.
Clearly the vortigaunts have some sort of method of negating his power, which is an argument in favour of Gman being an alien himself - otherwise why would the Vortigaunts know how to deal with him? - but he doesn't seem to view them as a threat despite this.
Whoever his 'employers' are, I doubt very much that they're a rebellion. They're superior to the Combine if they have servants capable of the things the Gman can do, even if the Combine are aware of the Gman and his employers or not. Why Gman chooses to work through Gordon is still a mystery. Perhaps he does this to avoid drawing attention to himself?
i think Gman is a projection i.e. an image used to communicate with people. i believe the organization behind him have the power to pull people in and out of time periods. im guessing they want to get rid of the combine so they use Gman to communicate to the people with the potential to do serious damage to the combine, and throw them into a place/time when they could be of the most use.
so to sum up i think Gman is just a telepathic projection used to communicate with potential recruits. and the organization behind him have time travel related power.
Gman has the same weird, green eye color as Gordon, that must mean something.
I'm not sure if everyone knows this, but, 'Gman' is not his real name, it's just part of the code that was used for spawning him in the game, the 'g' means something like 'Government' man.
I believe Gordan (probably named something else) is Gman's affilate in another dimension, but now that the Combine invaded our dimension, he must find our version of Gordan for whatever reason, perhaps their version of Gordon was just about to defeat the Combine, thus solving the question of why he'd pick our version to overcome them.
"The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world."
Twilight_guy: I think the G-man causes more evil then good. What with making sure black mesa blew up and manipulating Freeman to kill everyone and blow things up. He also acts far to much like a sinister monster. (Maybe he works for the devil?) Also, I doubt if the guys at Value would bring God into a video game.
First of all, at the beginning of Half Life, you can see him ranting angrily at one of the Eli clones who was pushing the experiment to go ahead. Secondly, he doesn't manipulate Gordon at all in the first game. He, for whatever reasons, knows what will be happen next and watches Freemans action to see how he deals with these situations. Impressed, he "employs" Gordon as his or his organisations muscle to help spearhead the liberation of the human race.
The G-Man is someone who is realistic. He's looked at the overal goal and relises that sacrifices have to be made to benefit the greater good. It's not to do with religion but rather morality. As for who he is, it's impossible to say.
eh i personally hope that we never find out, because thats what is so cool about him, the whole mystery surrounding him
the only reason hes named G-Man is because that was the actual model name in HL1, because that was slang for CIA or FBI types, and he does look the type, so that makes sense
But the whole Alien Contractor thing does sound the coolest, so if they reveal that to be the case, then I wouldn't be too upset, I just hope that IF they do reveal it, then its not something retarded
I bet that at the end of the last game we'll hear Gordon speak, and it'll be with the same speech impediment.
This has been officially refuted by VALVe.
I think that he is a member of some multi-dimensional Combine resistance movement, and has recruited Gordon and Adrian because he believes they stand the best chance of stopping the Combine once and for all.
Possible, but then why didn't he intervene during the events of Half-Life, the events that expanded the Combine Empire? And why has, at the very least, been implied that Breen could have easily purchased Freeman's services?
Spoiler: Click to View
I did say multi-dimensional. he may think in a different way than us, and has decided that this course of action that will create the fastest method for destroying the combine.
Perhaps, but it doesn't explain why he's so frustrated with the Voritgaunts, who are equally multi-dimensional and seem to be just as capable of thinking in the incredibly long term as he is.
And then there's what happened to Shephard? He was picked up by G-Man like Gordon but hasn't shown up since the end of Opposing Force.
Different groups with differing plans or agendas?
and just wait till half-life 2 episode 3. he'll be back
Blue-Shift and Opposing Force are not considered canon. Only Half Life, Half Life 2 (and Episodes) are. Which means to Valve, Shepard doesn't exist. So don't get your hopes up.
Iron sea despite your spelling I think you are onto something
Gordon's preternatural ability to fight and overcome, his messianic qualities in HL2, the green eyes, his lack of speech.
The Gman orchestrated the cascade. Perhaps Gordon was targeted by the GMAN, the cascade resonance fundamentally changed Gordon, turning him into some sort of avatar of death, bestowing or unlocking latent prowess. In essence, Black Mesa was Gordon's proving ground, observed dutifully by the Gman
The Gman then deploys him throughout HL2, however once other factions learn of his abilities they too seek to use him as their tool.
Gordon himself is a yes man. He simply follows orders unquestioningly.
I also find the title of the series interesting as well. Half life... The half-life of a quantity whose value decreases with time is the interval required for the quantity to decay to half of its initial value.
Is there any meaning at all to the title of the series?
Hmm. I think the G-man may be some kind of completely alien entity from another universe who wants to destroy the Combine's hold on Earth for his own reasons. I doubt he cares much about the well-being of humans, but wants to establish his own control over Earth or gain access to something on the planet that he can't obtain while the Combine are in power. As to why the G-man didn't try this before the combine took hold, perhaps the resonance cascade in HL1 opened his eyes to Earth for the first time.
I bet that at the end of the last game we'll hear Gordon speak, and it'll be with the same speech impediment.
This has been officially refuted by VALVe.
I think that he is a member of some multi-dimensional Combine resistance movement, and has recruited Gordon and Adrian because he believes they stand the best chance of stopping the Combine once and for all.
Possible, but then why didn't he intervene during the events of Half-Life, the events that expanded the Combine Empire? And why has, at the very least, been implied that Breen could have easily purchased Freeman's services?
Spoiler: Click to View
I did say multi-dimensional. he may think in a different way than us, and has decided that this course of action that will create the fastest method for destroying the combine.
Perhaps, but it doesn't explain why he's so frustrated with the Voritgaunts, who are equally multi-dimensional and seem to be just as capable of thinking in the incredibly long term as he is.
And then there's what happened to Shephard? He was picked up by G-Man like Gordon but hasn't shown up since the end of Opposing Force.
Different groups with differing plans or agendas?
and just wait till half-life 2 episode 3. he'll be back
Blue-Shift and Opposing Force are not considered canon. Only Half Life, Half Life 2 (and Episodes) are. Which means to Valve, Shepard doesn't exist. So don't get your hopes up.
I bet that at the end of the last game we'll hear Gordon speak, and it'll be with the same speech impediment.
This has been officially refuted by VALVe.
I think that he is a member of some multi-dimensional Combine resistance movement, and has recruited Gordon and Adrian because he believes they stand the best chance of stopping the Combine once and for all.
Possible, but then why didn't he intervene during the events of Half-Life, the events that expanded the Combine Empire? And why has, at the very least, been implied that Breen could have easily purchased Freeman's services?
Spoiler: Click to View
I did say multi-dimensional. he may think in a different way than us, and has decided that this course of action that will create the fastest method for destroying the combine.
Perhaps, but it doesn't explain why he's so frustrated with the Voritgaunts, who are equally multi-dimensional and seem to be just as capable of thinking in the incredibly long term as he is.
And then there's what happened to Shephard? He was picked up by G-Man like Gordon but hasn't shown up since the end of Opposing Force.
Different groups with differing plans or agendas?
and just wait till half-life 2 episode 3. he'll be back
Blue-Shift and Opposing Force are not considered canon. Only Half Life, Half Life 2 (and Episodes) are. Which means to Valve, Shepard doesn't exist. So don't get your hopes up.
SAccharing10: I was discussing this earlier and I think this might be something - He infact works for God, or is in association with God, in that he enlists Freeman to restore balance when he's needed, this is open to discussion! gief ideas!
Um, he works for the Government, hence "G" man. I thought it'd be obvious.
Yes I hear all new applicants for the U.S army must have the ability to stop time.
DrHobo: Iron sea despite your spelling I think you are onto something
Gordon's preternatural ability to fight and overcome, his messianic qualities in HL2, the green eyes, his lack of speech.
The Gman orchestrated the cascade. Perhaps Gordon was targeted by the GMAN, the cascade resonance fundamentally changed Gordon, turning him into some sort of avatar of death, bestowing or unlocking latent prowess. In essence, Black Mesa was Gordon's proving ground, observed dutifully by the Gman
The Gman then deploys him throughout HL2, however once other factions learn of his abilities they too seek to use him as their tool.
Gordon himself is a yes man. He simply follows orders unquestioningly.
I also find the title of the series interesting as well. Half life... The half-life of a quantity whose value decreases with time is the interval required for the quantity to decay to half of its initial value.
Is there any meaning at all to the title of the series?
That was my basis of thinking, sort of an insurance policy of the Gods, one man to restore balance without asking questions, same with Black Mesa being the testing ground, at the end of the first game he says "Rather than giving you the illusion of free choice I shall take the liberty of choosing for you"
SAccharing10: I was discussing this earlier and I think this might be something - He infact works for God, or is in association with God, in that he enlists Freeman to restore balance when he's needed, this is open to discussion! gief ideas!
Um, he works for the Government, hence "G" man. I thought it'd be obvious.
Well, G-Man is his unofficial title. In the game, he hasn't ever been mentioned by name. G-Man was just the name for his character model in the origional half life.
Ok, Gordon Freeman and Gman are both androids, ladies and gentleman. Not space agents, government agents or God agents. They are artificial beings, created on earth (Aperture Science Laboratories).That's why they are similar to each other. There's nothing told about Gordon's past, he is an ordinary scientist but in the same time efficient killing machine. Everybody around (Breen, Gman) tells you about your employers, you have feeling they know something about you, that you don't know. You not grow old (beetween HL1 and HL2). Gman can immobilise you, because you're programmed the way THEY want and maybe you will be activated when the time comes(Bioshock anyone?). The thing i don't know is, if Gordon Freeman (as the peak of technology) was created to defend humanity from Combine because THEY knew Combine's coming or he was created for not so noble, darker purposes, or maybe both. Probably Black Mesa was just a final test for Gordon. Now add yourself couple Gman's hi-tech technologies from Aperture Science Laboratories: portal techonology and time control and you have pretty much all your questions answered. NOW. Who are THEY, those employers, sientists from Aperture Science Laboratories? Well, that will be probably answered in Episode 3, and will be most interesting part of HL series imho. Who knows, maybe even the head of this organization, government, whatever, is the man who borrow his face to Gman or Gordon) (remember Alien's Bishop?).
Hithel: If I remember correctly from some Half-Life 2: Episode 1 preview I read the G-man was described by Valve as speaking human language in his stilted manner because he was unused to it.
Along with the hints he drops along the way ("my clients") this makes the theory that he's some sort of alien contractor, in human form, the most viable one. Although your guess is as good as mine. It is obvious that his role is intentionally left vague and meant to build up to a climax for the entire series.
Just a thought, G-man has trouble speaking and gordon doesn't speak, IDK make of it what you will
I do like the idea of the G-Man being Gordon from the future, personally. And I do agree that he's too sinister to be God, and that Valve should keep religon out of this series.
But I can also believe that G-Bro works for an unethical extraterrestrial corporation.
Here's the best theory, though: As a child, the G-Man got so angry at the Trix Rabbit and the Lucky Charms guy, because they wouldn't share their cereal with the poor children, that life became meaningless to him. All Gordon would have to do is rob a convenience store for these items [and maybe a bowl, spoon, and some milk], give them to the G-Man, and he would set back Earth to its rightful ways.
Aint the name "G-Man" just the name that were on the files of HL1? If I remenber correctly not once you hear in game "G-Man"...
And to G-Man being Gordon from the future...Does it actually make any sence? Why would Gordon with his awesome time machine give the crystal to Black Mesa so it would open a portal to an alien world that would lead into Earth slavery/torture/and other crap?
My bet is that he's an older Gordon from the future.
It just seems like the "right" plot twist, despite not being a good one.
Personally I'd be happier if they never explained.