Its incredible to think of Half-Life 2 as anything but retro. But with no releases in the series since before 2010 (Half-Life: Alyx revisited the same events on current and next-gen hardware over a decade later) Half-Life 2 is an awesome game from days past.
Featuring a selection of achievements to unlock, Half-Life 2 (including its episodic sequels) is considerably replayable. But while most achievements are straightforward, one is a little trickier and time-intensive: Little Rocket Man. Taking nearly 4 hours of standard gameplay to complete, the achievement requires you to carry a gnome from near the start of the game to the rocket at the end, put it on board, and shut the door.
Dubbed Gnome Chompski, the little garden ornament is being realised in titanium courtesy of Weta Workshop in the real world for a more noble cause. Collaborating with Rocket Lab and Valve’s Gabe Newell, the gnome will travel into orbit to raise money for the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of children’s hospital Starship, in Auckland, New Zealand.
As well as launching 30 satellites, this is a scientific project, to “test and qualify a novel 3D printing technique that could be employed for future spacecraft components.” But this exciting news has a sad aspect; Gnome Chompski will perish when the rocket burns up on re-entry when the mission ends.
The launch will take place in a 14-day window commencing on November 15th, 2020. For every viewer (watching this feed) Newell will donate $1 to Starship.
(Via Eurogamer)
Affiliate Disclosure: Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through those links. This comes at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!
Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
