Valve's Original Half-Life Now Available on Steam for Mac

MacRumors · Jan 25, 2013, 12:31 PM

Half-Life, the first person shooter originally released in 1998, skyrocketed developer Valve to fame and influenced an entire generation of first person shooters. Despite its popularity, the game has never been available through Steam for Mac, until today.

As discovered by Cult of Mac, Valve released Half-Life for Mac on Steam this morning, though the company has yet to make an official announcement about the product.

Other Valve games like Half-Life 2 and its episodes have been previously available on the Mac version of Steam, but users can now add the original Half-Life to their collections for $9.99. It has also been bundled into several different value packs.

Half-Life was originally developed for the Mac back when the Windows version was released, but due to disagreements with Apple, the Mac version was scrapped at the time.

The Half-Life page in Steam still indicates that the game is Windows only, but Cult of Mac bought and installed the game on a Mac to confirm that it functions. The game can be purchased via Steam for Mac for $9.99.

Article Link: Valve's Original Half-Life Now Available on Steam for Mac

dwhittington · Jan 25, 2013, 12:33 PM

How about the Counterstrike Mod?

Xero910 · Jan 25, 2013, 12:40 PM

I'd rather play Black Mesa Source. Shame that's PC-only.

LimeiBook86 · Jan 25, 2013, 12:42 PM

Am I the only one who was hoping we'd see the OS 9 (Mac Classic OS ) version released? Even just for fun?

Amazing Iceman · Jan 25, 2013, 12:43 PM

That game was awesome when it first came out.
I used to play it up close on a 120" projection screen with 5.1 Surround system in the dark and it was very scary!

I wonder if Steam would let me play it on the Mac for free, considering I owned the Windows version.
I guess I'll sign in later to see what happens.

Quad5Ny · Jan 25, 2013, 12:48 PM

I wonder if this is a port of Half-Life: Source, or of the actual (Non-Source) Half-Life.

jhpadilla · 12:54 PM

I've just clicked the link.... It says Windows only... Where is the Mac version?

EDIT:

Oh okok, it appeared on the Library tab of the Steam app in Mac. Wow FINALLY after all these YEARS (literally) !!! Downloading now!!!!!

r0d3nt · Jan 25, 2013, 12:48 PM

I had seen an article over on Phoronix about a Half-Life Beta for Linux Steam yesterday, so I decided to check my Mac and was thrilled to see Half-Life was listed as a game that I could install! I got it installed and it runs wonderfully on my 2009 iMac. I did notice in the Linux version [which doesn't launch for some reason that I still need to look into] that there appear to be directories for the other Half-Life games as well [Blue Shift, Opposing Forces]? These might be making the jump to Linux/Mac as well!

Irishman · Jan 25, 2013, 12:50 PM

Three words -

'Bout damn time!

MasterHowl · Jan 25, 2013, 12:51 PM

YES YES YES! Great game

mcinally · Jan 25, 2013, 12:53 PM

Lets hope Opposing Force and Blue Shift follow, all three are amazing games.

Irishman · Jan 25, 2013, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcinally

Lets hope Opposing Force and Blue Shift follow, all three are amazing games.

I remember writing but not sending hate mails to Gabe Newell because they'd promised a Mac version from back when the game was in initial development, then backed out.

My rage feels vindicated somehow!

outphase · Jan 25, 2013, 01:02 PM

Oh man... I used to have a legit CD copy, but I never registered it on Steam. That CD is probably long gone by now.

RayK · Jan 25, 2013, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outphase

Oh man... I used to have a legit CD copy, but I never registered it on Steam. That CD is probably long gone by now.

All you need is the old CD key. It will give you quite a few pieces of software.

outphase · Jan 25, 2013, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayK

All you need is the old CD key. It will give you quite a few pieces of software.

The key is with the CD

Messineo · Jan 25, 2013, 01:07 PM

I started up steam and it recognized my old PC version. I was able to download the Mac version for free (in minutes) and it plays great!

I know what I'll be doing this week-end.

Baaja · Jan 25, 2013, 01:10 PM

Somebody needs to try and install a mod for this new release of Half-Life..I'm really excited to see if this will work! Probably wont as mods use their own DLLs.

chainprayer · Jan 25, 2013, 01:11 PM

They're waiting for you Gordon...
...in the test chamber.

λ

baryon · Jan 25, 2013, 01:17 PM

I've been waiting for this for a longgg time! I hope the 3rd party mods are also compatible, can anyone say?

holmesf · Jan 25, 2013, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jhpadilla

I've just clicked the link.... It says Windows only... Where is the Mac version?

EDIT:

Oh okok, it appeared on the Library tab of the Steam app in Mac. Wow FINALLY after all these YEARS (literally) !!! Downloading now!!!!!

Thanks for the note there. I purchased Half Life 1, even though Steam still only shows the Windows icon there, and then afterwards it began downloading the Mac version.

Quad5Ny · Jan 25, 2013, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baryon

I've been waiting for this for a longgg time! I hope the 3rd party mods are also compatible, can anyone say?

Third party mods have extra compiled code (DLL's). So unless Valve has done something that lets OS X Half-Life run Windows code...

iLilana · Jan 25, 2013, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LimeiBook86

Am I the only one who was hoping we'd see the OS 9 (Mac Classic OS ) version released? Even just for fun?

considering the gold master for it was made and finished in april of 99 and cross platform multiplayer

whooleytoo · Jan 25, 2013, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Irishman

I remember writing but not sending hate mails to Gabe Newell because they'd promised a Mac version from back when the game was in initial development, then backed out.

My rage feels vindicated somehow!

See, this is the problem with young people these days, no patience! If they don't get what they want within 15 years, they get all stroppy! Why, back in my day...

israelagm · Jan 25, 2013, 01:37 PM

Looks like this is only for the original Half Life. I have Half Life: Source and I cant get it to download or work on my Mac.

MasterHowl · Jan 25, 2013, 01:45 PM

Now we'll have to wait another 10 years for Episode 3...

Jan 25, 2013, 12:31 PM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	Valve's Original Half-Life Now Available on Steam for Mac Half-Life, the first person shooter originally released in 1998, skyrocketed developer Valve to fame and influenced an entire generation of first person shooters. Despite its popularity, the game has never been available through Steam for Mac, until today. As discovered by Cult of Mac, Valve released Half-Life for Mac on Steam this morning, though the company has yet to make an official announcement about the product. Other Valve games like Half-Life 2 and its episodes have been previously available on the Mac version of Steam, but users can now add the original Half-Life to their collections for $9.99. It has also been bundled into several different value packs. Half-Life was originally developed for the Mac back when the Windows version was released, but due to disagreements with Apple, the Mac version was scrapped at the time. The Half-Life page in Steam still indicates that the game is Windows only, but Cult of Mac bought and installed the game on a Mac to confirm that it functions. The game can be purchased via Steam for Mac for $9.99. Article Link: Valve's Original Half-Life Now Available on Steam for Mac
	1

Jan 25, 2013, 12:33 PM	#2
dwhittington macrumors regular Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Houston, TX	How about the Counterstrike Mod? __________________ -David Think 8-bit.
	3

Jan 25, 2013, 12:42 PM	#4
LimeiBook86 macrumors 604 Join Date: May 2002 Location: Hanging around in NJ with his cutie. :)	Am I the only one who was hoping we'd see the OS 9 (Mac Classic OS ) version released? Even just for fun? __________________ My 'How to Draw Fun Animals' iBook is now on iTunes "Just you try and stop me..." My Site Thrift Fails Tech Blog
	5

Jan 25, 2013, 12:43 PM	#5
Amazing Iceman macrumors 68020 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Florida, U.S.A.	That game was awesome when it first came out. I used to play it up close on a 120" projection screen with 5.1 Surround system in the dark and it was very scary! I wonder if Steam would let me play it on the Mac for free, considering I owned the Windows version. I guess I'll sign in later to see what happens. __________________ 17" MacBook Pro (2007) iPad 3G / new iPad LTE 64GB AppleTV 2 Follow @AmazingIceman for useful tech info and more (mention MacRumors).
	3

Jan 25, 2013, 12:48 PM	#7
jhpadilla macrumors member Join Date: Sep 2008	Where? I've just clicked the link.... It says Windows only... Where is the Mac version? EDIT: Oh okok, it appeared on the Library tab of the Steam app in Mac. Wow FINALLY after all these YEARS (literally) !!! Downloading now!!!!! Last edited by jhpadilla; Jan 25, 2013 at 12:54 PM. Reason: Facepalm
	2

Jan 25, 2013, 12:40 PM	#3
Xero910 macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2003	I'd rather play Black Mesa Source. Shame that's PC-only.
	3

Jan 25, 2013, 12:48 PM	#6
Quad5Ny macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2009	I wonder if this is a port of Half-Life: Source, or of the actual (Non-Source) Half-Life.
	2

Jan 25, 2013, 12:48 PM	#8
r0d3nt macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2008	I had seen an article over on Phoronix about a Half-Life Beta for Linux Steam yesterday, so I decided to check my Mac and was thrilled to see Half-Life was listed as a game that I could install! I got it installed and it runs wonderfully on my 2009 iMac. I did notice in the Linux version [which doesn't launch for some reason that I still need to look into] that there appear to be directories for the other Half-Life games as well [Blue Shift, Opposing Forces]? These might be making the jump to Linux/Mac as well!
	0

Jan 25, 2013, 12:50 PM	#9
Irishman macrumors 65816 Join Date: Nov 2006	Three words - 'Bout damn time!
	4

Jan 25, 2013, 12:51 PM	#10
MasterHowl macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: North of England	YES YES YES! Great game __________________ Mid-2009 15" MacBook Pro; 64 GB iPhone 4S; 64 GB iPad (3rd Gen); 500GB Time Capsule; AirPort Express; Apple Wireless Keyboard; Magic Trackpad; Apple Remote
	2

Jan 25, 2013, 12:53 PM	#11
mcinally macrumors newbie Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Manchester, UK	Lets hope Opposing Force and Blue Shift follow, all three are amazing games.
	5

Jan 25, 2013, 01:02 PM	#13
outphase macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Parts Unknown	Oh man... I used to have a legit CD copy, but I never registered it on Steam. That CD is probably long gone by now.
	2

Jan 25, 2013, 01:07 PM	#16
Messineo macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2009	It works! I started up steam and it recognized my old PC version. I was able to download the Mac version for free (in minutes) and it plays great! I know what I'll be doing this week-end.
	1

Jan 25, 2013, 01:10 PM	#17
Baaja macrumors newbie Join Date: Jun 2012	Somebody needs to try and install a mod for this new release of Half-Life..I'm really excited to see if this will work! Probably wont as mods use their own DLLs.
	0

Jan 25, 2013, 01:11 PM	#18
chainprayer macrumors 6502a Join Date: Feb 2008	They're waiting for you Gordon... ...in the test chamber. λ
	7

Jan 25, 2013, 01:17 PM	#19
baryon macrumors 68020 Join Date: Oct 2009	I've been waiting for this for a longgg time! I hope the 3rd party mods are also compatible, can anyone say? __________________ Sent from my iPod Shuffle
	0

Jan 25, 2013, 01:37 PM	#24
israelagm macrumors newbie Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: San Jose	Looks like this is only for the original Half Life. I have Half Life: Source and I cant get it to download or work on my Mac. __________________ '11 15'' MacbookPro, 2.2GHz i7; 2009 Macbook x2; '11 21.5'' iMac, 2.7GHz i5; 64GB iPad2; 32GB iPhone 4 x2; '10 & '09 Macmini; Magic Mouse; Wireless Keyboard;
	0

Jan 25, 2013, 01:45 PM	#25
MasterHowl macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: North of England	Now we'll have to wait another 10 years for Episode 3... __________________ Mid-2009 15" MacBook Pro; 64 GB iPhone 4S; 64 GB iPad (3rd Gen); 500GB Time Capsule; AirPort Express; Apple Wireless Keyboard; Magic Trackpad; Apple Remote
	5

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