Multiplayer

When Half-Life 2 was released, its only multiplayer component was Counter-Strike: Source. On November 30, 2004, Valve released the Half-Life 2 Deathmatch component (HL2DM), along with the full SDK, as a free download to all Half-Life 2 owners.

Half-Life 2: Deathmatch currently has seven official maps, dm_overwatch, dm_lockdown, dm_steamlab, dm_underpass, dm_powerhouse, dm_resistance and dm_runoff some of which are based on areas from the single-player game. Dm_overwatch is based on the single-player chapter "Follow Freeman!" and dm_lockdown is based on the Nova Prospekt chapter. Dm_steamlab is an original map that is loosely based on the Half-Life Deathmatch map "datacore", while dm_run off was inspired by the popular HLDM map dm_crossfire. Valve also ran a mapmaking contest within the community, and have announced the winners. The maps in placement order: dm_underpass, dm_resistance, dm_powerhouse and dm_avalon as a honorable mention. With the release of dm_steamlab on 17th February, there came three new weapons, the Crowbar, Stunstick and the S.L.A.M.. The S.L.A.M. is a mine-type device, functioning in the same way as a proximity mine. It can be attached to walls when it emits a laser beam, which when broken will detonate the mine. They can also be detonated on demand by the player who placed them. Both the Stunstick and Crowbar behave as they did in the single-player version of the game.

The goal of Deathmatch is for the player to kill as many other players as possible, using a variety of means. The player spawns with a gravity gun, pistol, sub-machine gun and grenades. All weapons aside from the pheropod (also known as bugbait) are available to be collected around the maps. Players can be killed by gunfire, explosions, or by being hit by objects fired using the gravity gun.

Some players have expressed disappointment in HL2DM, specifically concerning the Gravity Gun. The seven official maps for HL2DM are filled with objects which can be carried by the gravity gun, leading to their near-exclusive use. This is compounded by the damage these items can deal when hit by them, which is arguably far greater than any other conventional weapon. Instead of being deathmatch, some players argue, HL2DM is an exercise in "lifting and chucking." (http://www.halflife2.net/forums/archive/index.php/t-59125.html) However there are arguably just as many players for whom the novelty of annihilating enemies by blasting them with barrels, computer monitors and even cars has never and will never be exhausted. The counter to the incredible power of the Gravity Gun is the relatively slow speed of its projectiles - indeed the argument is not dissimilar to abuse hurled at players who camp with sniper rifles or RPG's - it is common for a player to immediately blame some factor out of their control for their defeat. Building barricades is also a popular and loathed camping strategy. By placing a large amount of objects in chokepoints such as stairs, tunnels etc. leading to strategically important locations, the player defending the barricade will have a huge advantage over his opponents. Dealing with the barricades themselves is simple enough, but the distraction they provide is enough to render a player highly vulnerable against other players. For an instance, in dm_overwatch the most popular camping spot is near the actual overwatch, a Combine lookout post. This spot is easy to defend since players can block the only way leading to the overwatch with objects. This results in a stalemate in the favour of the camper, who continuosly camp the overwatch and a RPG that is conveniently placed nearby. This is just one of many ways the Gravity Gun can give unfair advantages.