I was gonna post this on Reddit, but I got permanently banned a couple months ago, and because of that I decided to post this on Lemmy.
That said, I really like Half-Life. I think it's a pretty good game series, especially the 2004 Valve game Half-Life 2. I also really like Alyx Vance, and I'm very glad Valve did a Half-Life game that's focused on her (Half-Life: Alyx). However, the post-credits scene does have a cliffhanger for a potential Half-Life 3 game, and for a while, people have been wondering when will that game be released, but lately people have been longing for HL3 to the point where they go crazy over it, as evidenced in the subreddit "r/HalfLife3". I don't have to attach images of this subreddit because if you want an idea, it's just people going crazy over whenever HL3 will be released or NOT.
Being someone who really likes the Half-Life games as much as the next person, let me just say this simply: who cares when HL3 will be released or NOT? I get it: you wanna play Half-Life 3, but let me say that Valve is a company with employees who are real people with real lives, and those employees can sometimes be a bit too busy often to focus on Half-Life 3. From as far as I know, Valve doesn't even allow crunch time, and allows their staff (developers, programmers, artists, writers, coders, designer, mo-cap actors and such) to work at their own pace (or "Valve time"). Some people think that Half-Life 3 was already finished and Valve's just keeping it as a surprise for their anniversary, but people like Chet Faliszek (who worked for Valve until 2017) highly doubt that, stating that he has "never heard of a game shipping where they scrambled and then had to release a day zero patch or even a day one patch to fix any of the bugs".
Now let me just say that I too have hopes for Half-Life 3 being released, but I don't always go crazy for whether or not the game gets released, like everytime I come across something that says something like "Hey, Half-Life 3 is still not dead in the water", I just say "okay cool", and then I just move onto something else because I obviously have a lot of bigger fish to fry than Half-Life 3 leaks (ie: Half-Life 3 is rumored to come out as a Steam Machine launch title next spring or so).
So let me say again: who cares when will HL3 be released? It could be released sometime this year, could be released tomorrow, who knows and who cares?! You gotta keep in mind that Valve is a busy company run by busy people. You gotta move on from the Half-Life 3 release insanity. IF you want HL3, just make it yourself. Learn game development, talk to other game programmers, practice your craft, and you'll probably make a good mod that picks up where the post-credit scene for Half-Life Alyx left off (or the very sad ending scene for Half-Life 2 Episode 2 left off).
Maybe Half-Life 3 will never be released, maybe the game might be released - who knows and who cares? The next time you post something insane about Half-Life 3, just do yourself a favor - take the time you usually take to post Half-Life 3 stuff to go outside, touch grass, breathe fresh air, and also talk to people and start dating and such. Life is a very beautiful thing, and you should take the time to enjoy every minute of it and such.
Oh and speaking of dating, I've saw posts from people saying "if Half-Life 3 gets announced/released, I'll get the courage to ask my crush out" (something like that). All I can say is this: it DOESN'T martter when would HL3 be released. What really matters is that nothing's stopping you, and nothing (NOT even an announcement and release for a highly anticipated sequel for a popular video game) can determine when will you ask your crush out. Love is very important, and romance is beautiful. However, if you're a bit too shy or nervous, I think I know of a solution: improv! The act of performing theatre and comedy that's unplanned and unscripted with the main rule being "yes, and", as in having to agree with another improviser's idea and also expand on that, as in: "IMPROVISER 1: This is a pretty good meal we're having. IMPROVISER 2: Yes, and I think it needs a bit more salt. Maybe some pepper or chili powder, maybe."
There are plenty of ways to take up improv (ie: improv can be performed solo), but I think it's best to go to an improv class in person.
According to PsychologyToday, studies have shown that improv theatre can help reduce social anxiety, uncertainty intolerance and stress, as well as boosts interpersonal and performance confidence and creativity. This means that the more you take up improv and put yourself out there, the less shy you'd pretty much when talking to people and asking them out. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/play-your-way-sane/202303/7-research-backed-benefits-of-improv-comedy
Even if you're shy, let me just say that you have the courage and motivation to flirt, ask someone out on a date and such. You're kind, you're passionate and you can do this. You got this. We believe in you. Good luck.
