Animation Analysis of HL2.com
The animation used by HL2.com is flash animation. It is contained in a .swf file. Adobe is responsible for the flash software. Flash animation is a frames-based animation, like a .gif, but has been expanded to include a stage that can open external movies when you click on a specific area. The images are built with vector. This process can be likened to connect the dots. Vectors are line art images that are relatively small in file size and can be enlarged to any size and retain quality. This makes them very popular in art and advertising. The plug-in required to view flash is Flash Player, using the currently available version 10.
The animation on HL2.com is the award winning aspect of the site and is as complicated as it is simple. The complexity of the animation is so well done it looks effortless. Pulleys, springs, swaying grass, and floating sea creatures made with flash animation all lend a bit of whimsy to the user's experience of the site. The simplicity of the colors used allows the viewer to see the fast paced animation and not be overwhelmed.