Weapon annouced for Half-Life 2 that can attract or repel some objects. Assuming the physics engine is good, this will offer the possibility of much mayhem and carnage. A preveiw mentions using this weapon to send tombstones hurtling into zombies, picking up a dune buggy and using it as a battering ram, and picking up, well, barrels. It is unknown whether the weapon can be used on enemies or other players in multiplayer. Presumably, attraction will be on Primary Fire and Repulsion will be on secondary fire (or vice versa). Done right (and how could Valve get it wrong?), this is going to be as revolutionary as the first FPS sniper rifle.

On May 17th, 2004, the Manipulator had its public debut-- albeit in 2D form. Codename Gordon (formally Half-Life 2D) has a manipulator with limited functionality: you can attract objects and then shoot them at enemies. From what little I've played it is, indeed, great fun.

Also, an interesting note on the above-mentioned weapon: It is also known as the Zeropoint Cannon.

This is a reference to zero point energy, as the cannon makes use of real-life (although questionable and scientifically unproven) Hutchinson Effect, which is a very complex way of saying that it makes stuff hover using space energy.

The Zeropoint Cannon is not to be confused with the Zeropoint Gun, a smaller Half-Life 2 weapon of similar design, which can pick up and swing stuff around at long-range. It can also glue objects together with an effect akin to static cling. This gun also makes use of properties of the Hutchinson Effect.

These weapons can be differentiated by the colour of the energy effects they use. The Manipulator is orange, while the other is blue.

Ma*nip"u*la`tor (?), n.

One who manipulates

© Webster 1913.