Sulphur on 7/3/2010 at 05:26
Quote Posted by Enchantermon
This is true, but the problem is not the length of the episodes but the length of time in development. Episodic games should have pieces released more frequently than what Valve ended up doing.
Yeah and everyone, Valve included, knows that. Their iteration and testing pipeline leads to some fantastically polished games, but it's not going to work when you need to push something out on a regular, timely basis.
That said, even if the episodes were released every six months, I guess I'd still be griping about their lack of ambition.
Volitions Advocate on 7/3/2010 at 05:54
Portal 2 could very well be Half life 2 Ep2.5.. (or episode 3 beta 0.5 if you prefer)
maybe that's going to be the catch with Portal 2... the thing to make it more than just newer puzzles and co op. the bridge to connect the 2 storylines and help to set up EP3 for the big finale.
june gloom on 7/3/2010 at 06:11
hmmmm
nope
still not buying another valve product before episode 3
certainly not a sequel to a gimmick of the year at full retail price
DarkForge on 7/3/2010 at 10:15
Quote Posted by Sulphur
I'm complaining not about the episodes being not so much 'episodic' as I am about the fact they are miniature expansion packs. The episodes were supposed to be Half Life 3 as far as Valve were concerned. I don't see that. The gameplay hasn't been furthered, and while the tech has been improved somewhat, it's not quite enough any more.
I soooo agree with this! I came late into the episodes - I think EP2 had already been released before I had even started playing EP1. When I read about the interview with Gabe saying how he considered the episodes as HL3, I was kind of expecting the next level. Sure, not anything as drastic as the improvements between HL1 and HL2, but a major step up all the same.
When I finally got to play the episodes for myself, there was a little disappointment. As much as I enjoyed them both, I certainly didn't see how they could be considered anything more than the mission packs that they are. Same gameplay, same weapons, practically the same graphics tech... you get the point, I'm sure.
The episodes are a great continuation to the HL2 story, but Half-Life 3 they ain't!
Briareos H on 7/3/2010 at 11:56
A lot of information (too much imo) from the new Game Informer.
Here are the (http://anodal.org/portal/) scans.I don't really want to read it all (there's really a LOT of information in there), but I can't help noticing that Valve are still iterating the Source Engine (fluid dynamics ?!). :D
EDiT: uploaded the scans on my domain, just in case
Scots Taffer on 7/3/2010 at 12:08
Quote Posted by dethtoll
hmmmm
nope
still not buying another valve product before episode 3
certainly not a sequel to a gimmick of the year at full retail price
keep giving us the pulse check all the way to release day
riveting stuff
in the spirit of the post above (un tonne d'informations!), i've an erection to rival the eiffel tower for this game
Briareos H on 7/3/2010 at 12:15
edited the link.
fuck me, i read it all :(
i want it
aperture science, 100 years later is an awesome idea (luxurious vegetation!) and i want to see how it all gets played out in the half-life universe (still doesn't dismiss my time portal theory >:[)
Al_B on 7/3/2010 at 19:38
Skimmed the link - but it all looks very promising. Co-op multiplayer? I can feel the money being taken out of my bank account as I speak.
Volitions Advocate on 7/3/2010 at 21:11
well that mag article destroys my Ep2.5 prediction.
EvaUnit02 on 9/4/2010 at 20:12
(
http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=241619) Screenshots + concept art
What do you reckon is the story behind Chell? Throughout the the first game you get impression that Glados kept running clone after clone of the same individual to their deaths. If the new game is set "hundreds of years later", then it seems to strongly support that theory.
My predictions:- A full 5 hour minimum campaign filled with a lot variety in puzzle + level design. The scope expanded far beyond the experimental novelty pack-in with HL2 Episode 2 that everyone had initially expected Portal's reception to be, including Valve. $40-50 price tag.
EDIT:-
Portal is the finest thing that Valve has ever done in terms of writing, so my expectations will be high for the sequel. The gulf between it and the dreadful scripting and narrative of Half-Life 2 is staggering.
