Valve might be dropping the whole concept of episodic gaming once Half-Life 2: Episode 3 finally sees the light of day. While that release may seem like a distant prospect with Episode 2 still awaiting its delayed release, Gabe Newell has admitted that the conclusion of the trilogy is going to be a time for some major thinking about the company's release philosophy. Speaking to CVG, Newell explained:
I think what we really want to do is have a couple of examples out there - Episode One, and how long it was to play and how long it took to develop, Episode Two, Portal and TF2 and then the third part of the trilogy; and then sit down with the community and say, "OK, so what do you want?"
Do you want us to do more episodes? Do you want us to really tighten down the time frames and look at the scope of what we're doing so that that's possible, for us to go back to the large monolithic projects?
It seems a few years ago people were whipping up episodic content as the glorious future of the games industry, but while its spiritual influence in the shape of downloadable updates to full-sized titles can't be denied for a second, genuinely episodic games following the Half-Life 2 model haven't been as prolific as many believed they would be by now. It seems this uncertainty about the concept is not lost on Valve. Not only are they talking about consulting fans about the kind of approach they really want, Newell has said that he wants to discuss Valve's experiences with the format with Blizzard and Sam & Max developer Telltale Games.
Episodic content is certainly a concept that has split gamers over the years, some loving the quicker releases and others preferring to wait for more substantial games. What do you reckon? Do you want Half-Life 2: Episode 4, 5 and 6, or given the delays that have come with previous releases, would you rather skip the hors d'oeuvres altogether and wait a while longer for a main course?
Contest:
5:57 PM on 09.25.2007
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The delay between episodes for sam and max was about a month apart, time for script writing, voice acting, and the actual programming. Things were kept relatively simple in that game. so they could put them out quickly.
In the case of HL2 and its episodic content its the opposite, and fails. HL2 came out end of the year in 2004. EP1 came out a year and a half later ( summer 2006 ) and was ridiculously short. One of the hyped reasons to buy it was for the HDR lighting, which most Nvidia users didnt get to appreciate. ;) Ep2 is about to drop now another year later. and then the finale .. well god knows when. The point of the matter is when you paid out 60 bucks for hl2 in 2004, did you really think that you were going to have to shell out another 60 bucks to be able to see the ending proper?
There lies the rub. with me.
If any other groups could inspire some confidence in the scheme, I'd be more willing to support it. Until then, the hell with the concept and just give me a full boxed game.
-Izaak, Lord of the Lotus Clan.
1. I like to physically purchase stuff. If I have the choice to download a game or purchase retail I always go retail. If episodic content were here to stay I would guess the majority of releases are download only, which pains me ever so slightly.
2. I get less excited for episodic content. I never got episode 1 because I just wasn't all that pumped. I get more excited over full releases. I also think they would get a lot more buzz over HL 3 than all of their episodes combined.
Don't get me wrong, I LOVE downloadable games (XBLA, Popcap, etc). So smaller downloadable games don't bother me, because they were made from the ground up for that. I guess I'm just not used to "large scale" games coming in smaller chunks and would prefer to get it all at once and have it be an event. It's much more exciting to wait years for a game and have it deliver than wait just once a year for something 1/4 it's size.
Episodic content doesn't work because FPS gamers have ADD in terms of technology. They need new, new, new every time. Pumping out the same old source engine with new story line isn't going to get you more fans but may lose you some.
They need to work on full fledged sequels with new technology.
This isn't cutting it and is doomed to fail with delays.
(they only do it to make more money anyway)
Why do I say this? Because the quality of the product feels dulled, granted episode 1 had some more enjoyable action than half-life 2, the problem is.. ITS TOO SHORT! Now I loved Half-Life 2, and the first episode so far, but to me ... I would have much rather taken an expansion where you play as the combine, or one of the civil resistance members (like opposing forces and blue shift) rather then continue the epic story of Gordan Freeman in block format.
I love having the big package when it comes to the main story lines, I don't like having the main story told in bits and pieces, I want the sucker in one big punch developed over a long period of time and given to me with its full luster.
They should just develop the next lot as all one episode and release it to complete the Half-life series.
Really, they said that and i said "thats fine with me, hl2 took a lot of time and i was allready thinking it was going to be the next joke like Duke Nukem Forever, so less production time, great".
Now, episode 1 took like a yer and something and then it was too short...
Im going to buy the episode 2 but the episodical thing going on with valve doesnt seem like a good idea now. Maybe is just valve that cant make it to a deadline.
Not to Valve, just bacause you put the word epidoe in the title, that doesn't make it episodic.
Seriously, most non-episodic games have shorter dev cycles.
They saw an opportunity to "get a little gaming" out to the masses in a quarter of the time and they decided to try it. Were the majority of gamers happy? No...but should we chastise them? Nah. That they would sit down and actually ask their fan community what they should do speaks VOLUMES about Valve. How many other companies give a shit what YOu think?
Look at all the games we are looking forward to for xmas. Mass Effect, Assasin Creed, Jericho, Timeshift, Blacksite etc. All are new games and Half Life is the last thing on our minds. I will be purchasing Orange Box though, as I missed Half Life 2 because of Valve and it corely being on PC. Its also superb value for money, but does reek of Valve's desperation to claw back xmas sales. Good luck to them.
Glad you woke up and smelled the coffee, Valve. Now get to work on something special and show us you still love us.
half life 3, with a revolutionary engine to blow crysis away should be out right now...
I'd love to see a return to 2d/stylized 3d adventure type games - like interactive cartoons. Wake up on sat morning and play the new Batman/TMNT/Whatever episode on my Wii.
As far as what Valve has going on with the HL2 "episodes", no thanks. They're essentially retooling the game every time and making each episode more of an expansion pack than a simple addition to the story, like they sold it to us back before Ep. 1 even came out.
If they make episode 3 up in, oh say, 4 months, I'll be impressed as all hell. But I know it'll take them at least another year to pump it out. Which sucks, because I love the story that they have made and are still completing, I just hate this long wait for something they said wouldn't take that long to wrap up.