Half-Life 2: Episode 1 Details Emerge

[nvrmor]

seems to me that being after the events from half life 2, that the episodic content is called Aftermath as a whole, w/ the first installment being episode one.
thus, creating some monstrosity called "half life 2: Aftermath Episode 1"
or simply aftermath episode 1, aftermath episode 2, etc...

or maybe not...?

thats my take on it. i cant see them abandoning the aftermath name. although doug is the crown prince of marketing follies, so who knows.

 

[bigburpco]

Aftermath was supposed to be the first episode, but it would sound better if it was HL2 Aftermath: Ep. 1.

 

[Dodo]

No, and no, respectively.

Are you sure? The tile floor looks like it has depth, and the sparks look kind of blurred (and it isnt the poor jpeg quality).

-dodo

 

[Przemek]

I see no depth on the floor, standard bumpmapping with cubemaps.
The sparks look that way in HL2 too.

 

[Dowie]

YES my Uni Laptop will play Aftermath Ohh yeah

Can't wait for this to come out, has the price changed though?

 

[clarky003]

cool beans

EA are eating everyone one up to some degree :O http://eagames.co.uk/news.read.asp?id=6419

 

[Smigit]

It's too long to be episodic (HL2 - 18-20 hours; Aftermath or Episode One - Roughly around six hours). The episodes are referred to as an expansion for Half-Life 2.

Also, why do many people think this?

but HL2 was only 12 or so hours. it wasnt anywhere near 20. I hope the expansion packs are close to at least 3/4 the length of HL2. Given that HL2 was short and they can now reuse the engine it would be nice to get a bit more game in there.

I'm also in the boat that it's a poor name and very confusing. Regardless it's just the name and won't really kill the product will it.

 

[dogboy73]

Still concerned about episodic content. Double edged sword if you ask me. How many episodes can we expect? An endless stream until Valve have milked it for all it's worth or we are bored shitless with HL2?!

 

[Dodo]

I see no depth on the floor, standard bumpmapping with cubemaps.
The sparks look that way in HL2 too.

hmm ok... too bad ;(

-dodo

 

[boglito]

Pros:
1. I want my favorite franchise to update more than once every 5 years.
2. Valve can make more money from hl2 that goes into funding future projects.
3. Producing fun and possibly experimental episodes should be relatively easy.
4. Decent price and delivery over steam = very convenient for me. I live in a corner of the world where prices in stores invariably are quite a bit higher than in the US, in addition to titles usually showing up on shelves later than in the US.

Cons:
1. Valve are not known for their strict adherense to deadlines. Episodes of 5-6 hours wont be enough to please if there is only one per year.
2. There is a slight possibility that either the episodes themselves or the source engine will not have high enough standard to compete with other games. (I personally think both will.)
3. I would prefer that another developer was asked to make hl2-spinoffs. Gearbox did a fantastic job with OpFor, which propelled them into fame and fortune. I doubt Gearbox would be interested in slaving for Valve again, but it would be nice if another promising developer was given the opportunity both to establish themselves as a solid force in gamedevelopment and to bring something new to the world of HL. I don't know enough about the various developers to know who would be up to it or not, but I certainly hope Valve will be continuing their collaborations with Turtle Rock Studios.

All in all I am strongly in favor of episodic content. Both sin2:e and hl2:a are at the top of my must-buy list, and I expect them to stay there for a while. The steam engine is perfect for episodic release, and while there are a lot of people complaining about credit cards and what not I think they are not as many as they sound. I am not in favor of making business decisions based on the lowest common denominator, so if people without broadband and/or credit cards are shafted by the industry (which it seems they will not be for some reason) I would not shed a tear.

As for the "new" naming, I don't care. To me it is and will be half life 2: aftermath.

.bog.

 

[KaiserPanda]

To me, $20 is equivilant to about 2 paperbacks. Perfectly reasonable for a good, immersive story.
The improved AI and new enemies will provide hours of fun with extra maps and the like, too. It sounds like Alyx's new AI will be pretty groundbreaking.

 

[ríomhaire]

To me, $20 is equivilant to about 2 paperbacks. Perfectly reasonable for a good, immersive story.
The improved AI and new enemies will provide hours of fun with extra maps and the like, too. It sounds like Alyx's new AI will be pretty groundbreaking.

Why does everyone keep saying $20, VALVE HAS SAID $12!

 

[Dowie]

Why does everyone keep saying $20, VALVE HAS SAID $12!

I think the price went up, probably to fund team working on it, as its a bit behind schedule. Also Half life Source DM comes with it, so maybe that added to the price as well, who knows.

Its still a good price, just means if I want Aftermath I wont be able to get Oblivion the choices

 

[Asknoone]

I would prefer that another developer was asked to make hl2-spinoffs.

Now this I wouldn't like. Valve know where they want their story to go, and what they want in these episodes - were on a different playing field to the one were on when the Half-life expansions came around, they simply wouldn't be as up to par.

 

[boglito]

Now this I wouldn't like. Valve know where they want their story to go, and what they want in these episodes - were on a different playing field to the one were on when the Half-life expansions came around, they simply wouldn't be as up to par.

Well, I agree to a certain extent on the direct storyline, but surely you cannot deny that Gearbox did an amazing job with OpFor? I would love for content not directly story-related made by a smaller developer with things to prove and an economic fundation to establish. The life and untimely demise of gordon freeman should ofcourse fully be in the hands of valve, but there are "unlimited" options for spinoffs a la OpFor and BlueShift.

.bog.

 

[Pi Mu Rho]

I agree with boglito, personally. Under Valve's direction, a skilled small developer (or even a mod team) could produce work of the desired quality.

 

[Asknoone]

Opposing force was fun, but it provided alot of story contrivances. I enjoyed it, don't get me wrong - but it wasn't that great in my opinion.

 

[mortiz]

For every Opposing Force there is err...an opposing force! In this case it would be Blue Shift, which while not bad wasn't HL quality.

 

[TheMastahC]

If it's dealing with Gordon, I say Valve should do it. If it was going to be another character, then someone else could do it... Just as long as Valve is then working on something else.

 

[jondy]

If it's dealing with Gordon, I say Valve should do it.

QFT, definitely. Opfor and blueshift were all very well and good, but an expansion detailing the key storyline should really be done by Valve IMHO

 

[Mess]

I wonder when Valve are going to release a product with paralax? I know of a few mods that already have enabled it themselves (NightFall included) so soon mods are going to look BETTER than Valve products.

 

[Pi Mu Rho]

When they consider it worthwhile, I'm sure they will.

 

[^Ben]

Because parralax automatically makes something look better :roll:

Oh wait, all the mods are just adding parralax on top of art already produced by valve.

 

[Beerdude26]

\0/
Aweshens.

 

[Asknoone]

I wonder when Valve are going to release a product with paralax? I know of a few mods that already have enabled it themselves (NightFall included) so soon mods are going to look BETTER than Valve products.

It isn't the be all and end all, you know.

 

[Mess]

True, but the "new rendering technology" got me thinking and the half-implement paralax seemed like a feasable option.

 

[Tamer17]

Episode 1 is going to be 4-6 hours long of gameplay. Get used to it and get use the situation that people will come and say "OMG I finished the game in 2.5 hours , Valve sucks".

We're entering an episodic phase which each chapter should be judged by it's gameplay quality and elements. Their short experiences are a given.

The major concern of mine is how they are gonna explain the G-man taking you off the stasis right after he puts you in it. I have faith in Valve to give us a throughout reason.

 

[Funky Munky]

So this is just basically a name change and the same specs as HL2.

You people call this news?

 

[Edcrab]

The major concern of mine is how they are gonna explain the G-man taking you off the stasis right after he puts you in it. I have faith in Valve to give us a throughout reason.

That's the only, only thing I'm a little disquieted about- and I have been from the outset. As proper, long-term closure the ending of HL2 was great- but to cop out of it and fish Freeman back into the exact same setting and time period? Blargh! I'm sure, of course, that Valve will manage to surprise us all.

The name change is barely news, really- although I do think "Aftermath" is a preferrable sub-title to "Episode 1". As most of the planet probably will, but ultimately it matters not one jot...

 

[Sufferin-rebel]

Thing I am going to hate is..

I bet this will happen

Great sequence will happen

*boom boom, combine dying*

Barney: Quick go through the portal now!!!

Kleiner: Once you get to *name of combine world thing* kill the advisor!!

*jumps in, screen fades* end of Episode 1

Even though I doubt we get to the combine world till at least end of episode 2

 

[nvrmor]

Why does everyone keep saying $20, VALVE HAS SAID $12!

$20 is the retail price. it comes with hl2dm and i believe cs:s too.

 

[A True Canadian]

Thing I am going to hate is..

I bet this will happen

Great sequence will happen

*boom boom, combine dying*

Barney: Quick go through the portal now!!!

Kleiner: Once you get to *name of combine world thing* kill the advisor!!

*jumps in, screen fades* end of Episode 1

Even though I doubt we get to the combine world till at least end of episode 2

That is the best way to make try and get your customers to play the next episode in the series. We'll want to know what happens next. It also makes sure that loose ends aren't tied up, which in turn gives more freedom to the developers.

Since the comparison to TV is used alot, the Aftermath series could indeed end up like a TV serial.

 

[prickly]

The prospcect of improved AI appeals to me most of all

It's also good to see that the specs are not too bad - I really don't need any more excuses to want to upgrade my PC what with Oblivion coming out soon ... trying to force myself to wait for DX10 before i upgrade - my 9800 Pro should hopefully last me till then.

Not fussed about the name change and $20 is not to bad either - looking forward to pwning some more combine

 

[ríomhaire]

$20 is the retail price. it comes with hl2dm and i believe cs:s too.

But $12 is the Steam price right? So why don't people go for the lower price? Of course some of us have dial up.

 

[A True Canadian]

But $12 is the Steam price right? So why don't people go for the lower price? Of course some of us have dial up.

I never thought of it that way.

I guess the total price for the online method is the cost of the game ($12), plus the download costs over the internet for your internet service provider.

Although it should still be cheaper than the $20 (+ taxes) via the retail route.

 

[CodeFire]

Aftermath is being made "In-house". It means Valve is making the game, no one else is.

 

[Mess]

Has anyone noticed that Alyx's arm is bandaged in the news post image?

I never noticed that before.

 

[Rennmniscant]

Still think they could'a chosen a better name...:|
I hope this is just the beginning of the Half-Life 2 chronicals leading up to HL3!

 

[ríomhaire]

I never thought of it that way.

I guess the total price for the online method is the cost of the game ($12), plus the download costs over the internet for your internet service provider.

Although it should still be cheaper than the $20 (+ taxes) via the retail route.

EA and the retailers need money too.

 

[Yogibbear]

Has anyone noticed that Alyx's arm is bandaged in the news post image?

I never noticed that before.

Well, using some great interpretation I would say that the Citadel explodes and shrapnel hits her cutting her arm, and a nice little medic came over adn patched it right up for her.