Marc Laidlaw reflects on 2004

[KagePrototype]

Gamespot is running a series of articles called Reflections 2004, in which key figures in the video game industry give their thoughts on the status of video games within the last year. One of the interviewees featured is Marc Laidlaw, who scripted the dialogue for Half-Life 2. Included are his thoughts on how HL2 turned out, as well as a bit on the controversial ending.

I have read some speculation that the story was gutted or edited or otherwise wrested out of my hands; nothing could be further from the truth. While the plotline has to remain flexible enough to be altered on the fly while we are adding and deleting levels, and creative compromises are in the nature of the process, the ending is the one we always intended. I would have tweaked it a bit in retrospect (there’s always room for improvement), but overall there is little I would change. I think it’ll prove itself in the long run.

It's an interesting read, and contains quotes from all sorts of people involved in the industry. To read the full article, Click here.

 

[63]

"I actually sent fan mail to the Nintendo translation team."

nice edit, eh?

 

[KagePrototype]

Didn't Marc get hit by lightning?

His tree got hit by lightning.

 

[Asuka]

Ending was extreamly good. I dont understand how people dont understand the ending :rolling:

 

[DeusExMachina]

Its anti-climatic. Nobody likes anti-climaxes. But, it fits the HL2 universe. thats the only reason people like me can stand it. If it weren't involved in the HL universe, I definetly would've hated it.

 

[Demigod]

Personally I loved the game (short as it was ) but hated the ending. I understanding it, there isn't enough there to not understand. But it was more of a tv series ending than anything else, a plea for another season if you will. As it stands the resistance would have been better off if Gordon hadn't come back. That is until the inevitable sequel/ expansion where we will learn how they somehow got out of the building, out running a fusion explosion and the buildings collapse, then avoided the inevitable planet wide extermination of the human race in retaliation. As logically I cant see why the combine would need the humans around ( the super soldiers certainly proved their worth didn't they) and if we couldn't win the first time round (gave in in 6mins!) we wouldn't stand a snowball's chance in hell after Gordans fine work.

Other than the rather anticlimactic and ilogical ending it was a very good game. Not game of the year but I don't think any of the fps have been that great in anything other than graphics this year.

From Mr Laidlaw's coments it sounds like there will be sequals/ expansions that will explain the ending. Frankly there needs to be, I hate getting to the end of a game and being left with the feeling "what was the point in that then?" the ending lacked anykind of payoff.

 

[SubKamran]

w00t, him and I share the same feelings about Thief 3... man that was an awesome game. Shalebridge Cradle was awesome and insanely creepy.

 

[Blakeb155]

It wasn't an ending, it was a beginning. HL2 I don't think really ended.