Valve's Laundry List?

[DEATH eVADER]

According to videogamesblogger Valve has a laundry list of the sorts of stuff that they would want done but which was not possible either through constraints to the technology or the story present or the all time favourite, time.

There are always things we want to do that we can?t because of the constraints of either the story or the arc we?ve laid out for the gameplay - or just time. So we shelve them and carry on. Ideas fly around here quite a bit, so we have this huge laundry list of things to try [from previous Half-Life 2 games] for the next thing? [Half-Life 2: Episode 3].?

With that in mind, does anybody have an idea of what these lists of ideas may be? Does anybody have an official list (or one you have made up) of these ideas? Has anybody had a glimpse at this list? Or is it just a metaphorical list?

 

[poll]

if you went through the commentary, the magnusson device was actually recycled idea for a combine weapon. It is true that they do have a list of things they want to put into the game. But woe, I don't have the list...

 

[PimpinPenguin]

Most of the cool stuff that was cut from Hl2:Beta

 

[Asknoone]

Most of the cool stuff that was cut from Hl2:Beta

Lets hope not.

 

[Druckles]

I think the way Valve are recycling that certainly-not-never-was-nothing-happened-beta content is advantageous. It prevents the Half-Life series from being too convoluted at one point and allows them more time to work on it.

I'd quite like to see snow in Episode Three. I'd just like to see it done well. Not just falling textures. Snow storms would be even better. That's pretty much it.

 

[Absinthe]

Lets hope not.

Why are you against this, exactly? Granted, some things were cut for good reason. But Valve is clearly not averse to plundering their old scrapped ideas, with Episode Two making the most visible use of a few of them. They only strengthened the game.

I have no doubt in my mind that, for instance, we will see a Hydra or another similarly themed enemy in the future. It's just a matter of time until Valve has the resources and capability to feel comfortable with the concept and take another swing at it. It was clearly something they really wanted to implement. Although I'd prefer a return of the HL1 tentacle making use of those ideas.

 

[DEATH eVADER]

There was that one script that took place at the beginning of HL2, whereby the Gman briefed you on the current events by showing how the land changed through the Xenian and the Combine invasion. Seeing something like this, perhaps Gman taking you on a round trip to the past to show you how the events changed everything.

I believed this wasn't implemented because of the complexity of the scene for the early code, couldn't say if they could do something like now.

 

[PimpinPenguin]

Lets hope not.

What have you got against some of the Beta content?. Admittedly some were worth cutting, but there were some excellent ideas in it they never made it to the final. The Antlion Grubs were from the Beta, the Strider Buster is based off a beta weapon and both work well in EP2. I think quite a few stuff that were in the beta have the potential to work in EP3.

 

[Iron_cube]

Lets hope not.

Yikes, I sure wonder where the Antlion nest and the Borealis are from

 

[Asknoone]

Yeah, and look how the antlion nests - aside from the mine shaft - turned out. Oh, that's right, boring, and overly long.

The Borealis on the other hand went through many iterations, and I have no doubt that the gameplay inside of it will have changed dramatically. The Icebreaker and the Arctic were the only interesting concepts Valve originally had, and I'm pretty sure they weren't cut for reasons other than that there was no place for them.

There was that one script that took place at the beginning of HL2, whereby the Gman briefed you on the current events by showing how the land changed through the Xenian and the Combine invasion. Seeing something like this, perhaps Gman taking you on a round trip to the past to show you how the events changed everything.

I believed this wasn't implemented because of the complexity of the scene for the early code, couldn't say if they could do something like now.

I won't pretend to speak for Valve, but I don't believe it was cut for that reason at all - more the same reason that lengthy train sequence was cut. It was a bad idea. Instead of opening the game with an overly blunt, straight to the point mish-mash of sequences they introduced the player to a world the where discovered things for himself. That was a huge part of Half-life 2, and what made the narrative work. You discovered as you progressed - not within the first 5 minutes of the game.

Why are you against this, exactly? Granted, some things were cut for good reason. But Valve is clearly not averse to plundering their old scrapped ideas, with Episode Two making the most visible use of a few of them. They only strengthened the game.

I have no doubt in my mind that, for instance, we will see a Hydra or another similarly themed enemy in the future. It's just a matter of time until Valve has the resources and capability to feel comfortable with the concept and take another swing at it. It was clearly something they really wanted to implement. Although I'd prefer a return of the HL1 tentacle making use of those ideas.

There is nothing wrong with re-introducing ideas; the ability to know what to cut and when is one of Valve's greatest strengths, and there are no doubt - as this article suggests - entire lists of the stuff. Bringing them back, re-worked and polished, is a fine idea. But when people say 'beta', I imagine such yawn-inducing concepts as the Air Exchange, or the post-apocalyptic wasteland, or that bland and mundane weapon set, or even the majority of cut enemies.

I can't say I'd be too excited to see the Hydra. If it works, if they manage it - fine. But I don't care one way or the other; it's certainly not something I am looking forward to. I don't think "Oh, I wish Valve would bring back all those things they cut for a reason." I look forward to what is new.

 

[Absinthe]

I was sad that the Air Exchange never made it. As well as the bullsquids and ichthyosaurs. And some of the Combine baddies. As well as the extended train ride.

Yawn-inducing to you, perhaps. A lot of us would consider them to be quite pleasant surprises if they ever saw the light of day in another Valve title. They may not have made the cut for a lot of reasons, but I think you should give others the benefit of assuming that if they'd like to see these things re-introduced, they'd want them implemented in a sensible and enjoyable way as opposed to shoehorned in for the hell of it. Who knows, perhaps in a way you would like as well. Of course, if it simply doesn't work then it doesn't work, and that's the end of that.

Besides, seeing as how it's content cut from the game, I could still very much consider them new.

 

[Druckles]

I'm hoping Valve might release a teaser-episode composed of all the things that never made it to a Valve title near the end of the franchise.

Including Biozeminades.

 

[Przemek]

I'm hoping Valve might release a teaser-episode composed of all the things that never made it to a Valve title near the end of the franchise.

Including Biozeminades.

I don't think it will happen. Many such things can be changed a tiny bit and included in a completely new, unrelated to Half-Life, title.

I'm still hoping to see the 1997 build of Half-Life 1, though

 

[DEATH eVADER]

I don't think it will happen. Many such things can be changed a tiny bit and included in a completely new, unrelated to Half-Life, title.

I'm still hoping to see the 1997 build of Half-Life 1, though

A playable version? There are plenty of trailers showing the build

 

[Przemek]

A playable version? There are plenty of trailers showing the build

Yeah, saw a few of them, and a lot of screenshots. There is a website devoted to this, can't recall the name or the address. I remember someone from Valve was saying that they had the final version ready in 1997 but came to a conclusion that it's not what they wanted and wasn't even too fun to play. I was always fascinated by early concepts of projects, Quake and Half-Life are the most interesting.
Unfortunately, I don't think we'll ever see the '97 build of the game, maybe because some of the ideas used will be recycled for future games

Like Absinthe, I don't like the fact that the Air Exchange is not part of the Half-Life 2 story. I think it would explain the gas masks the Metrocops and Combine Soldiers use and would enforce the feeling that Earth is actualy being taken over and either you become one of them, or die.

I love some of the enemy concepts from "Raising the Bar". The Combine Sniper, The Cremator, The Combine Synth Elite Soldier and other types of Synths. I mean, they couldn't win the 7 hour war just with Gunships and relying on the portal storms pulling in random borderworld entities (I don't like the name Xen ).

To sum up my lenghty post, I'd like to someday see many (not all) concepts featured in Raising The Bar. Perhaps after the HL2 Episodes are over, we'll see Raising The Bar, Part Two?

 

[kupocake]

Perhaps the Antlion King is still on the shopping list. Or just a future Episode Two remake with an interesting Hive section.

I don't think their shopping list is simply a case of 'Enemy A' or 'Location X'. They're thinking more in terms of broad ideas that can be expressed either with old concepts or new ones. So a colossally large enemy (instead of just 'Antlion King'), or a mechanical nightmare (instead of 'the Air Exchange' which is clearly a dead in the water concept now that the wastelands are gone and we've gone several in-game days without a single person complaining about air-quality) might feature, but they're probably thinking in even broader terms than that. AI that does this thing, locations that are this scale and populated with these kinds of things (better foliage? You can always ask for that).

 

[leib10]

I highly doubt that we will see any more Antlions at all, let alone the King.

 

[Pinkle]

If we do see antlions again, we damn well better be able to use the bugbait. :|

<3 bugbait <3

 

[Iron_cube]

If we do see antlions again, we damn well better be able to use the bugbait. :|

<3 bugbait <3

This is true, the nests had so much potential.

Plus you had the vortigaunt to do it :hmph:

 

[Tagaziel]

Perhaps the Antlion King is still on the shopping list. Or just a future Episode Two remake with an interesting Hive section.

I don't think their shopping list is simply a case of 'Enemy A' or 'Location X'. They're thinking more in terms of broad ideas that can be expressed either with old concepts or new ones. So a colossally large enemy (instead of just 'Antlion King'), or a mechanical nightmare (instead of 'the Air Exchange' which is clearly a dead in the water concept now that the wastelands are gone and we've gone several in-game days without a single person complaining about air-quality) might feature, but they're probably thinking in even broader terms than that. AI that does this thing, locations that are this scale and populated with these kinds of things (better foliage? You can always ask for that).

Wastelands aren't gone.

We simply haven't seen them yet.

 

[Atomic_Piggy]

Perhaps the Antlion King is still on the shopping list.

I hope not. I have had enough of antlions to last me 6 more HL games

 

[GainesWorthy]

I indeed do know everything on this Laundry List. There are clues if you listen to Developer Commentary. Plus I have Inside connections.

 

[kineaesth]

I indeed do know everything on this Laundry List. There are clues if you listen to Developer Commentary. Plus I have Inside connections.

I'm sure you do... Please stop this.

 

[Lukasz]

They really need to re-introduce the idea of the Hydra(from the e3 half life 2 footage) in episode 3. They should find a way to make it fun to fight.

They should also just take a break from antlions...

 

[GainesWorthy]

Fist for the win.

 

[Xendance]

I hope not. I have had enough of antlions to last me 6 more HL games

Haha, this is exactly what I think.

We had those bastards on Highway 17 in Half Life 2.
We had those bastards in Lowlife and Urban Flight in Episode One.
We had those bastards in To The White Forest, This Vortal Coil, and Freeman Pontifex.

It's getting too much!

 

[97AndyMacK]

No more antlions. Good thing we won't get them in the Arctic. Unless, oh god no, Unless they introduce the Acid Spitting, Night Vision-ing, Cold Repelling antlion.

 

[Shoes_Buttback03]

No antlions. If there HAVE to be zombies a small amount will be enough.