Topic: Half-Life 2: Episode 2 gets delayed to now SUMMER 2007

[MysterD]

HL2: Ep Two gets DELAYED again, from Q1 2007 to now Summer 2007

Half-Life 2: Episode Two Delayed [November 10, 2006, 10:15 am ET] - 4 Comments

Computer and Video Games reports another delay to Half-Life 2: Episode Two, the next installment in the shooter follow-up that was supposed to enjoy rapid development cycles thanks to its episodic design. Episode 2, which includes the highly anticipated Portal and perennially delayed TeamFortress 2 game modes, is now expected in Summer 2007, after originally being targeted at Summer 2006 before being pushed back to Q1 2007. No reasons for the delay are offered.

[idolminds]

Fucking hell. I really want to play TF2...like, now.

[Quemaqua]

Not that I really care, but... episodic gaming my ass.  Point proven.

[idolminds]

Indeed. Valve is the big pusher for episodic gaming and even they can't get their releases out in a timely manner.

Lets look at this. HL1 to HL2 = 6 year gap. HL2 to EP1 = 1.5 years. EP1 to EP2 = 1 year. Lets just assume EP2 to EP3 is also 1 year.

Valve said the episode trilogy is more or less HL3. So thats 3.5 years between HL2 and HL3 being "done". Sure you can play parts of it in between that time, but personally I'd rather wait the full 3 years and be able to play in one go.

Valve is just slow. Nolf1 to Nolf2 was 2 years. Morrowind to Oblivion was 4 years (and thats a huge RPG world, not some linear shooter). Max Payne 1 to 2 was only 2 years. All the 3D GTA games were released within a 3 year span.

Add in the fact that these episodes feel more like mini expansions than a full sequel...hard to get really excited. Most games get short expansions within a year or so of the original games release. Big deal. Valve just calls them episodes and has decided to just release small expansions for a while while everyone else makes new games.

[MysterD]

The Episodic Gaming idea from Valve is a good one at a reduced price compared to an expansion....

...Now, if they could actually finish their game in a short time period as they originally planned. That was the plan behind them doing this, and it's not doing so great.

Well, Valve is taking forever to make an Episode.....unfortunately....

[scottws]

I think the whole episodic thing could bite them in the ass.  I mean how easy was it to get excited for HL2?  HL3 wouldn't have the same hype, but it would be a lot easier to get excited about than one of these episodes.  I personally think Valve is missing out on some sales opportunities because of that.

[Quemaqua]

Yeah, I'd agree with that.  There's something insubstantial about the episodes that makes it difficult to work yourself into a fever pitch, especially since you're getting a regular supply of the stuff (at least relatively) -- and we all know that absence makes the heart grow fonder.

[iPPi]

I think the only thing that interested me about that EP2 thing was the Portal gun and game.

[poomcgoo]

I'm a good example of that.  I was so pumped about HL2 until the first sneak preview I saw.  It ended up being one of the very few games I've bought recently, but I have no idea about any of the episodes.  I wouldn't have known they were on Episode 2, or that it was expected out soon.  I don't really know how Ep 1 even was because I never thought about trying it.  It doesn't look like anything new -- like a few add on levels to HL2 or something.

It's a really simple business concept, I don't really know what they were thinking.

[MysterD]

I am excited about HL2 Ep 2 b/c it it Half-Life....

but hell yeah, I'd RATHER be told a full-game of HL3 is in development....

I thought Valve's point of Episodic Gaming was to bank out a new episode every 4-6 months, but they're taking DOUBLE that amount of time for each episode AT LEAST....

Speaking of Episodes, where the hell is Sin Episode 2? I am more excitied about that than HL 2 Ep 2. I liked the preview for Sin Ep 2; it looked pretty bad ass.

[scottws]

I'm a good example of that.  I was so pumped about HL2 until the first sneak preview I saw.  It ended up being one of the very few games I've bought recently, but I have no idea about any of the episodes.  I wouldn't have known they were on Episode 2, or that it was expected out soon.  I don't really know how Ep 1 even was because I never thought about trying it.  It doesn't look like anything new -- like a few add on levels to HL2 or something.

It's a really simple business concept, I don't really know what they were thinking.

Exactly.  There just isn't any reason to get excited about it.  And as a result, I haven't bought episode one and I doubt I'll get episode two.  I just don't care.

It's not like you find out more about the story... there is no story.

[MysterD]

Exactly.  There just isn't any reason to get excited about it.  And as a result, I haven't bought episode one and I doubt I'll get episode two.  I just don't care.

It's not like you find out more about the story... there is no story.

Episode One reveals some of the answers to the Half-Life 2: Original Campaign....

...Though, Episode One poses some brand new questions, which most of them we're left hanging w/ unanswered.....

Only reason I bought Ep One -- it was $7.99 @ Circuit City, not too long after its release. Took me around 5 hours to finish, if I recall correctly....

I should say this: Ep One is A LOT like Half-Life 2 -- a lot of the same action, weapons, and puzzles. No vehicles, BTW. It's good, but not much is new here, really....