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HL2: Episode 2 in winter News
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by
Robert Purchese
Half-Life 2: Episode 2 today moved one step closer to completion as EA announced a winter (2007/2008) release date for the retail version of the game (last we heard it was summer).
It will launch in two different boxes - one orange and one black. The black box is just for PC gamers, and will include Episode 2, Team Fortress 2 and Portal.
The orange box has all of that plus Episode 1 and the original Half-Life 2 game. This is also available on PC, as well as Xbox 360 and PS3.
Episode 2 will expand on the story of Gordon Freeman as he battles his way through City 17 and past its bizarre inhabitants. You might want to stay away from the game's trailers if you're scared about spoilers.
Team Fortress 2 is a team-based multiplayer game with a swanky cartoon-style. You can pick from various roles from engineer to spy, from soldier to sniper. Something like this over Xbox Live has us very excited indeed - head over to Eurogamer TV to whet your appetite.
Finally, Portal is a single-player experience fit to tie your brain in knots. You'll use a portal gun to manipulate your environment and objects, and it looks set to have a similar impact to the gravity gun in Half-Life 2.
If you haven't already, and you probably have, head over to our review for Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode 1.
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According to Wikipedia it's 3rd Quarter 2007, will likely be revised to Q4.. Fuck you Valve and your so-called episodic shit. Just call it "expansion pack" from now on. Gits.
Better waste money on a Wii than a lame GPU upgrade.. can't wait for a proper modchip - to play quirky Japanese games of course :P Half Life can go fuck itself.
Edited 2 times,
most recently on 07/02/07 @ 17:25
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TwistidChimp
07/02/07 @ 17:13
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Here's hoping winter means soon. If its slipped again, then that takes the piss somewhat. Still its Valve, i.e. worth waiting for to get it right.
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absolutezero
07/02/07 @ 17:15
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What a joke waiting the better part of a year for another 4 hours of game time.
Episodic gaming is a good idea in theory but Valve have just proved that really its a pile of shit. |
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BrokenSymmetry
07/02/07 @ 17:27
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This article would be a lot more helpful if it mentioned which winter (2006/2007 or 2007/2008, or even later?) is meant here....
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I'm inclined to agree. Either having one of the most successful and avidly followed FPS franchises gives you the power and resources to get episodic gaming right, or it doesn't.
Obviously, in very real terms, Valve can't hack it in that arena. While I understand that the level of experience they are putting together is demanding in terms of art, models, testing, etc. the fact is that 'Episode 2' has been delayed for over a year now. That sort of slippage eats into you credibility after a while. I'm a huge fan of Half-Life, and I'll play it to death when it comes out, but as of now I'll believe it when I see it, because Valves mouth is writing cheques it's ass can't cash. |
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Eighthours
07/02/07 @ 17:33
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This is quite silly. There'd better be a great deal to Episode 2 now.
I also think that they should release the big pack without Ep 2 in the summer for 360 and PS3. Winter is just too late for it... they can release Ep 2 on its own for a reasonable price and it'll sell. |
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TheMoonRat
07/02/07 @ 17:50
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It was about 18 months from HL2 being release to Episode 1 being released. And with this delay, it will be about 18 months from Episode 1 being released to episode 2 being released. Is 18 months between releases really that episodic?
On the other hand, it took 6 years from HL1 to HL2, so on current pace the 4 1/2 years it will take between HL2 and the final Episode 3 being released is an improvement.... i guess........... |
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MaskedDave
07/02/07 @ 18:08
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Stop your bitching and just go play something else.
Or is the release of this game *that* important to your lives? Don't get me wrong, I love Half-Life to pieces, but Jesus Christ I'd rather they spent the time to get it right rather than rushing it out to meet some arbitrary deadline. |
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My problem isn't that they're failiing to meet an 'arbitary' deadline, but rather the deadlines they set themselves.
Valve are in the enviable position of not having to answer to a publisher or anyone else (including the fans it seems). So when they said they would have a game out by such a date, I was inclined to believe them, seeing as they were setting their own pace and were best placed to make realistic predictions about when their game would be ready. From what I've seen over the last year, they might as well be getting the headcrabs to write the project deadlines. I'm a patient guy, I'll wait, take all the time in the world to get it right. Just stop telling me it's nearly ready and then pushing it even further back. That's what S.T.A.L.K.E.R. is for. (Which I'm looking forward to BTW.)
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 07/02/07 @ 18:40
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Monkey_Chops
07/02/07 @ 19:06
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So how the flying fuck is this "episodic gaming"? The rate they're churning this out at, it's no bloody different to any other "full" game. 2007/2008? Bah!
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@TheMoonRat: "Is 18 months between releases really that episodic? "
Yes! Every few months you get to have a rage episode when you read about more delays for 5h of game. This is just getting stupid by now. Valve should just change Ep2's name to HL2:Forest or something and come out with some good 10+ hours of gameplay. Also ditch the episodic gaming idea. Let others do it right without having to fight uphill because Valve gives it a bad name. |
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a.d.venturer
07/02/07 @ 20:37
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Dated compared to what? Its still the best looking FPS engine that you can play on the PC...
But Valve can go fuck themselves sideways. I want TF2 and Portal now. Not to mention Dystopia v1 and Minerva map 3.
Edited 1 times,
most recently on 07/02/07 @ 20:38
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What many of you are failing to realise is that this is as big as a full game. I mean think about it FFS: Episode 2, Team Fortress 2 AND Portal. And that's not to mention the fact that they have to port all of that AND the original HL2 AND Episode 1 to TWO consoles!!
And another thing, with all the delays to HL2 in its various guises, have they ever failed to deliver something less than absolute excellence? GIVE THEM A BREAK FFS! |
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They should just say it's coming out when it's ready, not promise to put it out "in the summer" or something like that. That's why people are slightly irritated.
Anyway, one more reason to wait for STALKER. I really hope it's a good game so I have something to enjoy this winter. Btw, it's pretty cold, isn't it? |
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I'm with symmetry on this one. I wish they'd release soon for the PC and port to consoles later...
I'm happy to wait, I'd be more dissappointed if it turned out buggy, unfinished, not great. Its not like we're out of games to play. And HL2 looks dated? Compared to what? I still haven't played a single game that looks better! And it doesn't look like everything in the game is covered in vaseline! And quit your bitchin', you're gonna play it anyways! |
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I disagree with symmetry - the whole idea behind this is that it's episodic content. It's supposed to come out frequently, which has gone to pot.
Besides, the other two are mods anyway. It's not like they're working with a new game engine either. Of course I'd rather wait for it knowing that it'll be excellent as a result, but it's more disappointing having episodic content pushed back from promised release dates - even more so than entirely new games. |
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Valve brought in the team from narbacular drop to develop Portal. TF2 has been in development for years now. So in all honesty what the hell is taking so long to produce Episode 2?
If the delay is down to the effort needed to port the content, that's just a big slap in the face to PC users and makes Steam redundant. |
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Could it be a condition of the deal with EA to distribute it to the consoles?
If I had both a 360 and a PC and Ep2 came out on the PC first then I'll buy the PC version on Steam and thats money that bypasses EA (yay!) and goes to Valve. If it comes out on both at the same time then there is more of a 'chance' that I might by the Xbox version and money goes to EA as well? Not that I'd favour a console FPS over the same version on PC but thats my personal opinion. Others might have preference or other reasons to go the console way. Is this feasible (in a sucky way)? |
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Delays make WiNo sad :(
Every time Valve delays a Half-Life episode, Jesus kills a kitten @Drakon "Since Valve backstabbed Vivaldi thinking that STEAM would be TEH FUTUR!!! with everyone using the "download and play" and it did not work so well ... just like their episodic idea. " What you smokin', boy? Steam has been a huge success for Valve. The Valve-Vivaldi break-up was because Vivaldi started doing digital distribution and pay-for-play of HL2 without consulting Valve.
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most recently on 08/02/07 @ 11:05
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"Could it be a condition of the deal with EA to distribute it to the consoles?"
EA want to sim-ship on PC, 360 and PS3. Word is the PC and 360 versions are _ready_ but squeezing Source onto the up-its-own-arse stupid design of the PS3 is causing EA major major problems. Fucking PS3 owners. You should all die in a fire. |
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