Valve has unveiled the first concept art for Half-Life 2: Episode 3 as part of the Into the Pixel exhibit for the E for All Expo.
The concept piece depicts a small silhouetted figure brandishing a crowbar set against the backdrop of what appears to be the landscape out of the ruins of the Citadel.
A floating Combine Advisor towers over what we obviously presume to be Gordon. Considering there's no where to run or hide, this could represent the climax of the game, with Gordon facing off the Combine Empire.
The Into the Pixel exhibit features sixteen works of video game art chosen from a field of submissions from various artists around the world. It will take place between October 3-5, 2008. Valve has recently confirmed that Episode 3 will not be appearing at E3, so maybe there's a possibility of seeing the game there...?
Oh I can't wait another slice of Half lifes linear shooting. fighting the same generic enemies as before. Being forced down invisable corridors even when outside. I can't wait to fight another gunship. I've only fought about 10 over the 3 so far. Good times ahead or not as the case would be.
Oh I can't wait another slice of Half lifes linear shooting. fighting the same generic enemies as before. Being forced down invisable corridors even when outside. I can't wait to fight another gunship. I've only fought about 10 over the 3 so far. Good times ahead or not as the case would be.
Oh I can't wait another slice of Half lifes linear shooting. fighting the same generic enemies as before. Being forced down invisable corridors even when outside. I can't wait to fight another gunship. I've only fought about 10 over the 3 so far. Good times ahead or not as the case would be.
You must be playing a totally different game to the rest of us. Either that or you're a completely emotionless fool that ignores all the beautiful environments, nicely integrated physics gameplay, amazing continuous cutscenes that evolve around you....
The tingler made me feel all tingly. The pic could have been from HL2...
I think just is the case in CoD4, HL2 is a linear game, but it's so beautifully (and I don't just mean the visuals) created that it completely immerses the player. And that Ep. 2 ending. Brilliant.
Oh I can't wait another slice of Half lifes linear shooting. fighting the same generic enemies as before. Being forced down invisable corridors even when outside. I can't wait to fight another gunship. I've only fought about 10 over the 3 so far. Good times ahead or not as the case would be.
I wish people would get over this whole 'linear = bad' complex, it's really tedious.
NO what is tedious in this age of free roaming worlds within games is linearity within shooters. Games are never going to evolve if devs keep releasing the same game time after time. Can anyone also tell me why the ending of episode 1 were Alex is hanging by one arm from a beam above a valley was completely ignored at the start of episode 2
I was hoping this would be out sharpish as I heard they where working on Ep2 and 3 at the same time. Then after Ep2 shipped I read an interview saying they werent sure what story the 3 one will take! At the very least I expected them to have a good idea of what they where going to do but they didnt even have that. W ell, ive been p**sed over the delay of each one but each time that melted away after 2 mins into play. Guys, I will wait, I love this series
NO what is tedious in this age of free roaming worlds within games is linearity within shooters. Games are never going to evolve if devs keep releasing the same game time after time. Can anyone also tell me why the ending of episode 1 were Alex is hanging by one arm from a beam above a valley was completely ignored at the start of episode 2
Er, That didnt happen. Did you even play the game or just watch the trailers? (that was taken out of the game)
NO what is tedious in this age of free roaming worlds within games is linearity within shooters. Games are never going to evolve if devs keep releasing the same game time after time. Can anyone also tell me why the ending of episode 1 were Alex is hanging by one arm from a beam above a valley was completely ignored at the start of episode 2
Can anyone also tell me why the ending of episode 1 were Alex is hanging by one arm from a beam above a valley was completely ignored at the start of episode 2
Somebody is trying to argue without actually having plaeyed the games....
NO what is tedious in this age of free roaming worlds within games is linearity within shooters. Games are never going to evolve if devs keep releasing the same game time after time.
Tell me one game that even has the scope, scale, variety of weapons or even story that you've had from Half Life, Opposing Force, Blue Shift,Half Life 2, Episode 1 and Episode 2.
I played all the way through. Are you sure that didn't happen??? I do remember going along on the train and the blinding flash. I though that after that you saw Alex as I stated. Age getting the better of me there then. But to my main point I love Half-life and Half-life 2 to an extent. Still didn't think it was a patch on the first. Ok it had far more realised characters but it had far less well executed set pieces. By the end I couldn't look at another gunship because they comprised 7 of the boss fights along the journey. I think I will wait for Far Cry 2. Pinning my hopes on that to take the fps forward. But each to his own.
I played all the way through. Are you sure that didn't happen??? I do remeber going along on the train and the blinding flash. I though that after that you saw Alex as I stated. Age getting the better of me there then. But to my main point I love Half-life and Half-life 2 to an extent. Still didn't think it was a patch on the first. Ok it had far more realised characters but it had far less well executed set pieces. By the end I couldn't look at another gunship because they comprised 7 of the boss fights along the journey. I think I will wait for Far Cry 2. Pinning my hopes on that to take the fps forward. But each to his own.
The original Trailer for EP2 started with alex hanging from the train but they scraped that to get a more personnel and engaging impact from her...well, not going to spoil anything. As much as I loved the original Halflife it PALES in comparasion to the new ones. I freaken love the half-life series. I do agree on your Far Cry point, looks stunning and very clever.
Just bring it out already, talk about taking their time!
I sincerely hope they are working on HL3 in the background to this, i don't think i can wait 5 years again for a brand new installment of HL
I thought Valve said that Episode 3 would be the ending and would end the story cycle of certain events and characters.
It will be an ending of sorts, but not the end of the Half-Life franchise. We still know next to nothing about the G-man or his 'employers' or the combine really. I doubt all of these things are going to be neatly wrapped up in Ep 3.
I've been thinking about non-linear games how many good ones have there been?
I can only think of 3:
Far Cry Stalker Crysis (sort of)
Has there been any others?
The original Far Cry is extremely linear - it feels like a huge island that you can go anywhere on, but you really can't. Each 'level' basically puts you in a position where you can only go to your objective - perhaps two or three ways to it, but you're still on a linera path of 'this is what you have to do - go do it'.
I've been thinking about non-linear games how many good ones have there been?
I can only think of 3:
Far Cry Stalker Crysis (sort of)
Has there been any others?
The original Far Cry is extremely linear - it feels like a huge island that you can go anywhere on, but you really can't. Each 'level' basically puts you in a position where you can only go to your objective - perhaps two or three ways to it, but you're still on a linera path of 'this is what you have to do - go do it'.
I suppose it depends how your going to define linear - your right about Far Cry, essentially, however there are aspects of the game where there are infinite ways of going about achieving your objective (Crytek call them action bubbles or something) even if the objective is always set in stone - compared to the majority of shooters thats pretty 'unlinear'
In fairness to Valve development length, it won't just be Ep3 they bring out, it'll come with a couple of other games in a purple box, or something.
Doubt that!
Not only because they'd never use Purple (Orange is the 'Half Life colour' basically ) but mainly because theres nothing else on the horizon as far as I know.
Portal 2 will probably still be in development around the time Ep3 comes out, and it's certainly the kind of game they can sell seperately now!
Left 4 Dead is already getting its own standalone release, so that wont be in there, probably...
Oh I can't wait another slice of Half lifes linear shooting. fighting the same generic enemies as before. Being forced down invisable corridors even when outside. I can't wait to fight another gunship. I've only fought about 10 over the 3 so far. Good times ahead or not as the case would be.
I detect sarcasm,every single Half Life game is an joy to play from start to finish.I thought the episode's got better and better.
The Half-Life franchise is getting all a tad tired now, great as it is. I feel something insanely fresh needs to be done to rejuvenate everything. Valve should wrap things up with the episodes, quit whilst they’re ahead before the series lives up to its name and decays slowly over an immeasurable amount of time. Half-Life 3 with an overhauled direct x10 graphics engine? Hybrid RPG with free roaming gameplay? Mesmerising multiple ending story? Maybe - but it’ll still be bashing headcrabs with a crowbar for the millionth time.
Halo's pretty linear, as is BioShock. Anyone going to suggest that their linearity ruins those games?
What's special about Half-Life though, is that while you are guided along a set path, you are very often only gently suggested that way. The end result is that you feel you were given a choice and you chose the correct one.
A good example of a brillinatly designed game is to make it linear and controlled, but without making the player feel that way. I think half life is a good example of that.... and COD4 is another!
Just bring it out already, talk about taking their time!
I sincerely hope they are working on HL3 in the background to this, i don't think i can wait 5 years again for a brand new installment of HL
I thought Valve said that Episode 3 would be the ending and would end the story cycle of certain events and characters.
It will be an ending of sorts, but not the end of the Half-Life franchise. We still know next to nothing about the G-man or his 'employers' or the combine really. I doubt all of these things are going to be neatly wrapped up in Ep 3.
Yeh, but over the course of all the games we've gleaned sod all info about the G-man and his employers so I'm not sure how or if we're ever going to know what's actually going on. Kinda makes sense though, at the moment we are as clueless and helpless as Gordon Freeman so I guess we'll have to wait until he finds out what's going on.
Yeh, but over the course of all the games we've gleaned sod all info about the G-man and his employers so I'm not sure how or if we're ever going to know what's actually going on. Kinda makes sense though, at the moment we are as clueless and helpless as Gordon Freeman so I guess we'll have to wait until he finds out what's going on.
I hope we never find out, personally. It's like all the best horror films - once you see the monster, it's dull. It loses all its atmosphere, it's mystery, it makes you wonder why you bothered because it's usually a disappointment.
Half Life would end up like that if they tried to explain everything, to be honest. I like it how it is! Never knowing is fine by me.
Give me an ETA! If I keep holing my breath I'll die!
I really can't wait! Employ more people and make the games come out quicker!
Did you mean 'Give me an EA'? Cause thats basically what you implied with the next sentance More people + faster work doesnt = a good game at all!
Nice! my thoughts were that a second team could be working on the next one at the same time. But at all costs avoid an EA! I'd rather wait than have a shoddy HL title!
Give me an ETA! If I keep holing my breath I'll die!
I really can't wait! Employ more people and make the games come out quicker!
Did you mean 'Give me an EA'? Cause thats basically what you implied with the next sentance More people + faster work doesnt = a good game at all!
Nice! my thoughts were that a second team could be working on the next one at the same time. But at all costs avoid an EA! I'd rather wait than have a shoddy HL title!
I thought EA were simply the publishers and didn't have anything to do with development of Valve titles.
Give me an ETA! If I keep holing my breath I'll die!
I really can't wait! Employ more people and make the games come out quicker!
Did you mean 'Give me an EA'? Cause thats basically what you implied with the next sentance More people + faster work doesnt = a good game at all!
Nice! my thoughts were that a second team could be working on the next one at the same time. But at all costs avoid an EA! I'd rather wait than have a shoddy HL title!
I thought EA were simply the publishers and didn't have anything to do with development of Valve titles.
by all accounts ea are the company that ruined the ps3 orange box,if so i can understand the guy's fears.
after the end of episode 2 (and what an ending. eli!?) i'm looking forward to episode 3. i can understand people who found episode 1 to be more of the same because it is exactly that and a little lazy. episode 2 though,is sweet and re invigorated my faith in the idea that hl2 still has some legs in it.
looking further ahead: i think valve should sort the portal gun based around mario galaxies gravity system for hl3: maybe visit the combine home world with completely f**ked up physics.
Give me an ETA! If I keep holing my breath I'll die!
I really can't wait! Employ more people and make the games come out quicker!
Did you mean 'Give me an EA'? Cause thats basically what you implied with the next sentance More people + faster work doesnt = a good game at all!
Nice! my thoughts were that a second team could be working on the next one at the same time. But at all costs avoid an EA! I'd rather wait than have a shoddy HL title!
I thought EA were simply the publishers and didn't have anything to do with development of Valve titles.
by all accounts ea are the company that ruined the ps3 orange box,if so i can understand the guy's fears.
after the end of episode 2 (and what an ending. eli!?) i'm looking forward to episode 3. i can understand people who found episode 1 to be more of the same because it is exactly that and a little lazy. episode 2 though,is sweet and re invigorated my faith in the idea that hl2 still has some legs in it.
looking further ahead: i think valve should sort the portal gun based around mario galaxies gravity system for hl3: maybe visit the combine home world with completely f**ked up physics.
Oh God....that sounds too much like Xen for my liking!
ignore the previous x-men fuelled post,i completely misread your post.
i should've went to specsavers .
fair enough. the idea of galaxy and portal combined (bu-bum ) is just a thought of where valve could actually go (in gameplay terms) after hl2's physics revolution.
Just bring it out already, talk about taking their time!
I sincerely hope they are working on HL3 in the background to this, i don't think i can wait 5 years again for a brand new installment of HL
I thought Valve said that Episode 3 would be the ending and would end the story cycle of certain events and characters.
It will be an ending of sorts, but not the end of the Half-Life franchise. We still know next to nothing about the G-man or his 'employers' or the combine really. I doubt all of these things are going to be neatly wrapped up in Ep 3.
Yeh, but over the course of all the games we've gleaned sod all info about the G-man and his employers so I'm not sure how or if we're ever going to know what's actually going on. Kinda makes sense though, at the moment we are as clueless and helpless as Gordon Freeman so I guess we'll have to wait until he finds out what's going on.
Actually there is quite a bit of information as to whats going on handed down through out the games, but its always very subtle, like newspaper headlines on bulletin boards etc, and a lot of people miss it. This guy has done an amazing job of corellating and organizing everything: http://members.shaw.ca/halflifestory/index.htm
Well all the Half Life games have made me feel sick.So in a way i can wait for this but im am so awesome-ly(i know) looking forward to ep 3
I find this funny. Doom on the jaguar was the only game (and only version of Doom) that made me feel sick. Took me ages to figure out why I always felt so sick when I rented out the jag.
Any news yet on when we can expect HL2: Ep 3? The art work suggests a return to the citadel, but if memory serves correct, the end of HL2: Ep 2 was pointing towards Gordon and Alyx having to find and destroy some mysterious ghostly research ship. I can't recall its name - it's been TOO FRICKIN LONG since I played Ep 2.
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More people + faster work doesnt = a good game at all!
