For all the Half-Life 2 fans out there that are bummed about the next installment of HL2 Episodes being delayed until the fall, I have some news that might cheer you up a little: you'll get more content and gameplay in Episode 2.
According to Doug Lombari, director of marketing at Valve, the next Half-Life 2 episode will be noticeably longer than the first. "Episode 1 was about six hours of gameplay, and Episode 2 will be closer to eight hours of gameplay," Lombardi said. Valve also said that despite the delay of Episode 2, the development cycle for the episodic content was getting shorter.
"Episode 1 took 18 months to complete and Episode 2 will end up being about 13 to 14 months, so we're trimming it down," he said. "I think we'll get closer to a year and be on a 12 month cycle. We'll see how it goes after this trilogy is done."
In other Valve news, Lombardi said Steam will be getting some enhanced community features such as personalized stats and scores rankings for player profiles. "The idea is to add features so that people can build a community in Steam," he said. "We'll be rolling out the changes some time this spring."
And finally, Valve will be releasing the long-awaited Team Fortress 2 later this year via special Half-Life 2 bundles in color-coded boxes. The Orange Box will feature Half-Life 2, Episodes 1 and 2, Portal, and Team Fortress 2, while the Black Box will features just Episode 2 plus Portal and Team Fortress 2. No specific release date for the boxes has been announced but they are expected sometime in the fall.
Comments (24)
The inter-episode wait is way too long.
To get people to stay interested in this series and marketing model, Valve have
to release something every month or two, otherwise each installment might as
well be a whole new game. In which case we want waay more than 6 or 14 hours of
gameplay per episode.
They need to hire enough developers to produce content on a monthly soap-opera
basis.
Posted by Niz | March 9, 2007 2:50 PM
Posted on March 9, 2007 14:50
.
Posted by ejukebox | March 9, 2007 6:48 PM
Posted on March 9, 2007 18:48
Absolutely - the wait is too long. Feels like a new game everytime.
Either make a large game... or pump out these episodes faster.
Posted by Lucas Tam | March 10, 2007 10:11 AM
Posted on March 10, 2007 10:11
Absolutely - the wait is too long. Feels like a new game everytime.
Either make a large game... or pump out these episodes faster.
Posted by Lucas Tam | March 10, 2007 10:11 AM
Posted on March 10, 2007 10:11
I say they release Portal and/or TF2 between now and Episode 2, because this is
getting ridiculous.
Posted by Polynikes | March 10, 2007 10:14 AM
Posted on March 10, 2007 10:14
I believe the only reason for such a long delay is because they havent finished
the x360 version yet... kim swift of portal has already said the pc version of
portal is pretty much done! release it now, will make the wait far easier
Posted by Wonko | March 10, 2007 1:14 PM
Posted on March 10, 2007 13:14
Don't rush the developers. A good game takes time. Not just on a content basis
either. Episode 2 will incorporate far more advanced dynamic shadowing than
previous source games as well as a hand full of other engine optimizations and
expansions. Let the company that cares about their games take their time, that
way when it gets to us it works like it should.
I for one applaud Valve on their meticulous effort, no matter how long it takes.
8 hours of solid game play beats the hell out of any amount of time spent
playing Vampire:The Masqerade (or other botched title)
Posted by Indrid | March 10, 2007 10:16 PM
Posted on March 10, 2007 22:16
Oh dear, after hearing the same stories about HL2 and Episode 1 for years can
anyone say they're really surprised that its delayed again?
We're all going to love it when its finally here anyway so calm down, be patient
and cheer up! :)
Posted by Chirpy | March 11, 2007 1:31 AM
Posted on March 11, 2007 01:31
Seriously, it's taking a while. However, the benefits will far outweigh the
weight. I'd rather have an episode every year than a new installment with half
the attention to detail and updates to technology every six years. I'd rather
see mods for source benefit and have their lives extended because of Valve's
modular support of the source engine's tech lawl.
Posted by Kuro | March 11, 2007 4:25 AM
Posted on March 11, 2007 04:25
I'd like to see Episode Two sooner than later, BUT I know that Valve has good
reason to delay it. A few weeks before it is launched, I'll just play throught
HL, HL2, and HL2E1 for continuity.
Posted by i387 | March 11, 2007 10:31 AM
Posted on March 11, 2007 10:31
I know games are a comercial product made to sell but this is ridiculous. I
can't shake the feeling old guys are used to having. You know, the in-my-time-
things-used-to-be -better feeling but play time has dropped seriously since a
few years ago. The first HL was 24+ hours(closer to 30 if i remember correctly).
Then it went down to about 12 and now it's 6 and they're bragging that the new
HL is going to be 8? Yeah, real big improvement, buddy. How can anyone get any
attachment to the game when before you know it it's over. But it's ok i guess,
since they're milking the franchise far more effectively now. I thought Valve
were different. Oh well..
Posted by CubaLibre | March 11, 2007 2:10 PM
Posted on March 11, 2007 14:10
Combat in HL2 is awesome. i think it would be better if they offered more of a
multi-player environment and make it easier for people other than Valve to mod.
This is what gave games like Battlefield 1942 such a long life.
Posted by Bdt | March 11, 2007 6:39 PM
Posted on March 11, 2007 18:39
Ok you guys have to remember that these guys are trying to provide their
developers with a salary that is more than the average dev team. Also they're
working on Steam, TF2, Portal, and Left for Dead. They're not slacking guys,
they're working hard as hell.
Besides you're getting 3 games for the price of one, so stop complaining.
Posted by Modbrit | March 11, 2007 7:18 PM
Posted on March 11, 2007 19:18
Pfft.. 3 games for the price of one? I say give us 1 game for the price of 1.
The only real game I want from the bundle is TF2! I wasn't a big fan of Episode
1, nothing special IMO. Portal looks cool, but if TF2 lives up to its prequels,
well lets just say CS will get a run for its money.
Posted by TaggeD | March 12, 2007 1:45 AM
Posted on March 12, 2007 01:45
I can't wait to see ep2 but what will be after it. it should be something better
for the gamers? we want more action and longer action
Posted by Zool | March 12, 2007 3:46 AM
Posted on March 12, 2007 03:46
Well, TaggeD your'll be the only one that buys that little black box and play
TF2 alone, whilst we all play epi. 2 together! haha
Posted by Irishsk8rpatrick | March 12, 2007 3:46 AM
Posted on March 12, 2007 03:46
I have to agree. I was pretty pissed that I was able to blow through Ep1 is
only a couple days. It felt like an unfinished game. More like a single level.
IF this is what we have to look forward to then I think I will be passing on
this title from now on. I expect more than 8 hrs of gameplay from my games. I
know the game went for only $16 but the wait for such a short game is rediculous.
Not worth the wait if you ask me. Valve needs to be quicker on the development
and release of these short games or go back to giving us the epic games we love
them for. I will give E2 a try but if E3 is another long wait and very light on
gameplay I will give up on this title and spend my money on more worthy games.
Posted by Norman619 | March 12, 2007 7:48 AM
Posted on March 12, 2007 07:48
the wait is reasonable. You have to realize how long HL2 was in production. If
you take out the Source Code leak it was about 4 years or so. HL2 also only had
like 25 hours worth of game play. Valve is pumping out these episodes in about
15 months on average since Episode One. Sure it was short but the game took a
year and a half to make. HL2 episode 1 was about 7 hours long. multiply 7
hours by 4 years and you get 28 hours, the length of HL2 if you play through it
slower than most people. So if you want these games to be made within a frame
of 2 or 3 months, you are only going to get a fraction of an hour of game play
it would seem. Be happy with what you have and thank God these games are taking
a fraction of the time HL2 took durring development.
Posted by bildo | March 12, 2007 9:46 PM
Posted on March 12, 2007 21:46
I think Valve is getting things done at a fine pace. It's taking longer because
their not releasing 1 game, their releasing 3. And I'de rather wait then have
some game that sucks.
Posted by hissthemovie | March 13, 2007 8:53 AM
Posted on March 13, 2007 08:53
Episode 1 took way less time to complete than 6 hours... Frankly, I was a little
disapointed with the length of it, so I hope Episode 2 takes quite a bit more
time to finish than Ep 1 did.
Posted by Echoes24 | March 16, 2007 6:26 PM
Posted on March 16, 2007 18:26
I've seen some games that really deserve a "Bravo" for the way they are made.
Half Life was one of 'em. The phisycs, graphics and gameplay are great bur they
take a long time to make so it's probably worth the delay.
Posted by HappyFish | March 25, 2007 3:11 AM
Posted on March 25, 2007 03:11
dnt put dem dwn HL2 took 6 years 2 make!! dey are doing gd wid the episodes i
reacon and its the best game ever made jus think wat it will be like when its
out.
Posted by GMK | March 25, 2007 11:26 AM
Posted on March 25, 2007 11:26
Hey jus let it rip i wana play ep 2 i cant wait and pls consider making a
hudge game that last for 2 3 days that's a real game and dont forget about the
changes this 2 make a game perfect PS the sound is Great Valve Rulez :D
Posted by Allex7 | April 26, 2007 5:18 PM
Posted on April 26, 2007 17:18
Just release HL 2 EP 2 plssssssssssssssssssss todayyyyyyyyyyyy :DDD
Posted by allex7 | September 19, 2007 1:35 AM
Posted on September 19, 2007 01:35