Half-Life 2: Episode 3 Forever?

Is Half-Life 2: Episode 3 the next Duke Nukem Forever as far as development time is concerned? It is starting to feel that way.

I think it's great if they are working extra hard on it, but it isn't even a complete game. It's an episode, which is less than an expansion pack. I hope I'm wrong, and it ends up being the equivalent of a new game.

Plus, after all these years, we know nothing about it. Valve could drop a few breadcrumbs on us gamers who are starving for info.

The game's development cycle is not a joke. It will be released and will presumably be a game of the highest quality - this requires Valve, as they do, to take as much time as possible to polish and refine the game. Good things take time.kdawg88

there is a huge difference between 4 years and 15 years (15 is over 3 times longer)

there is a huge difference between 4 years and 15 years (15 is over 3 times longer)

GummiRaccoon

Perhaps they're just making Halflife 3 instead.

pretty sure episode 3 will be using there new graphics engine

I still believe the next game will be Half-Life 3......a full game

By this time, I honestly think they're working on Half-Life 3 instead. Granted, one could argue that Valve is still making Episode 3 and taking their time to make it great, but when it comes down to it, it's been over 3 years since Episode 2 came out. There's really no reason why it would take that long for an expansion, unless it's something bigger (full game).

I still believe the next game will be Half-Life 3......a full game

AFBrat77

I still believe the next game will be Half-Life 3......a full game

I still believe the next game will be Half-Life 3......a full game

AFBrat77

[QUOTE="AFBrat77"]

I still believe the next game will be Half-Life 3......a full game

saruman354

I still believe the next game will be Half-Life 3......a full game

AFBrat77

Is Half-Life 2: Episode 3 the next Duke Nukem Forever as far as development time is concerned? It is starting to feel that way.

Falconoffury

The game's development cycle is not a joke. It will be released and will presumably be a game of the highest quality - this requires Valve, as they do, to take as much time as possible to polish and refine the game. Good things take time.kdawg88

im pretty sure valve is using a new engine with episode 3 . it would be a perfectly good time to implant one

Perhaps they're just making Halflife 3 instead.

Drazule

I am hoping they announce it at E3.

For all we know they actually do subscribe to the release pattern of "for every 'gabe is fat' joke, episode 3 gets delayed a month"ferret-gamer

[QUOTE="Drazule"]

Perhaps they're just making Halflife 3 instead.

jwsoul

it's been too long for me now, unfortunately. i've genuinely lost all interest in the story.

if they announce half life 3 with a radically upgraded engine and highly evolved gameplay it may well revive my interest but as of now i couldn't care less about the next hl installment

Its taking quite a long time, which makes me sad...

I think Gabe is still trying to figure out exactly what the G-man's deal is.denter21

I agree with this. I think they dug a deep hole from the first two episodes that they are having trouble writing themselves out of it. That in combination they waited so long to figure out what to do that they let the Source engine age. Now they are probably afraid to develop a new game on such an old engine in fear of looking like a joke compared to current games. So they are more likely planning to do the next HL whatever on a whole new engine.

I still believe the next game will be Half-Life 3......a full game

AFBrat77

It's possible they haven't even began development yet really. I think releasing a final episode before moving onto HL3 would be good. As "dated" as HL2 may feel to some people, actual gameplay wise it's still among the best because of the time and care Valve puts into creating the levels and scenarios. They lack replayability in the form of different paths and ways to defeat enemies, but they are fun to play through multiple times.

The game's development cycle is not a joke. It will be released and will presumably be a game of the highest quality - this requires Valve, as they do, to take as much time as possible to polish and refine the game. Good things take time.kdawg88

Either that, or Gabe Newell spent all of Valve's funds on chocolate pies or something ( couldn't resist ).

[QUOTE="jwsoul"][QUOTE="Drazule"]

Perhaps they're just making Halflife 3 instead.

dakan45

Episode 3,2,1 is Half-Life 3.

I think they're working on HL2 Episode 3 as well as how it will lead into HL3. I don't know how many people they have devoted to the HL series now since Im sure they have a chunk of people working on Portal 2, DOTA 2, and other unannounced projects.

Episode 1,2 and 3 is Half-Life 3. I say again.

[QUOTE="kdawg88"][QUOTE="dakan45"][QUOTE="jwsoul"]

Yes i agree i get this impression. Half Life 2 as it goes is rather dated in terms of gun play now. dakan45

I have no idea where you are getting this idea from; you certainly haven't given us any evidence of HL2 being a 'cosmetic' shooter. If it is, then you can say the same thing about most other games in the genre.

Episode 1,2 and 3 is Half-Life 3. I say again.

middle-earth88

[QUOTE="dakan45"][QUOTE="kdawg88"]

I'm not going to let this one slip past - whatever the heck you meant by saying that. Explain to me comprehensively why the 'gunplay' (whatever that is) was 'dated.'kdawg88

I have no idea where you are getting this idea from; you certainly haven't given us any evidence of HL2 being a 'cosmetic' shooter. If it is, then you can say the same thing about most other games in the genre.

Frankly i think that your response was a load of rubbish. I have no idea from where the hell you get those "strategies" Combine just stand there and shoot. What more proof you want that its a fps for non fps gamers? The game is simplistic, it takes no fps skills whatsoever and then you people bash other fps. Go figure :roll:

You can try and defend it as much as you want. It does not suprise me. If it was any other game, it would suprise be but its hl2 which is ALWAYS defended to death and praised for the wrong reasons as "the best fps ever" when the actual fps gameplay is rather weak. The first hl was a much fps with better ai and gunplay. Hl2 took many steps down, such as making the ai easier, making your movement speed slower and your weapons rather low on ammo capacity without accuracy loss or anything.Its clear that the gunplay is secondary if not even lower and the important stuff in the game, so yeah comsmetic as i said..A fps for non fps gamers....a break till you get to the next puzzles.

I felt no sense of satisfaction or challenge whatsoever in hl2. Trully a weak FIRST PERSON SHOOTER. That being said, i withdraw the argument, there is nothing else to say. Back then when people played hl2, i played cod, doom 3 and far cry. All much better fps with better gunplay and ai.

I am hoping they make this episode long long and super awesome. With all this time you think it would have to be.

[QUOTE="kdawg88"]

[QUOTE="dakan45"]

Mostly? The ai made the gunplay dated. Around that time, there were fps with better ai that took better fps skills. The gunplay itself was not particulary impressive, you had a gun, you shoot. No innacuracy to worry like say far cry or call of duty, or have to strafe and move to avoid getting hit like doom 3 or unreal tournament 2004.

Basicly gunplay in hl2 was purelly cosmetic as was the ai. A fps made fo non-fps players as opossed to the firs hl game.dakan45

I have no idea where you are getting this idea from; you certainly haven't given us any evidence of HL2 being a 'cosmetic' shooter. If it is, then you can say the same thing about most other games in the genre.

Frankly i think that your response was a load of rubbish. I have no idea from where the hell you get those "strategies" Combine just stand there and shoot. What more proof you want that its a fps for non fps gamers? The game is simplistic, it takes no fps skills whatsoever and then you people bash other fps. Go figure :roll:

You can try and defend it as much as you want. It does not suprise me. If it was any other game, it would suprise be but its hl2 which is ALWAYS defended to death and praised for the wrong reasons as "the best fps ever" when the actual fps gameplay is rather weak. The first hl was a much fps with better ai and gunplay. Hl2 took many steps down, such as making the ai easier, making your movement speed slower and your weapons rather low on ammo capacity without accuracy loss or anything.Its clear that the gunplay is secondary if not even lower and the important stuff in the game, so yeah comsmetic as i said..A fps for non fps gamers....a break till you get to the next puzzles.

I felt no sense of satisfaction or challenge whatsoever in hl2. Trully a weak FIRST PERSON SHOOTER. That being said, i withdraw the argument, there is nothing else to say. Back then when people played hl2, i played cod, doom 3 and far cry. All much better fps with better gunplay and ai.

[QUOTE="kdawg88"][QUOTE="dakan45"]

Mostly? The ai made the gunplay dated. Around that time, there were fps with better ai that took better fps skills. The gunplay itself was not particulary impressive, you had a gun, you shoot. No innacuracy to worry like say far cry or call of duty, or have to strafe and move to avoid getting hit like doom 3 or unreal tournament 2004.

Basicly gunplay in hl2 was purelly cosmetic as was the ai. A fps made fo non-fps players as opossed to the firs hl game.dakan45

I have no idea where you are getting this idea from; you certainly haven't given us any evidence of HL2 being a 'cosmetic' shooter. If it is, then you can say the same thing about most other games in the genre.

Frankly i think that your response was a load of rubbish. I have no idea from where the hell you get those "strategies" Combine just stand there and shoot. What more proof you want that its a fps for non fps gamers? The game is simplistic, it takes no fps skills whatsoever and then you people bash other fps. Go figure :roll:

You can try and defend it as much as you want. It does not suprise me. If it was any other game, it would suprise be but its hl2 which is ALWAYS defended to death and praised for the wrong reasons as "the best fps ever" when the actual fps gameplay is rather weak. The first hl was a much fps with better ai and gunplay. Hl2 took many steps down, such as making the ai easier, making your movement speed slower and your weapons rather low on ammo capacity without accuracy loss or anything.Its clear that the gunplay is secondary if not even lower and the important stuff in the game, so yeah comsmetic as i said..A fps for non fps gamers....a break till you get to the next puzzles.

I felt no sense of satisfaction or challenge whatsoever in hl2. Trully a weak FIRST PERSON SHOOTER. That being said, i withdraw the argument, there is nothing else to say. Back then when people played hl2, i played cod, doom 3 and far cry. All much better fps with better gunplay and ai.

I don't care what your opinion is, I'm trying to get you to back up your opinion instead of making empty statements like 'the actual FPS gameplay is rather weak.' You can't just go around saying stuff like that without backing it up.You still haven't said why exactly the gunplay is 'dated,' 'cosmetic,' or 'secondary' to the actual game. Give me a real example of why the AI is easier in the sequel, or why the accuracy is easier. I suspect you don't know what you're talking about, but I am keen to know why you say this.

Well I must admit that early on Combine soldiers - mostly the metro cops - offer very little challenge. Only on higher difficulties or with lots of enemies around do you really need to employ tactics, such as cover and ammo conservation, but generally they were very easy to combat. The tactical combine - the Nova Prospekt gaurds and such - were a bit more tougher, although they did have stronger weapons also. I don't particularly recall a great display of AI, aside from them maybe taking cover.

Anyway, as for Episode 3 taking forever you have to remember that they're trying to close a chapter to one of the greatest FPS ever created. That's not an easy task, and as far as I know there was never a official statement saying "Episode 3 is in development" which of course emans there's no set dedicated development or time frame, as far as the public is concerned so they could take as long as they want and never officially be working on it, unlike Duke which went through development hell and back, Episode 3 is silently in production and they're taking their time, not having trouble with it.

I still believe the next game will be Half-Life 3......a full game

AFBrat77

Me too. At least I sure hope so after all this time :?

I'm suddenly reminded of Yahtzee's observation that Valve has no idea what the **** point of "episodic" gaming is. Pop out an episode every year or so for $30, so we DON'T have to wait 4+ years in between.