HL2:EP1 to be a "standalone" game (no need to own HL2)

[sflufan]

Eurogamer is reporting that Half-Life 2: Episode 1, the upcoming first single player expansion pack for Valve's best selling first person shooter sequel, will in fact be a stand alone product and will not require the purchase of Half-Life 2 itself. According to Valve's marketing director Doug Lombardi, "Episode 1's complexion and density is markedly richer than Half-Life 2."

Source: Eurogamer (http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=63038)

[Scaryboy]

Also:
4 - 6 hours in length.
$19.99.

[sflufan]

The $19.99 price appears to be for the package that includes HL2: DM and HL: DM:S. I'm presuming there will be multiple packages like last time for those who only want EP1 and that will be around $12.99 to $15.99.

Four to six hours is about 1/3 the length of HL2 which was what they suggested would be the length of EP1 way back when it was first announced.

[fitbabits]

Also:
4 - 6 hours in length.
$19.99.
Oh, I get to go first with the Black comparison!

Black - Xbox, PS2 - Six hours of gameplay - Price: $40
Half-Life 2: Episode 1 - PC - 4-6 hours of gameplay - Price: $20

Guess which one I'll be spending my money on.

[mpsmith]

So if Episode 1's complexion and density is markedly richer than Half-Life 2, does that mean it has content?

[sflufan]

So if Episode 1's complexion and density is markedly richer than Half-Life 2, does that mean it has content?

Pay attention this time and maybe you'll actually find it! :cool:

[The Continental]

As to pricing and content: "For HL2: Episode 1 we're targeting four to six hours of new single player gaming plus HL2 DM and HL DM: Source for $19.99 - HL2 not required," he confirms. "For Episode 2, we're planning a similar offering at the same price."

I'm assuming there will be a cheaper package for those of us who already own the other stuff.

[screwtape]

15 bucks is the sweet spot for me. I can't wait to see what they cooked up. I've been reading the webcomic Condemned (http://www.hlcomic.com) over the past few days and I'm itching for some new content.

Semi-thread jack: has anybody played Half Life: Source? It's 10 bucks over Steam, and I've been contemplating buying it.

[sflufan]

15 bucks is the sweet spot for me. I can't wait to see what they cooked up. I've been reading the webcomic Condemned (http://www.hlcomic.com) over the past few days and I'm itching for some new content.

Semi-thread jack: has anybody played Half Life: Source? It's 10 bucks over Steam, and I've been contemplating buying it.

Nah don't bother - save your $.

[mpsmith]

Pay attention this time and maybe you'll actually find it! :cool:
I played through it twice, the second time I was specifically looking for content. It was just lame. Of course that's in context with playing the original and expecting the same paradigm shift from the second.

[Citizen Philip]

I got the gold edition for HL2, so I've got HL: Source, it is not, unfortunately, a redesign. Higher rez textures or something like that.

I will buy this expansion.

[Paranoia]

Will it include Team Fortress 2 ?

[Wombat]

If this is standalone, does that mean we'll have to download the engine and all the other content like textures that overlaps again, and take up another GB of hard drive space, or will it recognize that you already have Half Life 2 and only install what you need?

[Noman]

If you check the gcf files in Steam directory, you'll see that HL2 (and other source based games) are already organized that way. Source engine, art assets, sound, gameplay logic code are all separate files.

[7ofswords]

I hear in Team Fortress 2 you can blow up bridges with your team, and they have some sort of "commander" unit. I don't know what to think of it myself, but the graphics look fantastic.

[TheKeck]

I was WONDERING why this thing was shipping with HL2:DM. I, like others, really hope there's still going to be a $12.95 version for people who are actually viewing this as an expansion.

[Demize99]

Semi-thread jack: has anybody played Half Life: Source? It's 10 bucks over Steam, and I've been contemplating buying it.

Played it, its kinda meh... But there's a mod doing the whole thing over again in High Def models, levels, etc. It looks fantastic, I just hope it doesn't turn into vaporware.

[Schnoogs]

Truth of the matter is I'll pay for it no matter how much it is...HL1 and 2 are my favorite games of all time so I could care less if its $10, $20, or $40.

Valve has a proven track record and I'll gladly support their work since I've derived years of enjoyment from their productss

[Peacec]

Semi-thread jack: has anybody played Half Life: Source? It's 10 bucks over Steam, and I've been contemplating buying it.

Just wait for http://www.blackmesasource.com/

[Grimmjow]

I'm assuming there will be a cheaper package for those of us who already own the other stuff.

i hope so, in total i think they got $80 of my money and when the next one comes out looks like it may be $100 :(

[Beelzebud]

I'll be getting it. Sounds like a good deal to me. I enjoyed HL2 a lot.

[Dirty Harry]

I got the gold edition for HL2, so I've got HL: Source, it is not, unfortunately, a redesign. Higher rez textures or something like that.

I will buy this expansion.
There are people redoing the entire first game in source so just wait for that to come out.

[TheKeck]

Truth of the matter is I'll pay for it no matter how much it is...HL1 and 2 are my favorite games of all time so I could care less if its $10, $20, or $40.

Valve has a proven track record and I'll gladly support their work since I've derived years of enjoyment from their productss
Truth is, I'll buy it no matter what, as well. (Within reason, of course.)

However, after being told $12.95, I'm pretty set on paying $12.95. (Or that ballpark.)

[TheKeck]

Just wait for http://www.blackmesasource.com/
Amen!

[Schnoogs]

Amen!


I've been following them for a while...what a kick ass project. Screenshots look spectacular.

[Grimmjow]

I've been following them for a while...what a kick ass project. Screenshots look spectacular.

o i love your quote sig :) :o

[Citizen Philip]

Agreed I was looking at that site just now. Looks very cool.

So.. WHO WANTS TO REMAKE THIEF 2?

[Banacek]

Just wait for http://www.blackmesasource.com/

I'd love to see it, but I bet $20 right now that it never is completed...

[Sensei-X]

I'd love to see it, but I bet $20 right now that it never is completed...

That all depends if Gabe Newell puts down the fried chickens long enough to deploy the Valve legal team, shortly after which Valve would announce a high-def remake of HL1, only $19.95.

[Megalith]

Good thing the first Half-Life was nothing special.

[H.Bogard]

"It is worth noting, however, that one of the benefits of developing an episodic game is that the team is able to produce more iterations of each aspect and flesh out each scene far more than in the production of non-episodic games.

true!

Yo moma iss so fat thsi message is sroht!

[thecrazyd]

Good thing the first Half-Life was nothing special.
If you honestly believe that, then you are a fucking idiot.

[Schnoogs]

If you honestly believe that, then you are a fucking idiot.

The response I was planning to send was even more blunt than yours...but I feared a visit from the BAN HAMMER!! ;)

[MasterEvilAce]

What the hell would you want EP1 if you don't have HL2?

What the hell?

[Paranoia]

I was wondering if you buy the standalone episode, will it have any sort of multiplayer at all?

[Montgomery_Python]

Eh I don't buy for multiplayer. The I have to deal with the type of people that like multiplayer.

[TheKeck]

I was wondering if you buy the standalone episode, will it have any sort of multiplayer at all?
Yes, it's shipping with HL2 deathmatch.

[overdrivechao]

Good thing the first Half-Life was nothing special.

But Halo was revolutionary!! Yeah!
If it wasn't standalone you Xbox Gates Jr.s would complain that you had to own the base first. You probably havent played it because you rarely know what youre talking about at any given time.