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[Mitsu]

Mitsu

Re: Dear Valve

Bertfallen, you're kinda overlooking the whole Glados was a frikkin' awesome antagonist and the script was great.  Sure, there's not really enough to merit a sequel, but I think you're over-simplifying it.

[NickAVV]

NickAVV

Re: Dear Valve

You found Portals story more entralling then Half-Life's? ... You were captivated by "Wake up in Cell, use portal gun to escape"?

I know it's a matter of opinion and what not but... I mean that's like being captivated by Spot the Dog as opposed to something along the lines of Lord of the Rings...
 

You're kidding, right? I could boil the story of Half-Life 2 down to "Wake up on train, use guns to escape city", but I won't because that's !@#$% dumb. Portal's story wasn't very long only because the game wasn't very long, but there's clearly room to expand it and still plenty of things unexplained.

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[bertfallen]

bertfallen

Re: Dear Valve

Bertfallen, you're kinda overlooking the whole Glados was a frikkin' awesome antagonist and the script was great.  Sure, there's not really enough to merit a sequel, but I think you're over-simplifying it.

Glados wasn't really anything special. She had a few funny lines and messed up a few times but there wasn't much to her. And I'm not really over-simplifying it either. That was basically all there was to it, It was a fun and new game mechanic with a bit of humour thrown in. And people are over-glorifying it for no real reason...

Of course now the games not funny because every !@#$% and their dog have done cake is a lie jokes to death, every god damn website will have some sort of Cake is a lie reference it's gotten to the point where the reference is now cringe-worthy.

You found Portals story more entralling then Half-Life's? ... You were captivated by "Wake up in Cell, use portal gun to escape"?

I know it's a matter of opinion and what not but... I mean that's like being captivated by Spot the Dog as opposed to something along the lines of Lord of the Rings...
 

You're kidding, right? I could boil the story of Half-Life 2 down to "Wake up on train, use guns to escape city", but I won't because that's !@#$% dumb. Portal's story wasn't very long only because the game wasn't very long, but there's clearly room to expand it and still plenty of things unexplained.

Erm no. See the thing is that's all it was in Portal, you woke up as a test subject and did a few puzzles and escaped the facility. That is all. But as far as Half Life is concerned, there is so much more to it. Which is why we need an episode 3 way more then a sequel to a gimmick.

[Mitsu]

Mitsu

Re: Dear Valve

I don't understand why everyone quotes "the cake is a lie."  It's not a funny line and I don't think it was even intended to be a funny line.  But the game is still dripping with wit, sarcasm, and all around good writing.

Calling Portal a gimmick is like calling the original Sonic a gimmick because it focused on speed instead collecting everything or killing all the enemies.  Do you think all new ideas in video games are gimmicks?

[Zaeranos]

Zaeranos

Re: Dear Valve

Good games don't need sequels. Sequels aren't the same game, they're your chance to see the same basic mechanics but more awesome, and with more features that maybe they couldn't have put in the first time around, that's the basic idea behind it. Sometimes you just love something so much you don't want it to stop, but you can only play through the same level so many times. Sequels tend to get more funding as well.

The difference is, those games were all story driven. Portal was just a little gimmick with a story tacked on. And a game would need a sequel in order to carry on the story (Shenmue for example).

In light of that argument Super Mario Bros is also a gimmick.

And I totally disagree that a sequel is needed to carry on the story. There are a lot of sequels that have nothing to do with the story of there predecessor. For example Zelda and Final Fantasy. In a good game the story is always a finished product. If it is really necessary for the story to continue in a sequel, then the game is episodic. Something that Shenmue had as its main problem. Each part (of both) was sold as a full game, but as part 2 was released the creator already confirmed that it is 16 chapter story and each chapter is a game.

You found Portals story more entralling then Half-Life's? ... You were captivated by "Wake up in Cell, use portal gun to escape"?

I know it's a matter of opinion and what not but... I mean that's like being captivated by Spot the Dog as opposed to something along the lines of Lord of the Rings...

You do know that LotR can be abstracted to: "A group of adventures go to a far away land to destroy the weapon of the enemy, in order that the enemy can't use it to conquer the world and thus gets his ass kicked." It  is all about how much detail you leave out.

Sequels aren't made because the story needs continuation, but because one or more of its predecessors were well received and earned the developer a lot of money. Why do you think that Fifa gets a new release each year, or that there are so !@#$% many games with the Pokemon franchise.

In all seriousness, what I don't understand is how upset you get over such an insignificant announcement.

[Dantztron 3030]

Dantztron 3030

Re: Dear Valve

I find it really amusing that we're discussing the complexities of two games that both have very simple stories. They are both wonderful games, but story plays second fiddle to their gameplay. Even the Half-Life series, as it has grown, isn't something you could write a thesis on.

That being said, I would have rather seen Ep3.

well i dont have that system and it is very hard to care about everything when you are single

[NickAVV]

NickAVV

Re: Dear Valve

The thing is, Episode 3 is still going to be here eventually. You can have both!

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[Zaeranos]

Zaeranos

Re: Dear Valve

I don't care for any of the two. I find it puzzeling how someone can get so upset over a simple announcement. Who knows how long it will actually take before the game sees the light of day.

[bertfallen]

bertfallen

Re: Dear Valve

I don't understand why everyone quotes "the cake is a lie."  It's not a funny line and I don't think it was even intended to be a funny line.  But the game is still dripping with wit, sarcasm, and all around good writing.

That line is only quoted by people who think they are being witty. Whenever someone uses that line you know that they are thinking to themselves "Damn I'm awesome" whilst everyone else thinks he's a !@#$%.

Calling Portal a gimmick is like calling the original Sonic a gimmick because it focused on speed instead collecting everything or killing all the enemies.  Do you think all new ideas in video games are gimmicks?

Portal IS a gimmick though. I'm not saying it's a bad gimmick like the Nintendo Wii, but it's still a gimmick non the less.

And do I think all new ideas in video games are gimmicks? Yes, because that's the definition of gimmick

Gimmick
n.

   1.
         1. A device employed to cheat, deceive, or trick, especially a mechanism for the secret and dishonest control of gambling apparatus.
         2. An innovative or unusual mechanical contrivance; a gadget.
   2.
         1. An innovative stratagem or scheme employed especially to promote a project: an advertising gimmick.
         2. A significant feature that is obscured, misrepresented, or not readily evident; a catch.
   3. A small object whose name does not come readily to mind.

I find it really amusing that we're discussing the complexities of two games that both have very simple stories. They are both wonderful games, but story plays second fiddle to their gameplay. Even the Half-Life series, as it has grown, isn't something you could write a thesis on.

That being said, I would have rather seen Ep3.

I find it amusing that Moldorma seems to have a problem with me wanting Episode 3 more the Portal 2...

The thing is, Episode 3 is still going to be here eventually. You can have both!

Yes but every half life fan is getting pissed off at the continous !@#$% footing that Valve are doing. Since episode 2 valve have released 2 new ip's and 2 sequels to those ips (well nearly they've announced one sequel) and still haven't given any light what so ever on Episode 3. Heck they've not even said it's going to come yet...

[NickAVV]

NickAVV

Re: Dear Valve

They're probably trying to avoid building up significant hype over it. It's the last game in the HL2 story arc, they don't want to build expectations that can't be met, and as such they're taking a media blackout to an extreme. but I would be willing to bet that despite the lack of publicized updates they've been incredibly hard at work and its probably near done.

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[bertfallen]

bertfallen

Re: Dear Valve

They're probably trying to avoid building up significant hype over it. It's the last game in the HL2 story arc, they don't want to build expectations that can't be met, and as such they're taking a media blackout to an extreme. but I would be willing to bet that despite the lack of publicized updates they've been incredibly hard at work and its probably near done.

Well no because they have said in the past that they started work on it, then came out saying okay we haven't really but we will soon then starts the vicious cycle of them saying they are then them saying they aren't.

[Zaeranos]

Zaeranos

Re: Dear Valve

Portal IS a gimmick though. I'm not saying it's a bad gimmick like the Nintendo Wii, but it's still a gimmick non the less.

And do I think all new ideas in video games are gimmicks? Yes, because that's the definition of gimmick

Gimmick
n.

   1.
         1. A device employed to cheat, deceive, or trick, especially a mechanism for the secret and dishonest control of gambling apparatus.
         2. An innovative or unusual mechanical contrivance; a gadget.
   2.
         1. An innovative stratagem or scheme employed especially to promote a project: an advertising gimmick.
         2. A significant feature that is obscured, misrepresented, or not readily evident; a catch.
   3. A small object whose name does not come readily to mind.

Thus Portal is not a gimmick, because it is a piece of software and not a mechanical contrivance.

Yes but every half life fan is getting pissed off at the continous !@#$% footing that Valve are doing. Since episode 2 valve have released 2 new ip's and 2 sequels to those ips (well nearly they've announced one sequel) and still haven't given any light what so ever on Episode 3. Heck they've not even said it's going to come yet...

And that is what I find so puzzling. Why would you get pissed off. The only reason I can think of is because HL2 Ep2 was really open ended and actually quite bad. The money paid for Episode 2 can only be validated if Episode 3 would give a satisfactory ending. Thus in other words Valve scammed you with Episode 2.

That is the only reason I know why you should be pissed. It is irrational to be pissed of at someone, when they have given satisfactory products worth their money up till now.  To demand more after having been given satisfactory things is greedy, arrogant and really indecent.

[bertfallen]

bertfallen

Re: Dear Valve

Portal IS a gimmick though. I'm not saying it's a bad gimmick like the Nintendo Wii, but it's still a gimmick non the less.

And do I think all new ideas in video games are gimmicks? Yes, because that's the definition of gimmick

Gimmick
n.

   1.
         1. A device employed to cheat, deceive, or trick, especially a mechanism for the secret and dishonest control of gambling apparatus.
         2. An innovative or unusual mechanical contrivance; a gadget.
   2.
         1. An innovative stratagem or scheme employed especially to promote a project: an advertising gimmick.
         2. A significant feature that is obscured, misrepresented, or not readily evident; a catch.
   3. A small object whose name does not come readily to mind.

Thus Portal is not a gimmick, because it is a piece of software and not a mechanical contrivance.

Gimmick can be used in any sense so yes Portal is a gimmick... But okay, let's take what portal is into context, it is based around a weapon known as a portal gun, that can be the mechanical contrivance if you like.

[TheDarkJay]

TheDarkJay

Re: Dear Valve

Honestly couldn't give a !@#$% about Half-Life Episode 3. And yes, I have played HL2 as well as HL2:E1 and HL2:E2. Yes, they were enjoyable. Yes, I would buy and play Ep 3 if they released it. No, I'm not particularly hanging onto their every word hoping. Yes, I had actually completely forgotten Half-Life existed until this topic.

Then again I don't pay things like upcoming game announcements much attention any more...

Also companies have said "We aren't working on X" and then two months later have gone "And now for X". It's probably stuck somewhere between Development Hell and Next Tuesday. Nobody likes to admit a game's stuck in Development hell, it's embarrassing. Better to deny it's existence all together.

"What, Duke Nukem Forever? What the hell is a Nukem?"

[Wasabi]

Wasabi

Re: Dear Valve

I'd prefer if they released Ep3, just to give some closure.
I mean, how many years has it been now?

Your community is a bunch of stuck up turds.

[DJvenom]

DJvenom

Re: Dear Valve

I don't mind that it's gonna be portal 2, but seriously. The aperture science team was trying to kill you before you escaped, so why would they capture you and throw you into another test chamber? It just seems like milking a franchise that wasn't supposed to be a franchise to begin with.

I do art

I ermmm... DID do art

I do art

[NickAVV]

NickAVV

Re: Dear Valve

The thing is, you don't really know a) what the aperture science team really wanted last time, as it was pretty easy and obvious how to escape the firepit and GLaDOS almost seemed to be inviting you to kill her, in a roundabout way; and b) where Chell is dragged at the end of Portal 1. So until Portal 2 comes out you can't jump to conclusions that it's going to be a lame milking of the franchise.

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[Mamoruanime]

Mamoruanime

Re: Dear Valve

The thing is, Episode 3 is still going to be here eventually. You can have both!

Duke Nukem Forever.

[NickAVV]

NickAVV

Re: Dear Valve

TF2 used to be the #1 example of vaporware and look where that got it. It might take 10 years, but have a little faith in Valve. Half-Life is their most important intellectual property. They're not going to screw it up.

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[Mamoruanime]

Mamoruanime

Re: Dear Valve

TF2 used to be the #1 example of vaporware and look where that got it. It might take 10 years, but have a little faith in Valve. Half-Life is their most important intellectual property. They're not going to screw it up.

But the thing is; Portal 2 is to HL2e3 as Prey is to DNF. Nobody's going to want it because it's overshadowed by this giant !@#$% horsehead that they've built up and not shown. The people that do want it never really cared much for HL2 to begin with, and the people who like HL2 see it as Valve's way of stalling their announcement of their game's thrust into development hell.