Gamers everywhere are understandably stoked for any news of the long in-development sequel, Half-Life 3. (or maybe it's Half-Life 2: Episode Three). As yet, Valve has never officially acknowledged the game, so it may not even exist. But Valve managing director Gabe Newell had some very interesting things to say on a recent podcast that sure seem to be about Half-Life 3, specifically, what's taking them so long to put it out.
On a recent episode of Seven Day Cooldown, Newell spent a long time talking about the development process of "Ricochet 2," which is most likely a coded way of discussing the next Half-Life. The reasoning for not just discussing the game outright is fascinating. Newell feels that exposing fans to the ongoing heartbreak and toil of a game's development does them a disservice, but he still wanted to discuss "Ricochet 2," which is, hypothetically, Half-Life 3 (or Half-Life 2: Episode 3. It's all very convolution, as I'm sure you've noticed.) Anyway, under the "Read More," you'll see Gabe's entire quote, and I suggest you pore over it and read it like psychics read tea-leaves for any clues or hints as to when we'll see Half-Life 3 and what sort of game it will be.
“In terms of Ricochet 2, we always have this problem that when we talk about things too far in advance,” Newell said.
“We end up changing our minds as we're going through and developing stuff, so as we're thinking through the giant story arc which is Ricochet 2, you might get to a point where you're saying something is surprising us in a positive way and something is surprising us in a negative way, and, you know, we'd like to be super-transparent about the future of Ricochet 2.”
There's a lot of expectations built up about the next Half-Life, I think you'll agree, and the story is only part of it. There's also the huge strides action/FPS games have made technically since the release of the last Half-Life game was released. For instance: Would a Half-Life game "have" to include health recharging and a robust cover system? Would it have to also feature multiplayer of some kind? Leave your thoughts in our comment section!
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wolfman2010
I really, really, REALLY, hope that Half-Life 3 (or episode 3, whatever) does NOT have regenerating health and a cover system. Largely because there are enough enemies in the series that are so mobile that cover would be a hindrance on the overall experience. Half-Life has been a run-and-gun game since the original, I'd hate to see them try and slow down the action that has always been very much "in your face", something that I find incredibly appealing.
I don't have anything against regenerating health, in fact there are a few instances in Half-Life where they might be appropriate. But adding it into the system now might not work if they continue using their past formulas. And then cover. Just... no. Trying to fight off Hunters and Striders by way of a cover system does. not. work. Not to mention the way that most foot soldiers move makes cover next to impossible. Seriously, you'll just end up with a face full of shotgun from a Combine soldier.
And multiplayer. Yeah, NO. Again, it comes down to keeping in line with the formula that's worked. I don't see anything wrong with it. Sure tweaking it now and again to help make the overall experience a bit more fresh helps, and I'd play an updated version of Half-Life: Deathmatch if Valve that it could work, but I just don't see any reason to add multiplayer to a game that has worked just fine without one.
Anywho, here's to hoping this is a sign that Valve will be making some kind of announcement at E3 this year (provided they actually show up).
Kulkaij
I'm just finishing up the last episode for the second time. I really don't think fans are concerned with the next chapter's gameplay elements. Valve has almost always satisfied its consumers when it comes to gameplay. We just want Valve to say we're working on the game and provide some sort of release window. The game's story is AMAZING. They pulled a Lost cliffhanger and now we're salivating for the final season.I just don't want it to all end in a church...
nighthawk282
I really hope Valve doesn't feel the need to add regenerating health or cover mechanics to Half-Life. I'm thoroughly sick of seeing those in so many (read: pretty much all) FPS titles now. They aren't necessarily conducive to a good shooter: in fact, I'd be more likely to enjoy an FPS that doesn't feature them, just because it'd be different from most of the recent FPS releases. I think the next Half-Life were to stick with the series' established formula, it would do just fine.
But, of course, that's just my opinion.
ManVsZ0MBiE
I've been breed on the new age FPS, and when I played Half-Life, 2, 2:2, I couldn't stand it the gameplay. I have experience with 007 Goldeneye and the original Halo: Combat Evolved, but games like Call of Duty, Halo 3 and Reach, and even the Elder Scrolls (not a shooter, but first person) have trained me to play games their way. I really, really wish I enjoyed Half-Life because I hear great things about it, but it just stroked the wrong chords.
AlphaBovine
While there is no law, document or spoken commitment for any game developer to finish a trilogy (Too Human?) there are some which have an unspoken expectation. The longer you wait, the greater that expectation gets. With HL3 (or HL2:Ep3) it is getting ridiculous, but my fear is that the game will no longer be relevant beyond the ones who want to see the story arc conclude.
Duke Nukem was a testament of what happens when you try to keep improving and improving: you miss the window of a game's impact and relevance. You can easily see when you play DKF the three stages of when the game was developed and the mechanics it employed. HL2 and its subsequent episodes are from a time when there was no recharging health, shields did not recharge and cover base combat was non existent as mainstream ideas.
Depending on how far along in development they are, if they make the same mistake as trying to keep up with the latest tech/mechanics it can either go the way of DKF in that it will be panned and burned at the stake for trying to be too much. Or it can go the way of RE4 in that it is gutted and started over from scratch and made into something new and exciting.
Either way we are 5 years removed from the latest entry of Episode 2 and almost a decade since Half Life 2 proper. I have gotten married and had a kid in that space of time and may gaming tastes have changed just as surely as the industry has changed. I trust Valve a great deal, and while I will still buy it day one and salivate to see the conclusion (i hope) of this trilogy I can't help but feel that I am going to be let down by over 5 years of expectations that have been constantly raised by Valve's pedigree and the industry progression as a whole. At this point finish the game, it is what it is and if you keep trying to put more and more onto it, it will be more of Frankenstein's monster than cohesive experience.
wigoff91
Nothing new here. Not talking about it and holding it off longer is just going to raise the hype which is never good. There's too much hype about this game. I would be really scared if I was the lead writer for Half Life. Too much pressure. I hope they don't do modern FPS tactics with regenerating health or cover systems. I think Valve has gotten to such a great level of respect in the industry because they do their own thing and not what everyone else is doing. I think they'll release a Deathmatch months after the single player as usual. So multiplayer for Half-Life isn't new it's actually assumed it'll be coming.
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