Half-Life 2: Episode 3 is rumored not to be coming in 2010

Scratched wrote:

Today in rumour control: Next-Gen Source 2 Engine Is In Development
The juicy bit is from Source Film Maker code:

'''Return an str with the current engine version.
If key doesn't doesn't exist, assume 'Source', otherwise invalid -- assume next-gen 'Source 2'.'''

If it's true I'd say because because you've got SFM referencing both engines, rather than a tool for source(1) and another tool for a presumably completely different and incompatible source2, that source2 would be a similar evolution as valve did from GoldSrc (HL1 engine). It would be where they draw a line under source(1) and continue developing a new fork to allow themselves to make more radical changes, but keeping the fundamentals that work for them.

I figured Source2 would be an evolution of source, given the bit about Hybrid-- and the fact that they seem to be keeping the same asset pipeline. The article speculates that Hybrid is a base for Source2, but I'm betting it's more like a shared library for compatibility between Old Source and New Source, especially given the bit about the 64/32-bit code switches. I'm betting this is a setup to "phase out" Source1 code as development and time progress.

WipEout wrote:
Scratched wrote:

Today in rumour control: Next-Gen Source 2 Engine Is In Development
The juicy bit is from Source Film Maker code:

'''Return an str with the current engine version.
If key doesn't doesn't exist, assume 'Source', otherwise invalid -- assume next-gen 'Source 2'.'''

If it's true I'd say because because you've got SFM referencing both engines, rather than a tool for source(1) and another tool for a presumably completely different and incompatible source2, that source2 would be a similar evolution as valve did from GoldSrc (HL1 engine). It would be where they draw a line under source(1) and continue developing a new fork to allow themselves to make more radical changes, but keeping the fundamentals that work for them.

I figured Source2 would be an evolution of source, given the bit about Hybrid-- and the fact that they seem to be keeping the same asset pipeline. The article speculates that Hybrid is a base for Source2, but I'm betting it's more like a shared library for compatibility between Old Source and New Source, especially given the bit about the 64/32-bit code switches. I'm betting this is a setup to "phase out" Source1 code as development and time progress.

I didn't know Hybrid was running on Source. But, given how Valve has iterated on the engine for the last 6+ years I think you're right about there being a "phase out" point for the engine. Also, don't forget that when they added Mac support they updated Half-Life 2 and Episode 1 PC to the Orange Box version (aka Source 2007) of the engine.

Scratched wrote:

So, until Tuesday there's no idea if this is anything to do with Valve, just that another completely unrelated company (as far as I can tell) is doing something about Valve's past work in the same week, the week of Gamescom a pretty big games show where there's going to be lots of news, the same week CS:GO goes beta for pre-purchasers and the week before it releases.

It's the one thing I hate about valve or any company that has fairly good secrecy is that everyone starts grasping at straws.

Yeah, not sure if that Game Informer thing has anything to do with anything Valve-related at all, especially since that notice appears to be for the Australian version of the magazine. Something tells me they would have held out for the cover exclusive on the US version if it was.

I just downloaded HL2, ep1 and ep2 during the week. Maybe Valve are rewarding me?

Honestly, though. If it's ep3 I'll eat my hat.

Scratch that.

If it's ep3 I'll go out and buy a hat and eat it...

Duoae wrote:

If it's ep3 I'll go out and buy a hat and eat it...

You're in luck!

ChrisGwinn wrote:
shoptroll wrote:

Actually, it can't be HL3. We'd be knee-deep in an ARG by now if it was.

You didn't think TF2 hats, Valve selling "non-game" software, and the leaked "employee manual" were all just things Valve was doing, did you? We're way more than knee-deep in an ARG.

You don't mean... we need to go deeper??

Edit: Or, I guess more properly, Valve ALREADY HAS.

I'm hoping that they will announce Episode 4 as part of a massive campaign with this site, gamespot, ign, kotaku, ars, etc etc etc etc to retroactively post reviews, lets plays, and gameplay clips for Episode 3. After a couple of days, when the internet is finally starting to wonder if it really did forget about Episode 3 in a drunken binge, Gabe Newell will come on and say "Nah, we're just joking, here's Episode 3".

Actually, that would be pretty awesome, skipping a number like Leisure Suit Larry did (with number IV) over 20 years ago.

I'm hoping they kickstart it and then release it the moment they hit their goal.

Gamescon list of games at show: http://www.gamescom-cologne.com/en/g...

Look at the entry 6th from the end in the pdf.

Dragon Age 3 getting shown as well. That'll be interesting.

Here we go!

Scratched wrote:

Dragon Age 3 getting shown as well. That'll be interesting.

In what way? From what I heard the PAX East panel was fairly civil and people liked what BioWare was showing/hinting in regards to DA3.

EDIT: Eurogamer says Gamescom organisers say HL3 and DA3 listings are a "mistake"

I foresee a teaser trailer with a close shot of the G-Man going "bla bla bla Mr. Freeman*" and then fade to black with the half life logo and "coming soon" underneath.

Edit: Or nothing at all.

shoptroll wrote:

In what way?

I guess more in terms of how cagey they are about showing stuff, whether the EA marketing goes down the "button - awesome" road again, and the reaction. It does say something when it's the meta around a game that's (currently) more anticipated than the actual game itself.

shoptroll wrote:

Eurogamer says Gamescom organisers say HL3 and DA3 listings are a "mistake"

Caution and scepticism is pretty much part and parcel for anything to do with HL right now. But with that, I'm thinking that someone wrote that, and knew pretty well exactly what they were writing, for good reasons or not.

shoptroll wrote:
Scratched wrote:

Dragon Age 3 getting shown as well. That'll be interesting.

In what way? From what I heard the PAX East panel was fairly civil and people liked what BioWare was showing/hinting in regards to DA3.

I was at that panel, and that's pretty accurate. But then, the angriest DA ex-fans had likely, by then, sworn their lifelong (read: broken by now) blood oath to never buy another Bioware game, and didn't show up. I believe one of our own community members had the trolliest question...

However, I don't think Scratched is wrong. For every five people that quietly enjoyed it and are open to possibly buying another DA game, you had one frothing psychotic who burned their copy at the stake.

The main reason to be optimistic about a return to DA:O form: I've heard Dragon Age 2 didn't do as well as DA:O in initial sales or DLC sales. That's the main way to get a sequel altered.

Scratched wrote:

whether the EA marketing goes down the "button - awesome" road again, and the reaction.

Actually, they were pretty clear that they wouldn't be throwing out the baby with the bathwater, and that most people liked the changes made to combat. The main talking points were more narrative player agency, more companion customization, and no recycled environments.

I guess that kind of sums up how I feel, I just couldn't predict where they're going to go with DA3. I don't expect it to be 'just a sequel' cranked out off the production line, I don't expect it to be like DA:O or DA2. They didn't just abandon the whole thing and move onto something new as new is also risky, and they're probably trying to make the investment of about 8 years at this point pay off, they're probably been planning story direction the series for ages, etc, etc.

No matter what they do they're in a position where they're going to piss someone off, fans of the original, fans of DA2, and it's going to be interesting see how all the parties involved react. All of those issues around the game, before you actually get to the game itself.

TempestBlayze wrote:

Yup

"Mistake" as in "it should have read 'Half Life 2: Episode 3,'" I hope.

The plot thickens... - http://lambdageneration.com/posts/ha...

[UPDATE: I have made a second call to Gamescom. I was explicitly informed that Valve were the ones who askedthat HL3 be placed on the list; but that apparently, "just a few minutes ago", Valve requested that HL3 be removed from that list. As of writing, its entry still remains on that list.
...
In case that’s not enough, I just got off the phone with a Gamescom representative who confirmed to me that each and every game on that list will be showcased at Gamescom 2012, and that the list itself is entirely legitimate. I didn’t ask about Half-Life 3, but you’re free to pick up the phone if you like.

In reverse chronological order I think.

From their latest update - http://lambdageneration.com/posts/va...

lambda generation wrote:

Doug Lombardi (Valve's VP of marketing) has confirmed to us that Valve has no plans to show anything game-related at Gamescom:

We will have the Steam team there to meet with developers and publishers. No game showing planned.

Let the conspiracy theories commence!

TempestBlayze wrote:
Game Informer is being forced to withhold their next cover because it will spoil a "world premiere" announcement. Also On September 17th, Gametrailers is doing a bit on Valve. Let's get this hype train going people.

IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/DLsGJ.png)

Let's circle back to this one for a second. This is Game Informer AU, so wouldn't the cover have switched over already? It's currently 1 AM, August 15th there. Their site is still showing the Injustice cover. Any idea what time zone this big reveal was tied to?

COD:BO2
IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/LDvmP.jpg)IMAGE(http://i.imgur.com/XBxpu.png)

Wow, disappointing.

Man, I actually feel really bad for them. Not only do they have the wind taken out of the sails of their exclusive feature, but they've also got a bunch of people convinced that they were going to reveal something really epic who are going to be quite disappointed.

It's like E3 all over again. That's highly disappointing for them

Regardless of the debunking by Valve, it's very suspicious that it showed up on both on a consultant's linkedin profile and on a list from the official Gamescom site. It seems an odd misunderstanding for multiple people involved in the show to have. I think it's increasingly possible to believe that Half-Life 3 exists in a showable form and at one point Valve considered showing it.

kuddles wrote:

Regardless of the debunking by Valve, it's very suspicious that it showed up on both on a consultant's linkedin profile and on a list from the official Gamescom site. It seems an odd misunderstanding for multiple people involved in the show to have. I think it's increasingly possible to believe that Half-Life 3 exists in a showable form and at one point Valve considered showing it.

Yeah, until they thought Game Informer AU had the scoop! Then they pulled it!

Damn you, GI:AU!!

kuddles wrote:

I think it's increasingly possible to believe that Half-Life 3 exists in a showable form and at one point Valve considered showing it.

Given what they've been through with HL2 (the leaks) and with the episodes apparently being 'promised' every three months, I'm not sure I can blame them. If they are working on it, it would be a nice alternative to an extended hype period if they just released it one day with no fuss.

ClockworkHouse wrote:

Man, I actually feel really bad for them. Not only do they have the wind taken out of the sails of their exclusive feature, but they've also got a bunch of people convinced that they were going to reveal something really epic who are going to be quite disappointed.

Not only that but it is the most bog-standard, uncreative image I could imagine. The number of game magazine covers showing a masked guy with a gun numbers in the hundreds of thousands. In brown, even!

Black Ops 2? Wow super lame.