A branching storyline?.

[Max35]

I remember in the Kleiner's lab video, Alyx said "we should have listened to my father and done it his way", this suggests somewhat of a non-linear storyline in the game. Also, in one of the dev interviews it was stated "the characters wil react differently to you based on your actions and how you handle yourself in particular situations" or something like that. Does anyone else think that there will be somewhat of a branching storyline in Hl2?.

 

[Ahnteis]

Sure hope not. I hate having to replay 3/4 of the game to find the 10 minutes of new content by choosing the other path.

Additionally, based HL gameplay, I doubt we'll see branched stories. I think you will just get different levels of cooperation from the NPCs.

 

[Sedako]

It would be interesting to see this type of story line. It's not a bad theory, and they've had plenty of time to write out multiple plot twists, so I wouldn't rule it out as a possibility. I'd also like to see many multiple paths with which to find your next objective. I think both of these will surely up the replay value.

 

[CrazyHarij]

I think the story will be linear and I like it that way.. It's the level design and the game in general that matters.

 

[Bicka]

The guy that wrote the story for HL1 (and Hl2 I guess) said that he hated branching storylines in games.
He said why bother when the gamers more likely to only play a couple of times.

 

[DeltaBlast]

The story is linear. They mean with "characters behave differenly depending on your actions" that well, you can push the monitor of the table, and doc will say something about it. but you dont have to. etc

 

[Apos]

The game wont be branching, at least, not much. It's meant to be more of a playable movie than an adventure game. You handle the action, the game handles the story. While I'm sure there will be lots of character reactions to what you do, especially in firefights (that's the context the statement "the characters wil react differently to you based on your actions and how you handle yourself in particular situations" comes from I believe) I don't think you'll be able to change the basic storyline too much. It more happens to and around you than is directed by you. Events are much bigger than anything but a really big gun can affect.

 

[slicktick]

Yeah, it has been stated that the story is linear, small not important events may happen diffrently, and how much detail they tell you and such, but the main story, the affects the outcome of the game will not be affected, thus, you will always not do it Alyx's fathers way.

 

[Moejoe]

I remember in the Kleiner's lab video, Alyx said "we should have listened to my father and done it his way", this suggests somewhat of a non-linear storyline in the game.

I doubt this has anything to do with a non-linear storyline. Whatever way 'they' did it, that alyx doesn't think was right, Gordon didn't have any control over. he probably wasn't even there for whatever happened.

Personally, i would prefer a linear storyline. And how would they make HL3 if there were 2 or more endings in HL2?

 

[Apos]

Think about it this way: in a game like this, where characters are animated and given lines like in a movie: if you could radically alter the story, imagine how much wasted workth edebs would have gone through. They would have recorded and animated litterally hours of dialogue that a given player might never hear because the character died early or the story is different. The cost of doing all this extra design work... and some players would never even see it.

 

[Max35]

I doubt this has anything to do with a non-linear storyline. Whatever way 'they' did it, that alyx doesn't think was right, Gordon didn't have any control over. he probably wasn't even there for whatever happened.

Personally, i would prefer a linear storyline. And how would they make HL3 if there were 2 or more endings in HL2?

HL1 had 2 endings, and they are making a sequel. But I do see your point with the Kleiner's lab scenario, though. Yeah I would prefer a linear story for the most part, but it would be cool if insignificant events played out a little different depending on the choices that you make.

 

[Tadashi]

Max35:
Half-Life's second ending is like dying^^ So no story branching

 

[Moejoe]

Max35:
Half-Life's second ending is like dying^^ So no story branching

Yeah i was going to mention that, but you beat me to it. We can only assume that Gordon is a wee bit dead after this fight...

 

[OnboardError]

No, if you played the beta you'd know what they were talking about... Its right on track with the rest of the storie.... topic over...

 

[Apos]

No, if you played the beta you'd know what they were talking about...

What in the heck is it with you beta players? You just can't find enough opportunities to drop the word that you've played the beta and are in the know about the game. The fact that you downloaded illegal software and played it is not impressive to any of us, and we don't want to hear about stuff you learned playing it, either confirming or denying our speculations.

 

[A2597]

I'm guessing GTA3 style game.

non-linear in the sence you can do certain things in a different order, do missions any of a thousand ways, but in the end, the main story always ends up the same.
(Everyone dead, Alyx complaining to you, fade to black with Alyx still complaining, gunshot heard...then silence. )

 

[Adidajs]

http://www.planethalflife.com/features/interviews/laidlaw/

Branching storylines are part of an unholy grail of open-ended interactive story design which I have little interest in pursuing

so, no "choose your own adventure" story.

 

[Brian Damage]

What in the heck is it with you beta players? You just can't find enough opportunities to drop the word that you've played the beta and are in the know about the game. The fact that you downloaded illegal software and played it is not impressive to any of us, and we don't want to hear about stuff you learned playing it, either confirming or denying our speculations.

At the risk of sounding cliche'd...

Word, man.

(... that does mean something similar to "amen", doesn't it?)

 

[CrazyHarij]

I think the game will be kinda linear but there will be some "free" areas, like parts of City-17.

 

[Daiceman9]

What in the heck is it with you beta players? You just can't find enough opportunities to drop the word that you've played the beta and are in the know about the game. The fact that you downloaded illegal software and played it is not impressive to any of us, and we don't want to hear about stuff you learned playing it, either confirming or denying our speculations.

Um, its not everyone, you just notice the ones that screw up, or like to brag about it.