Agoraphobia

[el Chi]

One of the main atmospheric elements to HL1 was the claustrophobic nature of BMRF, however now we're out in the open in City-17. As such the atmosphere's bound to change in a major way, which is no bad thing.
One thing I'd like to know, however, is how Valve are going to put boundaries on these expansive maps. After all, the first game was completely linear and this one is too, as far as I know. So what implications do ll the streets and boulevards of City-17 have on the progression? For example, in the E3 2003 Strider video, what would happen if you simply ran straight down that big road, past the building where the second Strider emerged from and off into the distance? How would that be limited? Or perhaps it's possible to take different roads that all, through oneway or another, lead to the same place but merely present different challenges.
What about the vast expanses of the dried up seabed? When you're in the buggy, what stops you from driving off into the distance there? Obviously, it'd be painfully dull, but the option is certainly there and as such, there has to be some sort of limitation.
I remember seeing Gabe answering the question of "What's to stop you swimming off into the distance" with something like "Say hello to my little Icthyosaur" which is interesting. But what about the other circumstances? I don't think I've seen any information regarding it.

 

[Zento]

Alot of the roads will probably be blocked off by debris etc.

In any case, why would you want to run down a road forever?

 

[PvtRyan]

Gabe said also he hated invisible walls. Surely, they could throw some clip brushes there and stop you, but I doubt they will.

I think that the streets are being closed off with the combine barricades we saw in Barricade.

 

[el Chi]

I'm not saying you would I'm saying it looks like the option to go down various different streets is there and how have they limited this? The idea of so much space to move to and/or get lost in just seems like a potential problem in a linear game.
Like you say, yeah most of the paths are probably blocked, but I like the idea of different challenges down different alleyways.

Barricade was abnother thing I was considering - apart from the fact that it'd be no fun, what's to stop you running away from the barricade? Maybe Barney would court-marshall you :naughty:

 

[Farrowlesparrow]

I don't think its completely linear in the tradition sense exactly. I seem to remember them saying something about different ways through maps etc. So the end result will be the same but you can choose how you want to arrive at that destination.


I suspect you will get lots of situations where they are natural boundaries like cliff faces out in the wilderness, destroyed buildings in city 17 and man mande "road blocks"

 

[lans]

The whole "invsible wall" thing would totally put a fullstop on realism - So that's hopefully the last thing valve would do.

Anyway, I remember valve saying that the coastline map being humungous with many routes and while it may look like a dried up shore - there will eventually be water slightly furthur away where you might drown if you go in.

 

[PatPwnt]

I don't have a problem with invisible walls... if you aren't suppose to walk past a point, then you shouldnt be able to. Duh

 

[virus]

about that strider scene, mabe that's where Valves new Dynamic-scripting comes into play?
I could imagine, that if you run past that first road, you'll get a little further, then the other Strider will be triggered to attack first and it will cut off your route down that road.
Then you are forced to get back and choose another route... that way the designer will be able to "steer" a player around the level with a little more varity than roadblocks

 

[The Dark Elf]

You can create a feeling of claustrophobia even out in the open. It's all down to how you do it, but its quite possible, the feeling of being closed in, even while stood in the middle of a large field with nothing nearby.

It's also very offputting if it ever happens to you for real heh

 

[CR0M]

Any boundary in a map is old, wrinkly and stale and totally unnecessary these days. Another option (but probably not used in hl2) would be one vast map as the game stage, divided up into locked sections, a bit like Morrowind. Various tasks unlock new sections etc. until the whole region is accessible, letting you run around using whatever route you wanted.

 

[Tropico]

"You can create a feeling of claustrophobia even out in the open"

Humm funny but common you´re joking look it up.
You mean you can feel lost maybe or something like that not claustrophobia i suffer from it it´s no joke and it def. doesnt happen int wide open spaces.

I think valvE will lead you into thinking it´s your choice when actually we are puppets in their hands mhuahahhaha

 

[The Dark Elf]

"You can create a feeling of claustrophobia even out in the open"

Humm funny but common you´re joking look it up.
You mean you can feel lost maybe or something like that not claustrophobia i suffer from it it´s no joke and it def. doesnt happen int wide open spaces.

I think valvE will lead you into thinking it´s your choice when actually we are puppets in their hands mhuahahhaha

No I'm not joking

Its difficult to do but its still possible

The simplist way to get the feeling of being closed in, even in a large open space, is dense fog, thats the easiest.

another way is darkness, you can be in a wide open field next to a bright light, but beyond that light is darkness, you feel closed in like there's a wall of something all around you while your in this small space.

In both cases there might not be actually anything for a mile around in all directions.

Other methods could involve sound. It's possible to induce the feeling out in the open by suddenly silencing everything. On a number of occasions for some weird reason its happened to me that I remember. And it does cause the feeling of being closed in, even though i was in a park at the time, in the open, during the day, with only a few people nearby.

So yeah, your apology is accepted in advance

 

[KurtCobain]

Im sure Gabe has answered this question b4 with ''Combine Barricades'', and i remember him saying these may changed during course of the chapter/section etc..
...
..Or is that just me reading it wrong , cant find the link either lol