Half Life: Episode 1 Interview online

[Dowie]

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/interviews/interviews_story.php?id=134751

Exert from article

What particular challenges does penning a plot for an episode throw up, as opposed to penning the plot for a full sequel?

Robin Walker: It's the difference between running a marathon and running laps in a relay race. We set things into motion knowing that we're not going to resolve them immediately, so we want to make sure they have an actual destination and can stand on their own. Instead of wrapping everything up in one bundle, we have to stay several leaps ahead of ourselves. Each episode must both be self-contained and set up plotlines to be resolved or explored in the subsequent episodes. The nice thing for us about working episodically is that during the final polishing stages it's possible to see the whole story very clearly and make smart decisions about which elements need further development. This is much more difficult in a more traditional (non-episodic) game.


Should we really trust the Vortigaunts, because we have a sneaking suspicion they're hatching their own plan to take over Earth...?

Robin Walker: The Vortigaunts will play a very important role in what happens in later episodes.


Enjoy,

 

[ríomhaire]

Yay Vortigaunts!

 

[IsolatioN]

very, very cool! One thing, though

For example, "What happened to the Citadel at the end of Half-Life 2?" and "What happened to Breen, is he dead?" and "How does the G-Man factor into all of this?"

so does this mean we are FINALLY going to find out what Gman's involvement is in all of this? Awesome.

 

[Beerdude26]

zOMG sounds great :O

 

[Asknoone]

Excellent.

 

[Rizzo]

Yay! Episode 1 ftw!!!

 

[Polaris]

Sounds very good! Also name of this new screen is interesting - vortal_pic_154088_t.jpg, vortal? "Vortal cord that bound the Nihilanth to life, and to us." ?

 

[Useful Dave]

..I bet we will see Dr Kleiner Stroking Lamarr on one of them Screens ^^

 

[ríomhaire]

So that is how he will deliever his imfamous speech that we've heard rumours about.

 

[Asknoone]

Also, commentary system

 

[Nu Zalem]

It was a neat and intriguing interview.

 

[UltimaApocalypse]

Commentary System, wow. I seriously can't wait for that alone

I just found it annoying that he kept calling it Episode One.

 

[IsolatioN]

yeah, I prefer episodic names to just "episode 1, 2, 3 etc". Its just to plain and boring sounding. Aftermath sounded way cooler, but oh well. Beggers cant be choosers, and I'll call it whatever the hell they want me to call it as long as I get to play it

 

[Slickerik]

I was a bit disappointed by the interview, must of what was said we already know. And the questions that would give us some really interesting info were nog really answered:

Is it now your intention to continue and conclude the Half-Life story through the release of episodes, or can we still expect another full sequel from Valve in the future?

Robin Walker:Episode Two has been in development for some time.

Definately Valve......

Oh....can someone tell me what that commentary system is please

 

[Asknoone]

Basically the commentary system was utilized in the Lost coast. You had the option to play the level with floating speech bubbles dotted around, and you can walk over to them and listen to members of Valve talk about the process of creating the level.

 

[Slickerik]

Thanx for the reply Samon...

Funny feature that commentary system. Luckily it's optional, floating speech bubbles would harm the feeling of a realistic adventure imho.

 

[Hullu]

I'm such a sucker. I was overjoyed to find out that Gman is Oppenheimer, I even mailed my brother about it.

 

[$kelet0r]

I'm such a sucker. I was overjoyed to find out that Gman is Oppenheimer, I even mailed my brother about it.

lol Sulky is genius like that
I've yet to remember to say enemy cottage spotted in battlefield 2 - i'll definitely do it this weekend :thumbs:

 

[Tamer17]

Judging by Lost Coast , the speech bubbles are still in the level even if the commentary is set to off , so it can annoying. I hope they changed it with Episode 1.

 

[Sam]

Judging by Lost Coast , the speech bubbles are still in the level even if the commentary is set to off , so it can annoying. I hope they changed it with Episode 1.

They do go away when you disable it though.

 

[Asknoone]

Thanx for the reply Samon...

Funny feature that commentary system. Luckily it's optional, floating speech bubbles would harm the feeling of a realistic adventure imho.

Valve aren't stupid, they would never, in any shape or form release a commentary system without the option to disable it

 

[knut]

Theres that black cloud again, looks awesssome.

 

[rambler]

loads of alyx ftw!

(\_/)
()
(> < ) This is alyx. Click here to love alyx up.

 

[Steven]

very, very cool! One thing, though



so does this mean we are FINALLY going to find out what Gman's involvement is in all of this? Awesome.

If we do it'll be at the very end of the episode.

 

[AIDisabled]

so does this mean we are FINALLY going to find out what Gman's involvement is in all of this? Awesome.

Yeah, and it'll probably be something like watching him share a cup of tea with Nihilanth. Most probably he'll also say, "P-passs the ssssugar."

:cheers: