Linear-ness?

[SupaKoopa]

I'm just kinda curious...half life one was pretty linear and straightforward...work your way through the corridors, tunnels, ventilation ducts, etc. of black mesa and get to the top.

from what we know, half life 2 seems to have a much broader, bigger, more open setting and a more complex story....so do you think this'll have an impact on how linear the game is? i mean, do you think we'll be free to roam in city 17 with subtle clues as to where we SHOULD go? or will we be forced along a "track" chosen by the developers for progressing through the game. kinda like GTA free-roaming style, versus, say, medal of honor, where you've got one, MAYBE two paths that you have to follow if you want to progress in the level.

so uh what do you think?

 

[Apos]

They said that it would still be linear in that there is a definate story progression, and a definate overall path to take through levels (though with plenty of side areas to explore). They also said, however, that you would have a much higher degree of control over how you progress, get past obstacles, and encounter and change situations. Levels like the buggy level certainly look pretty wide open.

 

[Gunner]

I suppose it will be very linear just like the original but it doesn't matter to me since the plot sounds great.

 

[FoB_Ed]

I think it'll be mostly linear

 

[mredd27]

Coincidentally I asked Gabe about this a few days ago, but I haven't recieved a reply from him yet. The question wasn't really about roaming within levels though, it was asking how linear the whole game is. I.e. if there is more than one path to a comon ending or even maybe a few different endings too.

I don't actually expect a non-linear story in HL2 because of the complexity and potential size of it, so I also asked him if HL3 could be made into the first non-linear fps for us. The only game I've ever played that's done this sucessfully in Bladerunner which was years ago. But that was just a point-and-click adveneture so it's a lot easier to impliment in that than in a full 3D action-shooter.

 

[Zerox]

Mostly linear i guess.

 

[subs]

according to gabe its pretty much a linear First Person shooter...nothing indicates thats a bad thing though.

It wont be like deusex or grand theft auto but it will rock either way. IF hl3 had the possibility to travel anywere or choose your own path i would really enjoy that , and + maybe a inventory ..i love inventories and dressing my character up with armor/guns.

 

[Letters]

I would say linear while having freeform action possible within the situations that you are put into...

 

[Sushi]

Gabe said it's a linear storyline, but there will be many different ways to accomplish goals in levels. For example, there will be numerous paths you can take to get to a certain point on a map, or if you need to take out a group of combine soldiers you could either shoot them up the traditional way, or you could use the physics of the game to shoot out the supports of a structure above them or toss stuff at them using the manipulator. It's kinda like the GTA series that way, linear storyline, non linear gameplay.

 

[Hudson]

leave freeform to the RPGers

 

[Cyber$nake]

I agree. Freeform is an RPG thing. However, there probably will be many different things you can to get around, allowing some freedom. An RPG mod for half-life 2 with all the sames things going on might be interesting though

 

[koopa]

It'll be as linear as a big straight line. I honestly can't see much freeform about it, it looks scripted all the way to me. The whole 'oh, but there are freeform situations' in it is PR talk for 'it's as linear as hell but we don't want to put people off'

I guess something like Deus Ex 2 will be the freeform HL2.

 

[Dave]

Originally posted by SupaKoopa
I'm just kinda curious...half life one was pretty linear and straightforward...work your way through the corridors, tunnels, ventilation ducts, etc. of black mesa and get to the top.

from what we know, half life 2 seems to have a much broader, bigger, more open setting and a more complex story....so do you think this'll have an impact on how linear the game is? i mean, do you think we'll be free to roam in city 17 with subtle clues as to where we SHOULD go? or will we be forced along a "track" chosen by the developers for progressing through the game. kinda like GTA free-roaming style, versus, say, medal of honor, where you've got one, MAYBE two paths that you have to follow if you want to progress in the level.

so uh what do you think?

I say it depends what you compair it with. Compaired to Half-Life, it will be slightly more freeform. Compaired to something like S.T.A.L.K.E.R, it will be very linear. It is a purely story-driven game. So, you won't be able to go off and do different things instead of what your meant to (or so I gather). Personally, I wouldn't like to see Half-Life 2 go the freeform route. I don't want it to try and contend with S.T.A.L.K.E.R and get beat
Just kidding, I just think this kind of storyline would work best with a pretty much linear route to the game.

 

[Mountain Man]

Valve has said that it will have a fairly linear structure though individual levels won't have a single "golden path" to victory. You'll have more freedom in how you tackle your goals, but there'll only be one ultimate outcome to every scenario.

 

[Gunner]

There is one thing I hate about the original Halflife... the loading corridors. You could see them coming a mile away, always in a zig-zag shape. Linearity is what defines most FPS plots/stories/scenarios but the loading corridors made it so obvious, it really made me feel like an idiot just playing "some computer game". I hope it won't be as bad in the sequel.

 

[Flyingdebris]

actually i never notcied the loading corridors, i never knew to look for them.

Anyay i'd much prefer a linear progression through the game. There is nothing i hate more than having to backtrack if i feel i made the incorrect choice.

 

[urseus]

Any game still has to have some degree of linarness to it, otherwise it just doesnt work.

The most freedom ive ever gotten from a game is Operation Flashpoint.

 

[Mechagodzilla]

I hope it's linear like "get into that building over there somehow"
and not "enter through the only open duct and make a left towards the only unlocked door"

I don't know if I'd mind if the game ended up linear though. HL1 was extremely linear,
but it never really felt like your decisions were being made for you.
Multiple paths mean more replay though.

 

[xtekian]

Originally posted by )[eVo]( Para
There is one thing I hate about the original Halflife... the loading corridors. You could see them coming a mile away, always in a zig-zag shape. Linearity is what defines most FPS plots/stories/scenarios but the loading corridors made it so obvious, it really made me feel like an idiot just playing "some computer game". I hope it won't be as bad in the sequel.

interesting. the corridor's were always at the back of my mind, but it's the first time i've taken notice to it.

anyways, the consensus says it's linear. we don't need 10 more people concurring, so... :cheers:

 

[Sulkdodds]

HL1 felt like you really were working your way through the bowels of a government facility. The linearity simply made it seem that you were desperatly searching for a way out, which worked well.
As for Hl2, in my opinion it will be linear but eg. there will be pretty big and (seemingly) freeform enviroments however you will naturally go the right way, because of good use of level flow and you won't notice that actually you are following a set path which is very wide and filled with smaller mini-paths and enviroments, if you see what I mean.
For example-GTA3. Now, you can argue but in reality GTA3 is fundamentaly linear-as all games are. But you can move freely within a three-tiered bubble structure. there are three islands, all in a line and if you want to get anywhere, you have to follow the string of missions. The fact that you CAN just do anything you want is, in essence, irrelivent. The human mind is easily fooled by apparent freeform-ness like this. This isn't a bad thing though. If GTA3 was not like this the player would fell directionless and git pissed off eventually.
Well thats me finished. Opinions?

 

[uncle_rudy]

If you really want to have a nice free form FPS, look at Morrowind. It is technically an RPG, but it is done in a FPS style. You have magic, bows, crossbows, swords, etc. It is very nonlinear, but it does have a main story. It looks great for the engine that it used, but what I am looking forward to is V:TM Bloodlines. It should give a good compromise between RPG elements, freeform vs. linearity, and the FPS elements, weapons, enemies, stuff like that. And using the Source engine will make it look beautiful.

 

[Lifthz]

A balance of both.

 

[Letters]

Originally posted by koopa
It'll be as linear as a big straight line. I honestly can't see much freeform about it, it looks scripted all the way to me. The whole 'oh, but there are freeform situations' in it is PR talk for 'it's as linear as hell but we don't want to put people off'

I guess something like Deus Ex 2 will be the freeform HL2.

It's not just PR talk from what we've been shown in the videos so far... and they are taken from the game so... ?

 

[Joeyslucky22]

well if you got vehicles... you're going to have some roaming to do..

 

[Ahnteis]

Yes - look at morrowind and you'll know why Valve went with linear style. That game bored me to tears so fast it wasn't even funny. (Sorry MW fans)

 

[Wilco]

Well im gonna try this out myself once its out. Im gonna make a freeform Map, as big a base as I can fit on a map, and then give me a few guys, set up enemies, and see how fun it is

Obviously to get freeform right you need very good level design. So I'll have to master that Once I see how big levels can be I'll be able to map it out.

 

[Zacay]

Hoping that ist linear