Should Valve release a demo?

[KommandoAU]

Since we have been waiting for so long, and since the game is now delayed until April 2004, I think it would be wise for Valve to release some sort of playable demo of HL2. I know a lot of ppl have been downloading the beta, but I refuse to do this, and would really love to be able to play something that Valve has authorised.

 

[GJaaGular]

the demo hass been realeased..for all you all allready

 

[Mr. Redundant]

it would be nice to have a playable demo of HL2.. but I dont really see how they could pull it off.
if it was a section of the SP portion of the game, they would be giving out info they have claimed they dont want to leak (valve keep to the idea that they want things to be a surprise)
if it was a multiplayer demo you would have the same problem, since they want the multiplayer to be a surprise.

hehe
besides making a demo, would eat time that should be spent on developement/other hl2 stuff
I say let them get the game done, and lets get our full version.. this will all be just a memory soon

 

[JtM]

They do have a long time to put together a demo though. Uplink had nothing to do with the story of half-life so Uplink 2 wouldn't neccessarily spoil half-life 2.

 

[Mountain Man]

It really depends on where Valve is in the developement cycle. If they're basically done and are only delaying the game (if it is indeed delayed until April) for security reasons (damn source code thief!) then their level designers might have some down time to put together a demo level similiar to Half-Life: Uplink. However, if the game is going to make a Holiday 2003 release then they're probably still in crunch mode and don't really have time to put together a proper demo.

 

[zitbug]

A demo would be great, but it would not sit well with ATI, who are trying to promote their new Radeon 9800 XT and 9600 XT cards. By the time the game comes out, some ppl would rather buy a faster card, not the current 'fastest'. Especially, if the current 'fastest' cards don't particularly impress at the higher resolutions in Half Life 2.

I am going to wait till next April to buy a faster GFX card.

[Currently, I have a Radeon 9700 Pro.]

 

[Vamperic]

If they do not release the game this year then damm straight they should release a demo though not from the actual game they should just make a little scenario or sumthing only showing the weapons/enemies they have already.

 

[marksmanHL2 :)]

I actually agree. If the game is delayed by any considerable amount I do think they should release some kind of demo.

Like the tech demo thing

 

[Azzy]

yeah
something like hl uplink would be awesome

 

[Chris D]

HalfLife: Uplink was originally part of the game that was cut, so I guess it didn't take much piecing together. And it was released after HL so if they do release something similar, I expect it'd be after the release of the game.

 

[GhostValkyrie]

I think we should just wait for late November, early December to roll around. I think everyone will be pleasantly surprised this Holiday season.
True VALVe wouldn't be we where they are today without us, be wouldn't be here without VALVe. I think they'll pull through. I don't think VALVe should release a demo. Even if they delay it. I want the experience to be as new, and dynamic, as possible. Hopefully we'll soon be saying I knew, rather than I think.

-Ghost.

 

[Chris D]

I agree. I don't want to spoil it with some demo. Not worth it.

 

[Kadayi]

Well I'm quite sure they probably had something prepared for all the game magazines, but naturally since the Code theft they have held back from it. I sure hope that any demo they release is like uplink in that it is simply a taster of the games capabilities without actually being taken from the game itself.

I've always admired Valve for creating the uplink demo as opposed to simply ripping one of the existing levels out of the game and using that instead. It meant that the game itself retained all the surprises that they had written into the storyline.

The great problem with Demos and trailers is that they can reveal too much. Certainly I think that Infinity ward have released far too much footage of Call of Duty on top of what was a fantastic Demo and in doing so they have taken some of the gleam away in my opinion. Less is often more.

I'd have a heartly laugh if it turned out that all the levels shown at E3 was written specifically for E3 and weren't taken from the actual game levels (that might explain the state of the games 'playability' that everyones been bitching about and it's apparent lack of development).