Quote: Originally Posted by 4x0n Anyone played the episodic versions of Sam & Max? If so, how long are they?

I played the first one on Gametap and it was about 4 hours I think. Maybe less.

Quote: Originally Posted by 4x0n Anyone played the episodic versions of Sam & Max? If so, how long are they?

Each one is ~4 hours, released every month and only costs about 8 dollars. However, I think of HL2 as a more fully crafted work whereas S&M is an interactive Saturday morning cartoon (not ragging on them at all).

S&M is definitely a better value and the only well done example of episodic gaming I've seen, but I didn't feel at all ripped off by HL2. I think there's a lot more put into each episode of Half-Life and it's probably a more thrilling experience than any adventure game I've played

Quote: Originally Posted by _Sexy_Pants_ Each one is ~4 hours, released every month and only costs about 8 dollars. However, I think of HL2 as a more fully crafted work whereas S&M is an interactive Saturday morning cartoon (not ragging on them at all). S&M is definitely a better value and the only well done example of episodic gaming I've seen, but I didn't feel at all ripped off by HL2. I think there's a lot more put into each episode of Half-Life and it's probably a more thrilling experience than any adventure game I've played

I'll agree with you there. Every episode they're doing new sh*t with the physics like the bridge collapse and houses being torn apart, or the lighting techniques and the 16xQ CSAA. Motion blur this time too. It all makes for an exciting experience and an example of technology put to use properly. A little peek into what's to come, probably in HL3!

Honestly I love the episode gaming lol. I mean this is nothing new, since the early 90s episode gaming has been around (I.E Wolfenstein, Jill of the Jungle, Doom). I think its awesome they are bringing it back and I hope Valve continues to bring episode gaming back!

But with over a year between episodes? That is quite long.

Quote: Originally Posted by Wafflesomd Maybe you should play them on harder difficulties. If I can recall from a previous thread, you played Bioshock on medium. Even on hard, the game is a walk in the park. Why do you play Battlefield? Do you enjoy slow gameplay?

Why are you always complaining about games? All you do is whine about how crap Bioshock or Battlefield is. There is very little wrong with either of those games....maybe you just need to go play the Sims dude.

And I agree with Fiddles - games are in general too short. I remember when I completed Deus Ex 2 in eleven hours and I was really hacked off. That was what, 2004? These days, something like Medal of Honour Airbourne takes 7-8 hours? Wtf?!

IMO, Valve should stop this episodic gaming and actually get working of HL3. The original case for episodes was that one would be churned out every six months or so, and therefore in a year you'd get the equivalent of a whole game, but faster. Except this isn't happening, and while good, the episodes are hardly the step forward that HL3 would be.

Thankfully, Valve do seem to have realised this:

bit-tech.net | Valve may reconsider episodic games

Quote: Originally Posted by 4x0n But with over a year between episodes? That is quite long.

Yea I've got to agree with you there. A year in between episodes is long and the episodes for the old ID and Epic games were released when the game shipped.

Quote: Originally Posted by reflux MO, Valve should stop this episodic gaming and actually get working of HL3. The original case for episodes was that one would be churned out every six months or so, and therefore in a year you'd get the equivalent of a whole game, but faster. Except this isn't happening, and while good, the episodes are hardly the step forward that HL3 would be.

yea reflux, I definitely can see where you're coming from with this. Perhaps Half-Life isn't really the game to be doing episode gaming with. Perhaps something that doesn't really have a extremely in depth story like Portal (though I haven't played it so I don't really know) would be a better choice for something like episodic gaming because it offers fresh content to a game that has replayability, but its limited.

Games have been short lately I do agree with that. I remember my biggest upset was Fable. I was extremely frustrated at the fact that I beat it in under 11 hours, after how much the game was hyped up and how different the game play was going to be compared to any other game of its kind. Could this possibly be that Valve was trying to attract more casual gamers, but realized they have shorted the rest of their customer base? Another thing is what about expansion packs that you get with most MMO's, RPGs, and RTS games? Aren't those essentially the same thing? They add new content, new items, troops, a new experience.

But on the flip side, we, the gaming community, could also be the problem. We demand bigger, better graphics and a great story, but something has to give somewhere. It all takes time and money, So we complain if a great game takes too long (I.E. Crysis), or we complain that there wasn't enough content to satisfy use (I.E. Episode 2). So the developers and the publishers have to respond to us because ultimately, their success relies on us. So we can at time are our own downfall (I.E. Fable haha!) I will give credit to the fact that a year for an 8 hour game is pretty lame. But if we want great games, we have to give at some point as well. Anyway.. let the flames begin lol!

Quote: Originally Posted by reflux Why are you always complaining about games? All you do is whine about how crap Bioshock or Battlefield is. There is very little wrong with either of those games....maybe you just need to go play the Sims dude. And I agree with Fiddles - games are in general too short. I remember when I completed Deus Ex 2 in eleven hours and I was really hacked off. That was what, 2004? These days, something like Medal of Honour Airbourne takes 7-8 hours? Wtf?! IMO, Valve should stop this episodic gaming and actually get working of HL3. The original case for episodes was that one would be churned out every six months or so, and therefore in a year you'd get the equivalent of a whole game, but faster. Except this isn't happening, and while good, the episodes are hardly the step forward that HL3 would be. Thankfully, Valve do seem to have realised this: bit-tech.net | Valve may reconsider episodic games

If someone didn't complain about games, they would all suck.

I'm really sorry that I didn't like Bioshock and Battlefield. Is there anything you want me to do to compensate for the horrible trauma that it may have caused you.

Seriously. Am I not allowed to dislike games? I didn't like Bioshock, I thought it was terribly overrated. Your complaining that games are too short. I beat Bioshock my first run through in 6 hours. You couldn't technically die in the game, just respawned 10 feet back while your enemies still retained any previous damage done to them. The developers claimed that saving or harvesting little sisters was apart of some moral choice system. It's funny, because it doesn't really matter what you do to them, since you can harvest them for the beginning of the game, then save 3 of them after you meet Tanenbuam, and get the special plasmid.

I was mad that I wasted money on Battlefield 2. I pretty sure I fell asleep at one point during a game. The only way to get around the maps (literally on some of them). Is to get a vehicle. If you can't do that, your forced to walk to your objective. By that time though, it's pretty likely that your team has already captured it, or you'll just get hit by a car, or a tank round. Then it's back to start.

God forbid I complain about games that I spend money on.

Quote: Originally Posted by Wafflesomd God forbid I constantly complain about games that I spend money on.

If you didn't like 'em, fair enough. Hey, I thought Call of Juarez and Stranglehold were really disappointing. It doesn't mean I go on about them all the time.

Just because you don't like something doesn't mean it's actually rubbish. Creativity is subjective.

Quote: Originally Posted by reflux Just because you don't like something doesn't mean it's actually rubbish. Creativity is subjective.

But when most games have no creativity, that DOES make them UTTER rubbish.

Quote: Originally Posted by 4x0n But when most games have no creativity, that DOES make them UTTER rubbish.

Not entirely true....I've enjoyed some pretty uncreative games. COD2 was basically COD1 but with bigger balls. If something follows an established formula well, it doesn't make it rubbish.

Quote: Originally Posted by 4x0n But when most games have no creativity, that DOES make them UTTER rubbish.

Not true. There are plenty of FPS's and RTS's out there that are utterlly unoriginal but they're still fun as hell to blast through.

EDIT: Damn Reflux beat me to it.

Waffles, damn, sounds like you SUCK on BF2, thats the way n00bs play it. Get some buddies together, form a squad and rock the server, thats the way to play it.

Quote: Originally Posted by Dex Waffles, damn, sounds like you SUCK on BF2, thats the way n00bs play it. Get some buddies together, form a squad and rock the server, thats the way to play it.

Poor mouse....

Quote: Originally Posted by reflux Why are you always complaining about games? All you do is whine about how crap Bioshock or Battlefield is. There is very little wrong with either of those games....maybe you just need to go play the Sims dude. And I agree with Fiddles - games are in general too short. I remember when I completed Deus Ex 2 in eleven hours and I was really hacked off. That was what, 2004? These days, something like Medal of Honour Airbourne takes 7-8 hours? Wtf?! IMO, Valve should stop this episodic gaming and actually get working of HL3. The original case for episodes was that one would be churned out every six months or so, and therefore in a year you'd get the equivalent of a whole game, but faster. Except this isn't happening, and while good, the episodes are hardly the step forward that HL3 would be. Thankfully, Valve do seem to have realised this: bit-tech.net | Valve may reconsider episodic games

Well, I think the Year for Orange box was more for TF2 and Portal than Ep. 2 itself.

I'm hoping that Ep. 3 will be MUCH longer, then go to HL3.

Quote: Originally Posted by Dex Waffles, damn, sounds like you SUCK on BF2, thats the way n00bs play it. Get some buddies together, form a squad and rock the server, thats the way to play it.

I'll play the game which ever way I want thank you. Wait, no, because I'll never waste my time on it again.

I'm too busy playing games that don't induce sleep.

Quote: Originally Posted by Mr. Fiddles Poor mouse....

Haha...that's actually Dex, holding one of the mice that was terrorizing his house last year.

Yup, would be a much better pic if id taken the time to do my hair and have a shave that day. I look about 15 in that pic....

Quote: Originally Posted by Dex Yup, would be a much better pic if id taken the time to do my hair and have a shave that day. I look about 15 in that pic....

I was thinking more 12. ;P