It would seem there is some confusion over the release date of the highly-anticipated follow up to Half Life 2. Recent reports from Game Informer quoting Valve’s Doug Lombardi said that Half-Life 2: Episode 1 had slipped from its April 24 release to May 31.
However, SPOnG has also read other reports, emanating from Electronic Arts, which suggest that the game is actually scheduled for release on June 30, putting today’s announced May 31 release date seemingly already out of date. It was announced at GDC last week that the game could be out on May 31, priced $19.99.
For those who don’t know, Half-Life 2: Episode 1 was formerly known as Aftermath. The game picks up from where you left the game in Half-Life 2 and is the first of a series of episodic Half-Life releases. The game has around 7-10 hours of gameplay, so is nowhere near as in-depth as the original Half-Life 2. Half-Life 2: Episode 2 is already in development.
Valve MD Gabe Newell also spoke about the company's plans for online/digital distribution of game demos to player’s friends, saying that, "If you bought a copy of one of our games you can give five trials to your friends. You type in your e-mail address and then you’ll see the first time that they play you’ll have this little screen where you can say, 'Oh look, he’s playing. Oh, he hasn’t played yet so I’m going to delete him and replace him with somebody else.' And give your friends a chance to play."
He also added that he, "...would be really surprised if, twelve months from now, any title doesn’t have some form of digital distribution strategy."
And if you have still to finish Half Life 2 - still one of the greatest and most sublime videogaming experiences ever - SPOnG has only one thing to say. Keep up!
However, SPOnG has also read other reports, emanating from Electronic Arts, which suggest that the game is actually scheduled for release on June 30, putting today’s announced May 31 release date seemingly already out of date. It was announced at GDC last week that the game could be out on May 31, priced $19.99.
For those who don’t know, Half-Life 2: Episode 1 was formerly known as Aftermath. The game picks up from where you left the game in Half-Life 2 and is the first of a series of episodic Half-Life releases. The game has around 7-10 hours of gameplay, so is nowhere near as in-depth as the original Half-Life 2. Half-Life 2: Episode 2 is already in development.
Valve MD Gabe Newell also spoke about the company's plans for online/digital distribution of game demos to player’s friends, saying that, "If you bought a copy of one of our games you can give five trials to your friends. You type in your e-mail address and then you’ll see the first time that they play you’ll have this little screen where you can say, 'Oh look, he’s playing. Oh, he hasn’t played yet so I’m going to delete him and replace him with somebody else.' And give your friends a chance to play."
He also added that he, "...would be really surprised if, twelve months from now, any title doesn’t have some form of digital distribution strategy."
And if you have still to finish Half Life 2 - still one of the greatest and most sublime videogaming experiences ever - SPOnG has only one thing to say. Keep up!
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Comments
Joji 28 Mar 2006 00:00
1/2
Never played Half Life 2 but I like what I see. Whether digital distribution takes off more is really down to PS3 and 360. I doubt that will ever replace the physical media we use now.
warbaby 28 Mar 2006 05:03
2/2
I'd have to disagree, PS3 and 360 will have nothing to do with this... miniscule at best. The PC has always been the quiet one watching from the window as the youngins beat themself bloody on the road. PC will dictate the PC's future, whether or not that includes physical medium or not.
In the case of lazy CSers, I think this distro over the net is probably very convenient...
In the case of lazy CSers, I think this distro over the net is probably very convenient...