What ever happened to Half Life 3?

py2006 · 11-09-2014 9:15am #1

and the remaining Episodes they were doing?

I thought they had big plans for this? Has there been internal problems, has it been shelved?

death1234567 · 11-09-2014 9:17am

11-09-2014 9:20am

Oh no another HL3 thread. Bump spectaculare

erkifino · 11-09-2014 9:23am

They released back in '09. It was meh...

Retr0gamer · 11-09-2014 9:27am

It changed name halfway through development to Ride to Hell Retribution. You should pick it up, it's great.

Kaizersoze81 · 11-09-2014 9:30am

Just stop. Please.

Mr Bloat · 11-09-2014 9:33am

py2006 · 11-09-2014 9:45am

A simple answer or link would end this thread quicker than bitching about it.

BeerWolf · 11-09-2014 10:08am

Retr0gamer · 11-09-2014 10:09am

py2006 wrote: »

A simple answer or link would end this thread quicker than bitching about it.

Antar Bolaeisk · 11-09-2014 10:23am

Valve were bought out by EA who didn't see any further value in the franchise instead deciding to focus on MMORPGs DOTA2 and TF2

Shiminay · 11-09-2014 11:59am

py - I'm not sure how you've managed to miss it, but Half-Life 3's release is something of an urban myth and is only mentioned in hushed tones on Gaming forums which is why you're getting the responses you're getting.

11-09-2014 12:08pm

Nothing happened to it. It has never been announced nor has it ever existed.

ancapailldorcha · 11-09-2014 12:12pm

There's plenty of better games than HL2 so I fail to see why the sequel should be so anticipated.

Sonics2k · 11-09-2014 1:59pm

py2006 wrote: »

A simple answer or link would end this thread quicker than bitching about it.

So much irony in one sentence.

krudler · 11-09-2014 2:16pm

It's a long running joke on the net at this point that it'll never come out. Or maybe it will, Valve are well in on the joke anyway and play up to it without ever saying whether or not it's coming.

Kiith · 11-09-2014 2:22pm

They will release it after Source 2 is released, but they'll do it when they feel like it. It's too big a name to not release it. Maybe we'll see a re-release of the last few games ported to Source 2, followed by HL3?

The internet will explode the day they do announce it though.

ScumLord · 11-09-2014 2:26pm

They have a chance to set another milestone by making a VR optimized game, a half life game made specifically for VR would be pretty epic.

ancapailldorcha · 11-09-2014 2:36pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYE5cxQrIp8

BeerWolf · 11-09-2014 2:38pm

Kiith wrote: »

They will release it after Source 2 is released, but they'll do it when they feel like it. It's too big a name to not release it. Maybe we'll see a re-release of the last few games ported to Source 2, followed by HL3?

The internet will explode the day they do announce it though.

I got a bad feeling Half-Life'3 is going to end up like Duke Nukem Forever...

I sincerely hope it doesn't, I love the HL series!

Akrasia · 11-09-2014 3:09pm

I've always presumed that HL3 was being kept back as a way of giving the Steam box a proper kick start once the consumer version of the platform is released.

Sierra Oscar · 11-09-2014 7:44pm

I think it is pretty much assumed (although there is not much actual evidence to back this up, just hearsay and the like) that Valve had started work on Episode 3 but decided to shelve it to pursue other projects such as Left 4 Dead and Portal. Valve have also said that they suffered a lack of innovation when it came to Episode 3 and the Half Life series as a whole and felt that they were not breaking new ground anymore. Therefore Valve felt that they needed to pursue different ideas / go back to the drawing board with Half Life entirely which saw them moving on to new projects. As time went on it became apparent that it would not be possible to make an Episode 3 and that the next step would likely have to be an entire new installment.

Personally I think that Valve have had a team assigned to working on the next Half Life since Episode 2, and this team was probably a small one to focus on concepts and the like for quite a long time. They have probably been left to their own devices while Valve as a whole focused more so on multiplayer games / community Steam elements. However I still feel that a new Half Life is in development, and that the team is growing in size!

Now I know that a fair bit of wishful thinking is mixed in there.

CiDeRmAn · 12-09-2014 7:00am

Perhaps a new Orange Box with the previous games in the series updated for the current consoles and PCs, including Black Mesa.
Sell it as a prelude to HL3, John the Baptist to Jesus kinda thing.

It's unlikely to suck, Valve don't make sh1te games, not yet anyway

Vicxas · 12-09-2014 8:13am

Im gonna go with numerous rebuilds of the game coupled with Source 2 being introduced to delaying this game.

Dayum · 12-09-2014 1:32pm

Anything less than a universal sway in the way we view videogames will be a mass disappointment in my book.

It won game of the decade - the hype is there to create something revolutionary. With that said I think the've began on numerous occasions and scrapped it. They want it to be perfect. We want it to be perfect.

These things take time. I know it doesn't seem like it now but Valve are under no pressure to meet numbers. They already make an absurd amount of money from Steam, DotA & TF2 markets and tournaments they hold that they can sit back, work on HL3, pump stupid amounts of money into their baby and release it whenever they want under the radar.

ScumLord · 12-09-2014 1:44pm

Sierra Oscar wrote: »

Valve have also said that they suffered a lack of innovation when it came to Episode 3 and the Half Life series as a whole and felt that they were not breaking new ground anymore.

That's why I think they should go for a VR specific HL3. HL2 is already showing some of the best innovations on fps in the oculus rift and it's only people messing about at this stage.

Although I suppose a business would see developing a highly anticipated title like Half life for a niche market as a very big gamble. They'd have to depend on their game and the rift becoming such a sensation that it encouraged loads of people to buy high end PCs which I suppose isn't going to happen. The problem is if they wait for the rift to catch on they'll have missed the boat on the innovation side of things.

Sonys VR headset could be the deciding factor though. If that works they could at least have the PS market to aim for.

Kiith · 12-09-2014 1:46pm

Dayum wrote: »

Anything less than a universal sway in the way we view videogames will be a mass disappointment in my book.

So...no pressure :pac:

Dayum · 12-09-2014 1:47pm

ScumLord wrote: »

Sonys VR headset could be the deciding factor though. If that works they could at least have the PS market to aim for.

True.

Playstation is set, PC is set in relation to VR's.

I think VR's need to be a key component of HL3. But I also think they'll be looking to draw the Steambox into the mix in some capacity? Perhaps a timed-exclusive?

ripperman · 12-09-2014 2:17pm

Kiith wrote: »

So...no pressure :pac:

I always wondered is this the reason why we havnt heard anything about a third half life yet. I'd imagine it has become a huge stone around the developers neck forever gaining weight. The more time passes the more expectations increase. I wouldn't be suprised if it has become a terrible burden for them at this stage as I fear that a third one couldnt possibly live up to peoples expectations now.

CastorTroy · 12-09-2014 2:18pm

Maybe it should be the game that launches our personal holosuites.

Shiminay · 12-09-2014 2:21pm

Well, as HL2 was used to launch Steam (and let us never forget how completely and utterly broken and fked that launch was), HL3 would probably be the best means to launch something else new. SteamOS/Steam Boxes seems like a good candidate (cause there's literally no other reason to buy a Steam Box, they are an answer to a problem no one has), but I'm sure *something* might have leaked out at this stage if this was the case.

the other major thing is, as they have said, the real need for HL3 to be a game changer because there's all this hype, all this expectation and a massively flooded marketplace since HL2 was launched, so it can't just be a story driven FPS, but I'm damned if I can figure out what it does need

12-09-2014 2:26pm

Frankly, I was bored of single player fps games by the time I played HL2. What could this possibly offer that hasn't been done?

Vicxas · 12-09-2014 2:30pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Frankly, I was bored of single player fps games by the time I played HL2. What could this possibly offer that hasn't been done?

Thats half the problem, both the HL games broke ground for new ideas in gaming.

What could HL3 do, except introduce "Smellovision"?

BloodBath · 12-09-2014 3:11pm

SteamOS/Box is a completely open platform, anyone can make one so it's not going to be connected to that in anyway. It's a failed concept anyway unless you can get game developers to stop using directX. Otherwise you're stuck using windows if you want a gaming PC.

I also seriously doubt it will be focused on VR. Maybe 0.1% at the most of PC gamers will get an Oculus rift. Running a next gen half life engine at 1080p/90 fps is not going to happen unless you have a pig of a PC.

The resolution may even be higher by the time the consumer version launches.

I'd say HL3 is definitely in production though. It will be used to showcase the new engine followed shortly by a new left4dead.

I'd say they will make a more scalable engine and make half life a bit more open world with possible co-op multiplayer. I know half-life has a tradition of being linear but really linear single player FPS games are stale these days.

o1s1n · 12-09-2014 3:45pm

BloodBath wrote: »

but really linear single player FPS games are stale these days.

Unless they're done well of course (which HL1 & 2 were). The problem with all the 'stale' ones is they're ****e. Blame the artists, not the medium :pac:

12-09-2014 4:03pm

BloodBath wrote: »

SteamOS/Box is a completely open platform, anyone can make one so it's not going to be connected to that in anyway. It's a failed concept anyway unless you can get game developers to stop using directX. Otherwise you're stuck using windows if you want a gaming PC.

I also seriously doubt it will be focused on VR. Maybe 0.1% at the most of PC gamers will get an Oculus rift. Running a next gen half life engine at 1080p/90 fps is not going to happen unless you have a pig of a PC.

The resolution may even be higher by the time the consumer version launches.

I'd say HL3 is definitely in production though. It will be used to showcase the new engine followed shortly by a new left4dead.

I'd say they will make a more scalable engine and make half life a bit more open world with possible co-op multiplayer. I know half-life has a tradition of being linear but really linear single player FPS games are stale these days.

I reckon this could be it. With technology good enough, it could give them the exact paradigm shift that valve seem to be known for.

Dayum · 12-09-2014 4:23pm

o1s1n wrote: »

Unless they're done well of course (which HL1 & 2 were). The problem with all the 'stale' ones is they're ****e. Blame the artists, not the medium :pac:

I don't know. Look at Wolfenstein: The New Order. Enjoyable game but nobody is ever going to play it again nor will it even cross anyones mind a year from now and that's a franchise with a history and a half.

I feel the linear, single-player only campaign game is dead/or is dying. Sure they're entertaining in the moment but they don't have the legs to stay the distance and remain relevant for long.

HL3 will need some sort of multiplayer or multiplayer campaign and they'll have to do it right like say........Brink did it and not Titanfall. What I mean by that is that the players will ultimately decide the story outcome with brach-offs etc where the decisions you make as either a Combine or Freeman archs everything going forward. A truly well done campaign multiplayer has never really been done for the FPS genre and it would break new ground if they could pull it off.

ScumLord · 12-09-2014 4:33pm

BloodBath wrote: »

I also seriously doubt it will be focused on VR. Maybe 0.1% at the most of PC gamers will get an Oculus rift. Running a next gen half life engine at 1080p/90 fps is not going to happen unless you have a pig of a PC.

There are people running triple screens on the likes of 660s and up. They have to take a hit on the effects and resolution but it can still be done and get a framerate of 60fps. The rift looks like it's going to be cheap enough that the majority of gamers could easily justify shelling out for one. Facebook will be heavily subsidising the rift, they obviously have plans for VR and the desire and capital to push it.

I'm also wondering if the fancy effects graphics cards use to improve the picture will be necessary with the rift. With a high resolution and actual depth perception power hungry effects may be replaced with the natural effects the brain uses.

Skerries · 12-09-2014 4:53pm

Kiith wrote: »

So...no pressure :pac:

Retr0gamer · 12-09-2014 4:56pm

I'd rather a new Stalker than Half Life 3 at this stage.

Benzino · 12-09-2014 5:05pm

Dayum wrote: »

I feel the linear, single-player only campaign game is dead/or is dying. Sure they're entertaining in the moment but they don't have the legs to stay the distance and remain relevant for long.

I disagree and I think you just have to look at the Last of Us to see that people still want good single player, linear games.

Dayum · 12-09-2014 5:10pm

Benzino wrote: »

I disagree and I think you just have to look at the Last of Us to see that people still want good single player, linear games.

The Last of Us is not an FPS.

Benzino · 12-09-2014 5:30pm

Dayum wrote: »

The Last of Us is not an FPS.

No, but it is a game. You never specified linear, single-player only campaign FPS game.

Dayum wrote: »

I feel the linear, single-player only campaign game is dead/or is dying. Sure they're entertaining in the moment but they don't have the legs to stay the distance and remain relevant for long.

Dayum · 12-09-2014 5:49pm

Benzino wrote: »

No, but it is a game. You never specified linear, single-player only campaign FPS game.

The whole thread is about an FPS. I included Wolfenstein in my post plus the post I was replying to referred to FPS and the post to which that was replying to as well. Nobody is discussing anything other than FPS.

We've had FPS linear campaigns since the days of the dinosaurs. The thing thats selling FPS's these days are multiplayer modes - Call of Duty, Battlefield etc.

Benzino · 12-09-2014 6:36pm

Hey, I took it as you wrote it.

I still disagree, I believe there is a demand for good single player, linear FPS games. Bioshock is an example of this. The problem with most FPS games is that they generally have nothing else going for them other than running and gunning. Shooting people in games has pretty much been perfected at this point.

Games just need to focus on the story, atmosphere, unique environments and gameplay aspects (like singularity time shift). This is something HL has been good at, and I'm confident they can achieve it again.

BloodBath · 12-09-2014 6:49pm

ScumLord wrote: »

There are people running triple screens on the likes of 660s and up. They have to take a hit on the effects and resolution but it can still be done and get a framerate of 60fps. The rift looks like it's going to be cheap enough that the majority of gamers could easily justify shelling out for one. Facebook will be heavily subsidising the rift, they obviously have plans for VR and the desire and capital to push it.

I'm also wondering if the fancy effects graphics cards use to improve the picture will be necessary with the rift. With a high resolution and actual depth perception power hungry effects may be replaced with the natural effects the brain uses.

Buying an oculus rift and then turning the settings down kinda defeats the purpose when you end up making HL3 look like HL2. Bit of an exaggeration sure but we don't know the rifts final specs yet.

If you are trying to immerse yourself in the world the better the graphics the better the immersion. The frame rate has to be kept high to stop ghosting and motion sickness as well. 1080p will still be pretty screen doory. I'd say the tech won't be great until 1440p@100fps.

The rift is not high res, even 1440p stretched to fill 100 degrees of your field of view is not high res. You will need all the filtering and graphics improvements possible to make it look good at 1080p.

I'll be getting the 1080p version anyway. A single 290 should run it pretty well if it's 1080p/90hz.

Give it 4-5 years for a good 1440p/120hz version that can run well off of a single high end gpu.

Benzino wrote: »

I disagree and I think you just have to look at the Last of Us to see that people still want good single player, linear games.

I can't imagine turning Gordon Freeman into a character with a movie like script and story driven game. The whole silent protagonist thing is pretty outdated though but the half life fanboys would go mental if they tried to given Gordon some character.

Dayum · 12-09-2014 7:18pm

Benzino wrote: »

Hey, I took it as you wrote it.

I still disagree, I believe there is a demand for good single player, linear FPS games. Bioshock is an example of this. The problem with most FPS games is that they generally have nothing else going for them other than running and gunning. Shooting people in games has pretty much been perfected at this point.

Games just need to focus on the story, atmosphere, unique environments and gameplay aspects (like singularity time shift). This is something HL has been good at, and I'm confident they can achieve it again.

Bioshock was a good game but we're not talking about good games or even great games.

We're talking about Half Life.

o1s1n · 12-09-2014 7:51pm

Dayum wrote: »

I don't know. Look at Wolfenstein: The New Order. Enjoyable game but nobody is ever going to play it again nor will it even cross anyones mind a year from now and that's a franchise with a history and a half.

I feel the linear, single-player only campaign game is dead/or is dying. Sure they're entertaining in the moment but they don't have the legs to stay the distance and remain relevant for long.

HL3 will need some sort of multiplayer or multiplayer campaign and they'll have to do it right like say........Brink did it and not Titanfall. What I mean by that is that the players will ultimately decide the story outcome with brach-offs etc where the decisions you make as either a Combine or Freeman archs everything going forward. A truly well done campaign multiplayer has never really been done for the FPS genre and it would break new ground if they could pull it off.

It looks like you're expecting all the wrong things though. The point of a single player game with a story arc isn't to come back again and again - that's the domain of multiplayer FPS games.

Some of the best games I've ever played, I've only played once. Sure, I'd like to play them again, but there are too many good games to keep repeating ones you've already played.

There's always going to be space for good single player FPS games. The problem is that too many modern FPS titles focus on the multiplayer - the single player experience is just tacked on. (and crap and stale as a result)

Play something like Amnesia: The Dark Descent, that's an original engaging FPS single player game.

As I said, it's not the medium/genre that's at fault, it's people using it to create crappy, stale experiences.

Skerries · 12-09-2014 8:06pm

Dishonored is a great example of a FPS with a great story (yes it is also can be played as a stealth game)
Shadow Warrior is also another great fun SP FPS game lately

COYVB · 12-09-2014 9:32pm

Dayum wrote: »

I feel the linear, single-player only campaign game is dead/or is dying.

It might be slumping a little at the moment, but it'll be back with a bang in the next couple of years. Not everyone (read quite a lot of people) wants to do the whole online thing; they just want to play games as a form of entertainment. Online games, for the most part, these days involve a lot of work

Benzino · 12-09-2014 11:20pm

Dayum wrote: »

Bioshock was a good game but we're not talking about good games or even great games.

We're talking about Half Life.

Huh? I mentioned Bioshock because it's a Single-player FPS game that is very popular, it's an example that linear games are not dead. The number of gamers who want another HL should be enough to prove that these games are not dying or dead.

What ever happened to Half Life 3?

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