angular graphics
Banned
This is why the next Half-Life game is taking a while:
1. Previous game ended with a cliffhanger that poses tough challenges for the next game thematically and narrative wise.
2. Significant Gameplay concerns. Most of the people assume Ep3 would have introduced the ASHPD gun into the HL world which would mean drastic changes in AI and design.
3. From here to there, a lot of time passed so an 'Episode' release won't do and the next HL game would have to be a marque release.
4. During that time the Source engine has aged and work on Source 2 begun. I wouldn't have wanted Ep3 to have been released in 2013 or 2012 if that meant using the old engine while the new one is being made.
5. VR tech is maturing. You want great SP experiences? VR is going to push the bar up for that. VR is best for solitary experiences and getting drawn in vast worlds. Valve are pushing it hard. I doubt it's going to be used solely for games like Dota or L4D. VR is the next step so you might as well incorporate it into the next HL as a FPS built from the ground up to use VR that will usher in the era of VR.
1. Sort of. Marc Laidlaw said writing is not an issue. Infusing the writing to gameplay etc, yeah. http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showpost.php?p=28753574&postcount=2
2. Yes. Gabe Newell said Ep3 would have gameplay stuff never before seen which surpassed even the Portal gun.
GK: Episode 3, what do we know about it? What can you tell us?
Gabe: From our point of view there's enough new-ness in there that we sorta want to spring it on people and say here is a bunch of things you've never seen before. And have multiple of those.
GK: And that is graphically or gameplay or?
Gabe: There is stuff visually that hasn't been in games before, certainly a bunch of game elements on the border of portal that hasn't been done before.
GK: So even better than the portal gun?
Gabe: Oh yeah.
GK: New game-play para-dimes
GN: Uh-huh.
3. Yes.
4. Yes. Newell implied the new engine allows them to do stuff they couldn't do before. http://kotaku.com/5966860/gabe-newell-living-room-pcs-will-compete-with-next+gen-consoles
I also asked Newell what sort of software they're working on these days. He wouldn't give specifics, but he did reiterate that they're working on their next-generation engine—which he said will work with next-generation consoles as well.
"Hopefully that's gonna give us some interesting opportunities on the game side,"
5. I think an SP game like HL is a better fit to showcase VR than a fast paced MP game like L4D or one that you are playing sort of competitively like CS, Dota 2. So I agree.