Episode
Half-life 2 Episode 1 was released at the start of this month, and Episode 2 is apparently in the works (which looks considerably better I think). This - and Sin Episodes - apparently mark the start of proper episodic gaming, both of which are downloadable via Steam.
Firstly, Steam. This is possibly the second worst bit of software ever, a close second after Norton which crashed my computer while watching the final cutscene of HL2. It is difficult to use, annoying, forces you to be online in order to play your games and quite often decides your games are no longer on your system. It once suddenly declared I no longer had HL2 and CS:S on my system, and I would have to download them off the internet for $20.00, or whatever that is in pounds. An hour spent on the hotline after I discovered Steam refuses to be mended finally sorted things out. I have the bastard thing.
Secondly, episodic gaming. HL2 E1 is going for the price of $20.00 for around "4-6 hours of gameplay" which translates roughly as "2-4 hours" for any vaguely competent gamer. So basically the lesser part of an afternoon. Personally I don't think it's worth £12 or something. But I'll probably still download it. Half-life has a great and interesting plot (must get Opposing Force and Blue Shift one day..) and it's the next installment. But on the other hand, I think episodic gaming is a bad idea. You have to download stuff mainly, and it's likely to cost a whole lot more. Even with an 8-meg connection I'm going to be waiting a wihle. Might as well go and play with American assholes on Halo 2...
Firstly, Steam. This is possibly the second worst bit of software ever, a close second after Norton which crashed my computer while watching the final cutscene of HL2. It is difficult to use, annoying, forces you to be online in order to play your games and quite often decides your games are no longer on your system. It once suddenly declared I no longer had HL2 and CS:S on my system, and I would have to download them off the internet for $20.00, or whatever that is in pounds. An hour spent on the hotline after I discovered Steam refuses to be mended finally sorted things out. I have the bastard thing.
Secondly, episodic gaming. HL2 E1 is going for the price of $20.00 for around "4-6 hours of gameplay" which translates roughly as "2-4 hours" for any vaguely competent gamer. So basically the lesser part of an afternoon. Personally I don't think it's worth £12 or something. But I'll probably still download it. Half-life has a great and interesting plot (must get Opposing Force and Blue Shift one day..) and it's the next installment. But on the other hand, I think episodic gaming is a bad idea. You have to download stuff mainly, and it's likely to cost a whole lot more. Even with an 8-meg connection I'm going to be waiting a wihle. Might as well go and play with American assholes on Halo 2...
posted by Mkzrj at 9:38 pm
3 Comments:
Apparently HL2: Episode 1 is very good, even if a little short. More intriguing story-lines and the like. But the whole downloading things isn't great. Thank God that 56k dial-up is gone. You could be there for literally years.
Real episodic gaming will come in the future with the internet MkII. Downloading won't be a problem because some smart-ass will figure out you can download lvl 2 whilst doing lvl 1. And therefore, it will be a lot cheaper as well since they won't have to worry about making the episodes good because no one will care about having to wait to download....
So you'll be left downloading rubbish? What a cunning ploy...
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