Portal 2 is Finished

[Ralph Wiggum]

There's no way Valve would not release Episode 3. The problem with extended development time is that the pool of funds eventually dry up, i.e. Duke Nukem Forever. And we all know Valve is swimming in cash. It's taking a long time because this is going to be the last installment of the Gordon Freeman/Half Life story arc, so they no doubt want to go out with a bang and get things right the first time. Episode 2 was a bit of a let down as it was a rehash of previous game elements, and the gameplay was starting to show its age. They can take their time as far as I'm concerned...there's plenty of awesome games coming out this year to keep me occupied.

[corsa826]

There's no way Valve would not release Episode 3. The problem with extended development time is that the pool of funds eventually dry up, i.e. Duke Nukem Forever. And we all know Valve is swimming in cash. It's taking a long time because this is going to be the last installment of the Gordon Freeman/Half Life story arc, so they no doubt want to go out with a bang and get things right the first time. Episode 2 was a bit of a let down as it was a rehash of previous game elements, and the gameplay was starting to show its age. They can take their time as far as I'm concerned...there's plenty of awesome games coming out this year to keep me occupied.

+1. Though I will add that it wasn't just the gameplay that was showing its age. The story telling is absolutely rubbish with a silent character. Gordon as a character has become unbelievable and hollow. They got away with it in HL2 because gorden didn't have any strong relationships with any of the characters. I think valve has finally realised that they can't end it well without giving him a voice. Its either **** ending or completely change the character, either way the nerd rage will be vocal and valve is set to lose face.

[Zombywolf]

I don't reckon.

One of the things that makes Gordon great is that he is not as voiceless as we suspect. Without forcing on the player a stereotyped 'blah mr scientist saving the world' character (which valve would probably be able to competantly avoid anyway) we are able to internalise dialogue ourselves. We form our own character for gordon freeman, without any extra effort on our part.

I mean seriously, if your jaw didn't drop the first time you saw alex get impaled through the giblets in ep2, you're either lying or dont have a capacity to appreciate good storytelling And our reaction would only have been lessened if Gordon let out a heroic NOOOOOOOO or some bollocks like that.

I think Valve has used the 'silent character' narrative device incredibly well. To say that that makes him unbelievable and hollow well...time for you to go play cod blops

[corsa826]

I know what you mean and for HL2 and episode 1 it worked for me too, but I just wasn't feeling it in episode 2. I feel like after all hes gone through he should have grown to the point where hes telling some of the other characters what hes going to do next, not just get lead along like hes got a carrot on a stick in front of him.

And our reaction would only have been lessened if Gordon let out a heroic NOOOOOOOO or some bollocks like that.

haha, yes, when you make it sound like that. But I can't help feel that decent writing and a good voice actor could have captured it right. Even if all he did was scream her name in a genuinly terrified and desperate way.

I'm in no hurry for episode 3, I just hope they get the ending right.

[Lance P King]

In regards to ep3...that Valve havn't released something their not happy with, just because its a known fact eveyone will buy it is testamount to why Valve are so good.

Aye well said. As if HL3/ep3 isn't going to pwn us all...it's genuinely hard to find something Valve have done wrong in the gaming world if you ask me. And I doubt anyone thats ever done anything hugely creative and worthwhile would disagree.

I'm in no hurry for episode 3, I just hope they get the ending right.

What would you suggest?

[tranquil]

are they making Episode 3 or a full HL3, new engine and whatnot. that's what i'd like to know. leaving it a little late for another Source engine title imo.

[Zombywolf]

just an episode 3. however, given that they've take at least the same amount of time that there was between HL1 and 2, I'd bet this one will not really fit the term 'episode'.

either that or theyre **** STUMPED as how to end it

Also: it has been stated by a valve exec (dunno if it was gaben or a designer or what) but, while this episode will be the last in this story arc, it will not be the last we see of Gordon Freemans.