Aftermath preview in the German pc action

[SYNDROM]

The German Pc Action magazine has a aftermath preview in his newest issue.
Infos in short form:

- Selling over steam only.
- Playtime 33% of Half-Life 2
- You play Gordon direct after the explosion

- Lost Coast Infos:

- Playtime: 20 - 40 minutes
- Release: may

Greetings from Germany

* Update: *

Official Statement (http://www.pcaction.de/?article_id=364600)

Cover:

http://www.hlportal.de/images/images/original/6153.jpg

Aftermath Release: Fall (Not summer?)

[nutcrackr]

Cool thanks

[AJ Rimmer]

33%? That sounds like... Blue Shift or Max Payne 2. Good enough for an expansion...

[jimbo118]

so its definately steam only,better get a credit card

[DigiQ8]

w00t
Lost Coast next month

[kupocake]

Good enough for an expansion...
A *cheap* Expansion. I really am quite cynical that if this is available over Steam only, it's going to be priced unfairly. They could charge full game price and we'd be left with no alternative.

Uppers:
i)If it's 33% of the original game, it won't take long for them to churn it out, so a Summer release seems realistic.
ii) If it's short, it's likely that we'll get another expansion in a very short time, perhaps focusing on a different time frame or character, perhaps a continuation from this expansion...

Downers:
i) If the entire of this "33%" is a complete narrative (i.e. escape from citadel - escape from City 17), it will probably come off rushed, incomplete and/or kind of pointless.
ii) By setting the action after a game that was already supposedly complete, they're already taking a risk: setting even less of that action after it, is an even bigger risk.
iii) We may get seriously ripped off.

[Nephtis]

If they put it on steam only, I will kill them all.

[jimbo118]

A *cheap* Expansion. I really am quite cynical that if this is available over Steam only, it's going to be priced unfairly. They could charge full game price and we'd be left with no alternative.

Uppers:
i)If it's 33% of the original game, it won't take long for them to churn it out, so a Summer release seems realistic.
ii) If it's short, it's likely that we'll get another expansion in a very short time, perhaps focusing on a different time frame or character, perhaps a continuation from this expansion...

Downers:
i) If the entire of this "33%" is a complete narrative (i.e. escape from citadel - escape from City 17), it will probably come off rushed, incomplete and/or kind of pointless.
ii) By setting the action after a game that was already supposedly complete, they're already taking a risk: setting even less of that action after it, is an even bigger risk.
iii) We may get seriously ripped off.
im worried about the price too,particurly where i live,i dont want to pay more than every other expansion,also i have a download limit on my broadand subscription,this expansion should take up a few gigs right?

[J_Tweedy]

cool, so about a 5 hour game right?
should be a blast. if i can get it-

I DON'T HAVE A CREDIT CARD! And im sure there are many just like me- WHAT ABOUT US?

[Frank]

Wow wow wow... what the **** is this Lost Coast thing? I'm lost...

[Kouler]

im worried about the price too,particurly where i live,i dont want to pay more than every other expansion,also i have a download limit on my broadand subscription,this expansion should take up a few gigs right?

An expansion pack will not be over one gig, i gaurantee you

[Loke]

Wow, Lost Coast in May?!?!?!?!?!?!? :D :D

Thanks a lot for the info, Syndrom. :)

[Frank]

*waiting for answer*

[AJ Rimmer]

*waiting for answer*
Search.

[Samon]

Thank you. Over steam only? Fine by me.

33% playtime of half life 2 so thats about what - point insertion to Ravenholm? Sounds good to me, it is an expansion afterall.

Did they have any new screens!?

[jimbo118]

An expansion pack will not be over one gig, i gaurantee you
thats good,stupid 3 gig download limit :sniper:

i'd be interested to see a poll on how many people bought hl2 through steam

[UndeadScottsman]

- Playtime 33% of Half-Life 2
That's would be about 3-4 hours for me. 'Course, you have to factor in how it'll probably be harder than most of Half-Life 2, so that number might jump up a bit.


- Lost Coast Infos:
- Release: may


Thank Jesus. That meshes with what Doug said on G4.. Still can't figure out where PCG UK got the Winter 2005 date.

[mad max 6]

dudes, doug said. "if that works, the next step would be a steam only release, free from any publishers and restrictions"
so this will still be released via the shops! FACT!

[Asuka]

Sounds great up to the part i read Steam only. Dunno valve are smart people we will see what they do.

[mad max 6]

i refer you too my last post. FACT!

[JackKerouac]

Fall??

[Seppo]

It's quite interesting that the expansion will start right after the explosion. That rules out the possibility of Half-Life 3 starting from where HL2 ended

[mad max 6]

so nobody cares that it is coming out in the shops even though you all thought is was steam only?
just check the pcgamer interveiw. and thats hat doug said, not pcgamer!

[Seppo]

so nobody cares that it is coming out in the shops even though you all thought is was steam only?

The preview tells something else
Apparently it's a Steam only release

[mad max 6]

you mean the pcgamer interview. if you mean the german mags preview then does it have a quote from valve. because the pcgamer previw has a quote from valve.
here it is again(from memory):
"if that works, the next step would be a steam only release, free from any publishers and restrictions"
it says NEXT step.

[MiccyNarc]

Wow wow wow... what the **** is this Lost Coast thing? I'm lost...
You aren't going to find any info under that rock you've been calling "home"

[JackKerouac]

while im excited about more half life, does anyone else feel that this expansion in the long run is gonna be rather pointless story and plot wise?

[czrsink]

Yes, but who cares - it's Half Life!

I'm more eagerly looking forward to Half Life 3 to be honest though. I want a war on the Combine's 'Home' Planet, lots of epic battle scenes with a scale more like Call Of Duty and Battlefield than the decimated streets of City 17. Action taking place above my head, and on the ground in front me - like a proper battle.

[Noobulon]

Downers:

By setting the action after a game that was already supposedly complete, they're already taking a risk: setting even less of that action after it, is an even bigger risk.

That's exactly my worries about Aftermath.

Gameplay-wise, it will probably be great... but it isn't doing the storyline any favours.

*G-man releases Gordon*
*Gordon runs around City17 for three more hours*
G-man: "Uh, hello again..." :|

[kupocake]

33% playtime of half life 2 so thats about what - point insertion to Ravenholm? Sounds good to me, it is an expansion afterall.
I Suppose that makes sense... An expansion involving getting the hell out of City 17 will take around about the time it took to get the hell out of City 17 in Half-Life 2 itself ^^

In terms of chapters your estimation is incorrect... 5/6 of 13 isn't it? Though in literal time terms, the first chapters were far shorter than some of the later ones (Highway 17, Sandtraps, yes we're looking at you!), so I suppose you're right. I hope Valve make that 33% as long as they possibly can though ^^

so nobody cares that it is coming out in the shops even though you all thought is was steam only?
just check the pcgamer interveiw. and thats hat doug said, not pcgamer!
Exact Quote from the PC Gamer released last week:
"This fun will not be available in the shops"

[Polaris]

Some scans ??

[kupocake]

Some scans ??
Where do you think you are, http://www.*************/ ???

So "no", stupid.

[Polaris]

Sorry, its my fanatic need of news.

[Max35]

I'm not sure what everyone means by it won't do the storyline any favours. Maybe something entirely unexpected happens and he is released without the Gman's concent? As for the length it would be entirely worth it if it was polished, ie not Blue Shift.

[AJ Rimmer]

I'm not sure what everyone means by it won't do the storyline any favours. Maybe something entirely unexpected happens and he is released without the Gman's concent? As for the length it would be entirely worth it if it was polished, ie not Blue Shift.
Blue Shift rocked!

[Samon]

I love Blue shift. So enjoyable.

[special-ed]

Then wats your problem with Adrian!?

[ríomhaire]

It would be the funniest thing ever if Valve kept saying it was Steam only and you play as Gordon and on christmas suddenly HL2:Aftermath was on every shelf in video games shops and you play as someone new.

A Steam only release will encourage piracy in my opinion.

[Loke]

Even if Blue Shift was short, it was damn enjoyable.

[kupocake]

If Aftermath is Blue Shift length, I sure hope we don't get a Blue Shift ending :/

[Jandor]

Blue Shift was cool, though it annoyed me how everyone called you 'Calhoun'.

Hey Calhoun, how you doing?
I'd be a hell of a lot better if you stopped calling me Calhoun!

[Samon]

Then wats your problem with Adrian!?

Race X :flame: :flame:

[Defpotec22]

33% is not enough in my book. just because something is an expansion doesn't give it an excuse for it to be short

[Direwolf]

Race X :flame: :flame:
Why aren't you just anti-race x then?

[Sn4tcH]

Why aren't you just anti-race x then?

OMG...

That makes... SENSE!

WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM!?

[Samon]

Why aren't you just anti-race x then?

Erm. Because I don't like Shepard either?

[Solver]

33% sounds just a bit too short. If it costs like 40$, I don't want to pay that for a 6 hour game. Then again, it might actually be 7-8 hours, who knows at this point.

My biggest concern is also story related. At the moment, I do absolutely fail to see any way to bring Gordon back to the Citadel right after the end of HL2, given what the G-Man said. I really hope they will have something that makes sense for an explanation.

[UndeadScottsman]

Gordon was going to die; ergo the Gman had to save him for whatever reason the Gman keeps him around in the first place. The Gman could have just plucked him out of there and dropped him away from the blast right away, but since the he had Freeman pulled out of time, the Gman used the opportunity to gloat his contro.

Seems simple enough to me.

[Asuka]

Most REAL games are 10 hours long.

Half-Life 2 was avg 23-26 hours long. Thats if you searched and found everything
Doom 3 was about 18-21 hours long.
Doom 3 ROE was about 6-9 hours long.

1/3 of Half-Life 2 is very good for a expansion.

and it wont be 40.

A avg expansion pack costs 30$. Im thinking this will cost 25$. I really dont care, buying it no matter the cost.

[kupocake]

Half-Life 2 was avg 23-26 hours long. Thats if you searched and found everything
lol, yeah right. Perhaps if you crouch-walked everywhere, left the buggy and airboat behind and noclipped for half an hour on each map to see what was out of the limits of the world. 15 hours are barely needed to see everything without getting stupid (like... I dunno. Climbing in the enclosed area near the petrol station on Highway 17, or running down the closed off side of the train on the bridge). Or are we talking about a special playthrough time for the terminally crap at FPS games? Even if that was a moderately realistic estimate of a "see everything worth seeing" playthrough, Valve wouldn't use that number as an estimate.

33% of 12 hours is more reasonable. A 4 hour game is... not really that impressive. All depends on the pricing... the $14.99 they just lowered Condition Zero to sounds reasonable to me...

[Samon]

Half life 2 was about 15 hours average, no more than that. About 8 if you zoom through.

[jimbo118]

Half life 2 was about 15 hours average, no more than that. About 8 if you zoom through.
yeah about 15 id say

[Asuka]

Well i only died about 6 times the whole game. Went and read all the pics on the walls fould a shit load of hidden items, was pretty much never under 90 health 90 armore. Checked everything, i didnt noclip i didnt do any of that. Maybe experiment sometimes but thats it. I did do some weird stuff tho, like be very careful, explore the maps, check for some tricks etc. Took me give or take about 20 hours to beat. I could easily take more tho. Like perfect health, gather as many items together. Find weird ways to kill enemies, stuff like that. Makes the game a lot more interesting. Like setting up traps for the combine to run into etc. Trust me if you do it whenever you can your gameplay time will reach 25+ hours. Going through the game blazing with the rocket launcher is fun ya but i prefer my way.

[Da Dude]

I'm confused:


it will be available via Steam and may appear in retail boxes as well


http://www.forumplanet.com/planethalflife/topic.asp?fid=2348&tid=1640841

While in the german magazine it says steam only :|

[Samon]

Well i only died about 6 times the whole game. Went and read all the pics on the walls fould a shit load of hidden items, was pretty much never under 90 health 90 armore. Checked everything, i didnt noclip i didnt do any of that. Maybe experiment sometimes but thats it. I did do some weird stuff tho, like be very careful, explore the maps, check for some tricks etc. Took me give or take about 20 hours to beat. I could easily take more tho. Like perfect health, gather as many items together. Find weird ways to kill enemies, stuff like that. Makes the game a lot more interesting. Like setting up traps for the combine to run into etc. Trust me if you do it whenever you can your gameplay time will reach 25+ hours. Going through the game blazing with the rocket launcher is fun ya but i prefer my way.

I enjoy playing like that if i can but unravelling the storyline is usually my priority and pushes me into going faster.

[kupocake]

I enjoy playing like that if i can but unravelling the storyline is usually my priority and pushes me into going faster.
Indeed, and it's not like there isn't time for some experimentation in that time, doing much of the combat style that Raziel suggests... it's just some of the exploration you can do is a little pointless, like stacking crates to get onto a ledge with nothing on it. With the issue being the length of Aftermath though, it seems to me talking about making everything last for as long as possible will be rather redundant: it'll probably take place exclusively within City 17, which was the place with less scope to waste time in...

[Noobulon]

They could make Aftermath last longer by putting stuff in for the hardcore explorers.
ie, actually put something on the ledge that only few would bother to investigate.

[kupocake]

They could make Aftermath last longer by putting stuff in for the hardcore explorers.
ie, actually put something on the ledge that only few would bother to investigate.
Exactly... I kept seeing missed opportunities when I did bother to explore: like on the bridge, you can run on the outside of the pillars, but there isn't anything there...

[Jintor]

Curse you Valve! Stop sending out messages that Gordon is the main character!


*tears at hair, falls over*

[ZeeM]

w00t? 33% of halflife2? hl2 was already short 33% is nothing :flame:

and don`t tell me its an expansion cause opposing force was an expansion too and it was long enough


I won`t pay more than 20$ for this thing :frown:

[ríomhaire]

Valve are going to shovel us s**t about playing as Gordon and steam only, then release it by shelf not as Gordon. I'm telling you!

[Asuka]

Indeed, and it's not like there isn't time for some experimentation in that time, doing much of the combat style that Raziel suggests... it's just some of the exploration you can do is a little pointless, like stacking crates to get onto a ledge with nothing on it. With the issue being the length of Aftermath though, it seems to me talking about making everything last for as long as possible will be rather redundant: it'll probably take place exclusively within City 17, which was the place with less scope to waste time in...

Im not only talking about that. What im also saying is. Lets say you think there will be a battle soon. So you set up a barricade with traps for the enemies to run into. 1 thing i wanted to try but never got to was making a maze with random things and seeing how the combine react to it. Stuff like that, takes a lot of time, sometimes it was a wast but sometimes you get this really cool scene.

[MikeL15]

Do you know what Im pissed about? Im pissed that movies only last and average of 2 hours long. Thats way too short. They need to make them atleast like 6 hours. Who cares if it would take them forever to make and by the time comes came out, everyone has forgot about it?

Get my point?

[JackKerouac]

Do you know what Im pissed about? Im pissed that movies only last and average of 2 hours long. Thats way too short. They need to make them atleast like 6 hours. Who cares if it would take them forever to make and by the time comes came out, everyone has forgot about it?

Get my point?

It doesnt cost 50 dollars, a internet connection and steam to go see a 2 hour movie :P

[UndeadScottsman]

w00t? 33% of halflife2? hl2 was already short 33% is nothing :flame:

and don`t tell me its an expansion cause opposing force was an expansion too and it was long enough


I won`t pay more than 20$ for this thing :frown:
From after the Resonance Cascade to the last battle of the game, Half-Life 1 was 83 .bsps, (Plus 6 .bsps for the tram ride, 6 .bsps for before the cascade, 7 .bsps for the Hazard Course and the last .bsp with the Gman for a total of 103 maps total)

Op4, from when you wake up to the fight with the Geneworm, is 36 .bsps, (Plus 1 for the Osprey ride/crash, 5 for bootcamp and 1 for the final meeting, for a total of 43)

36/83=43.37%
43/103=41.75%

Op4 also initially retailed for 40 bucks. (Most expensive expansion EVER. :P)

[ZeeM]

From after the Resonance Cascade to the last battle of the game, Half-Life 1 was 83 .bsps, (Plus 6 .bsps for the tram ride, 6 .bsps for before the cascade, 7 .bsps for the Hazard Course and the last .bsp with the Gman for a total of 103 maps total)

Op4, from when you wake up to the fight with the Geneworm, is 36 .bsps, (Plus 1 for the Osprey ride/crash, 5 for bootcamp and 1 for the final meeting, for a total of 43)

36/83=43.37%
43/103=41.75%

Op4 also initially retailed for 40 bucks. (Most expensive expansion EVER. :P)

It doesn`t have to do with how many bsps there were ;)
Maps are broken into several pieces to make the game less memory demanding.
I believe op4 was at least 65% of hl1
while blueshit was like 30% (or less?) :hmph:


Do you know what Im pissed about? Im pissed that movies only last and average of 2 hours long. Thats way too short. They need to make them atleast like 6 hours. Who cares if it would take them forever to make and by the time comes came out, everyone has forgot about it?

Get my point?

Its normal for a movie to last around 2 hours :hmph:
When was the last time you saw a game that lasts 3-4 hours? (except of blue shift of course)

[el Chi]

Do you know what Im pissed about? Im pissed that movies only last and average of 2 hours long. Thats way too short. They need to make them atleast like 6 hours. Who cares if it would take them forever to make and by the time comes came out, everyone has forgot about it?

Get my point?Are you serious? Christ, if movies were that long it could get so tedious - it'd have to be an incredibly enthralling film to justify that length.
Besides, by the end of the film you'd have bed sores or your arse would've taken root to your chair or something hideous like that.

[UndeadScottsman]

It doesn`t have to do with how many bsps there were ;)
Maps are broken into several pieces to make the game less memory demanding.
I believe op4 was at least 65% of hl1
# of .bsp's doesn't neccassarily coorespond to lenght, true, however it does give a rough estimate; and Op4 wasn't anywhere near 65% as long as Half-Life. 40-45% as long sounds about right to me, MAYBE 50%. It was a 40 dollar expansion though.

while blueshiFt was like 30% (or less?) :hmph:
Blue-Shift doesn't count since A. It was never intended to be a full expansion and B. The powers that be included Op4 and the high def pack in order to balance out the price.

Its normal for a movie to last around 2 hours :hmph:
When was the last time you saw a game that lasts 3-4 hours? (except of blue shift of course)
Katamari Damacy; which coincidently retailed for 20 bucks. The Doom3 expansion wasn't much longer and it costed 15 bucks more.

[Sparta]

Half-Life 2 was about 15-17 hours long, which is decent. Ninja Gaiden was only 14 the first time through, and RE 4 was just on 17. We dont know what exactly a 3rd of Half-Life 2 is to Valve, maybe 6, maybe 8, maybe 4. No idea. Lets wait and see

[grecco_diego]

Valve is worried about Vivendi taking 70% out of the money... This is why they don't want Aftermath to be boxed. They want all the arrecadations from the sellings for themselves, sharing with no one, this is why they are aiming a Steam-only release. (Am I wrong?). On the other hand, pirating is gonna be huge if a Steam only release happens.

[grecco_diego]

Oh, I forgot the 'AI Disabled' thingy.

[Styloid]

I thought the 33% indicated the time that would pass in the game. HL2 was supposed to be 3 days playing (with a week instantaneously passing by) so I think that means that Aftermath all takes place in one day. The actual amount of playing hours isn't really certain in this sense.

[Megalomaniac]

Thanks for the info, but they better not charge it as a full price game or i won't buy till it drops down in price...or i might do something...illegal...

[Deathb4birth]

i dont actualy think it is fair for them to put it on steam as many people dont have a credit card

[Samon]

Nice bump...

[flupke]

Just saw this thread, and it says the lost coast is coming in may.. Uhuh... Well what a you know, it's already the 24th!

[Cuddlez.ini]

May 2006?

[flupke]

I'll be really pissed if it would be that may :/

[DaleusTheBig]

When I bought HL2 on steam a while ago it was £26 (GBP) so the expansion which is shorter should be what? £10 if its anymore than £15 ill fob it and get it from torrent. I dont give a crap, My pirated version of HL2 doesnt lag but if I use the real one on my steam account it lags like a pig so if Im just playing singleplayer I use that one. Seeing as I have bought the game I dont feel bad about that...seeing as its much faster without steam....

[mrkab00m]

w00t
Lost Coast next month
damnit
Loast Coast next month



stupid ass POS comp