Do you guys think EP3 will at least be announced this year?

[FelipeRRM]

So that´s it guys, you know Gabe told us to wait until E3 for some news, but do you think he will just talk about Portal 2 ? I hope he will announce EP3 at E3.

To be honest, it´s been a long time already since EP2, they must have something for us!!

[gorpie]

Maybe. :)

(I certainly hope they tell us something, even if it's that it won't be released until next year.)

[Deadly_Target]

Yes, I do.

If EP3 isn't announced this year, I will gift my extra copy of HL2 to the next poster.

[gajewoad]

It'll probably be announced, but not released until q2 of 2011. It's just not smart to put two big titles out close together, same genre or not.

[crazy_killer]

Ok I know this isn't going to help much, but Gabe always said that Valve is known for their late releases and delays. Gabes answer was that they do this to absolutely maximize the quality of the game, he said: "A game can be delayed for some time, but it can suck forever"

We know how amazing the Half-Life games are, and the last thing we want is a rushed release for the final and most important part of the Half-Life 2 storyline.

For now just try to enjoy the madness that is Portal 2, once the first Episode 3 media pops up you know it's going to be an all-out war on all Half-Life forums. They'd have to hire a hundred more moderators to keep the forums clean of "HOLY ♥♥♥♥ EPISODE 3 NEWS!!!11" threads.
Just look at how Valve used such a cool way for marketing Portal 2 - imagine what they'll do with Episode 3.

Anyway, just trying to keep the mood up, I personally don't think we will get any Episode 3 info this year whatsoever - maybe some interviews with Gabe but we all know what hes going to say. :D

edit:

I'd also like to note that Valve managed to turn Portal into a game of its own, now with coop and a much longer singleplayer campaign. This might hint towards Episode 3 also becoming a full sized game - I'm not saying it's Half - Life 3 (I know everyone hates that theory) but just look at the facts..

[HyperTech]

We will most likely only see Portal 2 trailers at E3. No, I don't think Episode 3 will be revealed this year.

[FelipeRRM]

Gaaaaaabbbbbbbbbbeeeeeeeeee

Ahh, I don´t know, I´d like to play it before the world ends (2012 lol).

I´m so into Half Life that I can´t stand being without HL news for such a longe time. A lot of years have passed and no new info =[
But I totally agree with you, we want a MaterPiece, and that´s what Valve will deliever us.

[CaptainDingo]

I doubt it will be. I find it strange that Valve's mission was to release episodic content because it was "faster", and here we are still waiting for Episode 3. Meanwhile, Portal and Left 4 Dead have both seen full-blown sequels.

I think Valve doesn't really care about the Half-Life series as much as they used to. :p Or they seem totally unmotivated/uninspired to do anything with it, content to just leave it sitting around on the cutting room floor kicking around while they work on other stuff instead.

Just my thoughts on the matter.

And even if it is announced, it will have to be so mind-blowing that it totally justifies all the time we've waited. I'll have a hard time being excited if it's a 5-hour long "we could have finished this in about 6 months but we got lazy" sort of deal.

[HyperTech]

I think Valve doesn't really care about the Half-Life series as much as they used to. :p Or they seem totally unmotivated/uninspired to do anything with it, content to just leave it sitting around on the cutting room floor kicking around while they work on other stuff instead.
It's pretty obvious that this has with publicity to do. It's a way to make the game "legendary" and people would pay anything to play it by now.

There are also some other stuff I have thought about..

There was an interview with Gabe and Doug before, where Gabe almost spilled the beans on Episode 3, but Doug stopped him. I'm pretty sure that was fixed, because then people will think "omg he almost said something about EP3!", and the community will talk about it and that = more publicity for the game.

I really doubt that the boss for Valve would make such a big mistake, of course they prepere for interviews and knows what to say and not to say. It's all fixed.

[FelipeRRM]

I think Valve doesn't really care about the Half-Life series as much as they used to. :p Or they seem totally unmotivated/uninspired to do anything with it, content to just leave it sitting around on the cutting room floor kicking around while they work on other stuff instead.


If this is true, I´ll get very, very sad. If they aren´t announcing it because they wanna make it better its OK, but if it´s because the game is cornered, and development stuck, its terrible news.

[gorpie]

If this is true, I´ll get very, very sad. If they aren´t announcing it because they wanna make it better its OK, but if it´s because the game is cornered, and development stuck, its terrible news.

I doubt this is true.

[STEELCITY32]

Well, at GDC we learned the puzzles aren't over yet...

[Inspector Jones]

No. And if it is announced, it won't be announced for 2010.

[WalkenOwns]

Technically, it was announced years ago.

If you mean more info, screens, etc then who knows. The fact that portal 2 has an apparent fall release date adds more weigh to the rumor earlier of no half life in 2010. once portal 2 ships in late 2010, hopefully they'll start getting episode 3 done.

[lostinseganet]

No I do not. Portal 2 is suppose to be a full game now like l4d. Soo any announcements of episode 3 would get in the way of the hype train for Portal 2

[mimaz98]

I think Valve doesn't really care about the Half-Life series as much as they used to. :p

No, I do not think this it.

I certainly hope there is concrete talk of it this year, but I will not bank on it.

[Flamov]

My prediction is that we will get one of the following:


Information regarding Episode 3 after the release of Portal 2; possibly around Christmas, or just after the new year
A sequel to Left 4 Dead (jokes aside) as it is quite an important property for Valve
An announcement of a new IP next year

[kingxelas]

YES --> E3

[mimaz98]

A sequel to Left 4 Dead (jokes aside) as it is quite an important property for Valve

I would certainly hope not.

[FelipeRRM]

Well guys, what if they release a new awesome box: EP3, P2 and L4D3, that would be awesome. Lol, Ok, we all know this won´t happen.

I think they might announce EP3 inside P2, for example, show us a video when we finish it, like they did to EP2 (released it´s video inside EP1).

[gorpie]

I think they might announce EP3 inside P2, for example, show us a video when we finish it, like they did to EP2 (released it´s video inside EP1).

Except including an Ep2 trailer in Ep1 made sense--Ep2 was the sequel. It doesn't make sense to put an Ep3 trailer in Portal 2. Of course, if would work brilliantly, they would do it. :)

[STEVENXO]

The answer is "no," and I'd put money on that.

[senne teddy]

Ep3 Wont come this year unless its in a box with Portal 2
And knowing that Portal 2 is a full game I don't think they will put it in a box.

And if it won't be announced, we wont get info. Valve doesn't talk about unannounced projects.

[Ling420]

To clear up the few people nitpicking what "announce" means, I believe the OP meant an official statement with a ballpark release date, such as we just got for Portal 2.

As for the simple question, my answer is no. There is some evidence that another project is being worked on somewhere deep inside Valve, as only half the staff or so are "dedicated" to Portal 2, but I doubt it is Episode 3 - it seems far more likely that it would be a new Source engine or perhaps more L4D DLC or, God forbid, another L4D.

I would love Episode 3 news, but I don't think it's coming. Everything that's happened, even the GDC thing, was about Portal. Everything is Portal for 2010.

[Sierra Oscar]

I doubt it. Portal 2 is what Valve will be working to hype up until its release which I am guessing will be November'ish. Then they will try and keep it on centre stage coming up to the busy Christmas period, which brings us to 2011.

Basically, it is the release of L4D2 Mark II - which did not see Portal 2 being announced prior to or immediately after the release of L4D2.

Sad reality is the fact that if Valve start to talk about EP3 they are taking from Portal 2's possible success. Unless of course they intend to release both games together, but I think it is clear that is not what is expected.

There is an easy explained reason as to why Valve are saying "We are not talking about EP3". It is because they only want to focus on Portal 2 for the moment.;)

[scapino]

I think Portal 2 will be released in October 2010, and EP3 will be announced at that time, and released in December, 2010.

Also I think Portal 2 will end where the EP3 timeline begins.

Kurt

[Pc_Madness]

I still don't believe that Valve could make a full game out of Portal. Portal 1's length was about right, just as you were getting over the puzzles that let you escape and try your skillz in the 'real world'. A full game set in a HL style world where you use the portal gun to get from one side of the room to the other would get old fast.

Hence why I still think Episode 3 is coming with Portal 2, they've had enough time, Portal 2 would be too weak to stand by itself, and for a while if I remember correctly Valve were all "Episode 3 isn't done yet" and then they just went all "we're not talking about Episode 3", even though Gabe was apparently dying to talk about it, which makes me think they intend to reveal it at E3 as a surprise. Plus all the HL stuff in the Portal ARG.


Perhaps I should just stop kidding myself though. :p

[SKiLLY2]

At most, I thought there would be a trailer/teaser at the end of portal2. But seeing as they are kind of severing the tie between the portal and HL stories I just don't think it will happen.

So, in that case, I don't think we'll hear anything this year, unless the game is magically going to be bundled with portal2. One can always hope right? :p

[relaxeder]

There's no reason to think it will.

[relaxeder]

At most, I thought there would be a trailer/teaser at the end of portal2. But seeing as they are kind of severing the tie between the portal and HL stories I just don't think it will happen.How are they severing ties?

[Ling420]

How are they severing ties?
I think it was said in the GameInformer article. I don't remember, and I don't care to look through it again. But he's not the only one who remembers that it was, indeed, said. Somewhere.

[LordMcray]

I wonder if they'll add a tiny bit to ep2's ending right before they announce ep3. Just like what they did with portal.

Edit: Or maybe even add a trailer for ep3 at the end of ep2. Or a trailer at the end of Portal 2.

[Rawketlaunch]

^ Don't you think that would be just a tad...predicatable?

I would love for Valve to announce Ep3 this year. It would make it the best gaming year since 2007. I just don't see it though. :(

[backstepper]

Does it really matter. They can announce it but thats just a hope. I don't think it will happen. Its the same like with L4D and L4D2. They concentrate everything they got to release the game and work on all the updates dlc they have.

If you think about the way they handled other releases this should make us think no Episode 3. Still some people(me as well) think there might be something but that is just because the wait is getting way to long without having or better knowing any reason.

If there is a reason we might even have a problem with it or people might complainb but the way it is now is just something i and i believe many other people can't get. Its just confusing why valve is releasing 3 full price games and no half life at all.

[Sorce]

They're not going to say anything about Ep3 this year because Portal 2 will be their "big" game for the year. The reason why they cooked up the ARG and the BSOD and GDC is because if they didn't, despite Portal's popularity, anything less than Episode Three at the next E3 would have broken the internet. So they announce Portal 2 now to get everyone used to the idea that P2 is their 2010 game, so that Gabe doesn't get shot at E3.

[RAPH]

I'm very sure we will get,at the very least a hint of HL ep 3 at the end of portal 2.I'm not saying there will be a crossover but it will be something of significance.I'm not worried about Portals timeline and when it takes place (some may think that ruins HL's story)cus we're dealing with portals here.I have a feeling portal technology can't only take us to other places but maybe other times.

I'm certain if we don't get news at E3.There will be a reference to a person,place,event,or even a thing (gravity gun?)from Half Life,in portal.It will be Valve's way of easing our worries and letting us know ep 3 is still coming and they still care.If NOT then I'm certain they don't care anymore,at which time I myself will give up Waiting for this game.

[Sierra Oscar]

How are they severing ties?

Well for one, Portal 2 is taking place hundreds of years after the events of Half Life 2. No doubt that it will reference the Half Life series and the like but I fail to really see how the ties will be built upon hugely if Portal 2 takes place hundreds of years after EP2. Lets all remember that a lot of people were speculating that Portal 2 & EP3 would perhaps tie in together through the crossing of paths in both games, well now it is clear that most certainly will not be occurring.


I still don't believe that Valve could make a full game out of Portal.

Well that is what they intend to do. Doug Lombardi admitted in the Game Informer magazine article that Portal was short, but he says the reason for this is because the game was ultimately just a trial. Now they are dedicating maximum resources to the development of the game in order to make a full standalone game.

[TiberiuM83]

E3 - Some News - Release Q1-Q2 2011

[Lewk]

Not only announce, but release this year as well. Have faith brothers.

[gorpie]

Not only announce, but release this year as well. Have faith brothers.

Ahem.

And sisters. :)

[ricsardv]

Simple no,there a bunch of childs(at Valve),not saying anything for 3 years,just frustrating,this is making me hate valve for every game they release other than Ep3.

[relaxeder]

I don't understand why they decided to let things unfold like this, they didn't have to and certainly could have saved lots of their fans the trouble of waiting for so long but they seem to be enjoying it. I don't know why year after year Gabe has nothing to say but "I have nothing to say" and they just leave it at that. Its not even disappointing anymore because we've learned not to expect it, its just irritating.

[Rawketlaunch]

Simple no,there a bunch of childs(at Valve),not saying anything for 3 years,just frustrating,this is making me hate valve for every game they release other than Ep3.

That's a little extreme. I'm disappointed, yeah, and sometimes I think they don't care as much. But in truth, they have their reasons and after all, are in it for business.

[surfrock22]

Episodic gaming my ♥♥♥.

[Ling420]

Not only announce, but release this year as well. Have faith brothers.
Faith breeds depression when nothing comes from it.

[crazy_killer]

With each new year the endless hordes of posts to predict a release date fill the forums, with the only difference being the year count..

Seriously, what's the point, this is Valve.
There is no machine, no mathematics, no physical law of the universe that will be able to predict Valve-time accurately.

[Scary Chicken]

So that´s it guys, you know Gabe told us to wait until E3 for some news, but do you think he will just talk about Portal 2 ? I hope he will announce EP3 at E3.

To be honest, it´s been a long time already since EP2, they must have something for us!!

Recently Gabe's Newell said in an interview;

There is nothing to say about Ep3.

No, don't expect any info this year. Maybe and only maybe Q1-2 2011.

Seriously, what's the point, this is Valve.
There is no machine, no mathematics, no physical law of the universe that will be able to predict Valve-time accurately.

You are wrong my friend. The concept of Valve's time is a subject that has been subjected to extensive research and despite we don't have 100% all the facts together there is a great deal of understanding this interesting phenomenon.

Scale and units of Valve's time (http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Valve_Time).

[BS_1]

I bet Valve is all about Portal 2 this year.

[Lewk]

Ahem.

And sisters. :)

Oh I'm sorry, lol, I meant sisters aswell! :)

[sparks454alive]

L4D, should be just that, 'left for dead'(the name is self-explanatory)
Portal2, why not, it's not like Valve to leave us in the dark, right folks?
As for Episode 3, collecting dust, along side DNF.

[AXidenT]

How many people roughly aren't working on any known projects? I mean if Valve is somewhere around a 230 employees or something and according to Game Informer only like 20 people are working full time on Portal 2, TF2 team wouldn't be too large and there'd be some L4D/2 DLC people and some Steam people... I wonder how many are left working on CS2, EP3 and other possible projects (like that one that DOTA guy is meant to be working on...)

[surfrock22]

It's impossible to tell who is working on unannounced projects, at this time.. :(

[vandoo99999]

As for Episode 3, collecting dust, along side DNF.

Stop. I thought we were done with the DNF comparisons.



Episode 3 trailer at the end of Portal 2, wouldn't it be nice?

[hjman]

I hope...

[gorpie]

Oh I'm sorry, lol, I meant sisters aswell! :)

No offense taken. Just wanted to make sure you knew there *were* women around... :) (And I'm not alone.)

[snowdawg_1997]

It's going to happen like this at E3:

*Gabe walks on stage*

Gabe: "Blah blah blah PORTAL 2 blah blah TRAILER blah blah blah."

*Gabe clicks a button on a remote he conviently has in his pocket*

*Portal 2 Trailer*

*Croud CHEERS and "WHOOTS" are heard throughout the auditorium*

Gabe: "Blah blah blah PORTAL 2 blah blah -INSERT RELEASE DATE HERE- blah blah blah."

*Gabe walks away from the mic, off the stage*

Gabe: "...and Half-Life 2: Episode 3 will be released later this year..."

A man can dream...a man can dream...:(

[Mordekai5]

While my logic tells me that Gabe will only discuss Portal 2, my heart and obsessed soul tells me Episode 3 will come out tommorow, haha. My fanboy soul will surely be crushed, yet again..

EDIT: Why does the Forum code change the word f a n b o y into something ridculously funny?

Examples:

Fanboy
Fan Boy

[DarkRit]

I do not believe Valve will release anything about EP3 this except the well used "We have nothing to say about EP3". I agree with some of the above posters in that Valve will focus on Portal 2 for 2010. I still read these threads because it is interesting to see what everyone else thinks but I gave up on EP3 about 3 months ago. It will release when Valve is dog gone good and ready to release and no amount of fan ranting and raving will change that fact.

[crazyd89]

Nope. I don't think he will, maybe next year.... Oh wait next year it will be L4D3, maybe after that, ops wrong again , Portal 3... maybe in 10 years?!?!?!

P.S. Being sarcastic... :)

[Boff]

either in April in 2010, for the mac launch moving all the source games to the engine for the mac, Ep1 had a June release after e3, so maybe then, or not at all, as discussed earlier they won't compete with portal2

[SourceForce]

This damn game is taking forever.
To be honest, I don't think this game will be announced this year.
That's fine, I can live with that. However, the game would better be REALLY awesome then, I mean REALLY AWESOME!!!

[L. Power]

Chance of 90% imo. Valve would probalby say 10%...

[slipperywhenwet]

It'll probably be announced, but not released until q2 of 2011. It's just not smart to put two big titles out close together, same genre or not.

especially ones that take place in the same universe,

[gorpie]

especially ones that take place in the same universe,

What would that have to do with it?

[Link006]

I don't know; last year we were all but promised news at E3 and instead we got L4D2, which was a huge disappointment. I really blame the media more than anything; IGN, GameTrailers, G4TechTV, etc. has done a pretty pathetic job getting the fans any scraps of info about, what may be, the most wanted project on the PC currently (and possibly in the Top 5 on 360).

And, yes, Valve deserves a lot of that blame too.

[scapino]

Why do you think its the most wanted? Because they have been tight lipped about it, thats why. Valve is doing a VERY good job of making people want EP3!

It would be ho-hum if they released in-work screen shots every couple of weeks.

Kurt

[Sierra Oscar]

Why do you think its the most wanted? Because they have been tight lipped about it, thats why. Valve is doing a VERY good job of making people want EP3!

It would be ho-hum if they released in-work screen shots every couple of weeks.

Kurt

There is a clear balance that needs to be found though, you do not want your game falling of the radar either.

[morganite]

There is a clear balance that needs to be found though, you do not want your game falling of the radar either.


To be fair, was Ep3 ever truly on the radar to begin with? Is it fair to consider a game "on the radar" before a release date is announced?

On a separate note, has it been announced as to whether or not Valve is releasing their entire back catalog for the Mac at one time or just portal 2 and from there on forward? Could 2011 be the year where Valve just concentrates on updates for their PC titles and getting their entire back catalog on the MAC? How many people here would be on suicide watch if that was what happened?

See, I see Valve moving over to the MAC was a hedge against being forced to use a system they don't like (Xbox live). Especially if sales numbers go like they hope for the MAC, they might just feel they are in a position to tell MS "do what we want, or we will stop making games for your console platform and instead focus on PC and MAC products" (where MS basically makes nothing on the title). I've honestly never understood why developers haven't basically steered clear (other then blizzard) of the highly restrictive console market and focused on the MAC market as a means to keep profits high and being able to give the middle finger to the restrictive qualities of Sony and MS's platforms/services. Imagine the next step of a Valve/apple collaboration, with a seamless integration of Steam and the i-store for gamers, think there aren't previously untapped truckloads of money to be made there???

[envirovore]

As much as I want Ep3 to be released, I'm getting to the point that I just really don't care anymore until it is released.

Yeah, I was shocked and felt a bit betrayed by the L4D2 release, but that's fine. I enjoy L4D2, it's a fun game. Then Portal 2, which I remembered Valve saying was under works anyway. Okay, I can deal with that, I love Portal, and it looks like this is going to be even more intense than the first. I'll be happy with that.

Even that taken into consideration, I'd rather have Ep3. I'll play the ♥♥♥♥ out of it when it's released. I just am sick of waiting with no word from Valve about it's development, and really don't care much anymore until I can play it. Besides, Black Mesa will be out sometime this year, I'm awaiting that more than Ep3.

[FelipeRRM]

I want EP3 more than anything. When Valve announced L4D2 I got pretty shocked, and entered in the Boycot (not because I didn´t like it, but because it took Ep3's place), but I ended up pre-purchasing it lol.

Valve is the company they are now because during the development of HL1, Sierra told Valve their time was over, and the game needed to be released, but it wasn´t ready, so Gabe and the other guys put their money on it, they didn´t want to release a mediocre FPS like many others. Valve is characterized by releasing really polished games, and that´s why they´re so successful. If they are taking so long to polish it, that´s completely fine, the last episode must be perfect. Portal 2 will be just awesome, we can wait for EP3.