HL2 Not Required For Episode 1

Eurogamer reports that Half-Life 2 will not be required to run Episode 1, the first content pack for Valve's hit game. From the article: "Half-Life 2: Episode 1 won't actually require Half-Life 2 to play, Valve's explained, and although the game will be 'four to six hours' long, marketing director Doug Lombardi reckons it's 'markedly richer' in terms of content quality ... The change from Aftermath to Episode 1 was 'simply a name change' he says, when asked about the shift to episodic content - which wasn't a shift at all, he adds, since 'the format of episodic releases was decided before Half-Life 2 was made available'."

Comments

$20?

[PhrostyMcByte]

$20 for four hours of gameplay and old crap that I already have (and don't play)? No thanks. Make it $10 if you already have HL2 - then I'll buy it.

Re:$20?

[rustbear]

I don't really see your point. That's much better value than you get at the cinema (and the game is replayable), so what's the big deal?

Re:$20?

[billcopc]

Holy batclocks batman! He's using 48-hour days!

Re:$20?

[Chi Hsuan Men]

Mod parent up.

This is the second article where I have seen a lot of complaining about the price point. Consider the four to six hours of re-playable entertainment you will receive with the expansion (sorry, episode) for $20.

Considering most new releases on DVD are usually around $18 - 20, why is it unfair that Valve charge $20? IMHO, I think the price is entirely reasonable and will definitely purchase it when it comes out.

Just play on Extreme Difficulty setting

[i_am_the_r00t]

Put it on Extreme Difficulty and it will be easily a 20-30 hour game. It took me 2 years to finish HL2.

btw. Extreme Difficulty is "Hard" + the following:

1. New house and mortgage
2. 2 young children
3. yard to mow and maintain
4. Wife (nuff said there)
5. 60 hr/week Job