Episodic content is an excellent thing. It allows the game companies to develop less content at a faster pace, as well as test new ideas with less risk. Half Life 2 episodes are a great example of this; if you have episode 1, listen to the commentary track. I know that when I buy a full game like Half Life 2, I finish it in maybe a week tops and then I want more. With episodic games, you have episode 1 coming out with a small waiting time after that, and episode 2 will come out pretty soon now. I'd much rather have a new, shorter game coming out a couple times a year rather than a larger game coming out every few years. If you listen to Valve's commentary on Episode 1, they mention that another bonus of episodic content is that they can test new technologies. Portal is an example of this. If it's a big game, they're betting a lot on new technologies and it's mostly hit-or-miss. With episodes, it's much more low-risk and if people don't like it they can remove it for the next episode.
I foresee episodic content taking over the game industry in the near future, the same way movies are more frequently being made into a sequel or trilogy and being filmed all at once and released a year apart or so.
I did that as soon as the Episode III DVD came out. And I have to say it was a really fun experience. The kid wasn't even a star wars fan if he needed caffeine to get through it. I would recommend it to any star wars fan in fact: get a group of like-minded friends together, with lots of snacks, and just sit through all 6 movies. It's really a good time. I watched from I-VI but I might do it again watching them IV-VI+I-III to see how the experience differs. I thought the experience was pretty decent watching I-VI, you got a feel that it's a full story from beginning to end, rather than being disjointed by the chronological releases.
I did the same thing with the Star Trek movies too, which shows that SW and ST fans aren't mutually exclusive.
I must be one of the "few" people deciding between PS3 and Wii. I won't buy 360 because it's made by Microsoft (hence it must suck). I had a ps1 and ps2 and loved both of them. I do want the high quality graphics of the ps3 and I can live with a standard controller layout, but the price is a little high (I can afford it but who wants to pay $700 bucks for anything unless they're serious?). However I'm intrigued by the Wii. My last nintendo console was the SNES which was fine, but I didn't care for the N64 or the Cube (I must be one of the only people I know who hates Smash Bros and current gen Zelda games). I'd get a Wii if I knew for sure it wouldn't be all kiddie games, or if I could get some new-gen stuff like Virtua Fighter 5 for Wii. But because I can't I'm really torn between which console to get. I may end up just sticking to the PC.
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I don't really listen to music. Does that mean I have no personality?
Episodic content is an excellent thing. It allows the game companies to develop less content at a faster pace, as well as test new ideas with less risk. Half Life 2 episodes are a great example of this; if you have episode 1, listen to the commentary track. I know that when I buy a full game like Half Life 2, I finish it in maybe a week tops and then I want more. With episodic games, you have episode 1 coming out with a small waiting time after that, and episode 2 will come out pretty soon now. I'd much rather have a new, shorter game coming out a couple times a year rather than a larger game coming out every few years. If you listen to Valve's commentary on Episode 1, they mention that another bonus of episodic content is that they can test new technologies. Portal is an example of this. If it's a big game, they're betting a lot on new technologies and it's mostly hit-or-miss. With episodes, it's much more low-risk and if people don't like it they can remove it for the next episode.
I foresee episodic content taking over the game industry in the near future, the same way movies are more frequently being made into a sequel or trilogy and being filmed all at once and released a year apart or so.
I did that as soon as the Episode III DVD came out. And I have to say it was a really fun experience. The kid wasn't even a star wars fan if he needed caffeine to get through it. I would recommend it to any star wars fan in fact: get a group of like-minded friends together, with lots of snacks, and just sit through all 6 movies. It's really a good time. I watched from I-VI but I might do it again watching them IV-VI+I-III to see how the experience differs. I thought the experience was pretty decent watching I-VI, you got a feel that it's a full story from beginning to end, rather than being disjointed by the chronological releases. I did the same thing with the Star Trek movies too, which shows that SW and ST fans aren't mutually exclusive.
I must be one of the "few" people deciding between PS3 and Wii. I won't buy 360 because it's made by Microsoft (hence it must suck). I had a ps1 and ps2 and loved both of them. I do want the high quality graphics of the ps3 and I can live with a standard controller layout, but the price is a little high (I can afford it but who wants to pay $700 bucks for anything unless they're serious?). However I'm intrigued by the Wii. My last nintendo console was the SNES which was fine, but I didn't care for the N64 or the Cube (I must be one of the only people I know who hates Smash Bros and current gen Zelda games). I'd get a Wii if I knew for sure it wouldn't be all kiddie games, or if I could get some new-gen stuff like Virtua Fighter 5 for Wii. But because I can't I'm really torn between which console to get. I may end up just sticking to the PC.