Half-Life 2 Joins SiN In Episodic Content

Franchise to Stick to Episodic Content in the Future

from Stardock Forums
Valve software has revealed that another Steam product has been given the episodic treatment. Valve's own hit FPS title Half-Life 2 will officially begin its episodic run starting with the release of the Aftermath expansion which has been renamed to Half-Life 2: Episode One.

Does anyone else feel like this is just a ploy to get more money out of us? They seem to just be going the way of a monthly fee like MMOs only its a little less...monthly.

Source: Gamespot Article
231 views 6 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
Depends for me on how much per episode. I can see maybe spending 5 or ten dollars for 2or 3 half life2 levels.  Anymore though would be a rip off.
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
For some reason I see them charging more than that, although I would also hope they would deliver more than a level or two. I was thinking around $15-20 for 3-4 levels or like 2-3 hours of gameplay.
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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
The way episodic games are working so far is that users pay about $20 per episode, which equates to a few hours of gameplay (as KooPA said). IMO, that's just too much money for a few hours of gameplay, but if people are willing to pay for it, that's what the market will deliver.
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
I think it will die after a few iteration, the 'more of the same' problem that sequels often have. A full expansion is worth the $20-$35 they charge but a few hours for so lil is a waste to me. Coming from Steam, which has annoyed the crap out of me since I started using it for DoD:S, there is no way I will buy into it.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
2-3 hours of gameplay for 20$ is a rip off to me, especially coming from myself, who didn't like spending $15 per month for Wow.  I remember feeling the same way over Bone episode one, it was 15 or 20 dollars and was over in about 2 hours.
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
I think the market will bare it at least for a little while. Meaning I will miss out on a good chunk of content...never really did follow HL to closely though so no matter.