X_StickmanNot good enough for a custom title.Join Date: 2003-04-15Member: 15533Members, Constellation
<!--quoteo(post=1659767:date=Nov 7 2007, 08:38 PM:name=DiscoZombie)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DiscoZombie @ Nov 7 2007, 08:38 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1659767"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I too am curious about Borealis. I know it's related to Aperture because they say so in episode 2, but everyone was all excited when they heard it mentioned (in-game characters and players alike), and I still don't know why. I don't believe it was mentioned in Portal. seems that we're supposed to act like we've known about Borealis all this time just like we're supposed to act like we've known Magnissun all this time...<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I think they're all excited about it because there's obviously meant to be a history between Aperture Science and Black Mesa (from all the presentations running in the offices in Portal, it seems like Aperture Science is trying to compete with them directly), and both of them were working along similar lines (portal technology in some form or another). An entire ship, along with part of it's dry dock, simply vanishing into thin air and never being seen again would probably be an event of much speculation amongst the bods at Black Mesa, and Eli probably would've told Alyx it when she was a little girl (like a fairy tale).
Finding the ship would be like finding a legend in real life, as if you're on a trip to Scotland and the Loch Ness Monster just comes and says hi.
locallyunsceneFeeder of TrollsJoin Date: 2002-12-25Member: 11528Members, Constellation
<!--quoteo(post=1659767:date=Nov 7 2007, 03:38 PM:name=DiscoZombie)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DiscoZombie @ Nov 7 2007, 03:38 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1659767"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I too am curious about Borealis. I know it's related to Aperture because they say so in episode 2, but everyone was all excited when they heard it mentioned (in-game characters and players alike), and I still don't know why. I don't believe it was mentioned in Portal. seems that we're supposed to act like we've known about Borealis all this time just like we're supposed to act like we've known Magnissun all this time...
edit: @6john: oh, well that explains it.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> I wonder if I go back to the transporter accident (the one in HL2) if I'd catch a glimpse of it.
I really doubt portal has much to do with the Half-life 2 plot, contrary to what everyone seems to think. The tie-in probably doesn't reach much deeper then the name of the company. The reason I say this is because my understanding is that portal was essentially just Narb. drop on the source engine, which is what valve hired THEM and the others to do. So I can't imagine it's that intricately woven into the plot of the game...
The rivalry between Aperture Science and Black Mesa clearly dates back to before the resonance cascade and the portal storms and the seven hour war and the subjugation of mankind and so on and so forth. In some of the slideshow presentations in Portal they complain about Black Mesa receiving large amounts of no-bid government contracts, and I somehow don't think that the government in question would be the Combine.
It's unclear however whether the rivalry was mutual or mainly one-sided. It could seem like Aperture Science was the underdog that was jealous of Black Mesa getting all the contracts. Black Mesa may have returned the resentment fervently, or they may just have chuckled smugly at the upstarts over at Aperture Science without concerning themselves overly with them (at least until ship went poof).
As for precautions and safety, I'm not sure Black Mesa has too much to brag about.
locallyunsceneFeeder of TrollsJoin Date: 2002-12-25Member: 11528Members, Constellation
<!--quoteo(post=1659790:date=Nov 7 2007, 04:46 PM:name=Xyth)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Xyth @ Nov 7 2007, 04:46 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1659790"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I really doubt portal has much to do with the Half-life 2 plot, contrary to what everyone seems to think. The tie-in probably doesn't reach much deeper then the name of the company. The reason I say this is because my understanding is that portal was essentially just Narb. drop on the source engine, which is what valve hired THEM and the others to do. So I can't imagine it's that intricately woven into the plot of the game...<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> I agree but the Borealis was supposed to be a part of the story line earlier. It's connection to Aperture Science is recent but not the ship itself.
<!--quoteo(post=1659790:date=Nov 7 2007, 03:46 PM:name=Xyth)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Xyth @ Nov 7 2007, 03:46 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1659790"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I really doubt portal has much to do with the Half-life 2 plot, contrary to what everyone seems to think. The tie-in probably doesn't reach much deeper then the name of the company. The reason I say this is because my understanding is that portal was essentially just Narb. drop on the source engine, which is what valve hired THEM and the others to do. So I can't imagine it's that intricately woven into the plot of the game...<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's the silliest reason I've ever heard. Portal's STORY (not gameplay) has nothing to do with Narbacular Drop, and would most likely have gone into the Half-Life universe whether or not Portal came along to expand on it.
<!--quoteo(post=1659765:date=Nov 8 2007, 07:33 AM:name=X_Stickman)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(X_Stickman @ Nov 8 2007, 07:33 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1659765"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>I don't think it's mentioned anywhere in any of the other games. I am almost certain that it's a sly reference to Red Alert 2, though (or Red Alert).
I seem to recall an almost identical "accident" (i.e. a ship and part of the dock going missing) mentioned in the instruction manual for red alert 1/2 when talking about the Chronosphere.</span><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->They're both based on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_Experiment" target="_blank">Philadelphia Experiment</a>.
TekdudeJoin Date: 2003-04-13Member: 15455Members, Constellation, Forum staff
<!--quoteo(post=1659765:date=Nov 7 2007, 03:33 PM:name=X_Stickman)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(X_Stickman @ Nov 7 2007, 03:33 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1659765"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>I don't think it's mentioned anywhere in any of the other games. I am almost certain that it's a sly reference to Red Alert 2, though (or Red Alert).
I seem to recall an almost identical "accident" (i.e. a ship and part of the dock going missing) mentioned in the instruction manual for red alert 1/2 when talking about the Chronosphere. It does tie in with Portal though, in that Aperture Science are obviously far less concerned with safety than is healthy. That and Kleiner says "colleagues" (or is it rivals? Can't remember) in a less than praising tone. </span><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>The exact word he used was "peers", meaning they were fellow members of the scientific community, but not direct coworkers.</span>
In episode one and two, valve has shown the combine advisor "life stages" Pod, juvenile(In the barn) and the adult with two manipulators.
One thing I'm really wondering, is how they intend to have you fight advisors in episode 3 when they already established them as a powerful enemy able to completely disable gordons ability to fight.
<!--quoteo(post=1660829:date=Nov 16 2007, 06:56 PM:name=GWAR)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GWAR @ Nov 16 2007, 06:56 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1660829"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->In episode one and two, valve has shown the combine advisor "life stages" Pod, juvenile(In the barn) and the adult with two manipulators.
One thing I'm really wondering, is how they intend to have you fight advisors in episode 3 when they already established them as a powerful enemy able to completely disable gordons ability to fight.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>They're not all-powerful. Dog beat one up when they weren't paying attention, and Eli managed to thwack one with the pipe, and he's just an old dude with one leg.</span>
In other news, Valve has released <a href="http://steamgames.com/status/ep2/ep2_stats.php" target="_blank">the Episode 2 statistics</a>, which show that, among other things, approximately 50% of people who purchased it made it to the last level. Talk about a huge waste of money. I can't imagine what kind of people buy a game like Ep2 and don't even play it through. I mean, it's ~5 hours long. Are they getting bored of it? That seems unlikely, because I'm assuming they played through Half-Life 2 and Episode 1.
<!--quoteo(post=1660829:date=Nov 16 2007, 08:56 PM:name=GWAR)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GWAR @ Nov 16 2007, 08:56 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1660829"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->In episode one and two, valve has shown the combine advisor "life stages" Pod, juvenile(In the barn) and the adult with two manipulators.
One thing I'm really wondering, is how they intend to have you fight advisors in episode 3 when they already established them as a powerful enemy able to completely disable gordons ability to fight.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> I'd guess something like a special weapon/upgrade or a scripted sequence of some sort.
Kouji_SanSr. Hινε UÏкεεÏεг - EUPT DeputyThe NetherlandsJoin Date: 2003-05-13Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
edited November 2007
<!--quoteo(post=1660829:date=Nov 17 2007, 01:56 AM:name=GWAR)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(GWAR @ Nov 17 2007, 01:56 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1660829"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->In episode one and two, valve has shown the combine advisor "life stages" Pod, juvenile(In the barn) and the adult with two manipulators.
One thing I'm really wondering, is how they intend to have you fight advisors in episode 3 when they already established them as a powerful enemy able to completely disable gordons ability to fight.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Maybe Dog will help in out in a pinch again, but that will get old soon. So I think the grav gun will get it's uber upgrade back and Gordon will get a Magneto helmet* or Juggernaut outfit* <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
<!--sizeo:1--><span style="font-size:8pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->*X-men, If by any chance someone doesn't get the reference (yeh fat chance of that XD)<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
As much as I like valve, I don't like scripted things taking the battle away from you. DOG fighting the strider was awesome I admit, but it almost felt like he was stealing the show. I whipped out the rocket launcher I was saving and popped some shots while dog was clear and did nothing to sway the fight.
It would be a bit cheesy if all you have to fight advisors is just DOG, or the magnusson device: Advisor edition.
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->In other news, Valve has released the Episode 2 statistics, which show that, among other things, approximately 50% of people who purchased it made it to the last level. Talk about a huge waste of money. I can't imagine what kind of people buy a game like Ep2 and don't even play it through. I mean, it's ~5 hours long. Are they getting bored of it? That seems unlikely, because I'm assuming they played through Half-Life 2 and Episode 1.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This is a little depressing, really. Maybe people just dont appreciate really great games. I couldnt stop playing when I got it.
locallyunsceneFeeder of TrollsJoin Date: 2002-12-25Member: 11528Members, Constellation
<!--quoteo(post=1660830:date=Nov 16 2007, 08:04 PM:name=TychoCelchuuu)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TychoCelchuuu @ Nov 16 2007, 08:04 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1660830"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>They're not all-powerful. Dog beat one up when they weren't paying attention, and Eli managed to thwack one with the pipe, and he's just an old dude with one leg.</span>
In other news, Valve has released <a href="http://steamgames.com/status/ep2/ep2_stats.php" target="_blank">the Episode 2 statistics</a>, which show that, among other things, approximately 50% of people who purchased it made it to the last level. Talk about a huge waste of money. I can't imagine what kind of people buy a game like Ep2 and don't even play it through. I mean, it's ~5 hours long. Are they getting bored of it? That seems unlikely, because I'm assuming they played through Half-Life 2 and Episode 1.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> When I bought it I got stuck on the ant lion defense and didn't play it for a couple of days. I could see other people planning on finishing it and just haven't gotten around to it.
Kouji_SanSr. Hινε UÏкεεÏεг - EUPT DeputyThe NetherlandsJoin Date: 2003-05-13Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
<!--quoteo(post=1660842:date=Nov 17 2007, 03:17 AM:name=locallyunscene)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(locallyunscene @ Nov 17 2007, 03:17 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1660842"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->When I bought it I got stuck on the ant lion defense and didn't play it for a couple of days. I could see other people planning on finishing it and just haven't gotten around to it.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> <span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>I think the total amount of bullets I fired can be counted on 2 hands. I just placed all the mines strategicly and was walking around with the turrets. Final attack I was standing on the platform behind the pit repositioning the turrets (k here I had to fire a few shotty shells to stop them tipping over me precious turrets</span> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" /> <!--coloro:#808080--><span style="color:#808080"><!--/coloro-->*now don't highlight it because of the smiley if you don't want spoilers* *No really don't!*<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->
LikuI, am the Somberlain.Join Date: 2003-01-10Member: 12128Members
<!--quoteo(post=1660839:date=Nov 16 2007, 07:37 PM:name=KungFuDiscoMonkey)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KungFuDiscoMonkey @ Nov 16 2007, 07:37 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1660839"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I like the death maps on that page. Pretty interesting.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Indeed, I'm laughing that most people didn't make the jump when you first get the car.
douchebagatronCustom member titleJoin Date: 2003-12-20Member: 24581Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Shadow
i bet they tried to drive the car off the edge of the bridge without pushing the busted cars off first. maybe they thought there was some place the car could jump to that wasnt noticeable before trying to drive off the edge.
<!--quoteo(post=1660842:date=Nov 17 2007, 04:17 AM:name=locallyunscene)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(locallyunscene @ Nov 17 2007, 04:17 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1660842"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->When I bought it I got stuck on the ant lion defense and didn't play it for a couple of days. I could see other people planning on finishing it and just haven't gotten around to it.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> That was one of my favourite parts in the whole game.
It was quite interesting to play through both the Episodes with development commentary. Too bad you can't get any achievements with them on. Not that I'd bother to find every single antlion grub <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/nerd-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::nerdy::" border="0" alt="nerd-fix.gif" /> . And I STILL haven't been able to kill a combine soldier with their own grenade. I suck <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" />
Also: <span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>has anyone else found the <a href="http://koti.mbnet.fi/retales/spoiler.png" target="_blank"><span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>{srsly! spoiler! click here if you want to be spoiled}</span></a> reference?</span>
<!--quoteo(post=1660882:date=Nov 17 2007, 06:10 AM:name=Retales)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Retales @ Nov 17 2007, 06:10 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1660882"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->That was one of my favourite parts in the whole game.
It was quite interesting to play through both the Episodes with development commentary. Too bad you can't get any achievements with them on. Not that I'd bother to find every single antlion grub <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/nerd-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::nerdy::" border="0" alt="nerd-fix.gif" /> . And I STILL haven't been able to kill a combine soldier with their own grenade. I suck <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" /> Also: <span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>has anyone else found the <a href="http://koti.mbnet.fi/retales/spoiler.png" target="_blank"><span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>{srsly! spoiler! click here if you want to be spoiled}</span></a> reference?</span><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> still kicking myself for finding all but 1 grub. didn't have any trouble with the combine grenade achievement, but couldn't even come close to figuring out how to kill a hunter with its own flechette.
X_StickmanNot good enough for a custom title.Join Date: 2003-04-15Member: 15533Members, Constellation
<!--quoteo(post=1660830:date=Nov 17 2007, 01:04 AM:name=TychoCelchuuu)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TychoCelchuuu @ Nov 17 2007, 01:04 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1660830"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--><span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>They're not all-powerful. Dog beat one up when they weren't paying attention, and Eli managed to thwack one with the pipe, and he's just an old dude with one leg.</span>
In other news, Valve has released <a href="http://steamgames.com/status/ep2/ep2_stats.php" target="_blank">the Episode 2 statistics</a>, which show that, among other things, approximately 50% of people who purchased it made it to the last level. Talk about a huge waste of money. I can't imagine what kind of people buy a game like Ep2 and don't even play it through. I mean, it's ~5 hours long. Are they getting bored of it? That seems unlikely, because I'm assuming they played through Half-Life 2 and Episode 1.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It could just be that those people suck at the game. Seriously. Don't forget that most people you talk to routinely about games are gamers, and usually competent ones at that, so they're gonna be good at the games and play them a lot.
My mom, for example, is finally playing Half Life 2 (yeah... talking to your mother over steam friends as she complains about "those ######ing police things" is really weird) and she hasn't gotten past the the trainyard yet, just after you get given the crowbar. She's been playing 2 days. She just doesn't get FPS conventions because she doesn't play them. Most of us don't even realise the stereotypes we know about while playing games (such as jump puzzles, exploding barrels, health crates etc...) because we're so used to them by now.
Also, about the ending of Episode Two....<span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>Did anyone wonder how they're going to start Episode Three? Think about it. At the end of HL1, you're stripped of weapons (and apparently your suit) so you're helpless at the start. At the end of HL2 (and start of Ep 1) you're knocked out and lose weapons again. At the end of ep 1 and start of ep 2 you're knocked out and lose all your weapons. But at the end of Ep 2, you're conscious, and have all your weapons. So far we've only seen what Gordon has seen, and we've seen <b>everything</b> he's seen. To keep with this tradition, the start of Episode Three has to be the *exact* ending of Ep 2, with you lying next to Alyx as she cries.
Unless they say that Gordon fainted or some such crap as that, which will really annoy me, since Alyx didn't, and Gordon is supposed to be basically the ultimate badass.</span>
locallyunsceneFeeder of TrollsJoin Date: 2002-12-25Member: 11528Members, Constellation
<!--quoteo(post=1660906:date=Nov 17 2007, 09:46 AM:name=X_Stickman)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(X_Stickman @ Nov 17 2007, 09:46 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1660906"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->It could just be that those people suck at the game. Seriously. Don't forget that most people you talk to routinely about games are gamers, and usually competent ones at that, so they're gonna be good at the games and play them a lot.
My mom, for example, is finally playing Half Life 2 (yeah... talking to your mother over steam friends as she complains about "those ######ing police things" is really weird) and she hasn't gotten past the the trainyard yet, just after you get given the crowbar. She's been playing 2 days. She just doesn't get FPS conventions because she doesn't play them. Most of us don't even realise the stereotypes we know about while playing games (such as jump puzzles, exploding barrels, health crates etc...) because we're so used to them by now. Also, about the ending of Episode Two....<span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>Did anyone wonder how they're going to start Episode Three? Think about it. At the end of HL1, you're stripped of weapons (and apparently your suit) so you're helpless at the start. At the end of HL2 (and start of Ep 1) you're knocked out and lose weapons again. At the end of ep 1 and start of ep 2 you're knocked out and lose all your weapons. But at the end of Ep 2, you're conscious, and have all your weapons. So far we've only seen what Gordon has seen, and we've seen <b>everything</b> he's seen. To keep with this tradition, the start of Episode Three has to be the *exact* ending of Ep 2, with you lying next to Alyx as she cries.
Unless they say that Gordon fainted or some such crap as that, which will really annoy me, since Alyx didn't, and Gordon is supposed to be basically the ultimate badass.</span><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> <span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>They'll find some way to take away most of your guns again with a cutscene at the beginning. You'll get in the helicopter and the combine will shoot you down and you'll lose your weapons or something.</span>
I've never seen Freeman as "the ultimate badass." He's good with weapons for some unexplained reason and he has a suit that can take one hell of a pounding, but other than that he seems to be a victim of circumstances. He became the hero of Black Mesa because SOMEONE had to do it and he was best equipped for the job. After that, in HL2 and onward, people's expectations in him were so high and support for him so unconditional that he just had to succeed. His heroism is really that of the beleagured people of earth, projected onto a messianic figurehead.
Heroes tend to be made of special stuff, but the key ingredient in the making of a hero always seems to be circumstance. Gordon Freeman has always seemed to be exactly that - he was merely the right man in the right place at the right time. He may have above average capabilities, but he is still, in the words of Dr. Breen, an ordinary man.
But I do agree, having him faint at the end would make him quite the pansy. Not viable.
Of course he's the ultimate badass, why else isn't the suit hanging by threads by now? Because it's powered by badass-ness and Gordon IS The Ultimate Badass.
Oh yea, he totally faints, then they say something like "we couldn't carry all your weapons for you, here's a crowbar tho" while flying that helicopter.
<!--quoteo(post=1660882:date=Nov 17 2007, 05:10 AM:name=Retales)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Retales @ Nov 17 2007, 05:10 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1660882"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->That was one of my favourite parts in the whole game.
It was quite interesting to play through both the Episodes with development commentary. Too bad you can't get any achievements with them on. Not that I'd bother to find every single antlion grub <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/nerd-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::nerdy::" border="0" alt="nerd-fix.gif" /> . And I STILL haven't been able to kill a combine soldier with their own grenade. I suck <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" /> Also: <span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>has anyone else found the <a href="http://koti.mbnet.fi/retales/spoiler.png" target="_blank"><span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>{srsly! spoiler! click here if you want to be spoiled}</span></a> reference?</span><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's such a ridiculously tiny spoiler in comparison to all the buildup. I didn't find it because I don't <span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>watch Lost</span> but I saw it online.
And Liku, I don't think most people missed the car jump. It's just that a large portion of the deaths were there. It's not out of everyone, it''s out of how many people died at all.
<!--quoteo(post=1660912:date=Nov 17 2007, 05:42 PM:name=Svenpa)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Svenpa @ Nov 17 2007, 05:42 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1660912"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->Oh yea, he totally faints, then they say something like "we couldn't carry all your weapons for you, here's a crowbar tho" while flying that helicopter.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> "Also, here's the gravity gun <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" />"
Kouji_SanSr. Hινε UÏкεεÏεг - EUPT DeputyThe NetherlandsJoin Date: 2003-05-13Member: 16271Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
edited November 2007
I want to arrive at a combine battle versus the alien gargantua (with flight capabilities, jettpack?) aided by alien grunts and the big green tentacle thing, with lots of pools with the frenzies in them where Freeman just happens to get knocked into if he isn't carefull.
It was a flawless transition from episode one and two, ending on the train then beginning on the trainwreck.
From the way they ended episode three, it'll be a tough bit to make things make sense. Thrusting you immediately into the helicopter with alyx doesnt seem "right" to me.
A HEV suit malfunction might be a interesting reason to strip gordon of his weapons, I mean since kleiner fixed it up and gave it to gordon in the opening events of HL2 its been involved in numerous battles, dipped in acid and blown up numerous times.
I can brew up plenty of interesting scenarios, cant wait for episode three.
Comments
I think they're all excited about it because there's obviously meant to be a history between Aperture Science and Black Mesa (from all the presentations running in the offices in Portal, it seems like Aperture Science is trying to compete with them directly), and both of them were working along similar lines (portal technology in some form or another). An entire ship, along with part of it's dry dock, simply vanishing into thin air and never being seen again would probably be an event of much speculation amongst the bods at Black Mesa, and Eli probably would've told Alyx it when she was a little girl (like a fairy tale).
Finding the ship would be like finding a legend in real life, as if you're on a trip to Scotland and the Loch Ness Monster just comes and says hi.
edit: @6john: oh, well that explains it.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I wonder if I go back to the transporter accident (the one in HL2) if I'd catch a glimpse of it.
It's unclear however whether the rivalry was mutual or mainly one-sided. It could seem like Aperture Science was the underdog that was jealous of Black Mesa getting all the contracts. Black Mesa may have returned the resentment fervently, or they may just have chuckled smugly at the upstarts over at Aperture Science without concerning themselves overly with them (at least until ship went poof).
As for precautions and safety, I'm not sure Black Mesa has too much to brag about.
I agree but the Borealis was supposed to be a part of the story line earlier. It's connection to Aperture Science is recent but not the ship itself.
That's the silliest reason I've ever heard. Portal's STORY (not gameplay) has nothing to do with Narbacular Drop, and would most likely have gone into the Half-Life universe whether or not Portal came along to expand on it.
I seem to recall an almost identical "accident" (i.e. a ship and part of the dock going missing) mentioned in the instruction manual for red alert 1/2 when talking about the Chronosphere.</span><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->They're both based on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_Experiment" target="_blank">Philadelphia Experiment</a>.
I seem to recall an almost identical "accident" (i.e. a ship and part of the dock going missing) mentioned in the instruction manual for red alert 1/2 when talking about the Chronosphere.
It does tie in with Portal though, in that Aperture Science are obviously far less concerned with safety than is healthy. That and Kleiner says "colleagues" (or is it rivals? Can't remember) in a less than praising tone.
</span><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>The exact word he used was "peers", meaning they were fellow members of the scientific community, but not direct coworkers.</span>
One thing I'm really wondering, is how they intend to have you fight advisors in episode 3 when they already established them as a powerful enemy able to completely disable gordons ability to fight.
One thing I'm really wondering, is how they intend to have you fight advisors in episode 3 when they already established them as a powerful enemy able to completely disable gordons ability to fight.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>They're not all-powerful. Dog beat one up when they weren't paying attention, and Eli managed to thwack one with the pipe, and he's just an old dude with one leg.</span>
In other news, Valve has released <a href="http://steamgames.com/status/ep2/ep2_stats.php" target="_blank">the Episode 2 statistics</a>, which show that, among other things, approximately 50% of people who purchased it made it to the last level. Talk about a huge waste of money. I can't imagine what kind of people buy a game like Ep2 and don't even play it through. I mean, it's ~5 hours long. Are they getting bored of it? That seems unlikely, because I'm assuming they played through Half-Life 2 and Episode 1.
One thing I'm really wondering, is how they intend to have you fight advisors in episode 3 when they already established them as a powerful enemy able to completely disable gordons ability to fight.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I'd guess something like a special weapon/upgrade or a scripted sequence of some sort.
One thing I'm really wondering, is how they intend to have you fight advisors in episode 3 when they already established them as a powerful enemy able to completely disable gordons ability to fight.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Maybe Dog will help in out in a pinch again, but that will get old soon. So I think the grav gun will get it's uber upgrade back and Gordon will get a Magneto helmet* or Juggernaut outfit* <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
<!--sizeo:1--><span style="font-size:8pt;line-height:100%"><!--/sizeo-->*X-men, If by any chance someone doesn't get the reference (yeh fat chance of that XD)<!--sizec--></span><!--/sizec-->
It would be a bit cheesy if all you have to fight advisors is just DOG, or the magnusson device: Advisor edition.
<!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->In other news, Valve has released the Episode 2 statistics, which show that, among other things, approximately 50% of people who purchased it made it to the last level. Talk about a huge waste of money. I can't imagine what kind of people buy a game like Ep2 and don't even play it through. I mean, it's ~5 hours long. Are they getting bored of it? That seems unlikely, because I'm assuming they played through Half-Life 2 and Episode 1.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This is a little depressing, really. Maybe people just dont appreciate really great games. I couldnt stop playing when I got it.
In other news, Valve has released <a href="http://steamgames.com/status/ep2/ep2_stats.php" target="_blank">the Episode 2 statistics</a>, which show that, among other things, approximately 50% of people who purchased it made it to the last level. Talk about a huge waste of money. I can't imagine what kind of people buy a game like Ep2 and don't even play it through. I mean, it's ~5 hours long. Are they getting bored of it? That seems unlikely, because I'm assuming they played through Half-Life 2 and Episode 1.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
When I bought it I got stuck on the ant lion defense and didn't play it for a couple of days. I could see other people planning on finishing it and just haven't gotten around to it.
<span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>I think the total amount of bullets I fired can be counted on 2 hands. I just placed all the mines strategicly and was walking around with the turrets. Final attack I was standing on the platform behind the pit repositioning the turrets (k here I had to fire a few shotty shells to stop them tipping over me precious turrets</span> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" /> <!--coloro:#808080--><span style="color:#808080"><!--/coloro-->*now don't highlight it because of the smiley if you don't want spoilers* *No really don't!*<!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->
Indeed, I'm laughing that most people didn't make the jump when you first get the car.
you know, just guessing. not like i did that...
That was one of my favourite parts in the whole game.
It was quite interesting to play through both the Episodes with development commentary. Too bad you can't get any achievements with them on. Not that I'd bother to find every single antlion grub <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/nerd-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::nerdy::" border="0" alt="nerd-fix.gif" /> . And I STILL haven't been able to kill a combine soldier with their own grenade. I suck <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" />
Also: <span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>has anyone else found the <a href="http://koti.mbnet.fi/retales/spoiler.png" target="_blank"><span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>{srsly! spoiler! click here if you want to be spoiled}</span></a> reference?</span>
It was quite interesting to play through both the Episodes with development commentary. Too bad you can't get any achievements with them on. Not that I'd bother to find every single antlion grub <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/nerd-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::nerdy::" border="0" alt="nerd-fix.gif" /> . And I STILL haven't been able to kill a combine soldier with their own grenade. I suck <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" />
Also: <span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>has anyone else found the <a href="http://koti.mbnet.fi/retales/spoiler.png" target="_blank"><span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>{srsly! spoiler! click here if you want to be spoiled}</span></a> reference?</span><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
still kicking myself for finding all but 1 grub. didn't have any trouble with the combine grenade achievement, but couldn't even come close to figuring out how to kill a hunter with its own flechette.
where's the reference you mentioned?
In other news, Valve has released <a href="http://steamgames.com/status/ep2/ep2_stats.php" target="_blank">the Episode 2 statistics</a>, which show that, among other things, approximately 50% of people who purchased it made it to the last level. Talk about a huge waste of money. I can't imagine what kind of people buy a game like Ep2 and don't even play it through. I mean, it's ~5 hours long. Are they getting bored of it? That seems unlikely, because I'm assuming they played through Half-Life 2 and Episode 1.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
It could just be that those people suck at the game. Seriously. Don't forget that most people you talk to routinely about games are gamers, and usually competent ones at that, so they're gonna be good at the games and play them a lot.
My mom, for example, is finally playing Half Life 2 (yeah... talking to your mother over steam friends as she complains about "those ######ing police things" is really weird) and she hasn't gotten past the the trainyard yet, just after you get given the crowbar. She's been playing 2 days. She just doesn't get FPS conventions because she doesn't play them. Most of us don't even realise the stereotypes we know about while playing games (such as jump puzzles, exploding barrels, health crates etc...) because we're so used to them by now.
Also, about the ending of Episode Two....<span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>Did anyone wonder how they're going to start Episode Three? Think about it. At the end of HL1, you're stripped of weapons (and apparently your suit) so you're helpless at the start. At the end of HL2 (and start of Ep 1) you're knocked out and lose weapons again. At the end of ep 1 and start of ep 2 you're knocked out and lose all your weapons. But at the end of Ep 2, you're conscious, and have all your weapons. So far we've only seen what Gordon has seen, and we've seen <b>everything</b> he's seen. To keep with this tradition, the start of Episode Three has to be the *exact* ending of Ep 2, with you lying next to Alyx as she cries.
Unless they say that Gordon fainted or some such crap as that, which will really annoy me, since Alyx didn't, and Gordon is supposed to be basically the ultimate badass.</span>
My mom, for example, is finally playing Half Life 2 (yeah... talking to your mother over steam friends as she complains about "those ######ing police things" is really weird) and she hasn't gotten past the the trainyard yet, just after you get given the crowbar. She's been playing 2 days. She just doesn't get FPS conventions because she doesn't play them. Most of us don't even realise the stereotypes we know about while playing games (such as jump puzzles, exploding barrels, health crates etc...) because we're so used to them by now.
Also, about the ending of Episode Two....<span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>Did anyone wonder how they're going to start Episode Three? Think about it. At the end of HL1, you're stripped of weapons (and apparently your suit) so you're helpless at the start. At the end of HL2 (and start of Ep 1) you're knocked out and lose weapons again. At the end of ep 1 and start of ep 2 you're knocked out and lose all your weapons. But at the end of Ep 2, you're conscious, and have all your weapons. So far we've only seen what Gordon has seen, and we've seen <b>everything</b> he's seen. To keep with this tradition, the start of Episode Three has to be the *exact* ending of Ep 2, with you lying next to Alyx as she cries.
Unless they say that Gordon fainted or some such crap as that, which will really annoy me, since Alyx didn't, and Gordon is supposed to be basically the ultimate badass.</span><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>They'll find some way to take away most of your guns again with a cutscene at the beginning. You'll get in the helicopter and the combine will shoot you down and you'll lose your weapons or something.</span>
Heroes tend to be made of special stuff, but the key ingredient in the making of a hero always seems to be circumstance. Gordon Freeman has always seemed to be exactly that - he was merely the right man in the right place at the right time. He may have above average capabilities, but he is still, in the words of Dr. Breen, an ordinary man.
But I do agree, having him faint at the end would make him quite the pansy. Not viable.
Oh yea, he totally faints, then they say something like "we couldn't carry all your weapons for you, here's a crowbar tho" while flying that helicopter.
It was quite interesting to play through both the Episodes with development commentary. Too bad you can't get any achievements with them on. Not that I'd bother to find every single antlion grub <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/nerd-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::nerdy::" border="0" alt="nerd-fix.gif" /> . And I STILL haven't been able to kill a combine soldier with their own grenade. I suck <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" />
Also: <span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>has anyone else found the <a href="http://koti.mbnet.fi/retales/spoiler.png" target="_blank"><span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>{srsly! spoiler! click here if you want to be spoiled}</span></a> reference?</span><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
That's such a ridiculously tiny spoiler in comparison to all the buildup. I didn't find it because I don't <span style='color:#000000;background:#000000'>watch Lost</span> but I saw it online.
And Liku, I don't think most people missed the car jump. It's just that a large portion of the deaths were there. It's not out of everyone, it''s out of how many people died at all.
"Also, here's the gravity gun <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" />"
From the way they ended episode three, it'll be a tough bit to make things make sense. Thrusting you immediately into the helicopter with alyx doesnt seem "right" to me.
A HEV suit malfunction might be a interesting reason to strip gordon of his weapons, I mean since kleiner fixed it up and gave it to gordon in the opening events of HL2 its been involved in numerous battles, dipped in acid and blown up numerous times.
I can brew up plenty of interesting scenarios, cant wait for episode three.