News: Half Life 2: Episode Two
aka: Half-Life2: Episode
2, Hl2: Ep2
Half Life 2: Episode Two is the second part in the trilogy sequel that continues where the finale of Half Life 2 ends. Release of Half Life 2: Episode 2 (Ep2) is presently set to Holyday 2006. Episode One (Ep1) is out now. This is the news watch for Ep2, while awaiting the release.
shacknews.com:
June 15, 2007: -
Valve Confirms Episode Two, Team
Fortress 2 Launch Date
Shacknews [12:16am] � Chris Remo
Last night, Valve representatives confirmed to Shacknews that the studio's upcoming trio of Source-powered games will ship for all announced platforms on October 9, 2007. The suite, sold at retail and through Valve's Steam download service, will consist of the shooter sequel Half-Life 2: Episode Two, the team-based multiplayer game Team Fortress 2, and the action/puzzle game Portal. Valve is handling development of the games on PC and Xbox 360, with EA UK's Chertsey, Surrey office bringing the titles to PlayStation 3.
Shacknews has had extensive hands-on time with all three upcoming games. Check out our Half-Life 2: Episode Two preview and our Portal preview, and check back next week for impressions of Team Fortress 2.
Today's news follows rumors originating last month that the PlayStation 3 versions of the games would be delayed into 2008. Valve's Doug Lombardi noted to Shacknews that development has been progressing well on all three platforms.
Electronic Arts is distributing the games at retail as a package entitled Half-Life 2: The Orange Box, which also includes the original Half-Life 2 and last year's Half-Life 2: Episode One. It will sell for $49.99 on PC and $59.99 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Previously, the company intended to sell a slimmer package, The Black Box, which would not include Half-Life 2 or Half-Life 2: Episode One, but those plans were cancelled last month. It is expected that Steam customers will retain the option to purchase only the newly-released games.
games.daxiongroup.com:
November 10,
2006: - NEW Release ETA for Ep2: Summer 2007
Stockholm, Sweden [10:57pm] � Bjorn Snellman
According to several postings on websites VALVe claims to have moved the expected release of Half Life 2: Episode 2 from Q1 to the summer 2007. Credible information in the forum at their own forum states the same and I now consider it a fact.
No release date has yet been set, the release time given now is only the current estimated time of arrival (ETA). The counter on the page of this site, was reset towards July1, 2007 today.
There is no information yet, to what's behind this delay. Releases from Valve apperently usually delay quite some time. As late as in July, VALVe confirmed that Ep2 was on track for its originally planned release, Holidays 2006. The information today is the second time the expected release is postponed.
The release of Episode2 will include Team Fortress 2 and Portal.
games.daxiongroup.com:
September 9,
2006: - Released: Gameplay Movie 4 and 5
Stockholm, Sweden [1:40am] � Bjorn Snellman
The forth and fifth of the five new gameplay movies promised for this week have now been released. We get a look at the outdoor environments, new creatures, and weapons featured in Episode Two. Enjoy from your 'Media Tab' via your steam client or go here.
The videos continue where gameplay 3 left us....
games.daxiongroup.com:
September 6,
2006: - Released: Gameplay Movie 1 , 2 and 3
Stockholm, Sweden [10:46pm] � Bjorn Snellman
Half-Life 2: Episode Two Gameplay Movie 1 & 2 Available Now
Valve has released three Gameplay Movies today. This is three in a series of five gameplay demo videos, to be released this week. The videos show some of the new locations from Half Life 2: Episode 2. We are also entertained with some of the open style combat, to be more present from Episode Two.
Valve also states that the videos demonstrate better shadowing effects and a new particle system - due to the updated Source Engine.
The videos are best viewed from your steam account, go to the 'My Media' tab in your steam-client. If you don't have a steam account, watch here.
As a result of what's seen in these videos the storyline will be updated as soon as I get a chance.
games.daxiongroup.com:
August 31,
2006: - New Official HD Video Trailer from HL2:EP2
Stockholm, Sweden [2:38am] � Bjorn Snellman
Valve has distributed a third video teaser of Half Life 2: Episode 2
This is the Second official Half Life 2: Episode Two Trailer. The new video is finally revealing more from inside the upcoming Episode 2. We see some of G-man and Alyx, as she obviously is hurt. Dog attacks striders and what not. Please go and see the video here.
games.daxiongroup.com:
August 25,
2006: -
Videos from Leipzig Games Convention
Stockholm, Sweden � Bjorn Snellman
Five Videos From Inside Half Life 2: Episode Two
Five
videos have now been made available on YouTube, with gameplay from
Half Life 2: Episode Two. I'm sorry to say the quality is not very
good, but the video still gives you a hunch of what's to come in the
very anticipated Episode Two. Please note that
the videos are to be considered spoilers, for those of you
who care.
First Video
This is a 1:58 long video sequence with Gordon fighting his way through what looks like a mine and or an antlion nest. Initially Gordon kills some antlion larvae. The enemy up is antlions and some help is provided by the allied vortigount. See video one here.
Second Video
This video (1:04) shows Gordon meeting and running away from an antlion guard through what must be the antlion-nest. The nest is a maze of underground tunnels. The environment resembles some of the alien environments towards the end of Half Life 1. See video two here.
Video Three
Third video (1:29) is initially of very bad quality, but gets better a few seconds in. The sequence opens with Gordon facing an abandoned farm house, infested with combine soldiers. A helicopter arrives, showing less than peaceful intentions. This is also where the talked about vehicle in Episode Two is reveled. It looks much like the beach-buggy in Half Life 2. The same goes for the mines dropped from the helicopter. The sequence reveals some piece of action. See video three here.
Video Four
The action continues from the previous video. In this one (1:29) Gordon is on foot again. Remember not to be standing under a hanging container... See video four here.
Fifth and last Video
This is the longest of this set of videos (2:18). Fine action, expected, promised and delivered in Episode Two. This sequence proves it. See how to take out the hunters. Gordon is back in the Episode Two vehicle and fast it goes. The area is the woods shown in the official Episode Two teaser. See video five here.
More Portal and Team Fortress 2...
As you now Portal will be released with Half Life 2 Episode Two. If you want to see some more of Portal, besides the official trailer see one here.
A really entertaining video presenting Team Fortress 2... see it here.
steampowered.com:
July 14,
2006: - Valve Reveals New Details On Episode Two
Bellevue, WA, 3:37 pm � Chris Bokitch
Includes Team Fortress 2 and Portal, Heading To PC and Next Gen Console
Valve�, developer of the blockbuster series Half-Life� and Counter-StrikeTM, unveiled Team Fortress� 2 and Portal, two new games to be included in its next release, Half-Life� 2: Episode Two. In addition, the studio announced its plans to deliver these products, plus enhanced versions of Half-Life 2 and Episode One, in one tremendous package for the PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.
"By evolving our development process to an episodic approach, we're able to reduce risk from things such as schedule and funding and invest more in new types of gameplay," said Gabe Newell, president and co-founder of Valve. "This allows us to produce innovative titles such as Portal and Team Fortress 2 and deliver them in a timely fashion to customers along with Episode Two."
Episode Two advances the 16-million unit selling franchise, as Valve's trilogy of episodic single player releases continues the award-winning story of Half-Life 2. Armed with new weaponry and vehicles, Dr. Gordon Freeman must race through a countryside riddled with an increasingly fierce Combine threat.
Team Fortress 2, an all-new version of the title that spawned team based multiplayer action games, features the most advanced graphics of any Source-based game released to date. Players choose from a range of unique character classes such as medic, spy, sniper, or engineer and must work together to complete a variety of tactical objectives.
Portal is a new type of single player game that changes how players approach, manipulate, and surmise the possibilities in a given environment in a manner similar to how the Gravity Gun changed our approach to how an object may be leveraged in any given situation.
Team Fortress 2 and Portal will be included with all retail and Steam versions of Episode Two for the PC. In addition, these products plus Half-Life 2 and Episode One will be available in one tremendous offering for the PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. New videos from Episode Two, Portal, and Team Fortress 2 will be released next week.
pcgamer.com:
June 21,
2006: - Half Life 2: Episode 2 Update
(aka, I Am Not Making This Up) By Kristen Salvatore, Executive Editor
Over the past week or so, subscribers have begun receiving our August 2006 issue, featuring, among other cool stuff, the exclusive scoop on Half-Life 2 Episode 2. In that story, I reported that the game would be shipping in Spring 2007. But earlier this week, Valve representatives stated publicly that the game is on track be out by Holiday 2006. So what happened?
Well�when PC Gamer's August issue went to press, Valve hadn't yet finalized a date for Episodes Two and Three, but indicated they'd both be out by 2007. Since our story went to press, the studio has announced a target of Holiday 2006 for Episode Two, and the second half of 2007 for Episode Three.
That�s important stuff for two reasons, to my mind. One is that Episode Two may arrive even earlier than we first expected, which is rad because I can�t wait to play it. Two�and this is not nearly as important as reason No. 1 for probably anyone but me, but this is my blog post so nyah nyah nyah�I want our readers to know that the Episode Two release date of Spring 2007 that appears in our August issue cover story was not a misprint or incorrect info at the time we reported it. Since we published the story, the date changed�simple as that.
Sorry for any confusion this may have caused.
Buy Half Life 2:
Episode One Aftermath
Buy Half Life 2:
Game of the Year Edition
Xbox
Buy Half Life 2:
X-box Edition
Half Life 2: Episode One Xbox edition will be out with the release of
Half Life 2: Episode Two, while you can buy Half Life 2 now.
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