Valve Week at 1up: this is the game that never ends
by Vladimir Cole 
{ Aug 29th 2005 at 12:59PM }
1up.com has announced a new feature called "Valve Week," in which they spend the week (starting today) looking at Valve software, its products, and what both have done and will do to the games industry. They're promising behind-the-scenes access and exclusive content.
Today's special is a look ahead to Half-Life 2 expansion pack Aftermath. It's being billed by Valve as an essential part of the Half-Life story.
Maybe it's the jaded gamer in us, but the article leaves one with the overwhelming sense not of new ground broken in innovative storytelling, but of a simple desire on the part of Valve to extend the life of what has become a very successful games franchise. The designers are quoted by 1up as trying to keep gamers from ever coming to a point of closure in the story that would allow them to say, "Oh, ok, well I'm done with that."
In other words, Half-Life's unresolved questions will never be answered. The Half-Life game universe will be serialized endlessly because the game's designers believe (and probably rightfully so) that plot is one of those elements that other FPS games don't even pretend to service.
Some fans of serialized science fiction might find this all very exciting. Star Trek fans, for instance, certainly enjoyed the series in part because it continued on for, like, ever. Has-been Robert Jordan fans like yours truly, however, have grown a little tired of stories that never end.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Justin @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
As far as I'm concerned, they can KEEP that story going as long as they want. HL2 was one of the greatest gaming experiences ever. The story, graphics, the 'life' of the game just astounded me and I can't wait for more - even if it's more of the same, cuz as long as they just continue with the story I'm happy!
crstffr @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
this reminds me of the tv show xfiles... I loved it for the first few years, but the complicated plot that they kept developing that never resolved became so pointless that I lost interest and quit watching altogether.
I enjoyed halflife 2, but was somewhat disappointed in the lack of closure. this news of valve continuing to build stories without closing them is just bad news.
John @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
I agree with #1. There's a big difference between the HL1/HL2 storylines and star trek and other fantasy universes. Various major story arcs have come and run their course in these other universes providing the reader/watcher with some sense of emotional and intellectual satisfaction. Thats what makes it interesting to go back to; because you know at the end of the day, you will feel satisfied. If what the valve designers are saying are true, then thats a bad sign for the storyline element of game. Why pay attention to the dialogue? Why should I care what happens to Alyx? None of it matters because there is no payoff, no resolution. The ending of HL2 was an absolute joke it didnt negate the great gameplay that preceded it, but it certainly didnt help top off what could have been a perfect game rather than just a really good game.