Geek out with SiN Episodes: Statistics
by Christopher Grant 
{ Jul 20th 2006 at 10:00PM }
Poor Ritual, they get out the door with their (admittedly pretty decent) episodic title first, only to get shown up by the superlative Half Life 2: Episode One a short while later. It's a little early to be declaring victors, especially when Ritual and Valve are allies in the fight for episodic content, but if you're eager to compare the two, now you can do so ... empirically.
Following the 1.4 patch, SiN Episodes is collecting data automatically (but anonymously of course) so they're able to analyze this stuff and (purportedly) create a better game. So, using the recently released data from SiN Episodes: Emergence and the data released for Valve's HL2:E1, we can determine that, in fact, HL2: E1 is the longer game on average clocking in at 5h 23m versus SiN's 4h 49m. The other metrics don't match up as nicely, but there's plenty to geek out over. Hardest level: se1_highrise03. Killingest weapon: Magnum. You get the idea.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ian @ Jul 20th 2006 10:45PM
I loved this game despite its mediocre reviews. I can't wait till EP2. I wonder if the reason it was shorter for people compared to HL2 episode 1 is that people might have been playing through SiN on their second time by the time the update came out. HL2 EP1 took me 3-4 hours and I'm pretty sure this took me longer.
The Origin of Species @ Jul 20th 2006 11:40PM
Geek Out!
But I just don't see how this data helps anything at all...
Andrew Yoon @ Jul 20th 2006 11:49PM
I absolutely love Steam statistics. I don't know why, but it makes me feel like I'm part of something "bigger." Nothing greater than being subsidized into numbers. Excellent... can't wait for both Sin and Half Life episode 2.
Insomnia Bob @ Jul 21st 2006 1:32AM
Honestly, while I like the idea of episodic content, and this game LOOKED okay, I was pretty unimpressed. "Bazongas" have not been a good plot device since I hit the far side of puberty, thanks. The levels were fairly unoriginal...it honestly felt like I was playing a HL2 mod. It had that same feeling of 'this is nice...but it isn't GOOD."
In a word, lackluster. But, it also cost $20 bucks, kept me busy for a weekend, and they've got a few more on the way, maybe they'll raise the bar a bit on the next go around.
TeddyN @ Jul 21st 2006 10:34AM
As far as I can tell, that's like comparing two different books with statistics such as average completion time, average words per minute, and most re-read chapter.
Nevertheless, having completed both games, I found it satisfying to read through the statistics accumulated. It was somehow satisfying to know just how many headshots I had pulled off, and to find out how l337 I am compared to everyone else. :)
I just hope the developpers don't obsess too much over the data; we don't want episodic content to turn into television: each episode striving to appeal to the lowest common denominator in order to gain maximum profit.
Magus @ Jul 21st 2006 10:41AM
hmm i almost think it would have been better game if i knew abit more about the settings. I would have turned down the asistance provided. The game kind of did it for me but it seemed a bit slow... I really dont mind dying a few times in an area to figure out a strategy to it. But each time you wnt through you got more health drops from enemies and such.