Game Informer:

GI: Now that this is your second Episode, do you think having two behind you will speed up the development process of Episode Three?

Newell: Yes. I think that we’ve learned a lot in doing these. Episode Two was really helped by Episode One, believe it or not. I think that we’ll continue to get the hang of it. It’s a pretty big deal to throw a bunch of wrenches into your development process and say, “We’re going to try to do this differently now.” We’ve learned a lot. If we’re right, the fans we’ll let us know, and if we’re wrong, they’ll let us know. (laughs) I think they’re going to be pretty happy. I think they’re going to be really, really happy with the Orange Box in what we’ve been able to pull off, and a lot of it is based on their feedback from what we did with Episode One.

Yup, as IGN covers. I'm not sure if a further comment to further the notion of a postponed release date for PS3 users is even necessary - or in intention originally. Nevertheless, a few weeks, which makes things seem less inexorable.

Yup, quite a tension point, system requirements are! But they've been promulgated nontheless, as YouGamers interviewed Gabe Newell on the aforementioned matter. The requirements are:

Minimum

1.7 GHz Pentium 4
512 MB system RAM
DirectX 8 compatible video card

Recommended

Processor: Intel Pentium 4 3000 MHz
Display Card: DirectX 9 compatible graphics card
Memory: 1024MB
Free Disk Space: 5GB
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/Vista

Surprisingly low, considering today's games are wanting SM3.0 support as a minimum and 1GB of RAM. Plus, a much faster CPU, not to mention dual+ core - but the Orange box' quality will only create itself on a much better system, of course, for optimum experience. Still, that the requirements have been vociferated denotes that the game's gold date is drawing close. About a month to go, now...

By the by: The "Meet the Soldier" Team Fortress 2 video has been released. You can find it on Steam (with a 30.9MB download) in 720p WMV9 HD, or at Shacknews, if you would. There's also a new GC2007 Half-Life 2 Episode Two video, here at GameTrailers.

Make off to CVG:

"Big, friendly-eyed Labradors. The first glimpse of one as it peered through a window had Alyx urging me to hide, but that Hunter really looked like a dog who wanted to be where you were, but couldn't quite get there so instead decided to gaze at you longingly. It looked sad. Poor Hunter.

Pretty soon after this, the Hunter was firing its sticky, explosive ordnance at me. Glowing blue darts fire in sets of threes, sticking to the surfaces around my hiding spot and exploding shortly thereafter. This sort of weapon forces you to keep moving - and the Hunter takes some beating before it finally swoons."

Friday, July 13 2007

/>We're now in the home stretch on getting everything finished off with the Orange Box games. Just this week, we've finished recording and placing all of the developer commentary for the three new games. Episode Two, Team Fortress 2, and Portal together will include over two and a half hours of new commentary that should help shed some light into the thinking and challenges behind these three new games. This is all in addition to the hour or so of commentary included in Episode One. Commentary will be included on all three platforms (PC, XBOX 360, and PS3). Here's Merle Dandridge, the voice of Alyx, talking about Alyx.

Two of our artists were recently honored by being selected as part of the Into the Pixel art collection. The collection will be publicly shown at the E for All exhibition at the LA Convention Center from October 18-21, 2007. Here are the two pieces of concept art from Jeff Ballinger (Farm from TF2) and Jeremy Bennett (City 17 from EP2).

As we can now freely concede that Episode Two's, Team Fortress 2's, and Portal's launch for Xbox 360, PS3, and Windows becomes nigher, the Orange Box website has launched, and the box-art for all three builds has also been dislodged (more good starting points):

Yup, that's right - October 9th, 2007. Genteel of Shacknews as it went to the notice of us:

"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."

Through PC Gamer, that is, revealing many a thing: from Episode Three being set in the arctic to gameplay with Alyx and the 'Hunters' of Episode Two and what have you. Here's a select slice from it:

As for Antlion country... you know how they burst up from the ground, having burrowed towards you via a network of underground tunnels? That's where you'll be going. These tunnels are rather pretty thanks to new flashlight shadows (think Doom 3) and a special shader-effect Valve have devised specifically for bio-luminescence (you have to love them for that). But in and around them, you'll be hounded by the hideous new Worker Antlions. When I tell you these spit poison, you'll probably imagine the half-hearted hocking of the Bullsquids in the original Half-Life. This is more like a Howitzer. Their venom is so corrosive and spat with such force that it actually smashes through almost anything between you and it. If it hits you - and it usually does - the liquid blinds you and the venom burns through your health. And in case that doesn't make them hard enough to fight, they hop around like hyperactive locusts.

Yup, making anew with a new interview, with Eric Johnson of VALVe Software... a select excerpt:

GS: What can you tell us of the major characters, such as Alyx, Dog, and the G-Man? What are they up to? And will we meet any major new characters in Episode Two?

EJ: Most of the characters will be back in Episode Two, including the G-Man. Since the Vortigaunts stepped in at the start of Episode One and pulled you out of the G-Man's control, he'll be coming back to enlighten Gordon on a number of events and give you some insight into his line of thinking. There will be some new additions to the cast in Episode Two, as well.

Kikizo:

Kikizo: The atmosphere in the original Half-Life 2 game was this dystopian society, very bleak, and some interesting progress is made towards the end of the game, but how would you describe the changing atmosphere in the new episodes?

Lombardi: So as we progress through the trilogy, we move from City 17, post Half-Life 2 where things are more grim and whatnot, and Alyx and Gordon have sort of moved towards their journey beyond the city at the close of Episode One. In Episode Two, you're out of City 17 and you won't be going back. At least not for a while. [Smiles]. And you're in this very expansive forest, that opens up the gameplay to a broader scale. The hunter - the new creature that's been introduced - is designed to take advantage of that; he's much faster and he can traverse both the landscape as well as indoor areas. And we're also providing a new vehicle that you'll be spending a lot of time in, moving quickly through that forest, fighting large-scale battles against striders and packs of hunters etcetera.

Be sure to check out the aforementioned interview in full.