Episodic future

[Moloko]

With hardware,software(gpu and cpu,dx10) power changing so quickly and game development costing millions and taking up to 5 years are smaller episodic/periodic releases the only way to go. Well after the point in time when UT2007 was under development the ultimate card was a 6800ultra, now with DX10 cards about to take the stage, because of the time lag between hardware development and the less well funded ,complex, slower game development, that can exploit the HW, when games hit stores they already seem dated, at least in comparison to what's in development game wise then and what the next gen of latest, greatest HW can offer. Surely ,the big HW vendors should give more to the people who really sell their products i.e the game developers.

[InTheJungle]

I think Episodic content will be the new way for PC games. At least the games that are far too long and graphically complex to develop. I like the concept of episodic content with games like HL2 that have a continuing story. However, games like UT2007 where very little story is evident, episodic content would seem more like expansion packs rather than new games entirely.

[Boksha]

I wouldn't mind episodic content if it wasn't a lame excuse for selling quarters of regular games for only half the cost.

[Moloko]

Yeah episodic is probably the wrong term for UT better way of putting it would be releasing small bites of content periodically to keep pace with HW/SW developments rather than one large content game release after 5 years , there could be some sort of story line woven in to make this a possibility, though I wouldn't like to see UT become objective driven as in Doom and HL2, Early talk around Conquest did mention objectives though maybe there is room for a expansion in this area

[Wormbo]

In UT terms this is called "BonusPack" and comes for free some time after release.

[sure]

In UT terms this is called "BonusPack" and comes for free some time after release.

Yeah and let's hope it stays that way.
I like extra stuff for free. :D

[EntropicLqd]

As long as there comes a point where you can buy all the episodes in a single package I have no problem with episodic content. ;)

[Wail of Suicide]

I wouldn't mind episodic content if it wasn't a lame excuse for selling quarters of regular games for only half the cost.

Quoted for truth.

[p2xelgen]

Ya Episodic content would be good as long as it was'nt just a beefed up mappack :p

[Tuqui2.0]

I'm so against episodic content. It's too much $$$ and you dont have a hard copy of the game :mad:

[blackout]

2k4 has been nothing more than an episode.
well, compared to valve's ans EA's episodes it was worth its money.

[Xyx]

I wouldn't mind episodic content if it wasn't a lame excuse for selling quarters of regular games for only half the cost.
doubleplusone

[Stoned Rhyno]

Yeah and let's hope it stays that way.
I like extra stuff for free. :D

If they would make an commercial bonus pack containing the invasion-gametype with remade unreal monsters and NaPali themed maps, i would buy it.

[Moloko]

I 'd like much smaller content released more often but with improvements taking the latest HW/SW into account, I think it'll end up being like this anyway because of the sheer time in man hours involved. If this doesn't happen my guess is there will be just a few major studios left like with movies as game development costs increase, which will obviously limit choice and make them susceptible to political interference, nobody wants that.

[Gregori]

If they would make an commercial bonus pack containing the invasion-gametype with remade unreal monsters and NaPali themed maps, i would buy it.


They ought to get the guys who made opration Na Pali to do that gametype! Team Vortex ftw!

Imo, Invasion would work alot better if it was mixed with Assault type objectives, bosses and AI that worked as team rather than crazy stupid AI. Each mission would take place over several maps with bosses, sub-bosses and map specific Devices/Items/Vehicles etc. Think AS mothership, but against a horde of innumerable Unreal 1 style skaarj. Or AS RobotFactory, but against real robots that use different weapons/tactics to players and outnumber them!

MH is kindda like this but not developed enough.

[RogueLeader]

Mark Rein told his opinion about episodic content on a developers conference not too long ago. Article about that:
Link (http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3396&Itemid=2&limit=1&limitstart=0)
And I totally agree with him. I hope Epic will keep selling fullprice games and once in a while release a free bonuspack, like they did for UT2k4. Episodic content is certainly not the way to go.

[Moloko]

Interesting read, thanks for posting the link

[iLL]

I wouldn't mind episodic content if it wasn't a lame excuse for selling quarters of regular games for only half the cost.

Agreed yet again.I do like ongoing stories such as HL2.However its just a smoke screen to squeeze every dollar possible out of the consumer.:mad: When I played Episode one I felt really ripped off.Seemed like it averaged out to less for more money.

Great game,but I am done with the HL series for that very reason.I guess they think were blind because it was quite obvious imho.

Thank God UT has multiplayer and you pay only once for that.

[Body_Counter]

epic is doing it exactly the right way...
episodic content ist not as nice as free bonus packs for sure.

but what i think REALLY suxx, is:
paying for a game, and not "owning" it (like mmorpgs)

if epic can handle their finances and keep up the good support, we should all be happy to receive a free bonus pack once in a while...
and if epic should ever need more money to do their good job, they should rather think about an episodic - pay solution, but never a system like monthly fee for playing...

i will NEVER RENT any game...

BUYING high quality well supported episodic content would be fine though...

but what valve did with their episode 1 release for half life, sucks a lot. just a few hours single player campaign and no additional content for half life 2 deathmatch... for 20 euros...

[iLL]

but what i think REALLY suxx, is:paying for a game, and not "owning" it

Exactly why I will not buy anything similar to HL ever again.Any other thing anywhere,game or not,after you're done using it you can sell it for whatever price you choose,not with them and their NEEDED account to play the damn game.F*ck steam and valve.:mad:

I am glad that link let me know Epic is against this time of consumer ripoff.