What if: the Half-Life 2 Beta was broken down into episodes?

I've thought about this before in the past, but never decided to make my thoughts know.n. But now, as I sit here, very bored and agitated towards multiple un-Half-Life-2-related communities, I thought that I should bring this up.

One of the reasons why the original story of Half-Life 2, the long story, was cut was because it was too long and stretched the storyline/plot too thin. But what if it was released in a series of episodes, much like the retail version of Half-Life 2? What if the storyline of the Half-Life 2 Beta (henceforth abbreviated as HL2B) was more similar to the retail Half-Life 2 (henceforth known as HL2); or rather, if the order of events (Trainstation->Kleiner's Lab->Etc.) still retained some of the original elements and charm of HL2B?

I think, through the use of episodes, that the HL2B story could be fully realized. Think about it for a second. There are many climatic events that happen throughout the story. And, if the HL2B was updated (as in, to include portal storms and Aperture Science [instead of Arbeit Laboritories {correct me if I'm wrong}]), it would be possible to show Valve what could've been, had they known how the story has evolved since 2003 (during that time).

This thread is basically an open discussion for all members to have friendly debate about how my hypothetical situation would've turned out. Essentially, I want you to answer these questions, and discuss with others why they might have answered them differently. Hopefully this thread could help inspire a truly successful mod to Episode 2, based on the things discussed here.

1. In your opinion, would HL2B be possible (and in great detail) if it was broken into episodes?
   
2. How many episodes would be needed to fully represent the Beta/Leak?
   
3. How well would the current HL2 enemies (Hunters, Advisors, etc) work with the Beta ones (Hydra, Houndeye, Bullsquid)?
   
4. Would the story itself be more interesting if it had all these different enemies, like Half-Life 1 was?
   
5. If the two storylines were to somehow crash, what would have to change in this new, ONE storyline to make the plot consistent? (For example, Alyx Vance couldn't have 2 fathers, nor could she die in the skyscraper if she were to continue being in the story for the confrontation with the Consul/Breen.)

For my own personal, semi-related thoughts, I think that Eli Vance could stay the same old Eli that we know (Alyx's father), and a new character be introduced to fill the gap left by Capt Vance. His name would be a combo between the old Eli and the old Capt. His name should/would be Capt Maxwell.

Nice idea, but it's already been taken by Pissing Inforgaytion

JustBarney wrote:

Nice idea, but it's already been taken by Pissing Inforgaytion

For fucks sake. Well, I guess the reason why I wouldn't know that is because I never played version 1.5. I only ever played 1.4 about a year ago.

God damn it.

imo you need 3 Episodes for realizing the Half-Life 2 Beta
_____________________________

Episode One:



All Day 1 (Introduction + Traptown) and Day 2 maps until the Air Conditioner is destroyed (explosion, Gordon fades out from shockwave) ---> cliffhanger



Episode Two:



All Day 3 maps (Hyperborea, Kraken Base, Weather Control) until Gordon crashes into Vertigo (fades out) ---> cliffhanger



Episode 3:



Alyx dead + brutal streetwars and E3_stridershit until epic Consul bossfight

LambdaCore 21 wrote:

imo you need 3 Episodes for realizing the Half-Life 2 Beta
_____________________________

Episode One:



All Day 1 (Introduction + Traptown) and Day 2 maps until the Air Conditioner is destroyed (explosion, Gordon fades out from shockwave) ---> cliffhanger



Episode Two:



All Day 3 maps (Hyperborea, Kraken Base, Weather Control) until Gordon crashes into Vertigo (fades out) ---> cliffhanger



Episode 3:



Alyx dead + brutal streetwars and E3_stridershit until epic Consul bossfight

Alyx gets captured, not killed.

well, she was hurt (died from loss of blood?)

Sven wrote:

JustBarney wrote:

Nice idea, but it's already been taken by Pissing Inforgaytion

For fucks sake. Well, I guess the reason why I wouldn't know that is because I never played version 1.5. I only ever played 1.4 about a year ago.

God damn it.

Yep same... I refuse to play anything by them anymore, not because i hate the game i just hate the creators lol..

It's why i don't shop at a certain supermarket because its nothing against the products its the actual company i have a problem with

HAL 9000 wrote:

well, she was hurt (died from loss of blood?)

Hurt and captured.

JustBarney wrote:

HAL 9000 wrote:

well, she was hurt (died from loss of blood?)

Hurt and captured.

Raped?

TheCaptain943 wrote:

JustBarney wrote:

HAL 9000 wrote:

well, she was hurt (died from loss of blood?)

Hurt and captured.

Raped?

Probably more of a Eli-was-taken-style of kidnapping.. but sure, if you say so.

Alyx dying is far more awesome and realistic. I don't want to save some latex suit bitch after I barely survived a plane crash in my power armor. I want to kill fucking everything.

TheNewCity wrote:

Alyx dying is far more awesome and realistic. I don't want to save some latex suit bitch after I barely survived a plane crash in my power armor. I want to kill fucking everything.

Also, I prefer the Maxwell/Vance idea, because it leaves room for Eli to be a fucking nutcase who lost his wife, child and leg and now hangs out in his hanging gardens style lair under a ship, and leaves room for Vance to be a no-nonsense awesome general.

xD

Riots.

My vision of how this shit would work is posted in... somewhere.

alyx died only in one storyline, in every single other one she is injured and captured by the combine (ill refer you to the picture inb RTB, she is being held by helena and the consul is smug grining at freeman while tapping a coffin (which i thought was just magnificent...)

and don't you dare ruin my image of how hot alyx used to be before retail rofl i wanted my gun toting, nade throwing red head chick :'(

valve is to blaim

Crash-Override wrote:

alyx died only in one storyline, in every single other one she is injured and captured by the combine (ill refer you to the picture inb RTB, she is being held by helena and the consul is smug grining at freeman while tapping a coffin (which i thought was just magnificent...)

and don't you dare ruin my image of how hot alyx used to be before retail rofl i wanted my gun toting, nade throwing red head chick :'(

He doesn't look smug, he's scared as shit.