Next Half-Life Won't Change Gordon Freeman
Valve has no plans to update Gordon Freeman.
Valve Software's Gabe Newell recently told EDGE Magazine (via CVG) that the company has no inclination to update the personality of Half-Life's protagonist Gordon Freeman to match other modern FPS game protagonists on the market. Newell said that he wants Freeman to remain as "an arm and a crowbar," and apparently isn't in any rush to provide Freeman with a voice.
"We're not philosophically opposed to this, but we don't have any good reasons to do it," he said, referring to Freeman's lack of a voice. "Right now making your companions more interesting and compelling seems a more fruitful avenue to explore."
Prior to that comment, Newell was asked if he wanted to give Freeman a greater sense of embodiment in future Half-Life games. "We haven't had a reason to change that," he answered. "Most of what I've seen to date has been gimmicky and is entertaining for just a minute or so."
Currently there's no indication of when Half-Life 2: Episode Three will finally see a release. As of January, it was believed that the latest edition won't be available in 2010 despite Valve's development schedule with the earlier installments. It may be that Valve is steering for a full-blown release of Half-Life 3 instead.
- Deals for Easter Monday: HP Laptop Sales
- New Duke Nukem Forever PR Footage? (FIXED)
- VIDEO: HP Fires Back at iPad with New Slate Ad
- Intel vs AMD: Which Would Zombot Use for Brains?
- PQI Releases Zippy Fast 2.5 inch USB 3.0 HDD
- These GeForce GTX 480, 470 Will be Different
- Blu-ray Discs Can Fit 128GB in New BDXL Format
- iPad Hacked to Show Jailbreak is Possible
- Apple's iPad Gets a CPU Performance Review
- What HP Needs for Slate to Take on iPad, and Win
- Windows Ad Edition Could Be Free
- Vietnam Government Denies Botnet Involvement
- Deals for April 6, 2010: LCD Monitor Deal Roundup
- OCZ Launches 4th Generation PCIe SSDs
- ICD Nvidia Tegra 2 Tablet Beats iPad Hands Down
- New Portal 2 Screens, Concept Art
- Screenshots of Duke Nukem Forever Leak Out
- Intel Launches Eight Core, 16 Thread Nehalem-EX
Hmmm.. I am the last person to criticize this game. It was good, has been good and obviously not changing it won't do anything bad. Of course, gimmicky could be fun... for a minute
http://professionalmike.com -
You can't change Gordon Freeman ever!
I'm Gordon Freeman.
There is a part of anyone who has played the entire half life series who is Gordon Freeman.
You can't change Gordon Freeman ever!I'm Gordon Freeman.There is a part of anyone who has played the entire half life series who is Gordon Freeman.
That almost sounds like it could be a new "Chuck Norris" fad...
The problem with giving Freeman a personality is that it takes the player out of Freeman's shoes. Right now, Freeman can be whoever the player wants him to be, he's a blank slate so to speak. While Duke is pretty badass, and I've always enjoyed chewing bubblegum and kicking ass, I've never felt as immersed as I have in Half-Life.
Eh it would be weird if they all of a sudden gave him a voice
It would be odd if they did change that; but at the same time when people start just talking to him he doesn't really respond at all.
He looks like Mr Smith in the Matrix series. I can imagine him as being the instagator rather than saviour in the 3rd installment of the series... Never finished HL2 though so I dont know how it plays out
I usually don't like it when they give protagonists voices. How about a silent, but choice based communication system, like Dragon Age.
yannifb is right, it would be weird to give him a voice all of a sudden.
Speaking of Half-Life, where is Black Mesa Source?!
I think it's a good thing to leave him the way he is. It leaves you feeling more like you are Gordon and that the characters are talkin directly to you and not to another character.
Black Mesa Source is NOT a valve project.
omfg thank you! I wouldn't have thought anyone would even consider changing him! let alone into one of the generic Hollywood style ****s that most dumb ass publishers think is cool these days!
I thought this would go without saying. as valve is one of the few developers still to have a brain between them.
It would be odd if they did change that; but at the same time when people start just talking to him he doesn't really respond at all.
As Alyx puts it, Gordon is a man of few words
leave Freeman alone; he's perfect as he is.
I'm actually downloading HL2 to play for the millionth time. Best PC game..EVER! If you disagree, you're wrong.
I think they should give him the voice of Gilbert Gottfried.
I don't want them to change Gordon...
keep him as is... if possible give him his dark toned skin again... it makes him look more fierce.
keep the crowbar
keep the NO-VOICE... he doesn't need it... he is a winner without it
long lives the-freeman
You can't change Gordon Freeman ever!I'm Gordon Freeman..
No you're not! I am!
The only developers I haven't given up on are Valve and Bioware. I'm about half way through HL2 and looking forward to episode one and two. It has been just long enough to rediscover them. They are still gorgeous graphics. I don't look forward to any changes in the "first person" attributes. Hopefully they will stick with what works.
Sometimes you don't need the guy you are controller to voice his opinion. Gathering the story from a second and third person perspective I think is one of the reasons it made Half-Life so successful in the first place. I can't think of many games that constantly left me questioning the possibilities and outcomes as each user can draw himself to his or her own conclusions.
Just keep doing what your doing Valve
Sometimes you don't need the guy you are controller to voice his opinion. Gathering the story from a second and third person perspective I think is one of the reasons it made Half-Life so successful in the first place. I can't think of many games that constantly left me questioning the possibilities and outcomes as each user can draw himself to his or her own conclusions.Just keep doing what your doing Valve
One that comes to mind is the first stalker game with the 7 possible outcomes and your character only talked in cut scenes and even then it wasnt much. Really made you feel like you were a part of the game.
It would be odd if they did change that; but at the same time when people start just talking to him he doesn't really respond at all.
The odd thing is that none of the other characters seem to find it strange that he has never spoken a single word. Somehow they still know each other very well. It's something unique about the HL series, especially HL2 (since HL1 was impersonal on every level with all NPCs being generic).
Every news article I hear about valve the more I respect them. Don't give Gordan a voice. That is what ruined Mario. Like someone else said, I am Gordan freeman. If you give him a voice I will no longer be the hero.
Every news article I hear about valve the more I respect them. Don't give Gordan a voice. That is what ruined Mario. Like someone else said, I am Gordan freeman. If you give him a voice I will no longer be the hero.
they'd probably kill freeman by giving him a kermit the frog voice.
Freeman needs no word. Just a crowbar to speak for him.
honestly, the only franchise that I have loved every minute of is/was half life.
Something about everyone talking to YOU - thats what its about, if I wanted the person I'm playing to talk, I'd rather watch a movie
Oh come on... remember DeusEx maybe?
This is obviously a sly dig at Duke Nukem and his repertoire of witty observations. Probably a good idea they leave the talking to the man who kicks ass and chews bubble gum.
I agree... the player is "Gordon Freeman"
Maybe Valve could put voice recognition software in the next installment so the players could vocally interact... then we would truly be "Gordon Freeman"
I really hope Gordon never does get a voice. That being said, who would be the best voice (at least what you image he sounds like in your head)?
I always think of Tom Hanks
CSSS??
Counter-strike Super Source