Gamers plan digital sit-in for Half-Life 3 details

February 1, 2012 | 14:41

Tags: #episode-2 #episode-3 #half-life #half-life-2

Companies: #steam #valve

More than 30,000 gamers have pledged to play Half-Life 2 in an attempt to send a message to Valve: stop messing around and start dishing the details on the next game in the series.

Organising the effort through a Steam group dubbed A Call for Communication, the gamers will be taking to the streets of City 17 on Saturday en masse in the hopes that a show of solidarity will convince Valve it's time to part the curtain on the next Half-Life game.

Since its first release in 1998, the Half-Life series has been lauded for its clever set-pieces and surprisingly deep story for a game with a mute protagonist. Half-Life 2: Episode 2, the last game in the series and the second in Valve's episodic release schedule, came out in 2007. Sadly, there's been little from the company since.

While rumours point to a ditching of the planned Half-Life 2: Episode 3 in favour of a larger Half-Life 3 release, firm details are thin on the ground. So thin, in fact, that fans have simply had enough of waiting passively by for Valve.

'The lack of communication between Valve and the Half-Life community has been a frustrating experience. While continued support for current and future products is greatly appreciated, fans of the Half-Life series have waited years for a word on when the franchise will return,' the group explains in its open letter to the company.

'So, Instead of focusing efforts in a negative and disrespectful way, we have decided to gain Valve's attention by delivering a basic message: your oldest and longest running fanbase would like better communication.'

The group claims that it doesn't look to force Valve into rushing the development of the series, despite the original scheduled release of 2007 for Episode 3 having long since passed. Rather, it simply looks for acknowledgement that work on the series hasn't stopped. 'All that we ask for is a basic response on the matter, and to let fans know whether or not the Half-Life 2 story arc is scheduled to conclude at another point in time.'

To make the strength of feeling known, the group is asking its members to play Half-Life 2 on Saturday. By suddenly boosting the numbers playing the now somewhat dated title, it's hoped Valve will sit up and take notice. It's perfectly possible that the group will achieve its goal. With 33,587 members at the time of writing, its numbers are difficult to ignore.

Valve, for its part, has not yet commented on the group or its intentions.

Fancy taking part in a protest without leaving your chair, or do you think Valve will just ignore its fans? Share your thoughts over in the forums.
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