Half-Life 2: Episode One Official Site and Release Date

Valve Software has launched the official site for Half-Life 2: Episode One, and the expansion will be available as of June 1st. The web site contains screenshots, a trailer, features summary, and a story summary to wet players appetites.

Half-Life 2: Episode One is the first of a series of episodic releases that continue the story of Half-Life 2, this time following the exploits of Gordon Freeman and Alyx Vance as they attempt to escape City 17, the Combine, and the G-man himself.

Half-Life 2: Episode One will expand the story of Half-Life 2 and answer some unanswered questions (we hope) left over by its predecessor, and it is also a stand-alone product and will not require Half-Life 2 to play. At present, the game will be a PC release and will be availabe for download over Steam or for purchase in retail outlets everywhere.

Anyone reading this blog already knows my feelings towards Half-Life 2 and my extreme disappointment in Valve Software, and I'm fully expecting Half-Life 2: Episode One to be another glorified tech-demo instead of an actual game. I also love this feature from the site:

• Incredibly advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Wow, does that mean enemies will actually take proper cover this time, try and flush me out and generally, oh, I don't know, pose a challenge unlike the backwards AI of Half-Life 2? And perhaps will there be some depth to the gameplay and combat this time, instead of just hucking radiators at enemies who are too dumb to do anything about it?