Half-Life 2: Episode One Will Be A Stand-Alone

Great news for those of you who were too freaked out by the Steam scandal (following the release of Half-Life 2) to buy the original game, and yet became eager enough to want to try its continuation Aftermath - recently renamed as Half-Life 2: Episode One.

From what Eurogamer managed to squeeze out of Doug Lombardi's marketing valve, it looks like Episode 1 won't be an add-on after all, but a full stand-alone that will be playable without owning the original version. Furthermore, aside from the single-player scenario (estimated at around 4-6 lousy hours of playtime), it will also include HL2 Deathmatch and HL DM: Source - for a total price of $20, similar to what the next episode will be offering, says Doug Lombardi. And for those who are worried about the new scenario's acute shortness, he also added that "Episode 1's complexion and density is markedly richer than Half-Life 2". Well it would better be!

(N.B. Archive text, links removed)