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Gordon Freeman needs our help ....

Bankie said:
Why is Freeman even an option? He's barely even a character; he never speaks, you only seem him on the box art, he never conveys any sort of emotion. He would be the most boring person to ever have any sort of interaction with. He is no different than the Space Marine in any of the Doom games. He is the epitome of generic FPS characters.
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Freeman is YOU.
 
But I'm not a scientist working in the realm of opening portals to other dimensions.......
 
Weird. You would think these votes would be in the hundreds of thousands.
 
What's with this "Freeman has no personality" stuff? Link, the one from Zelda 1, the game everyone played had no personality then either. I'm not sure if very many people know what it is now. You would actually have to play the latest Zelda game to find out.

Aside from the "Freeman = player" stuff, what makes Freeman so great, is that he can affect the world around him so much. He's pivotal to plot. He's not some random adventurer, but some inspirational leader in the resistance in HF2. Freeman is the most important person to the plot of HF2. In Zelda 1, Link is just another adventurer who beats Gannon and saves the princess, that and collecting triforce pieces. There's not much plot centered around the character except that "he's the adventurer that won." Maybe the later Zelda games add more plot around the character, maybe he's now "the hero that beat Gannon." I don't know, haven't played the new ones.

Anyways, my point is personality is far from being everything that makes a great character. We don't get much personality about Freeman (other than he's a man of action and doesn't sit around telling other what to do), but (especially in HF2) he is a charismatic figurehead to the resistance, he's the one that changes the world around him, etc... Been a long time since I played HF1, he may have been duller in that game.
 
I see. Being able to destroy crates, push switches, and kill people/aliens is all it takes to influence the world around him. Heck, Link can destroy jars, pull switches, kill people/aliens, AND he can cut grass. And Link has been the main plot character since the SNES days.

I'm not concerned about Link anyway. You could put any other random FPS character in Freeman's place and you wouldn't even notice the difference.
 
Bankie said:
I see. Being able to destroy crates, push switches, and kill people/aliens is all it takes to influence the world around him. Heck, Link can destroy jars, pull switches, kill people/aliens, AND he can cut grass. And Link has been the main plot character since the SNES days.

I'm not concerned about Link anyway. You could put any other random FPS character in Freeman's place and you wouldn't even notice the difference.
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We haven't quite hit the whole virtual reality game play yet, sorry bro.
 
If you don't find Gordon a compelling character, look at it this way, it's a vote for Half-life, Valve, and PC gaming.
 
You can place another random FPS character in Freeman's place and that guy would be up against Link right now too...rofl. More of a vote for HL series for me /shrug.
 
Well, it looks like the competition caught Steam's attention. Their latest Steam News Update is asking people to vote for Gordon lol.
 
Artificiary said:
Well, it looks like the competition caught Steam's attention. Their latest Steam News Update is asking people to vote for Gordon lol.
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i would have prefer no publicity from Valve part... the win would have been way more legitimate that way.
 
arr4ws said:
i would have prefer no publicity from Valve part... the win would have been way more legitimate that way.
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Why? What's the point of a poll if you try to somehow limit the people that vote in it?
 
OldPueblo said:
Freeman is YOU.
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This.

The point of the entire half life series, the reason there are no mirrors etc. is to make the player feel as though they are in the game. If there was scripted dialog with Gordon, it could differ from how you would react to the situation. Of course that system isn't perfect, but it is far more immersive than a game like GoW where all you do is control the moves and shooting of some character.
 
Well, GameSpot sent press kits to a bunch of different publishers to advertise their hero in the contest. Valve seems to be the only one who's actually doing it.
 
reasons said:
This.

The point of the entire half life series, the reason there are no mirrors etc. is to make the player feel as though they are in the game. If there was scripted dialog with Gordon, it could differ from how you would react to the situation. Of course that system isn't perfect, but it is far more immersive than a game like GoW where all you do is control the moves and shooting of some character.
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GoW = Gears or God of War? because if you think Freeman is more of a developed character than Kratos you're insane!

Actually I'll go ahead and add Marcus from Gears has more character development than Freeman. Zelda and freeman is a good personality comparison because, ya, technically neither has any. zelda had a bad cartoon though that can never be forgiven :D

It doesn't matter if you "feel" as though your in the game. That doesn't make you a developed character.
 
It doesn't matter if you "feel" as though your in the game.
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It doesn't!? Maybe gamers who voted for freeman feel differently, maybe they feel being part of the game is the most rewarding part of ANY game :rolleyes:

In any case, I'd be surprised if freeman wins, but glad if he does.
 
heh, I was wondering why his votes jumped so high... then I saw the "news" in steam asking people to vote for Gordon.

Mario doesn't stand a chance
 
I don't see why anyone would vote for a character that has no personality or personal development in a poll that's asking for something similar. Liking a game does not justify voting for it's character. Especially when a lot of video game characters change and grow throughout a game. Gordon's development is "pick up this new weapon and shoot it".

Freeman is about as much a character as God is in the bible. He's really the main character in the scheme of things, he influences the plot, but he never actually shows up. It's just a bunch of people that talk about him or to him.
 
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reasons said:
This.

The point of the entire half life series, the reason there are no mirrors etc. is to make the player feel as though they are in the game. If there was scripted dialog with Gordon, it could differ from how you would react to the situation. Of course that system isn't perfect, but it is far more immersive than a game like GoW where all you do is control the moves and shooting of some character.
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So, HL2 is an ultra-linear role-playing FPS where NPCs talk to you and you don't get to make a single decision on what will transpire apart from which weapon you're going to use to kill the 3 different bad guys that exist in the HL universe. There is no reaction to any situation. Garrett from Thief had more personality and development than Freeman did and the Thief series was way more immersive than the generic FPS with a gravity gun that HL2 is.

At least Marcus from Gears and Kratos from GoW interact with their surroundings. The games they star in are linear but the character interacts with NPCs in a way that allows their personality to come through. NPCs talk to Gordon, he says nothing, then he picks up the new gun and continues on his path of shooting wave after wave of soldiers that look identical to each other.
 
Link doesn't speak either. His development is "pick up this bomb and throw it".
 
I didn't say Link had much either but you have a better chance of saying Link has more character purely through the fact that he appears in the story as more than a disembodied machine gun.

Alex would be a better character from HL2 than Gordon. She influences the plot and you have a good idea what she's going to do when confronted with an issue just by all of the talking she does. Like I've said before, Gordon doesn't talk, people only talk to him or about him, you don't know how he would react to anything in any way other than running in with guns blazing. He's supposedly some normal scientist yet I've never heard any reason for why he's such a good shot or why he can stand up to an alien invasion almost single-handedly. We know that Doom's Space Marine and Master Chief had military training, Duke Nukem is just a badass, Batman had "ninja" training, etc.

Gordon is nothing more than a disembodied gun.
 
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Gordon Freeman's presence in the story and character comes from the interaction that all the other characters have with him. The unique part about half life is every time you chuckle, grit your teeth, stare at Alyx Vance's ass, you are personifying GF through your own experience in the game. That's why he's such a great character.
 
How the hell could they match Duke Nukem against Link? They aren't even remotely similar and Link will win by 5 miles because of all the console fanboi's.
 
gravityparade said:
Gordon Freeman's presence in the story and character comes from the interaction that all the other characters have with him. The unique part about half life is every time you chuckle, grit your teeth, stare at Alyx Vance's ass, you are personifying GF through your own experience in the game. That's why he's such a great character.
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exactly :)
 
gravityparade said:
Gordon Freeman's presence in the story and character comes from the interaction that all the other characters have with him. The unique part about half life is every time you chuckle, grit your teeth, stare at Alyx Vance's ass, you are personifying GF through your own experience in the game. That's why he's such a great character.
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The only interaction other people have with Freeman is "Oooh" and "aaah!!" "You're the one who gave us hope!" The GAME is the character. The world has life. But not Freeman. You can literally pick the marine form AvP, Doom, Quake, whatever and it's the same thing. All you are doing is observing. You are not a character. You are not participating in his character development.

What do I like about Freeman? Is he funny? Is he a smartass? Hell is he a freakin mute? Where was he born even?

While I think votes like this are a little silly...yes they are a little fun too :D but really Freeman should have stop for being nominated best character once he came vs next to Snake. I voted for Freeman now for what he represents: PC Games. But NOT for character.
 
Netrat33 said:
The only interaction other people have with Freeman is "Oooh" and "aaah!!" "You're the one who gave us hope!"
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Have you even played the HL games? One of my favorite part of HL2 is Ravenholm because of that supid ass russian pastor. There's a definite character progression in how the guy interacts with GF. At first, he thinks GF is just some walking dead man who's going to get eaten, and by the end he's running the gauntlet with you and fighting off the horde for you like you're his brother. HL is full of these types of character progressions. I don't think I'm going to convince you because you seem too hell bent on defending a point that's already been rejected.
 
gravityparade said:
Have you even played the HL games? One of my favorite part of HL2 is Ravenholm because of that supid ass russian pastor. There's a definite character progression in how the guy interacts with GF. At first, he thinks GF is just some walking dead man who's going to get eaten, and by the end he's running the gauntlet with you and fighting off the horde for you like you're his brother. HL is full of these types of character progressions. I don't think I'm going to convince you because you seem too hell bent on defending a point that's already been rejected.
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wow...you're really questioning me playing HL2 :rolleyes: Have YOU played HL games? Have you really paid attention?

First off: The town Ravenholm has more development than Gordon. It's more interesting than him because of being an area of bombardment that is sealed off now.

Now the pastor has more personality than Freeman too. He's looking out for the damned. You're still alive. He doesn't treat you like a freaking brother! He treats you as someone who needs to be saved.

WOW! You have low standards for character development! Like I said already; HL universe is VERY rich no doubt about it. It is really well thought out and has a rich background story and character development for everyone....Except the hero. Freeman is a tool and nothing more. You're along for the rollercoaster ride, but nothing about is the development of GF.

Lets say the worse thing here: IF they ever made a movie about HL...how do you portray Freeman? There is no right or wrong because THERE ISN'T ANYTHING! He can be there talking ebonics in the movie and it's not wrong I guess. Or better yet, we know he's a scientist, I bet he acts just like Jerry Lewis in the Nutty Professor. What a cool character right! Or maybe he's Doc Brown. No one freakin knows! Hell I know how Snake talks! I know Kratos motivation for what he does. Gman has more personality than Freeman and he's so freakin stiff and monotoned.

HL2 universe: good
GF character development: None
 
Netrat33, when you look for character development. You want explicit character development. You want to see the mouth yapping or the smart-alec comments. HL pretty much has none of the explicit character development. But as far as implicit development, there is plenty. It's somewhat like a book, a lot of a character's development has to be understood implicitly by the reader. In contrast, with an explicit book, you would have explicit narration like: "Jenny has a personality prone to anger. She likes to manipulate others." Or you could get explicit dialogue like: "I am Jenny, you will do as I say or I will get mad!"

GF is more like a book where you implicitly learn about the character through his actions, not through his choice of words or what some narrator says about him. You realize that GF has a knack at crawling through air ducts (when Alex comments on you always went through them fast, seemingly before the Black Mesa massacre). GF likes his crowbar, because your buddy takes extra effort to give it to you and comment about how it's your favorite tool. You learn that GF exhibits some sort of charismatic leadership, when guys stop to honor you with short words and follow you. GF gets the job done (people seem to rely with their lives that GF will save their skin). GF is willing to takes risks, (like when he chooses to put himself in that ski lift thingy all the way to the top of the combine skyscraper). Characters rely on GF to get the job done, and it shows. There's a lot of little things and traits that can be true in other games but aren't subtly portrayed like in HL. In many games, you don't feel like your character "gets the job done" even if he is getting the job done. But in HF, you can tell that NPC's take great note of it.


As far as a movie, you wouldn't want a movie on GF, it would ruin it. Just like many movies ruin certain good books. Some things are better left to the reader's (player in this case) mind to uncover.
 
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I don't like GF much either, I'm not big on that whole "Freeman is you!" arguemement. I watched Secret Girlfriend last night. Same arguement, the main character is you! Regardless the show sucked. Lucky for Freeman, HL games are pretty killer.

That being said. Fuck you mario! Go Freeman! Can't believe he's winning 7-3 so far.
 
with valve help with steam... gordon freeman have a good shot at winning the whole thing
 
I honestly dont care about some poll on a site dominated by <15 year olds
 
Parmenides said:
GF is more like a book where you implicitly learn about the character through his actions, not through his choice of words or what some narrator says about him. You realize that GF has a knack at crawling through air ducts (when Alex comments on you always went through them fast, seemingly before the Black Mesa massacre). GF likes his crowbar, because your buddy takes extra effort to give it to you and comment about how it's your favorite tool. You learn that GF exhibits some sort of charismatic leadership, when guys stop to honor you with short words and follow you. GF gets the job done (people seem to rely with their lives that GF will save their skin). GF is willing to takes risks, (like when he chooses to put himself in that ski lift thingy all the way to the top of the combine skyscraper). Characters rely on GF to get the job done, and it shows. There's a lot of little things and traits that can be true in other games but aren't subtly portrayed like in HL. In many games, you don't feel like your character "gets the job done" even if he is getting the job done. But in HF, you can tell that NPC's take great note of it.
.
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But even the worst characters in short stories have better character development and interaction. In a book, if the character isn't much of talker there will usually be narration throughout by either the main character or someone that has some affiliation with him/her. In HL there is nothing other than the occasional, "Here's your crowbar" or "Get in this boat and drive around aimlessly for an hour". You know he'd choose the ski-lift thing since he always moves straight ahead. He has no thought process other than, "I will go this way". While his friends die around him he only fires his weapon. He never displays any fear, excitement, humor, or any other emotion. You never get the impression that he would do anything other than do whatever Alex or any of the other characters tell him to do. It's like Rambo went to college to get a PhD in science and was rewarded with a lobotomy.

Gordon Freeman has no emotion. He has no presence. Therefore he has no character.
 
Netrat33 said:
wow...you're really questioning me playing HL2 :rolleyes: Have YOU played HL games? Have you really paid attention?

First off: The town Ravenholm has more development than Gordon. It's more interesting than him because of being an area of bombardment that is sealed off now.

Now the pastor has more personality than Freeman too. He's looking out for the damned. You're still alive. He doesn't treat you like a freaking brother! He treats you as someone who needs to be saved.

WOW! You have low standards for character development! Like I said already; HL universe is VERY rich no doubt about it. It is really well thought out and has a rich background story and character development for everyone....Except the hero. Freeman is a tool and nothing more. You're along for the rollercoaster ride, but nothing about is the development of GF.

Lets say the worse thing here: IF they ever made a movie about HL...how do you portray Freeman? There is no right or wrong because THERE ISN'T ANYTHING! He can be there talking ebonics in the movie and it's not wrong I guess. Or better yet, we know he's a scientist, I bet he acts just like Jerry Lewis in the Nutty Professor. What a cool character right! Or maybe he's Doc Brown. No one freakin knows! Hell I know how Snake talks! I know Kratos motivation for what he does. Gman has more personality than Freeman and he's so freakin stiff and monotoned.

HL2 universe: good
GF character development: None
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Please describe Mario's personality to me.
 
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