Smaller, chopped up game releases that meant more frequent releases and lower prices.
It never really took off, so why did the episodic model fail to launch?
Gaming magazines at the time frequently had articles on how the episodic approach to game development would change everything.
With episodic game development, we would see the end of long development cycles before getting new games.
If you don’t want to play more of the game, you could stop at any time.
The Episodic Method Is Hard!
This all sounds great, until you really start to think about the details of game development.
By the way, when’sHalf-Life 2: Episode 3coming out?
Games are more expensive than ever to make.
Valve
Where development cycles are still of reasonable length, and there isn’t a mountain of money at stake.
Which lends itself to the episodic model, especially if you never really change your tools or game engine.
It’s not as if the idea was totally new either.
Rockstar
Many of the purported advantages of episodic development have also been taken on by other game industry practices.
Finally, live service games keep players paying and engaging ad infinitum.
