I've always wondered this about Half Life 2.

[The Infinite]

Alright this has always bugged me since the playing Half Life 2 and I'm wondering if anyone has a logical explanation for this. Why exactly does it take place in an Eastern European setting? Alright so the entire first Half life game takes place in Black Mesa, New Mexico. So how is it that many scientists somehow move across the globe to Eastern Europe? I understand the fact that it was a design aspect with architecture and overall style that would add to the story. Yet they never actually explain WHY it takes place in Eastern Europe...
Am I the only one that thinks this is rather odd?

 

[Cherry Cola]

People get re-located all the time.

It happens the first second you play. You're on a train with people getting re-located

 

[Manhattan2112]

People get re-located all the time.

It happens the first second you play. You're on a train with people getting re-located

Yeah!

Because the Soviet architecture is a good allegory for the combine rule?

Thats the impression I got.

Yeah!

 

[The Infinite]

People get re-located all the time.

It happens the first second you play. You're on a train with people getting re-located

Hmm I was just wondering why Eastern Europe, since I find it hard to believe that all the major Cities in US are gone, since it is City 17. Though I guess Furburt is right in the sense of the allegory for combine rule.. Just I wish they explained it better.

 

[TheDoctor455]

Alright this has always bugged me since the playing Half Life 2 and I'm wondering if anyone has a logical explanation for this. Why exactly does it take place in an Eastern European setting? Alright so the entire first Half life game takes place in Black Mesa, New Mexico. So how is it that many scientists somehow move across the globe to Eastern Europe? I understand the fact that it was a design aspect with architecture and overall style that would add to the story. Yet they never actually explain WHY it takes place in Eastern Europe...
Am I the only one that thinks this is rather odd?

1. People get re-located all the time.
2. All of the scientist you are referring to are: Dr. Breen, Dr. Eli, and Dr. Kleiner. And as the story quickly establishes, both Eli and Kleiner are active members of a resistence movement against Dr. Breen and the Combine. And where does Dr. Breen live? City 17 in Eastern Europe.

 

[sephiroth1991]

Wait they were in Eastern Europe, i never notice all i care about was getting from point a to b.

OToes it really matter where they are? as long as it's half-life and there is no regenetive health we're happy

 

[Kuchinawa212]

I thought it was because the G-man needed you to be there and the combine shuttled people around so much.

 

[The Infinite]

Alright this has always bugged me since the playing Half Life 2 and I'm wondering if anyone has a logical explanation for this. Why exactly does it take place in an Eastern European setting? Alright so the entire first Half life game takes place in Black Mesa, New Mexico. So how is it that many scientists somehow move across the globe to Eastern Europe? I understand the fact that it was a design aspect with architecture and overall style that would add to the story. Yet they never actually explain WHY it takes place in Eastern Europe...
Am I the only one that thinks this is rather odd?

america would have been completely overrun by alien wildlife and destroyed during the 7 hour war, useless to combine. they want prisons and stuff NOW not when its rebuilt. that and soviet russia had all the means to control a populace.

Oh yes this makes a lot of sense haha I completely forgot about the Alien Lifeforms. Thank you good sir.

 

[Lemon Of Life]

The Freeman likes the Bulgarian woman.

 

[iPatrick]

Being based America would've made it too easy to lose the stupid, fat Combine troops.

 

[annil8tion]

Because the Soviet architecture is a good allegory for the combine rule?

Thats the impression I got.

makes sense to me

 

[SantoUno]

It takes place in Eastern Europe?

Huh, strange, I wonder where you got this from considering that the game doesn't tell you shit about what is going on when you begin playing.

 

[YuheJi]

Alright this has always bugged me since the playing Half Life 2 and I'm wondering if anyone has a logical explanation for this. Why exactly does it take place in an Eastern European setting? Alright so the entire first Half life game takes place in Black Mesa, New Mexico. So how is it that many scientists somehow move across the globe to Eastern Europe? I understand the fact that it was a design aspect with architecture and overall style that would add to the story. Yet they never actually explain WHY it takes place in Eastern Europe...
Am I the only one that thinks this is rather odd?

The scientists are heading the resistance. And the main Combine base is in City 17. So naturally, those scientists are going to be moving near City 17 to start the resistance.

 

[Flying-Emu]

Being based America would've made it too easy to lose the stupid, fat Combine troops.

Ignoring the pot shot at Americans, Combine are aliens, aren't they? So what would the region they occupy have to do with body mass?

Also, I didn't even notice. I was more concerned with the fact that I was using only the pistol on the hardest difficulty.

You think too much~

 

[Internet Kraken]

Being based America would've made it too easy to lose the stupid, fat Combine troops.

Ignoring the pot shot at Americans, Combine are aliens, aren't they? So what would the region they occupy have to do with body mass?

Also, I didn't even notice. I was more concerned with the fact that I was using only the pistol on the hardest difficulty.

You think too much~

Well Metro Cops are just assholes who are willing to work for the combine in return for better living conditions. Combine Soldiers and Elites are all mechanically modified humans to serve under Combine authority. So they aren't really aliens, and the health conditions of the human prior to conversion would have an effect on the quality of the soldier. Though I'm guessing the hyper-intelligent aliens can work around some excess body fat.

And like others have mentioned, America has probably been overrun by the creatures of Xen.

 

[Pyromanaical]

Dont ask-the Combine will censor our responses.

 

[Nunny]

Being based America would've made it too easy to lose the stupid, fat Combine troops.

Ignoring the pot shot at Americans, Combine are aliens, aren't they? So what would the region they occupy have to do with body mass?

Also, I didn't even notice. I was more concerned with the fact that I was using only the pistol on the hardest difficulty.

You think too much~

Well Metro Cops are just assholes who are willing to work for the combine in return for better living conditions. Combine Soldiers and Elites are all mechanically modified humans to serve under Combine authority. So they aren't really aliens, and the health conditions of the human prior to conversion would have an effect on the quality of the soldier. Though I'm guessing the hyper-intelligent aliens can work around some excess body fat.

And like others have mentioned, America has probably been overrun by the creatures of Xen.

Didnt the Creatures from Xen get wiped out (well the bulk of them anyways) at the end of the original Half life? Black Mesa nuked and thier leader dead.

I would rather it located in Eastern Europe then back in boring America.... already been enough games centered there.

 

[FallenJellyDoughnut]

People get re-located all the time.

It happens the first second you play. You're on a train with people getting re-located

Yeah!

Because the Soviet architecture is a good allegory for the combine rule?

Thats the impression I got.

Yeah!

YEAH! (I agree)