If there is one game that has gamers scratching their heads and waiting for eternity then its, Half-Life 2: Episode 3. Half Life 2 was a huge success and the birth of Steam so why is it taking so long to continue the series, is there simply too much at stake?

The reason for this announcement is that Half-Life 2: Episode 3 images have just surfaced on the Internet via Valvetime and the pictures were confirmed by.....

...Valve's own Forum Moderators, who confirmed the leak. What comes as a surprise is that there have been many blown-out-of-proportion leaks before but none that took Valve's notice. But these pictures seem to be the real deal since Valve have stepped out - of their own accord to confirm the concept pictures were indeed of 'Half-Life 2: Episode 3'. 

The pictures were, according to the Valve's Moderators, created back in 2008. That's a good 4 years of confidential secret kept by Valve from the watchful eyes of hungry gamers. The leaked pictures are, just like their predecessors; of a high standard and could further prove to be legitimate rather than a hoax.

From the pictures we have seen, GD is very curious in some; very conceptual designs. Such as this helicopter artwork. All of you will surely remember the helicopter from the end of Half-Life 2, which was intended to take Gordon and Alyx across the frozen tundra. Might this be the beginning of Episode 3?

And this picture reminds us of the Xen dimensions, which gamers will remember were from the climax of the first Half-Life and those Light Stalks which are scattered everyehere in Xen. Will the dimension also make a return?

There are tons of pictures that will grab your attention. Check them out in our forums and do let us know if some of them peak your interest.

These pictures are believed to be the work of Andrea Wicklund, an illustrator at Valve since 2006. Made for Half-Life 2: Episode 3, it has since been supposedly scrapped to incorporate a new design for Half-Life 3. A sudden twist there, huh? In short, we don't know which of the aforementioned games; Valve is developing.

For Half-Life fans, this leak seems to be a breath of fresh air. Whether these images were for Episode 3 or are for Half-Life 3, it gives fans that legitimate reason to speculate about. With all that has transpired in the past couple of days, it's courtesy of Valve. A brilliant move to get fans talking about them again and that could really mean only one thing - A Half-Life game is incoming.... 

Now we ask you what you think of this development? Knowing the art concepts are real, which would you like the game to take? Please enlighten us with your comments below.