What is up with Valve when it comes to games in development? - Games

So far, we have received very little about the upcoming installment to Half-Life (we all know this as Half-Life 2: Episode 3) from Valve. But why? First off, we have Valve being so damn tight-lipped on games in development. Half-Life 2 was only a rumor until E3 2003 (and then of course it was released in late 2004). Then of course came Half-Life 2: Episode 1, but we haven't even heard a whisper of Episode 1 until early 2006 (when it was known as Half-Life 2: Aftermath), and it was released a couple of months later. And then there's Team Fortress 2: while we did get info about it at first, after Valve said they switched TF2 to the Source Engine in 2000, TF2 went into development hell and we didn't even hear a peep out of Valve about it (leading many to believe that it had died), but we eventually got news about in July 2006 and it eventually got released in 2007. Of course, there are some exceptions, like with Episode 2: we got some info right away about Episode 2, because you got to see the trailer for Episode 2 after the end of Episode 1. But Valve is mainly tight-lipped about what their upcoming games. Maybe it's because it's like Half-Life 2 where it looks so damn incomplete that would embarrass Valve and make them look like they've been watching TV for 90% of the time during development. Maybe they just want to bring up the suspense about it. Or maybe they just want to keep all the shitty speculation to a minimum. (of course, that was sarcasm) Second off, practically everyone here knows about the infamous "Valve-time", as Valve is known for delaying the releases of games quite a bit. Their most famous delays are with Half-Life 2 and Team Fortress 2, with the former being 5 years in development, the latter being 6 years in development (although they still don't compare to DNF). What is with Valve and this bullshit about delaying games? Episode 1 took around 2 years to make, Episode 2 took about a year to make, but it's been almost 2 years ever since Episode 2 was released and still no information, no nothing. I'm speculating that it might be released Early 2010, but we won't get any info on it at least until December. What do you think? Why is Valve so damn weird with getting games released on time? Maybe this might be a good question to ask Gabe himself.

Find a good game that the community wants and delay the original release date by 2 years. Unfunny joke aside: Episode One and Two were being worked on at the same time, but Episode Two was just starting out whereas Episode One was reaching the final product, which is why that Episode Two came out within a year. You might ask yourself: Why hasn't Episode Three been released yet? Think about it. It's suspence. This is the last part of Gordon's adventure, fighting off the Combine. Valve obviously wants to bring suspense around Episode Three, which is why they have released little information (I'm including concept art as information) if not none at all. Left 4 Dead and Left 4 Dead 2 use the same source engine and the same models and the same sounds, adding some new things. (I want the game and I'm in neither of the two groups that make the L4D2 community). This explains why L4D2 is being released within a year. Valve is probably making a new Source engine for Episode Three like they have done with Episode Two and somewhat with Episode One.

To be honest their secrecy is what makes them great. Other developers will boast about a feature, making their fans hype it, and other developers copy it. But VALVe develop in such a way that the only way to see a feature is in the finished product, making the games unique. Though it can be frustrating how long it takes them to release snippets of info. But it is usually worth the wait in the end.

It's so that you go "woah seems like they only announced that game yesterday and now it's out", like with L4D2 right now, only two months till it comes out :O

its Fatty-Mc-Fat-Fat (Gabe) He makes announcementsand they get stuck in his stomach so he cant release them. on a serious note, it is gabe that wont say anything

Also I reckon Ep3 is going to be even moreso. Like they'll reveal it about 3 months before release. And in early 2010. Seriously, I bet you 1 funny that it'll be revealed in the first half of 2010.

and it'll be like ep1, really fucking short.

[QUOTE=smurfy;17183373]Also I reckon Ep3 is going to be even moreso. Like they'll reveal it about 3 months before release. And in early 2010. Seriously, I bet you 1 funny that it'll be revealed in the first half of 2010.[/QUOTE] Why would you bet a rating?

They like to make sure their stuff is finished before it's ready to go. They like to make sure it's good enough to be shown, and if they announced something tomorrow it'd be representative of the final product. That's why their games get delayed so much - they need to be perfected.

What would you rather have? A rushed pile of shit or a well thought out game worth playing? Patience my dear friends.

[QUOTE=Midnight Runner;17189597]They like to make sure their stuff is finished before it's ready to go. They like to make sure it's good enough to be shown, and if they announced something tomorrow it'd be representative of the final product. That's why their games get delayed so much - they need to be perfected.[/QUOTE]Pretty much this.

And they also act "if someone spoils our shit before we want you to see it, you ain't getting it" (Beta stuff)

I really hope they don't go apeshit with the trailers like on Episode 2, every single battlepart was shown on the trailers. So when I started playing, it wasn't any exciting, it was boring. I knew what was going to happen where and when. I mean, they should have atleast left that fucking running away from the Antlionking in the tunnels out of the trailers and reviews. God damnit.

[QUOTE=smurfy;17183373]Also I reckon Ep3 is going to be even moreso. Like they'll reveal it about 3 months before release. And in early 2010. Seriously, I bet you 1 funny that it'll be revealed in the first half of 2010.[/QUOTE] [b]"Yes we are making Half-Life 2: Episode 3, That is all"[/b]

[QUOTE=Campin Carl;17190897]And they also act "if someone spoils our shit before we want you to see it, you ain't getting it" (Beta stuff)[/QUOTE] Meet the Spy was leaked

[QUOTE=ashxu;17193465]Meet the Spy was leaked[/QUOTE] Consequently, Robin Walker ordered them to make the hat drops rarer than originally intended. We've just barely paid off this debt.

[QUOTE=ashxu;17193465]Meet the Spy was leaked[/QUOTE] The person in charge of their youtube account forgot to put it as ''private''. It was only one day left until it was released though.

Your argument is [b]invalid[/b]. It was private, but there was a Youtube glitch that allowed you to see even private videos trough iPhone. I think you know the rest. :smile:

Personally, I'd rather know about a game just a little bit before it's going to come out. That way I don't get too bored thinking about how I want the game all the time. They'll show Episode 3 when they deem it necessary, probably not too far from its release.

I doubt they'll release Portal 2 AFTER Episode Three. I'll assume it'll be either another Bundle, or we still have awhile to wait.