Going to visit Valve - L4D/Half-Life/DOTA/Portal Questions Edition - Games

[h2]Do not use this thread for Team Fortress 2 questions use the other thread in the Team Fortress 2 sub-section![/h2] Now that thats over with lets get down to the back story of how this thread came to be. Last week I sent an email to Gabe and Robin about if I would come to Valve over my spring break and naturally they said yes. However, in the effort of full disclose I am posting a screenshot of every email to prove that this is really happening. I will also be updating these as new emails pop up. [h2]The Thad Warton Emails[/h2] [img_thumb]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1276735/Pictures/Other/thad1.PNG[/img_thumb] [img_thumb]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1276735/Pictures/Other/thad2.PNG[/img_thumb] [h2]The Robin Walker Emails[/h2] [img_thumb]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1276735/Pictures/Other/robin1.PNG[/img_thumb] [img_thumb]https://dl.dropbox.com/u/1276735/Pictures/Other/robin2.PNG[/img_thumb] Now if you neglected to read those emails I will give the short version; I am going to Valve on Monday the 21st of March at 10 A.M. and at some point during that I will have an interview with Robin Walker about TF2. Now this visit will not be just for TF2 so if you have questions regrading L4D/Half-Life/DOTA/Portal post them here. But before you do I have a few rules: 1. Take some time and think about the question, don't give me dumb questions like "when is EP3 coming out" Ask about what they were thinking when they added this weapon or this paint. 2. If I pick your question I will add it to the OP. 3. Keep the questions about L4D/Half-Life/DOTA/Portal! There is a thread for all TF2 quesions over [url=http://www.facepunch.com/threads/1067309-Going-to-visit-Valve-Team-Fortress-2-Questions-Edition?p=28483034#post28483034]here.[/url] 4. Please post all questions in the thread. Any questions sent using PM will be ignored. I want every question to be publicly seen for transparentness. 5.This thread will also be posted in other places like SPUF and other L4D/Half-Life/DOTA/Portal fan sites. So look before you make a thread with a link to mine because I may have already posted it on your forum. Now go ahead and post your questions! The questions I will try and get answers to are: [QUOTE=JCDentonUNATCO;28483232]Ask about how well they think DOTA2 will go. Obviously it does not appeal to a whole lot of people, and since they are doing virtually everything the same that the first one had besides graphics, what new features will they include to draw in more customers?[/QUOTE][QUOTE=lionheart1066;28483342]How often do you create content and then scrap it to create something better?[/QUOTE][QUOTE=EliteGuy;28485025]Does Valve plan on expanding L4D1's SDK tool set (as L4D1 is pretty much dead) How long after Portal 2's launch does Valve plan to launch its SDK. In a recent interview Gabe Newell stated they were simplifying the SDK, elaborate. Has Valve thought of adding video recording software to the Steam Overlay? What was the idea behind the fourth new special infected for Left4dead 2 and why was it cut? How does Valve plan on getting custom content to PS3 Portal 2 players? Cold Stream is the first community campaign to be added to L4D2, will we see more in the future? Will we see the engine improvements in Portal 2 be added to other Source based games? What was Valve's reaction to the mutations in L4D2 being leaked a few days after The Passing launched?[/QUOTE][QUOTE=wari65;28485354]Will a demo be coming out for Portal 2, and if so, will people who preordered receive first access?[/QUOTE][QUOTE=SteveUK;28494683]Here's some nerd source sdk questions - ETA for Source SDK update which is meant to make things easier? - Is there going to be a Source 2009 SDK update? So we can compile OB mods for Mac OS and the like - Is there going to be a Source SDK [b]with code[/b] for Portal 2 (or at least for the engine so we can take advantage of the new lighting tech without the Portal 2 source)?[/QUOTE][QUOTE=samm5506;28495269]With the recent tech additions to engines such as Unreal Engine 3 and CryEngine 3 shown at GDC, does Valve feel like the Source Engine is falling behind? And if so, what do they plan on doing to improve their engine?[/QUOTE][QUOTE=Ray-The-Sun;28548575]You're never going to ask this, but ask what the origin of [url=http://steamcommunity.com/id/gabelogannewell/]Gabe's steam name[/url] is.[/QUOTE]

I'm starting to think we're having too many interviews like this...

Hmm. Will they move the older games (hl2 ep1 ep2 etc.) to the engine portal 2 is running on? Sort of like how they moved hl2 and ep1 to the orange box engine.

[QUOTE=Cookie;28483135]Hmm. Will they move the older games (hl2 ep1 ep2 etc.) to the engine portal 2 is running on? Sort of like how they moved hl2 and ep1 to the orange box engine.[/QUOTE] Probably not, Garry [url=http://www.facepunch.com/threads/1063846-Garry-what-do-you-plan-to-do-with-the-new-portal-2-content-comming-out?p=28338806&highlight=#post28338806]confirmed[/url] that it's on a separate branch like the L4D games are.

Ask about how well they think DOTA2 will go. Obviously it does not appeal to a whole lot of people, and since they are doing virtually everything the same that the first one had besides graphics, what new features will they include to draw in more customers?

Inb4 whenisepisode3comingout

When is episode 3 coming out?

Heres my question [quote] How often do you create content and then scrap it to create something better? [/quote]

The Robin mails are duplicates.

Ask them if any of the cut HL2 beta stuff is getting reused, specifically the Physgun. So much potential.

They're not going to release any information about Episode 3 to a random dude. [editline]8th March 2011[/editline] No offense to OP.

What's next for the Half-Life franchise after Episode 3?

You should not directly ask anything EP3 related. Anyways, the only question I can think of now(that I would find interesting): Are they using the same Chell facemodel in Portal 2 as in Portal 1?

[QUOTE=Rong;28484731]They're not going to release any information about Episode 3 to a random dude. [editline]8th March 2011[/editline] No offense to OP.[/QUOTE]Did you even read it. I said that questions about when EP3 is coming out were dumb and I won't use them.

Does Valve plan on expanding L4D1's SDK tool set (as L4D1 is pretty much dead) How long after Portal 2's launch does Valve plan to launch its SDK. In a recent interview Gabe Newell stated they were simplifying the SDK, elaborate. Has Valve thought of adding video recording software to the Steam Overlay? What was the idea behind the fourth new special infected for Left4dead 2 and why was it cut? How does Valve plan on getting custom content to PS3 Portal 2 players? Cold Stream is the first community campaign to be added to L4D2, will we see more in the future? Will we see the engine improvements in Portal 2 be added to other Source based games? What was Valve's reaction to the mutations in L4D2 being leaked a few days after The Passing launched? (leaked by Thegreenthing16 aka me) I'll write more soon

Ask if the Portal 2 co-op has a plot and story. I'd love to see if Valve prepared a separate story for it other than "You robot. Shoot portal. Shoot portal fun. Beat level. Beat level fun."

[QUOTE=EFG;28485060]Ask if the Portal 2 co-op has a plot and story. I'd love to see if Valve prepared a separate story for it other than "You robot. Shoot portal. Shoot portal fun. Beat level. Beat level fun."[/QUOTE] Coop does have a story, look at the 'two endings' interview.

[QUOTE=Political Gamer;28484962]Did you even read it. I said that questions about when EP3 is coming out were dumb and I won't use them.[/QUOTE] My post wasn't directed to you.

Will a demo be coming out for Portal 2, and if so, will people who preordered receive first access?

When the final product is compared to the original ideas, how much is usally cut?

Was the Gravity Gun an actual weapon idea, or was it a gimmick weapon to show off the physics that became a huge success? And also, I noticed lack of advertisement for the Portal 2 singleplayer, seeing a lot of the co-op. Is there a specific reason for this?

-snip-

[QUOTE=EliteGuy;28485025]How long after Portal 2's launch does Valve plan to launch its SDK.[/QUOTE] According to Erik Johnson, Portal 2 won't get a SDK, but editing tools (also known as the authoring tools) - only Half-Life games get a SDK (Alien Swarm is a special case).

I would like the OP to ask Valve: Are you afraid that many people pirate your games, and that they will probably pirate Portal 2/DOTA? Yeah, dumb question is dumb, but I am curios.

Ask if there is any plans on making a "Orange box 2" or something like it

Ask them about their game design process and how their games go from ideas into released games. I'm always interested in that.

[QUOTE=Namelezz!;28489531]Ask them about their game design process and how their games go from ideas into released games. I'm always interested in that.[/QUOTE] Fairy Game ----> Left 4 Dead.

What was the thought process behind medieval mode? Will we see a "proper" new game mode for TF2 this year? Do you feel the introduction of trading/mann co has negatively or positively impacted the community? Are Valve working on another Half-Life game, Episode Three or not?

Give Gaben a bro-hug for me

[QUOTE=D3N1ZFTW;28489103]I would like the OP to ask Valve: Are you afraid that many people pirate your games, and that they will probably pirate Portal 2/DOTA? Yeah, dumb question is dumb, but I am curios.[/QUOTE] i remember gabe saying stuff about pirates you should check that i think he said that when he got the pioneer award for GDC 2010