Half-Life and Portal series, general discussion (v6) - Games

[QUOTE=TheRealRudy;47656037]Given Valve's playtesters are dumb as shit. There were [URL="https://youtu.be/twBwCZMCsbI?t=9m8s"]many alternate endings planned[/URL] for Portal 2 (which would be awesome imo), but ofcourse they were cut because the playtesters were to dumb to figure them out, and so these kind of things happend to alot of planned features in Valve their games which I actually really all like.[/QUOTE] When I play tested Portal 2 before it came out it was originally a lot longer. probably 2-4 hours longer, they cut out some really cool test chambers that extended the game and made it more difficult. They had mentioned that I had beaten the game much quicker then most play testers so guessing I was a more advanced player. Was fun seeing the differences between their testing and what actually came out. The musical ending wasn't even complete, it was just a bunch of turrets sitting around on the default like counter strike source brick textures and the song wasn't even playing, they mentioned there was a bug with the music playing some times. Play testing is a very fun experience, I love seeing games in production.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSe8RMcQHeY[/media] Uh, oh, "insert video" lied to me. Okay, it works, thanks to Marphy.

-Snip, ninja'd-

[QUOTE=TH3_L33T;47663752]When I play tested Portal 2 before it came out it was originally a lot longer. probably 2-4 hours longer, they cut out some really cool test chambers that extended the game and made it more difficult. They had mentioned that I had beaten the game much quicker then most play testers so guessing I was a more advanced player. [/QUOTE] How did you get chosen? Did you just walk up to them or did you apply or something?

[QUOTE=LoLWaT?;47665066]Their play testing process is just as pants-on-head as most of the people they pull from god knows where. Kind of baffling they'd deliberately turn interesting designs into something more mediocre in the way that they do.[/QUOTE]"Complex" is not a synonym for "good".

probably late but why the hell is black mesa now being sold for $20? does it have multiplayer?

[QUOTE=Pops;47665761]probably late but why the hell is black mesa now being sold for $20? does it have multiplayer?[/QUOTE] Yes Also they've spent around 10 years or so on it, so it's pretty fair.

[QUOTE=Pops;47665761]probably late but why the hell is black mesa now being sold for $20? does it have multiplayer?[/QUOTE] Volunteers spent their free time to completely restore Half-Life 1 to a modern engine. They deserve much more.

ok i've looked at the store page for it wow they really did go all out to make it a modern-day half-life shit, take my money, but i'll wait for xen to release first.

So the song 'Cotton Eye'd Joe' came on the radio today and it sounded just bizarre to me. Then I remembered what it was missing: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxTtbHmCNiQ[/media] It now sounds better to me with the crossbow than without :v:

[QUOTE=Butthurter;47665603]im not too bummed out about anything portal 2 beta related other than the obvious art direction change to make the environments a bit more lively/less creepy [t]http://www.blogcdn.com/www.joystiq.com/media/2010/03/6558.portalcover2-352010-580px.jpg[/t] [t]http://www.razzamataz.net/wp-content/gallery/game-informer-portal-2-scans/giportal2page3.jpg[/t] all it took really was adding a more dense fog setting to make the whole place less eerie[/QUOTE] I completely miss the original look of portal 2 they showed at e3 and a couple months proceeding it. Not that I dislike the final game but the original stuff shown was, in my opinion, by far a lot cooler. This is the trailer that demonstrates how I felt the atmosphere should have been more [video=youtube;IaZ75vU112Q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaZ75vU112Q[/video] More of a semi- outside feel is what I'm looking at really (glass breaking through normal gameplay, so innovative) It can also be seen it this gameplay at about 0:20 seconds in when the wall opens up [video=youtube;Kck_kG5jZZE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kck_kG5jZZE[/video] I also feel there should have been more of the old chambers (like at the end of the first teaser trailer), but with little twists to them where you had to find a creative way of solving them.

[QUOTE=dragonitemaster;47669213]I completely miss the original look of portal 2 they showed at e3 and a couple months proceeding it. Not that I dislike the final game but the original stuff shown was, in my opinion, by far a lot cooler. This is the trailer that demonstrates how I felt the atmosphere should have been more More of a semi- outside feel is what I'm looking at really (glass breaking through normal gameplay, so innovative) It can also be seen it this gameplay at about 0:20 seconds in when the wall opens up I also feel there should have been more of the old chambers (like at the end of the first teaser trailer), but with little twists to them where you had to find a creative way of solving them.[/QUOTE] It would have been an interesting take on the facility if the chambers were more open to reveal just how monolithic the facility was, like how it was shown in that second video.

Honestly though, imagine trying to nail down the timing for the level in the second video after the first clip with controller. I sure as hell know I wouldn't be able to pull that of. Not saying those don't look great, they do and I kinda wish they'd be available to us in one way or another.

I remember L4D was going to have more puzzle based elements. Playtesters didn't like it, they wanted to shoot more zombies so Valve took those elements out.

[QUOTE=Antimuffin;47670889]I remember L4D was going to have more puzzle based elements. Playtesters didn't like it, they wanted to shoot more zombies so Valve took those elements out.[/QUOTE] Why do I feel like Valve's playtesters make their games universally less fun after reading about all of this stuff

Apparently L4D2 was supposed to have more dynamic weather and level changing options, but testers found it confusing, so it got cut. But I mean, it's clear the testers alone aren't at fault. Valve should stop relying this much on them.

I heard that Ricochet was going to cure my hep and bring my dog back to life, but [I]the testers[/I] hate dogs so Valve cut it.

[QUOTE=Starlight 456;47671506]Why do I feel like Valve's playtesters make their games universally less fun after reading about all of this stuff[/QUOTE] Maybe this is why they stopped making games. It hurt their hearts too much to create something great, just to have it dumbed down because the play-testers don't understand the concept of a "video game".

[QUOTE="This Thread"]Valve gets everything 100% right first time all the time but has to make it dumb and shit and bad before releasing it because the lizard people told them to. Carefully selected publicity footage from vertical slices of unfinished games don't lie, sheeple![/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=vexx21322;47671626]Maybe this is why they stopped making games. It hurt their hearts too much to create something great, just to have it dumbed down because the play-testers don't understand the concept of a "video game".[/QUOTE] Or maybe they are working on Source 2 and that's why we haven't seen a major Valve game for a long time.

yeah once source 2 is finished we'll see most of their titles get new releases and maybe some new IPs as well.

Source 2 is already finished though. Valve is just waiting to release it.

That pic is so old. Now I feel old.

[QUOTE=Trekintosh;47668270]So the song 'Cotton Eye'd Joe' came on the radio today and it sounded just bizarre to me. Then I remembered what it was missing: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxTtbHmCNiQ[/media] It now sounds better to me with the crossbow than without :v:[/QUOTE] I miss the newer version he made, but it's blocked now.

I find it ironic that Valve has cut things because they confuse playtesters. Then they go and make Dota 2, a game 20 times more complex than anything they've ever made, [I]before[/I] cut content.

[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;47674414]I find it ironic that Valve has cut things because they confuse playtesters. Then they go and make Dota 2, a game 20 times more complex than anything they've ever made, [I]before[/I] cut content.[/QUOTE] Dota 2 is a MOBA. It's [I]supposed[/I] to be confusing.

I still don't understand RD_ in TF2

[QUOTE=Mr. Someguy;47674414]I find it ironic that Valve has cut things because they confuse playtesters. Then they go and make Dota 2, a game 20 times more complex than anything they've ever made, [I]before[/I] cut content.[/QUOTE]They actually addressed that shortly after announcing the game. Something like "this basically goes against every single one of our accessibility ideals, but that many millions of players of the warcraft mod can't be wrong".

I wonder if the Valve dudes are actually literally high with weed being legal and all that in Washington where they are based now, it'd explain some of the shit they do

[QUOTE=jazzpunk;47671605]Apparently L4D2 was supposed to have more dynamic weather and level changing options, but testers found it confusing, so it got cut. But I mean, it's clear the testers alone aren't at fault. Valve should stop relying this much on them.[/QUOTE] If some people are that retarded to be confused by something that happens in everyday life, they are in no position to be play testers for a video game.