No Valve Games at E3

[JujuFish]

Most HL2 fans will contend (I think) that while HL2 was brilliant, the first HL was the best (or among the best) game ever made.

I just asked a few friends independently which they thought was a better game, and each of them said Half Life 2, a sentiment with which I agree.

 

[wuliheron]

Valve diddled around with physics in the HL2 games. It was (somewhat) novel at the time with the gravity gun and stuff, but games like Battlefield Bad Company 2 and Red Faction: Guerilla make it look pretty tame. They use physics to truly shape the game (especially BC2).

Yeah, and those games are newer and can cripple weaker computers. In contrast Half Life 2 is a straightforward evolution from such classic corridor shooters such as Doom and can run on almost any computer. Anybody can use gpu physics, but developing cpu physics is an art.

 

[Barfo]

7 years old. 7 years.

I played through HL2 2 months ago, I had more fun than with most FPS games I've played in the last 4 years.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Yeah, and those games are newer and can cripple weaker computers. In contrast Half Life 2 is a straightforward evolution from such classic corridor shooters such as Doom and can run on almost any computer. Anybody can use gpu physics, but developing cpu physics is an art.

Who gives a fuck? I'm a PC gamer. If you want boring, stagnant systems, buy a console. My point stands - Valve is barely relevant in game development today.

 

[Mike Gayner]

I played through HL2 2 months ago, I had more fun than with most FPS games I've played in the last 4 years.

A lot of old games are extremely fun. But that doesn't mean they're not old.

 

[wuliheron]

Who gives a fuck? I'm a PC gamer. If you want boring, stagnant systems, buy a console. My point stands - Valve is barely relevant in game development today.

I give a fuck. The last engine from ID was six years ago and their upcoming Rage and Doom 4 are only dx 9, but nobody seriously claims they are irrelevant to PC gaming. You can play Rage on a damn iPhone, but that doesn't mean the megatexture technology of the new id tech 5 engine isn't important for PC gaming. Claiming that Valve is now irrelevant to PC gaming before they have a chance to demonstrate a new engine is both counterproductive and ignorant.

 

[Rezident]

No I don't think so. The original plan was for 3, but I think they have abandoned the idea now of episodes as it didn't go out as quickly as originally intended.

On the back of The Orange Box, box is states: "Episode One, the first in the trilogy of new episodes for Half-Life 2...". Based on Valve's past I feel these is something coming, it just might not be close but with all the references to "Black Mesa" as recently as Portal 2, there must be something in the works.

 

[Rezident]

So you would rather they were like EA?

Anyways, there IS an upcoming Half Life 2 episode 3 - however the person who is writing the story, the same guy that wrote for portal 2 i believe, is very sick and has been for a while. They have commented on this issue before, I thought it was pretty well known.

Oh, I wasn't aware of that, any links?

 

[skace]

Who gives a fuck? I'm a PC gamer. If you want boring, stagnant systems, buy a console. My point stands - Valve is barely relevant in game development today.

If Valve isn't relevant to PC gaming right now, I'd like to know who is. Valve could be working on another game right now and release info tomorrow and most of you would look ridiculous because they didn't hype it for 5 years straight before hand. And this is a studio which _just released an awesome game_. I'm not sure I understand the issue at all.

The engine is dated? Yet most engines still look like shit compared to Doom 3 and Crysis 1. In fact, so many engines these days fall into a massive gray area, where 1 feature is good and 12 others are cheap imitations.

Maybe I'm a bit jaded these years, but not only have I not seen an engine that screamed truly revolutionary, I also don't see any video cards worth upgrading my GTX 295 to yet. Until such a time exists, I'll keep enjoying the fact that, unlike most shitty developers, Valve is actually bringing unique ideas to the genre and giving people alternate and interesting game play mechanisms.

Edit: I mean really, out of all the devs to bitch about...

 

[Inspector Jihad]

godless is autistic, don't mind him. he got vaccinated when he was kid.

 

[Lonyo]

If Valve isn't relevant to PC gaming right now, I'd like to know who is. Valve could be working on another game right now and release info tomorrow and most of you would look ridiculous because they didn't hype it for 5 years straight before hand. And this is a studio which _just released an awesome game_. I'm not sure I understand the issue at all.

The engine is dated? Yet most engines still look like shit compared to Doom 3 and Crysis 1. In fact, so many engines these days fall into a massive gray area, where 1 feature is good and 12 others are cheap imitations.

Maybe I'm a bit jaded these years, but not only have I not seen an engine that screamed truly revolutionary, I also don't see any video cards worth upgrading my GTX 295 to yet. Until such a time exists, I'll keep enjoying the fact that, unlike most shitty developers, Valve is actually bringing unique ideas to the genre and giving people alternate and interesting game play mechanisms.

Edit: I mean really, out of all the devs to bitch about...

Buying. They are buying unique ideas to the genre.

 

[skace]

Buying. They are buying unique ideas to the genre.

Did you actually see what portal was before Valve bought it? Ok, yes, they are buying ideas. But they are also fostering those ideas. Which is way, way better than most other developers out there.

And why did you feel the need to make this comment? I don't really understand. Did we all forget where Valve came from? Let me remind you!

Valve is a company that basically bought out all of the talent from the Quake 1 era modders, licensed the Quake engine and then made their own game. That is what they did. 2 of their best coders were the original QuakeCommand team. After making HL which was basically a TC for Quake, they then hired the Team Fortress team. After which, they hired Gooseman for counter-strike.

So, exactly what is difference between now and the beginning of how Valve got started? As long as Valve continues to recognize and promote talent within the community and their organization they will continue being successful. This is exactly what they should be doing.

 

[Red Storm]

Buying. They are buying unique ideas to the genre.

Portal just wouldn't be Portal without the story, characters, and touch of polish that Valve gave it. It's not enough to simply have the idea, you have to go beyond that when it comes to games.

 

[AstroManLuca]

HL2 is still fun, but it definitely feels dated.

I played through HL2 2 months ago, I had more fun than with most FPS games I've played in the last 4 years.

Funny, I tried playing through HL2 just recently (last time was... Saturday maybe?) and couldn't continue. I got to the part where you get the car and gave up. So much filler in that game. I guess you could use the excuse that it's old. HL2 is older now than HL1 was when HL2 was released. But even when it WAS new, I remember thinking to myself how long the vehicle sections felt. It feels weird to say, but it makes me understand games today that have really short single player campaigns. I'm sure it's only because the designers want to make less work for themselves, but it has the side effect of forcing them to put only the best parts into the game and not pointless filler.

 

[skace]

I'd just like to say I completely disagree with anything in HL2, short of the intro sequence, being considered useless filler. Current would-be FPS games certainly have ridiculously unimaginative levels that lack anything short of constant, yet ultimately boring, action. I don't, however, think this is in any way, shape or form, a good thing.

 

[Bill Brasky]

Funny, I tried playing through HL2 just recently (last time was... Saturday maybe?) and couldn't continue. I got to the part where you get the car and gave up. So much filler in that game. I guess you could use the excuse that it's old. HL2 is older now than HL1 was when HL2 was released. But even when it WAS new, I remember thinking to myself how long the vehicle sections felt. It feels weird to say, but it makes me understand games today that have really short single player campaigns. I'm sure it's only because the designers want to make less work for themselves, but it has the side effect of forcing them to put only the best parts into the game and not pointless filler.

I totally agree here. I would *much* rather have a shorter game packed with new experiences because I tend to play single player games slowly. I stop and look around quite a bit, so games with filler can get pretty boring.

 

[Mike Gayner]

Funny, I tried playing through HL2 just recently (last time was... Saturday maybe?) and couldn't continue. I got to the part where you get the car and gave up. So much filler in that game. I guess you could use the excuse that it's old. HL2 is older now than HL1 was when HL2 was released. But even when it WAS new, I remember thinking to myself how long the vehicle sections felt. It feels weird to say, but it makes me understand games today that have really short single player campaigns. I'm sure it's only because the designers want to make less work for themselves, but it has the side effect of forcing them to put only the best parts into the game and not pointless filler.

I totally agree here. I would *much* rather have a shorter game packed with new experiences because I tend to play single player games slowly. I stop and look around quite a bit, so games with filler can get pretty boring.

Go back to playing COD like the rest of the ADD riddled American population with an attention span measured in nanoseconds.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Go back to playing COD like the rest of the ADD riddled American population with an attention span measured in nanoseconds.

Because I'm sure Call of Duty sells soooooo poorly to all you sophisticated, discerning kiwis.

I didn't even say HL2 was bad. It's still a good game, but it has padding. The vehicle sections are too long.

 

[wuliheron]

It feels weird to say, but it makes me understand games today that have really short single player campaigns. I'm sure it's only because the designers want to make less work for themselves, but it has the side effect of forcing them to put only the best parts into the game and not pointless filler.

Adding a plot, fleshed out characters, and motorized chase scenes is not pointless filler, but I agree Valve could have done a better job with pacing. There are plenty of fantasy role playing games out there, but Half Life 2 was the first to really apply a healthy dose to the classic corridor shooter. For die hard run-n-gun fans it can be a disappointment, but for the rest of us it is what we fantasized Doom could be one day.

 

[GodlessAstronomer]

Adding a plot, fleshed out characters, and motorized chase scenes is not pointless filler, but I agree Valve could have done a better job with pacing. There are plenty of fantasy role playing games out there, but Half Life 2 was the first to really apply a healthy dose to the classic corridor shooter. For die hard run-n-gun fans it can be a disappointment, but for the rest of us it is what we fantasized Doom could be one day.

I agree with your first sentence, and I honestly can't think of any part of HL2 that I would consider 'pointless filler'.

 

[shortylickens]

Valve makes quality.
EA makes crap.
Guess which one dominates E3 every year?

 

[Skunkwourk]

I put a thread in the Free Stuff forum but for those that don't go in there you can get Volume 1 of the Portal 2 Soundtrack and some ringtones here

http://www.thinkwithportals.com/music.php

I didn't want to create a new thread since there were so many Portal threads already, but OP can edit the heading if he/she likes.

 

[Rezident]

Funny, I tried playing through HL2 just recently (last time was... Saturday maybe?) and couldn't continue. I got to the part where you get the car and gave up. So much filler in that game. I guess you could use the excuse that it's old. HL2 is older now than HL1 was when HL2 was released. But even when it WAS new, I remember thinking to myself how long the vehicle sections felt. It feels weird to say, but it makes me understand games today that have really short single player campaigns. I'm sure it's only because the designers want to make less work for themselves, but it has the side effect of forcing them to put only the best parts into the game and not pointless filler.

I really liked the vehicle sections in HL2, I think my favourite was the hovercraft section, where you got to go flying through miles of canyons blasting through loads of stuff, it was a welcome departure from running around on foot. I wish those sections were longer!

I also note that other developers are still copying that, COD and all the others, the final mission in WM2 was a boat run, there were vehicle sections in Black ops, MOH, etc. it's become the done thing. I way prefer that to walking around on foot for a whole game.

 

[Tristicus]

I want L4D3
Three perfect rounds in L4D2 last night with 4 pubs (including me) vs a "clan" [ViP]. Then they raged. :awe: Need moar (good) maps!