The future of vivendi games

[Schadenfroh]

after the money is made off of th half life franchise and all of the BS vivendi made and sued, i am wondering about something. Why would anyone chose them to publish their product after everything that went on between them and valve, are they infact ending their publishing to 3rd parties by doing all of this?


but i guess that they do own blizzard, microprose and sierra, so they will have stuff to do in house, but what do you think the odds of a third party wanting them to publish 3rd party titles?

 

[BenSkywalker]

I may be a bit behind, but last I was aware VU was trying to sell off its gaming division. If that is still the case, then they may just look at it as a case of grab whatever they can get now for revenue before they dump them.

 

[AyashiKaibutsu]

From what I remember, VU gave up on selling it's game division. It wanted to sell it in bulk, but a lot of companies only wanted Blizzard Entertainment and VU wouldn't go for it.

 

[etalns]

I don't blame Vivendi, business is business. A lot of people are mad at Vivendi becuase they weren't willing to allow Valve to release the game early...it would've lost Vivendi millions in profits. Vivendi has stockholders who they need to be accountable to at the end of the day, they can't sacrifice millions of dollars to appease the players.

However, if I were in Valve's shoes, I'd use Steam as the prominent release platform in future games and use company funds to publish the game. It's not like Half-Life 2 has had any substantial marketing campaign anyways.

 

[alm4rr]

Valve will position itself to become a publisher through Steam, so that is my understanding why VU is upset - they are being cut out of the picture

from what I know, Gabe was pretty stupid to sign a contract with a publishing company and THEN start up his own distribution system... seems like if he had a clue he would have just done steam and made the $30 per copy instead of the quoted $7 (see gamespot for great interview)

 

[etalns]

Originally posted by: alm4rr
Valve will position itself to become a publisher through Steam, so that is my understanding why VU is upset - they are being cut out of the picture

from what I know, Gabe was pretty stupid to sign a contract with a publishing company and THEN start up his own distribution system... seems like if he had a clue he would have just done steam and made the $30 per copy instead of the quoted $7 (see gamespot for great interview)

If Gabe had a clue? oh please.

Gabe Newell may have made a mistake in that regard, or maybe there is something we can't see. But trust me, it takes a clue to make one of the best games of all time, and hopefully the sequel will hold true to the originals legend also.

 

[mundane]

Originally posted by: Qosis

Originally posted by: alm4rr
Valve will position itself to become a publisher through Steam, so that is my understanding why VU is upset - they are being cut out of the picture

from what I know, Gabe was pretty stupid to sign a contract with a publishing company and THEN start up his own distribution system... seems like if he had a clue he would have just done steam and made the $30 per copy instead of the quoted $7 (see gamespot for great interview)

If Gabe had a clue? oh please.

Gabe Newell may have made a mistake in that regard, or maybe there is something we can't see. But trust me, it takes a clue to make one of the best games of all time, and hopefully the sequel will hold true to the originals legend also.

There's no doubt that he has a true gift in the gaming field - he's right up there with the rest of the legends. But that doesn't imply he has the best business sense =)

 

[alm4rr]

Originally posted by: Qosis

Originally posted by: alm4rr
Valve will position itself to become a publisher through Steam, so that is my understanding why VU is upset - they are being cut out of the picture

from what I know, Gabe was pretty stupid to sign a contract with a publishing company and THEN start up his own distribution system... seems like if he had a clue he would have just done steam and made the $30 per copy instead of the quoted $7 (see gamespot for great interview)

If Gabe had a clue? oh please.

Gabe Newell may have made a mistake in that regard, or maybe there is something we can't see. But trust me, it takes a clue to make one of the best games of all time, and hopefully the sequel will hold true to the originals legend also.

http://www.gamespot.com/featur...ag=gs_pc_topslot_click

The interview is pretty enlightening.



There is a difference in having a software mind in making great games, and there is another business mind that may have been lacking, esp after Harrington's departure. Given the development time (starting 6 mos after HL 1) it is somewhat understandable, but something like planning an entire new distribution system, core to the entire company's business plans, it then seems reckless to contract with another distribution comapny early in the process.

 

[Lonyo]

Haven't read the interview, but using a publisher makes good business sense.
You will appeal to a wider market.
Not everyone uses the internet, or bas a broadband connection.
Those without BB may still want HL2, and Valve would have to release hard copies of the game.
What is Steam fell through, or got messed up? They would be SOL with a product they couldn't sell.

Plus, they may not have been sure about Steam as a medium for release when they decided to sign a contract with VU, I don't know.

<off to read the interview now>

 

[placebo139]

Originally posted by: Qosis
I don't blame Vivendi, business is business. A lot of people are mad at Vivendi becuase they weren't willing to allow Valve to release the game early...it would've lost Vivendi millions in profits. Vivendi has stockholders who they need to be accountable to at the end of the day, they can't sacrifice millions of dollars to appease the players.

However, if I were in Valve's shoes, I'd use Steam as the prominent release platform in future games and use company funds to publish the game. It's not like Half-Life 2 has had any substantial marketing campaign anyways.

i'm a bit clueless as to how the process works. How does a distribution company lose $$$ if they release ahead of schedule? Forgive my stupidity.

 

[imported_jediknight]

I'm buying the retail version, screw Steam. I like having the actual disks (in case Valve goes out of business or something.. note that the original disks are more durable than a steam backup.. ). Also get the game manual...

 

[Schadenfroh]

Originally posted by: jediknight
I'm buying the retail version, screw Steam. I like having the actual disks (in case Valve goes out of business or something.. note that the original disks are more durable than a steam backup.. ). Also get the game manual...

if valve goes under then none of it will work for it all requires steam servers.

 

[daniel1113]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh

Originally posted by: jediknight
I'm buying the retail version, screw Steam. I like having the actual disks (in case Valve goes out of business or something.. note that the original disks are more durable than a steam backup.. ). Also get the game manual...

if valve goes under then none of it will work for it all requires steam servers.

Sigh. I can't understand why anyone would believe that this situation would ever happen. I won't elaborate, as it has been beaten to death in other posts.

 

[daniel1113]

DP

 

[imported_jediknight]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
if valve goes under then none of it will work for it all requires steam servers.

But if that happens, you are legally able to "crack" the game... so if you have a hard copy of it, you should be fine..