Poll: Anyone else beginning to lose patience with Valve?

[RuralGamer]

patience is a virtue, i'd rather have a great game they took time on then an only good one they rushed out.

They know what their doing and it seems to be working, don't fix what isn't broken. The only way anyone could be bothered by this is if they don't have real things occupying their time, so go out and do stuff

This; good things come to those who wait. Valve take their time and release high-quality stuff, sure its not always my thing, but I can't argue with how well-made it is. I sigh whenever people start getting agitated that games aren't coming out 'fast enough', then get annoyed when each Call of Duty is 'too much like the last'; if you want games to be different and highly polished, give them time and if they turn out like DNF, then you have the right to crucify them; after 11 years or whatever it was, you have no right to be anything less than worth 95/100 from a reviewer.

As for Episode 3, I'd forget about it; if its anything like Episodes 1 and 2, in my opinion, you aren't missing much; sure they're good, but waaay too short for how much time supposedly went into development. My theory is that Valve only make games when they can be arsed, which explains why their games take so long to come out, but generally turn out good.

Valve don't owe me anything. The games will be out when they are done. I can wait.

Second that; I get really annoyed when people act as if developers owe them; they never said they were making this game/ any game for you, only that they were making it and deadlines aren't legally binding (unless part of a contract).

 

[soldier9501]

Here's your main problem: You seem to have the false impression that Valve is a game developer and NOT primarily a digital publisher.

Get out of that mindset, and you'll be pleasantly surprised whenever they actually manage to release a game.

 

[Randomperson9999999]

the longer the wait the better most of the time

 

[Mouse_Crouse]

Honestly, I have no issue with them taking as long as they need to make the game (see Blizzard). However if you are gonna be 'one of those companies' have the decency to ANNOUNCE THE GAMES. Give the fans some info, updates, anything. Blizzard may take forever working on SC2 or Diablo3 or whatnot. But they announce them, they give us screen-shots, they set up websites and give place for discussion.

 

[nintendoeats]

Ok, allow me to shed a little light here. There is a reason that Valve takes so long to make things. They take a DNF "when it's done approach" to everything, with the key difference being that they deliberately hire very independent people who will be able to pursue their ideas relentlessly. This creates great work, but it does make development take a lot longer.

Adding to this is the playtesting that they do. Many games are produced with only minor tweaks based on playtests. Valve ensures that their games are constantly being played by new people throughout development, which means that large sections of games can be cut out late in development. This, again, extends development.

By random chance, the industry will continue to produce games of equivalent quality to Valve's. However, Valve has developed that method that allows THEM to produce high quality games consistently. I don't believe that any other developer has done this.

 

[Frostbite3789]

Ahh I love Valve fans. Any longer than 2 years and people go apeshit at them for taking too long, anything less than 2 years and people go apeshit at them for putting out what "should" be a expansion pack for the first part.

Valve will do what Valve wants to do. And you know, as Gabe knows, that when they finally do decide to put out ep3, be it in a year or 5 years, that you will queue up to hand them your money.

Yathzee made an incredibly valid point about episodic content when it comes to Valve, and this was regarding the, what? One year delay between episodes 1 and 2. It's been round-about four years since Episode 2 came out.

That's the time-table for a full on game sequel. Which they should be planning at this juncture, instead of an 'episode'.

 

[Silenttalker22]

"Valve releases great game after great game, holding a standard well above the average of the industry, but they didn't do this great feat as fast as I'd like. RAAAAGE!"

Christ there's a million top end titles out right now, and in the next month. Play something else.

 

[DanielBrown]

No, I got Blizzard Time Fatigue syndrome if anything.
GIVE ME MY DIABLO III ALREADY!

 

[willsham45]

OK I think there needs to be some rules for following Valve.

1. Forget about valve.
2. Do not follow them except for when a game is a week from release.
3. Take what they give as it comes.

These could also be applied to blizzard but as it stands I feel these are pritty good rules to stick by if you want to stay happy with valve's

 

[Tufty94]

Sure Vale do tend to take their time, but the end result it usually worth it. I say let them take their time rather than rush what could have been a great game.

 

[Blow_Pop]

not at all. In fact I am behind enough in my gaming that it really doesnae bother me. I have enough game catching up to do that they can take the next 10 years and I still won't be fully caught up. Personally, I like that they are taking their time releasing it. Means that they are taking the time to make sure the game is the best it can be. Or at least that's what it should mean. Hell look at Starcraft 2. Blizzard took 10 - 12 years in releasing it(first game came out 1998 and the second came out in 2010 depends on what timetable you want to go by). Still not finished with the campaign(though my defense I JUST got a computer that can run games which also explains why I am so far behind in my gaming)but it is still an amazing game. Point: I would rather wait a longer time for a better developed game rather than not wait as long and have a not very well developed game. Also, me saying SC2 is amazing does not mean I don't see flaws in it. Just means that the (i think) half campaign I have done in it so far, is amazing.

Sure Vale do tend to take their time, but the end result it usually worth it. I say let them take their time rather than rush what could have been a great game.

Also, your avatar is awesome. I don't know many people who read that comic strip.

 

[Vrach]

I don't really care about their games enough to. Never did.

I was late for the party as far as HL goes. I played HL2+episodes and enjoyed them to a point, but was never really "omfg, HL2 dude, HL2!!!!!!". I loved Portal but I generally don't give a shit about DLCs, so meh on that.

 

[Chimpzy_v1legacy]

Valve don't owe me anything. The games will be out when they are done. I can wait.

Agreed. It really grinds my gears just how entitled some people seem to be (and not just gamers).

If anything, I'm happy there are a few developers out there that don't need to bow to publisher's demands, leading to rushed, sloppy games or endless churning out of sequels. Neither do I need them to be sycophants pandering to my every whim as a consumer. Patientia est virtus, and so far, Valve has yet to disappoint me with a bad game.

 

[Del-Toro]

SILENCE HERETIC!

OT: A little bit, I suppose, not really. I can't say honestly that I'm "tired" of waiting for any of the aforementioned products, I do have a life, however limited it may be, after all, so the idea of not finding out what happens to everyone's favourite mute isn't something that's going to make me lose too much sleep. Besides, if the finished product is correspondingly good, then great, it's not like I was sitting in a literal or proverbial waiting room for however many years it's been since the half life franchise last descended from on high.

 

[Fusionxl]

I could care less about episode 3 because I've never played Half-life 2.

I play TF2 and Left 4 Dead, that's all I need from Valve.

Well, don't you think you should at least try Half-Life 2? It's not really all that expensive anymore, and 40 hours of solid gameplay definitely make the purchase worth it.

Oh, and by the way, it's "couldn't care less". You're welcome

 

[Phishfood]

I must admit its got a bit stupid now. Still, I'd rather they took ages to produce a gem than shoveled out crap every week.

 

[GoAwayVifs]

Nope, like many valve fans I know all about valve time [http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Valve_Time].

 

[tombman888]

I'm not losing patience with them, because i'm not expecting anything from them. TF2 and L4D are more than enough to keep me entertained completely

 

[Aerowaves]

Oh, and by the way, it's "couldn't care less". You're welcome

Give the man a medal!

Yes, I am. I'm not one of those people who get angry at release dates - I have faith in Valve and I got over the issue a long time ago - but I loved Half-Life 2 so I can admit to being a little fatigued by the lack of any news about Episode 3. Portal 2 reminded me how great their atmosphere-building powers are when set to work within a rich but somewhat undefined universe.

*sigh*