When will Valve actually make THE game?

[Soviet Heavy]

As in a game that uses all of their experiments. Every one of Valve's games so far has been used to promote a new method of experimentation that the devs try out. Half Life 2 pushed forward physics engines. Episode 1 showed off High Dynamic Range. Episode 2 threw in open areas. Team Fortress 2 established constant patching to use as a testbed for game updates. Left 4 Dead experimented with AI behaviours. L4D2 was a challenge set out to see if Valve could release a full game in under a year. Portal was a continuation of physics with humor added this time.

When do you think Valve will end their testing and release a game that implements all of their little experiments added to their previous games? Their games seem like science projects that happen to be extremely playable. I can't imagine what would happen when they combined all of their tests together.

EDIT.
To clarify, (something I need to do a lot apparently), I recognize that Valve has in fact made games. That much is obvious. I am approaching this topic from the angle that they haven't quite made the game. As in, the game that is the culmination of their genre redefining experiments prevalent in all of their products up to this point.

EDIT #2
Changed the title to better represent what I am trying to convey. I am not slagging off older Valve games because I view them as testbeds for new ideas. I am wondering what a Valve game will look like when all of their experiments are implemented together, like a culminating project of everything they've learned up to the point. Sorry to those of you who interpret this as me bashing older Valve games because they are obviously perfect.

 

[Mr.Amakir]

Probably in Half-Life 3 which will set new standards in the video game industry, that is unless GabeN decides to never release it.

 

[Wicky_42]

Interesting angle, but do you really think that experimentation disqualifies all the titles you mentioned from being games? Eh. They generally seem to know what they're doing, not gonna knock them for experimenting - the games they make are always great and solid.

 

[StBishop]

The thing is, I like them making new games with a new way to push the envelope each time. Otherwise you get the same system as CoD or MoH or whatever. Make a game, make a sequel with new features added in, rinse, repeat.

I prefer Valve the way it is TBH.

 

[Bags159]

Wait, because they're designed to show case new technology, or a new idea, VALVe hasn't made a game yet? What kind of retarded logic is this?

VALVe has most certainly made many games, and great ones at that. They haven't had a dud yet. (L4D2 alone is a solid game, ignoring the whole, "we're going to update L4D like TF2. Oh wait here's L4D2" fiasco, which I personally was fine with)

 

[Denariax]

Wait, because they're designed to show case new technology, or a new idea, VALVe hasn't made a game yet?

what kind of retarded logic is this?

Internet logic.

Its kinda like JRPG logic, but on a much weirder scale.

 

[kortin]

Wait, because they're designed to show case new technology, or a new idea, VALVe hasn't made a game yet?

what kind of retarded logic is this?

This. I really have nothing else to say. This is almost exactly what I thought.

 

[icypain]

so what was half-life 1? and alien swarm?

 

[TheTygerfire]

This is some genius level logic being used...oh wait, no, it's not logic at all.

 

[CardinalPiggles]

The thing is, I like them making new games with a new way to push the envelope each time. Otherwise you get the same system as CoD or MoH or whatever. Make a game, make a sequel with new features added in, rinse, repeat.

I prefer Valve the way it is TBH.

too true, why use the same aspects for a new game with a few added bits that could easily be introduced as DLC.

Valve.

NEVER CHANGE YOUR EXPERIMENTATION

 

[Neverhoodian]

You're implying that any title that was innovative (like Super Mario Bros. and Deus Ex) is just a science experiment. Just because developers try something new doesn't mean it's suddenly not a game anymore. Indeed, innovation is one of the best things a game developer can strive for.

 

[Abengoshis]

I'd say trying something new in every game potentially makes that game better than games which use tried and tested ideas.

 

[Chainsaw_Chuck]

Wait, because they're designed to show case new technology, or a new idea, VALVe hasn't made a game yet?

what kind of retarded logic is this?

Shit, your avatar totally made me read that in the Johnny Bravo voice.

 

[AceAngel]

So you're saying that an 'innovative' game isn't a game at all?

...
...
...

You're not worthy of Batman's avatar as your face...

 

[Soviet Heavy]

so what was half-life 1? and alien swarm?

Half Life 1 was the first game in the FPS genre to play the everyman. It busted down the genre standard of gruff space marine, and placed the player in the shoes of an average dude caught up in an Alien invasion.

Alien Swarm? I dunno, a little side project.

 

[Bags159]

Wait, because they're designed to show case new technology, or a new idea, VALVe hasn't made a game yet?

what kind of retarded logic is this?

Shit, your avatar totally made me read that in the Johnny Bravo voice.

Hooo-hah! Do the monkey with me, pretty mommah.
/monkey
She digs me.

To contribute, I don't think Alien Swarm was designed to show case any new tech or game design ideas.

 

[Zantos]

As in a game that uses all of their experiments. Every one of Valve's games so far has been used to promote a new method of experimentation that the devs try out. Half Life 2 pushed forward physics engines. Episode 1 showed off High Dynamic Range. Episode 2 threw in open areas. Team Fortress 2 established constant patching to use as a testbed for game updates. Left 4 Dead experimented with AI behaviours. L4D2 was a challenge set out to see if Valve could release a full game in under a year. Portal was a continuation of physics with humor added this time.

When do you think Valve will end their testing and release a game that implements all of their little experiments added to their previous games? Their games seem like science projects that happen to be extremely playable. I can't imagine what would happen when they combined all of their tests together.

EDIT.
To clarify, (something I need to do a lot apparently), I recognize that Valve has in fact made games. That much is obvious. I am approaching this topic from the angle that they haven't quite made the game. As in, the game that is the culmination of their genre redefining experiments prevalent in all of their products up to this point.

I'm gonna go all non-conformist and agree with this. One of my favourite games is Darksiders, yes it clearly and unashamedly ripped off many ideas, but it did exactly what I wanted portal to do and use the portal gun alongside other mechanics (mostly other things it ripped off), not just make it the centre of attention. Incidentally I don't know how valid this statement has become since the Portal 2 release, I'll attempt to update my opinion after exam period.

 

[jamesworkshop]

so what was half-life 1? and alien swarm?

Half Life 1 was the first game in the FPS genre to play the everyman. It busted down the genre standard of gruff space marine, and placed the player in the shoes of an average dude caught up in an Alien invasion.

Alien Swarm? I dunno, a little side project.

The average research physicist man on the street

 

[Tharwen]

Surely you're not describing Portal 2 as an experiment? What were they experimenting with in that that wasn't already tried in Portal?

so what was half-life 1? and alien swarm?

Alien Swarm was a tech demo.

 

[Soviet Heavy]

so what was half-life 1? and alien swarm?

Half Life 1 was the first game in the FPS genre to play the everyman. It busted down the genre standard of gruff space marine, and placed the player in the shoes of an average dude caught up in an Alien invasion.

Alien Swarm? I dunno, a little side project.

The average research physicist man on the street

Whatever. The point was he was never established as a superhuman soldier like the Doom Marine or an 80's action hero like Duke Nukem. In comparison he seemed rather vulnerable.