Why does Valve hate stories so much?

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Zand88

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Jan 21, 2009
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Seeing that they are working on another Left 4 Dead, I'm starting to wonder why Valve have made such point of removing most or all story from there games

They are, after all, behind Team Fortress, Counter-Strike and Left 4 Dead; all games focus on online gaming, that lack a story/campaign mode (Before you rule L4D as an exception, I'll just point out that the little story to that game seems satirically flat).
I suppose it makes sense, since most of the audience is jaded about stories in games. Most games, especially shooters, seem to have a flimsy story to tie the gameplay into a neat singleplayer experience, but are usually lengthier and less linear. Valve is different in that they are completely devoid of that system. Even in Half-Life and other games from Valve, the story seems to simpler, taking a backseat to the mood and atmosphere.

So, any one else notice? Or, am I over-analyzing?

Also, Left 4 Dead doesn't have a story, stop contradicting me! :(
 

TheMushroomClub

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Aug 12, 2008
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Yes I noticed. I was replaying Half - Life 2 the other day when I realised that the story is useless. There are cutscenes but you could just as easily walk away from them or go to the toilet and the game would still make sense. Kill everything that moves and doesn't talk, go to places and solve puzzles. Also, portal.
 

-Seraph-

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May 19, 2008
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Well from my standpoint I primarily see them as a online games developer. Half Life is their only real single player game while everything else are multiplayer. It's just their primary focus I guess, some companies focus on one thing while some focus on both. It's sorta like asking why Square Enix hates multiplayer, thats not their main focus as they deal more in single player as thats what they are good at. Meh, I never was too fond of Valve anyways, counter Strike is the only thing I can thank them for.
 

daviejjd

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Apr 1, 2009
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I think that Valve sets out to do something whole heartedly, so with TF2 They wanted a pure multi experience, so no story needed, but in half life they go purely for story (i think they did it well) and left 4 dead needs no story, it almost improves it in my opinion
 

VitusPrime

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a game company cant master everything, if that happens they would destroy the universe due to the unbalnce in awsomeness across the world and game catagrys
 

Cpt_Oblivious

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I felt that Left 4 Dead had a story. It was in the wall's graffiti and I was intrigued by all the writing.

I want to meet Chicago Ted.
 

Twilight_guy

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Nov 24, 2008
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Um, because those games are meant for multiplayer and watching the same story movie over and over again each time you play online would be frustrating. Team fortress lacks story because it is totally focused on multiplayer matches and no story. It doesn't even have single player, it just wants to create fun multiplayer matches. I can't speak for counter-strike but I have the feeling that "nobody cares about the story" is probably true. As for Left 4 Dead, Valve realized that watching the same video before each and ever game would quickly get annoying and lead to it being skipped each time, so why bother? (they mentioned that in the developers commentary).

In sum, yes Valve doesn't have complex mythos and story, because they focus on gameplay. (Personally I prefer that).
 

megapenguinx

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Jan 8, 2009
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Do Counter Strike, TF2, and L4D really need a story?
They are meant to be multiplayer romps in merry land. A campaign (besides L4D's which felt more like practicing for versus) would just feel tacked on.
 

bue519

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Cpt_Oblivious said:
I felt that Left 4 Dead had a story. It was in the wall's graffiti and I was intrigued by all the writing.

I want to meet Chicago Ted.
I also really enjoyed the mood and atmosphere in Left4Dead. Also I noticed at some points in the game hearing distant gunfire and I really wanted to see other survivors even if they were just glimpses through a fence.
 

TheDoctor455

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Apr 1, 2009
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Left 4 Dead did have a story, but in order to appreciate it, you have to play it in single player. Otherwise, the other players pushing you to keep going will keep you distracted. There was the graffiti which basically showed how the other survivors communicate with each other, and tells you something about them. The cars tell a story of abandonment and desperation, and the corpses with blankets over them deliver a tale of loss and determination. There are more examples of how Left 4 Dead has a story, but again, to appreciate them, you have to go through single player, and take it slow.
 

quack35

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Sep 1, 2008
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Multiplayer games don't need stories.

Half Life's story, while pretty simple, is a lot better than most FPS stories. And just because they don't focus on one thing doesn't mean they hate it, sheesh.
 

Cpt_Oblivious

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bue519 said:
Cpt_Oblivious said:
I felt that Left 4 Dead had a story. It was in the wall's graffiti and I was intrigued by all the writing.

I want to meet Chicago Ted.
I also really enjoyed the mood and atmosphere in Left4Dead. Also I noticed at some points in the game hearing distant gunfire and I really wanted to see other survivors even if they were just glimpses through a fence.
I'd love if they added that. Maybe by having another 4 survivors strikingly similar to the ones players control, just for the Shaun of the Dead reference.
 

Zand88

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Cpt_Oblivious said:
I felt that Left 4 Dead had a story. It was in the wall's graffiti and I was intrigued by all the writing.
That's pretty much atmosphere, though. :p It doesn't play into the plot at all.
That, and you're likely to completely miss it if you're playing with strangers.
 

bue519

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Cpt_Oblivious said:
bue519 said:
Cpt_Oblivious said:
I felt that Left 4 Dead had a story. It was in the wall's graffiti and I was intrigued by all the writing.

I want to meet Chicago Ted.
I also really enjoyed the mood and atmosphere in Left4Dead. Also I noticed at some points in the game hearing distant gunfire and I really wanted to see other survivors even if they were just glimpses through a fence.
I'd love if they added that. Maybe by having another 4 survivors strikingly similar to the ones players control, just for the Shaun of the Dead reference.
Well, maybe in the new Left4Dead well see our original cast running around the swamps. After all they did make a lost reference in Episode 2.
 

Cpt_Oblivious

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Jan 7, 2009
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Zand88 said:
Cpt_Oblivious said:
I felt that Left 4 Dead had a story. It was in the wall's graffiti and I was intrigued by all the writing.
That's pretty much atmosphere, though. :p It doesn't play into the plot at all.
That, and you're likely to completely miss it if you're playing with strangers.
I didn't. When I first played, I had a team who new I was new and helped em out and showed me the cool graffiti. I was really grateful for help like that.
 

BlindTom

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I thought you were supposed to generate a story in L4D as you went along. Even if a great deal of them involve a scene where a giefer goes mental when he realises he's going to get kicked.
 

Zand88

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Jan 21, 2009
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Librarian Mike said:
To answer the OP's question with another question: Why does Hideo Kojima hate gameplay so much?
To answer that question with another question; Why does Kojima hate story so much?