Support NeoGAF

[SteveWinwood]

Nah dude. HL3 is in development.

But not the way you think it is.

Some other studio is making a game, and it is amazing using totally unseen game mechanics. Valve will then buy this studio and game idea, incorporate it into valve, and then make it into HL3 (but with additional Hat support).

Spoiler

I wish I was kidding, but I am pretty sure valve does this allllll the time

yep all those studios valve bought up and incorporated right into them

Not a Half-Life fan, but I totally feel you guys. Why has Valve refused to discuss the sequel anyway? Like seriously, I don't see any logical reason as to why they would do this.

you want them to release a trailer every e3? like duke nukem forever? or just not talk about it, and let people complain about literally nothing? everyone here would be way more pissed seeing the thread "half life 3 delayed for sixth time, coming out 2 years from now" instead of... what we have now, which is a silly meme and a thread that pops up every few months

"People are free to do whatever they want, but what we want them to want is multiplayer."

I don't care about non co-op games, Valve. Plenty of people don't. But we do buy single-player games. Come on. :|

so go buy them

they still exist

give me my Team Fortress 3 with realistic style, 64 players, vehicles.

and hats. hats for vehicles.

also, what if Half Life 3 is a online game?

so you want battlefield instead of team fortress

well okay i guess

 

[Komo]

you want them to release a trailer every e3? like duke nukem forever? or just not talk about it, and let people complain about literally nothing? everyone here would be way more pissed seeing the thread "half life 3 delayed for sixth time, coming out 2 years from now" instead of... what we have now, which is a silly meme and a thread that pops up every few months

I think people would feel a lot more at ease knowing that it is at least being considered and discussed internally instead of being left in the dark
without any indication of whether or not it will ever be released.

All they need to say is either "We currently have no plans to work on the Half-Life series." or "We are currently exploring options towards the future of the Half-Life series."
Not even Shenmue fans are neglected this badly.

 

[SteveWinwood]

I think people would feel a lot more at ease knowing that at it is at least being considered and discussed internally instead of being left in the dark
without any indication of whether or not it will ever be released.

All they need to say is either "We currently have no plans to work on the Half-Life series." or "We are currently exploring options towards the future of the Half-Life series."
Not even Shenmue fans don't get neglected this badly.

we know for a fact that they are currently working on it

the only people who are in the dark about the series are people who cant read

i dont know how no one is getting this

its not a big mystery

its not nebulous

its right there

if you cant handle that answer i dont know what to tell you

half life 3 exists

it is being worked on by people at valve

these are facts

"i wont believe it until they announce it"

not my problem

 

[Komo]

we know for a fact that they are currently working on it

the only people who are in the dark about the series are people who cant read

i dont know how no one is getting this

its not a big mystery

its not nebulous

its right there

if you cant handle that answer i dont know what to tell you

I am pretty out of tune when it comes to this whole situation, but I don't believe there has been word from Valve about the future of the series since Episode 2. I could be wrong, however. Do you have proof that they are working on it?

 

[SteveWinwood]

I am pretty out of tune when it comes to this whole situation, but I don't believe there has been word from Valve about the future of the series since Episode 2. I could be wrong, however. Do you have proof that they are working on it?

read this thread that youre posting in right now

 

[Valnen]

And why didn't you tell us?

Interest in L4D3 decreased.

Lots of old and important talent has been leaving Valve lately. Nobody seems to care for some reason.

 

[Morzak]

It's pretty easy to see that the Multiplayer stuff is more profitable for them.... How couldn't it be, they basically let other people make content and then get a good cut from it and also have the rights to that content afterwards.

 

[Dennis]

Could not give a single fuck about the MP games Valve cares about these days.

Half-Life 3 is the only Valve game I had any interest in.

Oh well, time to give up hope.

Congrats on making money hand over fist with Steam, though. We all have our priorities.

 

[HariKari]

I am pretty out of tune when it comes to this whole situation, but I don't believe there has been word from Valve about the future of the series since Episode 2. I could be wrong, however. Do you have proof that they are working on it?

He is going to cite the incidents where Valve's internal project management software was made public. It showed that devs had moved into the HL3 group after previously being in the L4D3 group.

Neither is confirmation that the game is anywhere near release, or that they have intentions of doing serious work on it. Projects come to life and are snuffed out all the time behind the scenes at Valve. And devs have been in the HL3 group for a long, long time. Who knows how many times the approach has been scrapped?

Source 2 is a thing according to the guys who toured there during the international. There's a screenshot floating around of their management software showing guys working on Source 2. The engine needs to be a thing before any of these games become a realitiy.

 

[Drona]

so you want battlefield instead of team fortress

well okay i guess

More out of the expectations that Valve could make a BF type game that doesnt require prolonged beta testing. na mean?

thou im also curios to see how Valve would tackle such title.

 

[ashecitism]

Lots of old and important talent has been leaving Valve lately. Nobody seems to care for some reason.

Any list you have?

 

[Dictator93]

yep all those studios valve bought up and incorporated right into them

Am I misreading sarcasm or misunderstanding valve history?

Counter Strike? Turtle Rock? Portal? Team Fortress? Left 4 Dead? Dota?

I am pretty sure those were game ideas from people and companies which were then bought up by valve and made into valve games.

 

[Komo]

read this thread that youre posting in right now

Sorry, but I don't see any indication that they're working on Half-Life 3 in that post.

 

[SteveWinwood]

Am I misreading sarcasm or misunderstanding valve history?

Counter Strike? Turtle Rock? Portal? Team Fortress? Left 4 Dead? Dota?

I am pretty sure those were game ideas from people and companies which were then bought up by valve and made into valve games.

so like a few individual members of some mods, a student project, and a studio that broke away later? yep long storied history of absorbing studios

Sorry, but I don't see any indication that they're working on Half-Life 3 in that post.

He is going to cite the incidents where Valve's internal project management software was made public. It showed that devs had moved into the HL3 group after previously being in the L4D3 group.

Neither is confirmation that the game is anywhere near release, or that they have intentions of doing serious work on it. Projects come to life and are snuffed out all the time behind the scenes at Valve. And devs have been in the HL3 group for a long, long time. Who knows how many times the approach has been scrapped?

Source 2 is a thing according to the guys who toured there during the international. There's a screenshot floating around of their management software showing guys working on Source 2. The engine needs to be a thing before any of these games become a realitiy.

he summed it up pretty well

i never said it was even remotely close to being done

i said it existed and people were working on it

we have literal screenshots of computer screens with names attached saying X is working on Y

X is a person and Y is half life 3

 

[Dead Man]

"People are free to do whatever they want, but what we want them to want is multiplayer."

I don't care about non co-op games, Valve. Plenty of people don't. But we do buy single-player games. Come on. :|

Pretty much. I want to be able to give Valve money for a game they have developed again, but it's looking like it will be a while.

 

[Northeastmonk]

Half-Life 3 is now a mmo

sorry guys.

We are Half-Life 3, it's you, your library of games, and your collectible cards.

 

[Dictator93]

so like a few individual members of some mods, a student project, and a studio that broke away later? yep long storied history of absorbing studios

Maybe I was being too literal? (not sure)

I am mainly trying to express the idea that valve game ideas tend to start outside the company (ricochet and HL are the only ones that are originally internal valve games). And yes, I do not like this practice always.

 

[Bill Squabber]

Guys, Valve is made up of a ton of people. The way Valve works is that those people can work on the projects that they want to. We know from that one lady that got let go, that certain projects get more priority. So projects like Dota 2 would definitely get a lot of attention. We know that HL3 is being made right now from the leak. Be patient!

 

[KimiNewt]

We are Half-Life 3, it's you, your library of games, and your collectible cards.

It was in us all along.

Wait, guys. Guys, guys, GUYS. What if this is just Gaben's way of leading us off the track?! HL3 announcement imminent?!

 

[SteveWinwood]

Maybe I was being too literal? (not sure)

I am mainly trying to express the idea that valve game ideas tend to start outside the company (ricochet and HL are the only ones that are originally internal valve games). And yes, I do not like this practice always.

I'm just being snappy, I apologize.

I'm saying in general it's a few key members. Dota was 1 guy (Icefrog, they already had hired Eul a while before they ever started the project), portal was like 5 students, I don't remember how many people TF had but it basically had 2 important people (John Cook, Robin Walker), Counter strike was 2 dudes. You apparently already know about L4D and CS GO (Turtle Rock never really incorporated into Valve fully, spun off into "Valve south" and later they let them go re-make the company and are now with take two after thq went out. CSGO's initial development was helped in the beginning by Hidden Path, in no way owned by or acquired by Valve, but they have helped with some projects in the past).

They're not some sort of giant pac man company gobbling up other studios after they see a product they like. That would be EA or Activision.

tl dr

this

"Some other studio is making a game, and it is amazing using totally unseen game mechanics. Valve will then buy this studio and game idea, incorporate it into valve,

has never really happened and isnt indicative of a norm at all unless you count two dudes in their basement modding quake as a studio

 

[RandydaDarkSoul]

Multi-player experiences are important, but that doesn't mean you should toss one of your most valuable franchises out in the cold. He must have something up his sleeve.

 

[justjim89]

I just really want another single player game from Valve. Portal 2 was so fucking good.

 

[HariKari]

Multi-player experiences are important, but that doesn't mean you should toss one of your most valuable franchises out in the cold. He must have something up his sleeve.

HL3: The F2P MMO? Featuring a dynamic and robust hat based economy...

I just really want another single player game from Valve. Portal 2 was so fucking good.

I somehow missed Portal 2 when it came out. Bought it at $5 on sale a year ago and loved it. The amount of polish on that title is just so very Valve that it's unmistakable.

If people don't understand the love for Valve, I encourage them to read "The Final Hours of Half Life 2" on Gamespot. The obsession with getting it right is incredible.

 

[TUROK]

So, how much of a part did Half Life 2 play in helping getting Steam off the ground?

 

[HP_Wuvcraft]

So, how much of a part did Half Life 2 play in helping getting Steam off the ground?

All of it.

 

[Dennis]

>> Half-Life 2 Single-Player game gives successful birth to Steam

>> Valve: "Thanks suckers, you are never getting any more Single-Player games"

I'll be in the Off-Topic.

 

[Creaking]

Come on Valve. I need Garrysmod 12 to be on Source 2 with hyperdetailed Gman face to do this with

 

[LX_Theo]

Half-Life 3 confirmed... as a social mmo.

 

[Fantastical]

I hate the direction Valve has taken with their games recently. None of their multiplayer games appeal to me.

 

[Clarkus Darkus]

I loved the orange box, Quite easily the best bargain last gen, Now im not a PC gamer and like many i just assumed they would continue the series after that cliffhanger, But it's been way too long and after hearing it from the horses mouth, Then the direction Valve are going is not the one for me. I'll take Co-op over MP anyday of the week.

 

[Nibel]

Kind of ironic how Gabe praises the opinions of his company's consumers yet fails to recognize that the game they want the most isn't DOTA or something like that

I mean, I can see the quality of DOTA2 and Team Fortress 2. I know that the Portal 2 co-op must have been great because of how people around me talked about it. But man, I want my soul-sucking single player experience again: anticipating a game because you want to know how the story goes on and not because you can't wait to try out that pre-order bonus machine gun on other players to boost your rank.

Man, I just want to sit in a dark room with headset on and play a high-quality single player FPS for hours, and the reality is that there is nothing that comes close to what the creative talent at Valve does

The day Valve introduces Source Engine 2 with a Left 4 Dead 2 or Team Fortress sequel will be a tough one for me

 

[ashecitism]

Kind of ironic how Gabe praises the opinions of his company's consumers yet fails to recognize that the game they want the most isn't DOTA or something like that

...

The day Valve introduces Source Engine 2 with a Left 4 Dead 2 or Team Fortress sequel will be a tough one for me

Steam stats say otherwise. I want a cutting edge SP experience like anyone else, but what can you do about MP games being more popular than that.

...

That day might arrive soon :/

 

[Dead Man]

Steam stats say otherwise. I want a cutting edge SP experience like anyone else, but what can you do about MP games being more popular than that.

...

That day might arrive soon :/

Of course, there are not a lot of Valve SP games to compare recent releases with.

 

[Bluth54]

The day Valve introduces Source Engine 2 with a Left 4 Dead 2 or Team Fortress sequel will be a tough one for me

I don't see Valve releasing Team Fortress 3 anytime soon, there is way too much money tied into the in game economy of Team Fortress 2. Maybe upgrading TF2 to work in Source 2 and doing a big relaunch of the game.

 

[ashecitism]

I have a feeling the L4D3/Source2 reveal is going to be ugly.

So anyone know more about this?

Lots of old and important talent has been leaving Valve lately. Nobody seems to care for some reason.

Has me worried kinda.

 

[Fried Food]

Lots of old and important talent has been leaving Valve lately. Nobody seems to care for some reason.

they couldn't/didn't want to adapt to the new Valve.

Valve doesn't need them

 

[angular graphics]

I have a feeling the L4D3/Source2 reveal is going to be ugly.

So anyone know more about this?



Has me worried kinda.

He probably means the "departure" of 24 employees in a single day: http://www.valvetime.net/threads/updated-3-staff-departures-from-valve.243175/#post-3402074

The key difference is they didn't leave on their own; it was a performance review day.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=47687067&postcount=1120

I have no idea why I'm still up at 3:58AM. Tomorrow is going to be a rough one.

What a crazy day it has been. #fb

https://twitter.com/rygorous/status/301775174930423808

@ivanassen This time of year is performance review season at Valve - normally you just don't hear about it.

^ RAD Game Tools developer who has worked with Valve.

 

[ashecitism]

Yeah, I know about that, was a year ago and people made a big deal about it. His wording implied more recent unknown events.

 

[angular graphics]

There's hasn't been another incident. Perhaps next month, when one year will have passed since the 2013 layoffs

 

[8-bit Hero]

I will not spend 1 cent on this company until they release Half-Life 3.

 

[Nzyme32]

He probably means the "departure" of 24 employees in a single day: http://www.valvetime.net/threads/updated-3-staff-departures-from-valve.243175/#post-3402074

The key difference is they didn't leave on their own; it was a performance review day.

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showpost.php?p=47687067&postcount=1120





https://twitter.com/rygorous/status/301775174930423808



^ RAD Game Tools developer who has worked with Valve.

There was some really saddening foreshadowing from Gabe before it happened. Looks like they got a bit complacent

 

[water_wendi]

yes

league of legends killed half life

in 2007

You might think its coincidence that Valve hired Icefrog to make Dota 2 the very same month that LoL released.. i dont.

 

[Nemesis121]

Forget SP campaign just sell me a MP for $30..

 

[ScreenSplitter]

I don't have a problem with multiplayer titles, I'm just completely apathetic towards MOBAs, so I hope they announce their next project soon. Hopefully it's Left 4 Dead 3. And hopefully Steambox doesn't affect their stance on developing for consoles.

 

[FStubbs]

Just shows what Valve is now. Valve is a vendor. Steam is their business. Anything they make has the goal of propping up their platform. Same as Sony, Nintendo, or Microsoft. Half Life 3 will be a thing when they find a way for it to further promote some Steam/social agenda.

And yes, if someone at EA or Activision said it, there would be united rage. But Valve gets away with it.

 

[ArjanN]

Guys, Valve is made up of a ton of people. The way Valve works is that those people can work on the projects that they want to. We know from that one lady that got let go, that certain projects get more priority. So projects like Dota 2 would definitely get a lot of attention. We know that HL3 is being made right now from the leak. Be patient!

I think the fans have been patient and then some. Even if they did a Saturn-like surprise release of HL3 tomorrow it would already have been a huge wait.

If HL3 is actively being worked on (and I agree with you it most likely is) it wouldn't hurt them to be a bit more open about development.

 

[water_wendi]

so like a few individual members of some mods, a student project, and a studio that broke away later? yep long storied history of absorbing studios

When a huge portion (ive argued in the past more than half) of your catalog is made up of such things then yes i think you are eligible for having a long storied history of absorbing studios, tech, and ideas.

 

[angular graphics]

Just shows what Valve is now. Valve is a vendor. Steam is their business. Anything they make has the goal of propping up their platform. Same as Sony, Nintendo, or Microsoft. Half Life 3 will be a thing when they find a way for it to further promote some Steam/social agenda.

And yes, if someone at EA or Activision said it, there would be united rage. But Valve gets away with it.

HL3; Only available on Steam (like all their games have been). There's your "promoting Steam" campaign. HL3 doesn't need to change as a game to "promote Steam".

And Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft haven't stopped making singleplayer games to promote their consoles either. And neither has Valve. Gabe Newell considered Portal 2 the best game they have ever made.

1UP: What's the big answer you give for Portal 2?

GN: "Oh Portal 2's great. It's the best game we've ever done."

1UP: And it's not even done yet.

GN: "It's pretty clear, just internally."

 

[Saty]

This is why the next Half-Life game is taking a while:

1. Previous game ended with a cliffhanger that poses tough challenges for the next game thematically and narrative wise.

2. Significant Gameplay concerns. Most of the people assume Ep3 would have introduced the ASHPD gun into the HL world which would mean drastic changes in AI and design.

3. From here to there, a lot of time passed so an 'Episode' release won't do and the next HL game would have to be a marque release.

4. During that time the Source engine has aged and work on Source 2 begun. I wouldn't have wanted Ep3 to have been released in 2013 or 2012 if that meant using the old engine while the new one is being made.

5. VR tech is maturing. You want great SP experiences? VR is going to push the bar up for that. VR is best for solitary experiences and getting drawn in vast worlds. Valve are pushing it hard. I doubt it's going to be used solely for games like Dota or L4D. VR is the next step so you might as well incorporate it into the next HL as a FPS built from the ground up to use VR that will usher in the era of VR.

 

[Dennis]

HL3 is dead. Deeeeeeeeeeeeead.