EPISODE 3 VALVE BREAKS THEIR SILENCE!!!

it's posted on news, duh
 
Valve haven't really broken thier silence. All we've learned is that
Valve are thinking about adding a deaf character who Alyx has a crush on.
 
gabe broke the silence in that room

by the way he was fidgeting i'd say he was breaking wind too
 
borealis.jpg595.gif


Not sure where the hl2world folks found that one (or if it's from Valve).

Also "lasershock" over at hl2world found these pics on July 23rd:

6611_1200545974372_1250235477_557675_414819_n.jpg

6611_1200545734366_1250235477_557669_1242960_n.jpg
 
Well, for your information y'all.. next week on August 11th, I am going back to Valve for.... play-test Left 4 Dead 2 baby! 5th times!
To be honest, from my point of view, they haven't started working on Episode 3. They got like 6 teams working on Left 4 Dead 2 and um... none of them are for EP3. That's just my point of view.
I had always thought that was the case when L4D 2 was announced, always.
Thank you and I do still support Valve. I didn't mean to get the words out, Gabe never told me to turn off the camera but even though, they did tell me to turn off when they were showing how to make the "Meet the Spy" video. For that one, I can't tell you.

These are all the photo's from his Valve trip:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=30651&id=1250235477&l=a322ec84a7
 
I'm i missing something? All Valve showed them was how they made the "Meet the Spy" video. What is the next "Meet the.." ?
 
i would buy a new rig just to play Episode 3
 
Given the amount of exclaimation marks up there, I have my doubts, but nevertheless: 'Valve Breaks their Silence' IS a pun, right?

Valve may be possibly maybe considering putting in a piece of backstory into a game they're possibly making progress in development of, but could perhaps possibly put the idea in some other form in some completely unrelated product, maybe. The news-reports on this make it seem like it's likely something that Gabe will defend to the hilt to get into the game. And the way people pounce on such a tiny morsel of non-news is a grave reminder to all why they've decided to just tell us nothing at all so far. Shame on you all.
 
i can see this plan of gabe's ending up like the handicapped scientist in decay.
 
If valve are planning on puttting a deaf guy into episode 3, I doubt he'll be a main character, I doubt even more that Alyx will have a crush on him, seeing as there's supposed to be a relationship growing bettween alyx and gordon. either that or this is the first sign warning us of how valve will cockup episode 3, God forbid.

Edit; shit I was supposed to quote pimpinpenguin's spoiler tags here. never mind.
 
It's a reference to Alyx's past. I don't see how this means they could be adding in a deaf guy.
 
so what happened in Alyx's past that youre on about?

in fact can someone explain to me what all this has to do with episode three? I'm seriously lost.
 
That picture is showcasing a character from Left 4 Dead 2 holding an AK-47. I don't get the big deal about that.

On-topic: This is quite interesting. Anyway, sign language would be great.
 
You're wrong.
Am I now?
hool10 (14-03-2009, 08:43 PM)
I had a good theory today that John Locke as of now is being imitated by smokey. It could be awesome too because it's all like:

Survivors: We found a casket in the jungle. Let's open it to bury the person inside.
Ilana: Opens the casket to find John Locke dead inside. Ilana turns around looking scared along with the rest of the survivors to look at alive Locke.
John Locke: Smiles and says "well I guess you caught me" and then looks angry, opens his mouth and smoke billows out.
Survivors: Start running away and in the distance you can see Locke's body explode into smokey.

That would be a cool scene. :smoking:
Samon (14-03-2009, 08:51 PM)
No it wouldn't.
You are also quite well aware of me saying that Valve was going to make some presentation at E3 on Steam, and not Episode 3. When DigiQ8 and I were watching the event together, we both burst out laughing in disbelief in chat. Of course I had to lol at you guys in the chat too. ;) HL 2: Episode 3 will not make any appearance in 2009 neither. I really hate to burst your bubble about it but we may see it at the end of 2010, and by seeing, I mean not playing but watching trailer(s). Gametrailers even labeled Valve as a "biggest disappointment of E3" and mocked Valve taking multiple years to develop a 3 hour game. You see the approach of Valve is really bizarre and that is why they take a long time to make stuff. Sure they might say they bug test and play test a lot, but really not much play testing went into creating items such as a cricket bat in L4D 2 or the hundreds of bugs still in the original L4D. Valve current approach to making games is really messy. They have a bunch of groups making different games yet they are not dedicated to any project. So when something like L4D 2 is close to being done, people abandon their project say Portal 2 to work on L4D 2. Currently like the guy said, they have probably 6 teams dedicated to pushing L4D 2 out the door. Then you got much smaller teams working on Steam itself, etc. The problem is everybody needs to focus on their own work and finish it instead of hopping all over the place.

Infinity Ward is pushing games out the door and has perfected it to a science. Not only do the games sell very well both PC and console wise, they are very fun IMO. Almost every year a new COD game comes out and on time. They use Treyarch for their odd titles but Valve needs to figure out how Infinity Ward develops their games. Infinity Ward uses basically the same engine kind of like the Source engine. You would think using Source would shorten the development cycle and it was designed to do just that.

The other weird thing for Valve is that their games are taking longer to produce. It's almost as if Valve is climbing up a massive hill that they see in the distance. Once they climb the hill, they see another hill in the distance even bigger, while leaving some people behind to go back down the previous hill.

Now it could be either they don't have the people, but hoping all over the place is just not how it should be done IMO.

*Also put the image on imageshack, see spoiler tag because it is large:
borealisjpg595gif.jpg
 
Am I now?

You are also quite well aware of me saying that Valve was going to make some presentation at E3 on Steam, and not Episode 3. When DigiQ8 and I were watching the event together, we both burst out laughing in disbelief in chat. Of course I had to lol at you guys in the chat too. ;) HL 2: Episode 3 will not make any appearance in 2009 neither. I really hate to burst your bubble about it but we may see it at the end of 2010, and by seeing, I mean not playing but watching trailer(s). Gametrailers even labeled Valve as a "biggest disappointment of E3" and mocked Valve taking multiple years to develop a 3 hour game. You see the approach of Valve is really bizarre and that is why they take a long time to make stuff. Sure they might say they bug test and play test a lot, but really not much play testing went into creating items such as a cricket bat in L4D 2 or the hundreds of bugs still in the original L4D. Valve current approach to making games is really messy. They have a bunch of groups making different games yet they are not dedicated to any project. So when something like L4D 2 is close to being done, people abandon their project say Portal 2 to work on L4D 2. Currently like the guy said, they have probably 6 teams dedicated to pushing L4D 2 out the door. Then you got much smaller teams working on Steam itself, etc. The problem is everybody needs to focus on their own work and finish it instead of hopping all over the place.

And yet, all this is speculation on your part. You don't know what Valve are doing, nor how they are doing it. You just think that a lack of news and information about Episode 3 somehow vindicates your opinion that they're not working on it.

Infinity Ward is pushing games out the door and has perfected it to a science. Not only do the games sell very well both PC and console wise, they are very fun IMO. Almost every year a new COD game comes out and on time. They use Treyarch for their odd titles but Valve needs to figure out how Infinity Ward develops their games. Infinity Ward uses basically the same engine kind of like the Source engine. You would think using Source would shorten the development cycle and it was designed to do just that.
Personally, I wouldn't compare Infinity Ward and Valve when it comes to games. Valve don't need to figure out how Infinity Ward (or anyone else) develop their games. Aside from anything else, Valve are in the relatively unique position of being able to develop what they want, when they want without any publisher pressure. I guarantee you that Infinity Ward are not.

The other weird thing for Valve is that their games are taking longer to produce. It's almost as if Valve is climbing up a massive hill that they see in the distance. Once they climb the hill, they see another hill in the distance even bigger, while leaving some people behind to go back down the previous hill.

Except L4D2 has been developed in about a year. Make your mind up.
The funny thing is, all these mythical deadlines are ones that you're imposing. How long should Episode 3 take? As long as it takes, basically.

Now it could be either they don't have the people, but hoping all over the place is just not how it should be done IMO.
Seems to have worked for them so far.
 
what pi said, why would we have to wait till late 2010 before even seeing a trailer? I seriously doubt that, I belive that at the end of 2009 or early 2010 at the latest we will have a trailer or at least a good piece of info on episode 3.


if not valve have betrayed us.
 
then my best guess would be we have a teaser for EP3 by the end of the year, or maybe some info on the plot.
 
And yet, all this is speculation on your part. You don't know what Valve are doing, nor how they are doing it. You just think that a lack of news and information about Episode 3 somehow vindicates your opinion that they're not working on it.


Personally, I wouldn't compare Infinity Ward and Valve when it comes to games. Valve don't need to figure out how Infinity Ward (or anyone else) develop their games. Aside from anything else, Valve are in the relatively unique position of being able to develop what they want, when they want without any publisher pressure. I guarantee you that Infinity Ward are not.



Except L4D2 has been developed in about a year. Make your mind up.
The funny thing is, all these mythical deadlines are ones that you're imposing. How long should Episode 3 take? As long as it takes, basically.


Seems to have worked for them so far.

All very true statements yet Valve really needs to make games better so they can release more frequently. As of recently, they have been so I have to give them that one. We have all seen what happens when game developers don't have a deadline neither. The classic example of this is 3D Realms and Dukem Nukem: Forever. With no barriers, they can take decades to make a game. If Gabe Newell wants to see HL3 before he retires, they need to do something to pick up the development process. We will see what happens this year but when L4D was going to be released, they had concept art for Episode 3. They are still making concept art nearly a year later. Again I could be wrong and they could be developing the game but I don't think they are just yet.
 
All very true statements yet Valve really needs to make games better so they can release more frequently. As of recently, they have been so I have to give them that one. We have all seen what happens when game developers don't have a deadline neither. The classic example of this is 3D Realms and Dukem Nukem: Forever. With no barriers, they can take decades to make a game. If Gabe Newell wants to see HL3 before he retires, they need to do something to pick up the development process. We will see what happens this year but when L4D was going to be released, they had concept art for Episode 3. They are still making concept art nearly a year later. Again I could be wrong and they could be developing the game but I don't think they are just yet.

I understand what you be saying but:

1. they have steam which is there cash cow
2. l4d and l4d2 is the next cash cow
3. they are hiring looking for staff

When rumors of hl2 was surfacing many told valve to pick up the pace and they didnt do it. TF2 was delayed and many were pissed and today it is all good in the hood. Consumers that we are we need to fly to Valve and get a tour to fully understand what they deal with, and how it is done. Valve and Duke Nukem is like comparing Apple to Oranges.
 
The difference between Valve and 3D Realms is that Valve have more than enough money to bankroll any project they want to.

You make statements like "They are still making concept art nearly a year later." without any actual basis for this, other than the existence of a picture that you haven't seen before. It means nothing. It's unlikely in the extreme that they've spent the past two years not working on Episode 3. As always with Valve, when they've got something to show, they will show it. They don't have to answer to publishers or shareholders - if they're not happy with how something is going, they'll scrap it (like they did with Half-Life.) If they want to implement new technology, then they'll take the time to do that. The whole point is that you can't second-guess what they're doing, and certainly not when your only evidence is a lack of evidence.

Ask yourself these two questions:

1) Do Valve have general issues with timescales?

2) Do they tend to produce good (if not superb) games?

If you answer "yes" to 2), then 1) really doesn't matter.
 
All very true statements yet Valve really needs to make games better so they can release more frequently. As of recently, they have been so I have to give them that one. We have all seen what happens when game developers don't have a deadline neither. The classic example of this is 3D Realms and Dukem Nukem: Forever. With no barriers, they can take decades to make a game. If Gabe Newell wants to see HL3 before he retires, they need to do something to pick up the development process. We will see what happens this year but when L4D was going to be released, they had concept art for Episode 3. They are still making concept art nearly a year later. Again I could be wrong and they could be developing the game but I don't think they are just yet.

First of all, the Episodes are Half-Life 3.

Second, did you even listen to the commentary in the episodes? Valve is not keen on releasing games fast, they are keen on releasing excellent games. Infinity Ward is a good game studio, I'll give you that, but you conveniently overlook one key thing: all of their games gameplay wise are identical. There is no real difference between Modern Warfare and CoD2, they all rely on the same tricks, the same checkpoint system, the same gameplay feeling, the same kind of experience. And they are only refining it, whereas Valve strives to achieve perfection while breaking into new areas.

You complain about them not showing us anything and praise Infinity Ward for milking Call of Duty by pushing out linear sequels every year.

But compare the games. CoDs rely on arcade military operations in various settings. All the characters base on archetypes, be it Soviet commisars, American WW2 soldiers or gangsta black Marines and SAS operatives. The gameplay is identical - run and gun all the way.

Now, Half-Life 2 and episodes. A cast of unique, deep characters, none of which can be called stereotypical. An interesting story. Extreme attention to varying gameplay, comprising shooting, driving, exploration, puzzles, even boss fights, all accompanied by a damn good script.

Not to mention that each Episode introduces something new. Episode 1 introduced the most perfect companion in the history of gaming - Alyx. Episode 2 introduced wide open spaces, new technology (cinematic physics FTW) and new gameplay devices.

And that's discounting L4D, which added graphics support for a veritable ****ton of characters on screen, gameplay accentuated by graphics and the AI director.

Stop complaining and have faith. Knowing what L4D2 features, try to think why they're withholding Ep3 information.

Maybe they're working to make it the perfect closure? Maybe they're integrating AI Director 2 and variable level layouts to the game? Destructible environments? MAssive scale Combine operations? Actual usable squads?

You have no idea what they're doing, so you can't claim that they're doing nothing.
 
Ugh. Not this again.

Half-Life 3 would be Half-Life 3. You will note how the Half-Life 2 Episodes do not include a 3 in their title. They are the third Half-Life game. They are not Half-Life 3.
 
Ask yourself these two questions:

1) Do Valve have general issues with timescales?

2) Do they tend to produce good (if not superb) games?

If you answer "yes" to 2), then 1) really doesn't matter.

It must've mattered a bit surely. Otherwise why the switch to the episodic format?
 
I got a reply from Valve:

I just spoke with a couple of our artist regarding this image. It isn’t something we did, but a well done concept by someone outside the company.
 
did you really mail 'em, pff. it's obviously a fan-art (and it's from DA)
 
Half-Life 2 Episodes do not include a 3 in their title.

lol I know what you meant, but Half-Life 2: Episode Three? that has a 3 in its title.

I seem to be the only person that's of this, but after the release of Episode Three do you think there's any possibility that VALVe will cut the Credits & Openings of each game, piece them together & make that Half-Life 3?

It was just a thought.
 
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