Gearbox's Randy Rant Part 2

[Hectic Glenn]

Gearbox president Randy Pitchford has hit out again at Valve and Steam. This time he has criticised Valve's approach to PS3 development and Steam (again). A selection of his comments include:

I read it the same way I read fanboys. Like there's a guy who brought the Sony platform and he's a Sony guy, so he decides he's going to spend a certain percentage of his time bashing Microsoft. And there's a guy on Microsoft doing the same thing. Those guys are childish and narrow minded; It's the same kind of thing.[br]Valve think their own stuff is the only stuff that matters, to the point where they have their own distribution platform. It’s like, I don’t care about retail, about Marketplace, or PSN, I’m going to have Steam. It’s cool, it’s good, and they’re doing a good job but at the same time they’re reliant on the rest of the world.[br]They had to do that [Left 4 Dead] deal with EA. When I see the L4D ad on the television I don’t see a Valve logo, I see an EA logo, and when I bought it, I bought it at a store.

News source. Meanwhile Borderlands (a Gearbox title) ranks as the top seller this week on the awful digital distribution platform that is Steam. Odd way to thank Valve, Randy.

 

[mortiz-Redux]

Seriously, what's this guy's problem? Did Gabe sleep with his mother and not call her back?

 

[Yorick]

What a complete and utter moron.

 

[ILIA(RUS)]

"It’s like, I don’t care about retail, about Marketplace, or PSN, I’m going to have Steam."
what a fuking retard, that is EXACLY why steam and VALVe are so successful.
keep it up VALVe and dont listen to some rerards whining about their beloved market and psn pfffff

why doesnt he go do somthing useful like complain about shitty MW2 not having dedicated servers as that is a backstab for all PC gamers from infinity ward.

btw this guy reminds me of the australian politician that doesnt allow 18+ ratings :hmph:

 

[Noodle]

Valve think their own stuff is the only stuff that matters, to the point where they have their own distribution platform.

This is the way the most successful companies tend to operate. It's called Capitalism. Best product for best price wins. They need to quit whining about not being as competent as ValvE. Ironically, YOU are dependent upon THEM for a good amount of your sales. They created the platform to make the distribution of games much more efficient, and often cheaper.

Quit being jealous.

 

[QUINTIX256]

Randy should just take his precious game off steam, the hypocrite.

 

[Barnz]

oh stupid fanboys, just bashing everyone who criticizes steam/valve

"It’s like, I don’t care about retail, about Marketplace, or PSN, I’m going to have Steam."
what a fuking retard, that is EXACLY why steam and VALVe are so successful.

learn to read

 

[Asknoone]

Randy Pitchford is a very whiney bitch. It's not a matter of blindly defending Valve and Steam in the face of (sometimes justified) criticism; it's a matter of being able to detect worthless criticism. For instance: Pitchford's.

 

[Hectic Glenn]

I'm not sure why he's so sandy. Borderlands is a really great game which I've played hours of and hope to dedicate many more. For a developer which should make a healthy profit out this title, they don't have much to upset about. Why not enjoy this period of success without dragging themselves down in a slagging match?

 

[Rico]

That is quite possibly the most retarded thing I have ever read. Steam has proven itself as a great platform time and time again. If he thinks that he is going to gain anything by bashing what is likely to be one of the key online distributors of the future, he's dead wrong.

My only problem with Steam has always been that since the middleman has been cut out of the equation, game prices should be slightly lower from the get-go. However, it is not unreasonable to assume that running the content servers and bandwidth could be taking up those costs, but I doubt that's the only reason.

Either way I would love a reason to ditch physical distribution entirely. However, there is something to be said for holding a physical box in your hands and unwrapping/reading a new game's manual. That is quite simply too hard to replace in my opinion.

So like I said, if we got more goodies when we bought online it would be perfect. Either that or a slight reduction in price.

 

[Plissken]

This, if nothing else, just seems like bad business to continue to rag on a platform that has sold oh so many units of their game, I mean hell, I bought mine off Steam to.

If nothing else, be a little more diplomatic about it.

My only problem with Steam has always been that since the middleman has been cut out of the equation, game prices should be slightly lower from the get-go. However, it is not unreasonable to assume that running the content servers and bandwidth could be taking up those costs, but I doubt that's the only reason.

If I remember correctly, that goes all the way back to the very beginnings of Steam and Vivendi Universal's lawsuit. VAVLe weren't allowed to sell their game cheaper over digital distribution due to the myriad of business deals and contracts involved.

I think merchants would also threaten VALVe or any company using Steam that they wouldn't carry their game if the online distribution price was too low compared to the store price. Right now, software companies rely on both, so until things begin to tip further toward the side of digital distribution, the prices won't fall. The continued existence of retailers will keep it up.

Still VALVe continues to do some awesome sales over Steam. I mean, what was it, $2.50 for TF2 the other day? I got the entire Dark Forces/Jedi Knight series for $20 a month ago. I couldn't find a price that low even in the bin at Gamestop, and never for a game like TF2 that was that popular.

 

[MJ12]

There is definitely criticism to put up against Valve in certain areas. However, I don't really understand what he's complaining about, poor arguement.

It's practically like "Man, DAVE is going out with all the hot chicks. That's great and all, but I HATE Dave because he's going out with all the hot chicks"

 

[xdrive]

he is just jealous of steam

 

[Farrowlesparrow]

There is definitely criticism to put up against Valve in certain areas. However, I don't really understand what he's complaining about, poor arguement.

It's practically like "Man, DAVE is going out with all the hot chicks. That's great and all, but I HATE Dave because he's going out with all the hot chicks"

And Dave's hot chick is still giving out favours to anyone who wants one.

 

[PimpinPenguin]

What this guy on. First Valve have the right to criticise the PS3 if they don't like developing for it, it doesn't make them "fanboys". Valve are not the only ones to criticise the PS3's complex architecture other notable devs have even some who lavished praise on the PS3 at the beginning.

Valve think their own stuff is the only stuff that matters, to the point where they have their own distribution platform. It’s like, I don’t care about retail, about Marketplace, or PSN, I’m going to have Steam. It’s cool, it’s good, and they’re doing a good job but at the same time they’re reliant on the rest of the world.

As for this it makes no sense to me. If Valve didn't care about retail they simply wouldn't bother. Valve could if they wanted simply go Steam only and cut EA out, but they don't because they still care about retail. Valve are PC developers so it's only natural they would focus on Steam.

 

[DoctorWeeTodd]

What is up with Pitchford lately? What was the first game Gearbox developed? That's right, Opposing Force. And for the next two years? All future Half-Life expansions and ports! If it weren't for VALVe, his company wouldn't be where it is today to release a shoddy port of Borderlands.

Gearbox and VALVe used to have a great relationship? What happened? I understand criticism, and his shots at Steam may have been true four years ago. But they are all completely unfounded and misinformed.

A look at all the indie games that have turned to Steam and all the other developers that don't develop for all platforms and you know it to be wrong flat out.

 

[2Fast4U]

Two words: attention whore.

 

[MorganFreeman911]

And Dave's hot chick is still giving out favours to anyone who wants one.

Except for said person complaining.

 

[Asuka]

I love Valve and everything they do to death, favorite company. But i have to agree Valves continuing lack of support is really stupid. They have a huge PS3 fan base and i love my pc/ps3. I have a 360 but with all honesty haven't touched it in over a year due to the lack of games. Valve is better then this they can conquer all 3 markets. Plus i know so many people that are really worried Valve wont give them Episode 3.

 

[Operational]

What an idiot. I mean... jeeze nothing he said makes any sense.

 

[Bluestrike]

Gearbox and VALVe used to have a great relationship? What happened?

Or maybe he is trying to be a good friend.

 

[Krynn72]

Valves continuing lack of support is really stupid.

What. Are you talking about their PS3 support? Because their PC/XBox360 support has be far above that of practically any other developer. Also, I doubt they have a huge fanbase on the PS3. Not compared to the other platforms at least.

 

[Deleted member 56031]

Hmm...Randy's being getting really bitchy lately. Gearbox must have had some sort of bad experience with valve lately that he's not tellng us to warrant all this backchat.

HOWEVER, at the same time I agree with Asuka I do not understand why they do not even try to support the PS3.

Also, I doubt they have a huge fanbase on the PS3. Not compared to the other platforms at least.

Well maybe but there is certainly a very loud group of PS3 guys who would like their stuff to come to ps3 and I am one of them :|

 

[Danimal]

Know how to port a game to the PS3, Lambda?

 

[Lasphere]

wow, that's.. incompetent.

 

[Asknoone]

Plus i know so many people that are really worried Valve wont give them Episode 3.

...what?

 

[Eejit]

^ Maybe they think Valve are going to let George RR Martin lead the Ep3 team.

 

[Cornerstone]

Rabble, rabble, rabble!!!

 

[Operational]

I do not understand why they do not even try to support the PS3.

This is what Gabe has to say about the PS3 (as well as Mac and Wii):

So what we tend to do is we look at how much we can create that’s valuable to customers for the amount of effort. So if we have this much bandwidth to work on stuff we say, "are we better off broadening the platform or are we better investing more in the platforms that we have?" So we do that evaluation constantly and try to look as what the trade offs are and advantages. Going to any of the other consoles beyond the XBox is a really big time commitment and it’s a small ongoing tax. So you have this big lump of work you have to do upfront and then each time you release you have the tax that is associated with it.

http://au.gamespot.com/xbox360/acti...e-newell-today-on-the-spot-extended-interview

So basically it's not worth their time at the moment.

Know how to port a game to the PS3, Lambda?

What a terrible argument to make.

I don't know how to do lots of things that doesn't mean they shouldn't be done.

 

[hool10]

You know I gotta admit though that Valve do tend to act really strange with the PS3 and I give him that one. Valve could hire a 3rd party to develop their games on the PS3 properly like they do with the XBOX 360.

 

[Deleted member 56031]

You know I gotta admit though that Valve do tend to act really strange with the PS3 and I give him that one. Valve could hire a 3rd party to develop their games on the PS3 properly like they do with the XBOX 360.

This. I am not going to deny that PS3 development is harder because it definitely is but it is not rocket science anymore and is not the impenetrable idea that it used to be. Valve could certainly give it to EA like last time and they should be able to make a good port.

Know how to port a game to the PS3, Lambda?

Eh, no? But by that logic I can't complain about a bad movie because I don't make films? Or I can't complain about food at a restaurant cos I can't cook to the level of a chef?

 

[Absinthe]

But in this case you're complaining about products that don't exist, which is weird.

Valve doesn't want to invest their time or money in a platform they have little love for. Their allegedly "favored" console still sees its share of problems. Compare the kind of progress they made with L4D and TF2 on the PC and then look at how hamstrung it all was on the 360. Valve has always been a PC-first developer. They release their games on the 360 because it's not as much of a hassle to port them over thanks to the architecture.

Pitchford sounds like a bitch, and while he may have a few valid points he brings up, there's no answer as to why he's even bringing it up at all. What the **** does he care if Valve develops for the PS3 or not? Valve can do what they want and they certainly didn't get to where they are by listening to ****wits like Randy.

I've read that Borderlands on the PS3 is performing underwhelmingly compared to other platforms. Good timing from Gearbox, have to say.

 

[Hunter-Killer]

I can only imagine that Valve charged him more than he wanted to pay to have Borderlands sold through Steam. It's the only thing that could have turned him into this whiny bitch. I have nothing wrong with people standing up against Valve at times, Hell this year there has been a few good reasons to do so but when the person is just clearly being jealous of Valve and their successful platform I can't see how "ranting" is going to do anything but put him in a bad light. Even off topic "podcasts" such as Epic Battle Axe mentioned it and instantly called him a whiny bastard so it’s not just Valve "fanboys" saying that.

 

[Asuka]

What. Are you talking about their PS3 support? Because their PC/XBox360 support has be far above that of practically any other developer. Also, I doubt they have a huge fanbase on the PS3. Not compared to the other platforms at least.

PS3 i know the support on the PC has been bar none. Not even the 360 has any TF2 or Left4Dead updates.

Truth of the matter is Valve saying the 360 is a better platform at this point is really stupid. All the 360 has at this point is the built online service. At this point most of the people i know are now switching over to the PS3. Again because it has the best games and really a much better console interface. Plus the excuse of garbage support and hard to develop for has been long proven a stupid excuses just look at the games coming out now. Wtf does the 360 have? ODST and Forza 2 ****ing games.

Again Valves lack of PS3 support is really unnecessary AT THIS POINT and believe me im the biggest Valve fan in the world. I can just admit when the best make mistakes.

 

[SkilledNewbie]

You know I gotta admit though that Valve do tend to act really strange with the PS3 and I give him that one. Valve could hire a 3rd party to develop their games on the PS3 properly like they do with the XBOX 360.

Didn't they try that already through EA and didn't the PS3 version of OB turn out like ass? I seriously don't think the market for people who own a PS3 but not a 360 or gaming PC is large enough to put in the time and money to not only develop a code branch that is very dissimilar to the 360 and PC, but to have to support it for years after.

I think it is a better move from Valve than if they threw together a half-assed PS3 port just to pick up a few extra sales from a target audience they don't really care about (hereafter known as Infinity-Warding).

 

[Eejit]

Again Valves lack of PS3 support is really unnecessary AT THIS POINT and believe me im the biggest Valve fan in the world. I can just admit when the best make mistakes.

Nah, I'm with Gabe on this one. I'd rather have a good game on one or two platforms than a mediocre game on all of them. They should spend their time making the game better rather than making it available for all consoles. The reason most devs do things differently is they're profit-driven to a higher degree than Valve, and missing out on part of the market doesn't make sense to them.

 

[doomed]

Valve could certainly give it to EA like last time and they should be able to make a good port.

I remember an interview of Lombardi before the release of L4D where he was asked if the game will have a PS3 version. His answer was something like "right now it's 50-50. If EA wants to do it, it will be done, just like they called us and asked if they can port the Orange Box to the PS3. But until now we haven't received a call from them about that"

I guess it's the same about L4D2. Most likely EA doesn't have any interest in porting the game and Valve won't do it for the known reasons.

 

[Captain M4d]

Valve think their own stuff is the only stuff that matters, to the point where they have their own distribution platform. It’s like, I don’t care about retail, about Marketplace, or PSN, I’m going to have Steam. It’s cool, it’s good, and they’re doing a good job but at the same time they’re reliant on the rest of the world.

The concept for Steam had been in the making several years before it actually came out, because it was going to be part of a online multiplayer game they eventually dropped.

Before Steam, my only way of knowing about PC games were magazines, web sites like Gamespy and IGN, and retail stores like Gamestop. Thanks to Steam, I've been able to discover wonderful games like World of Goo, Audiosurf, and Blueberry Garden, and even more that I wouldn't consider playing because of the weekend deals.

I don't know why Pitchford is making Valve out to be a self-serving company. They promote a vast diversity of games every week on Steam, including Gearbox games. This guy is a moron.

 

[Asknoone]

Pitchford is seemingly unable to articulate himself. His argument is embarrassingly empty.

 

[Kyorisu]

lol Pitchford. Funny man. Now as for the PS3

There are companies that specialise in porting/QA and the like. They could easily hand a finished product off to one of those. I wouldn't trust EA to do it.

Valve are full of it anyway. The 360 versions of their games are terrible.