My thoughts on the eventual SDK Release

[BloodyL]

I was thinking, if I were in the inner workings of Valve, I would consider holding off the public release of the SDK for a few months after the release of the game.
Why?
Because then everyone would use that extended period between game release and SDK release to actually play the game rather than ripping apart the game engine and learning the game secrets before playing it.

Plus, it'd make more sense in the mod community, there's definately going to be a rush to bring the first ever mod for HL2 online so the community will be flooded with gameplay alternatives, holding out the public release for a bit would ensure that the first mods around would be from the mod teams that valve has given the SDK to earlier, and once again give the gamers/casual modders plenty of time to play the game through before opening up the mod tools.

What do you think?

 

[morpherex]

I disagree.

 

[Feath]

That's what I was thinking. It could explain

I'm not surely whether Valve have actually said they would PUBLICLY release the SDK BEFORE the game, but I do know this:

* In an interview before E3, Valve said that they were going to release the SDK to mod teams by inviting them to a Mod Conference
* Valve said that they were still going to have the conference, just after the game ships. The are inviting individual teams down to get the SDK instead.

 

[Wilson502]

it is almost like the played to good ol bait and switch trick:dozey:

 

[BloodyL]

Originally posted by morpherex
I disagree.

In what way?

Valve has tried really hard not to give anything away as regards to gameplay and various other systems, releasing the SDK right after the game has launched would negate the whole idea of secrecy as all you would have to do to find out the ending would be to load up hammer and dissect the game.

Feath: Thanks, I'd forgotten that they changed their plan a while back, but the idea still remains sound.

 

[Wilson502]

it is always like the played to good ol bait and switch trick:dozey:

 

[BloodyL]

Indeed, except they sold all their bait to the french for food and they shifted the last lot of switches to an electronics company, but they do have a rather nice set of Indonesion leg warmers.

 

[worldspawn]

i don't want it to be like that.. but you might be right.

 

[BloodyL]

About the indonesion leg warmers?

 

[bslinger]

Despite Half-Life having one of the most active mod communities, I wouldn't think it'd be a large enough proportion of the player base for them to hold off on the SDK. Anyway, who's going to be able to put off playing the game first, before getting into the engine? Not me, that's for sure.

 

[Feath]

Originally posted by bslinger
Despite Half-Life having one of the most active mod communities, I wouldn't think it'd be a large enough proportion of the player base for them to hold off on the SDK. Anyway, who's going to be able to put off playing the game first, before getting into the engine? Not me, that's for sure.

The Half-Life 1 SDK was released with the Half-Life 1 game code, it's safe to assume that the Half-Life 2 SDK will include the game source. Maybe that's why they aren't releasing it early.

Besides, the list of things mod teams will be able to do with the SDK at the moment is pretty small because they won't be able to test out the maps or any code.

 

[BloodyL]

An interesting point.

 

[Wilson502]

i had that thought to that they might release the SDK with the game

 

[3rd Impact]

Originally posted by BloodyL
About the indonesion leg warmers?

Don't knock those, they can save your life if used properly.