Oh no, it's just like last year!

[theotherguy]

Well, checking back in on these forums, looking at the thread titles, reading certain threads...it reminds me of last year. You see, after this rumor that HL2 was delayed until November, the forums have begun to split into two groups...the optomists and the pessimists. It was the same way last year. People are using the exact same arguments as last year... (although the optomists have the preload behind them this time)

But, being the optomist that I am, I hope that the outcome of these crucial parts of HL2's development are not the same as last year, and that HL2 is indeed released soon! But, sadly, this was the same view I had last year, hoping that hl2 would be released on sept.30, 2003 all the way until it was announced delayed ;(

 

[Maxi]

Well this year, it's pretty much certain that it's coming out in a few months at worst, since they CAN'T delay it any longer, they will seriously start to loose fans.

 

[The Mullinator]

If they were to delay for another long time (like a year as some people seem to think) they would have to basically pull a Duke Nukem forever and start to rework alot of the engine to make the game viable in the technology department. So no I doubt that will happen.

Right now I get the feeling that Vivendi is actually causing some of our more recent problems, the game is completely done on the content side and they have been bug testing for about 2 months now. It just doesn't seem right that it could be all Valve's fault for any future delays, Vivendi must have at least one foot in the problem right now.

 

[Bait]

Half-Life 2 is nearing completion. No doubt about it. The only stupid thing we can really do now is either a) Debate that HL2 isn't near complete or b) Give out release/gold dates that we have nothing to base them on.

Personally, I think HL2 will finish up soon. How soon? I dunno, and neither does anyone else.

 

[Slime]

What Bait said. Was about to post the same thing.

 

[Dr. Freeman]

well.. even if it comes out in November theres no doubt, this game has lost some of its luster.
the only pple who would argue this are rabid fanboys really...i mean the game will be great and all...but.. now its like "mehh get the damn game released already"

 

[Roland Deschain]

Curious, anybody knows how long they did bugtesting in Doom 3, since that game was very solid bugwise.

 

[Roland Deschain]

well.. even if it comes out in November theres no doubt, this game has lost some of its luster.
the only pple who would argue this are rabid fanboys really...i mean the game will be great and all...but.. now its like "mehh get the damn game released already"

I never think about anything like that, a game comes when it comes, and it doesn't lose anything with being late. The only hard hit HL2 took was the wow factor, since games like FarCry, Doom 3, and Pain Killer already introduced the next gen fps.

 

[dkelly]

Well as long as they get it out before Unreal 3 they'll probably be okay.

 

[Adrien C]

Yep, the engine does not look so cool when we first saw it last year.

 

[AgentXen]

SCREW VU!! You have Steam! That is the FASTEST & Cheapest way to release HL2! I leanrned that in Buissness school.

 

[wonkers]

I just want the damn game. I am impatient. A little over a year wait is too much. It's a wonder it takes so long to flush out all these bugs. The game should be on shelves allready. What's a lie and what's true.

They should have been down to zero bugs in mid-late august. Or was that another optimistic lie. It's september and still no gold. Honestly WTF. If source is such an amazing engine what's with this huge bug problem.

Maybe they are spending this time to try and figure out how to make the most money. Like what they'll get ins't enough.

I don't see a reason for the wait; then again they don't tell us anything. Maybe they bit off more than they could chew.

HL:source, CS:s, HL2, Steam game distribution, (possibly) secret MP & who knows what else. They probably have too damn much on their plate.

ARRRGGG. September or nothing. I will not waste my enthuasiasm on these ninnies.

 

[songwriter]

I think the whole sage is quite ridiculous now. I mean how FAR away with their estimates where they when they said 30/9. HL1 was delayed one year, this is delayed OVER a year. Its amazing!


The two things I cant believe are

1. We know nothing about The CE and Multiplayer.

I want to pre order and until I know what is in the CE I cant.

 

[Bait]

I just want the damn game. I am impatient. A little over a year wait is too much. It's a wonder it takes so long to flush out all these bugs. The game should be on shelves allready. What's a lie and what's true.

They should have been down to zero bugs in mid-late august. Or was that another optimistic lie. It's september and still no gold. Honestly WTF. If source is such an amazing engine what's with this huge bug problem.

Maybe they are spending this time to try and figure out how to make the most money. Like what they'll get ins't enough.

I don't see a reason for the wait; then again they don't tell us anything. Maybe they bit off more than they could chew.

HL:source, CS:s, HL2, Steam game distribution, (possibly) secret MP & who knows what else. They probably have too damn much on their plate.

ARRRGGG. September or nothing. I will not waste my enthuasiasm on these ninnies.

Any idiot who feels so righteous about the fact Valve ripped them off should just not buy HL2 at the risk of being a hypocritical asshole

I think that sums it up.

 

[Roland Deschain]

Can't wait for the gold date to go official, I'll bet this forum will explode with new members (noooo) and all you complainers will be dancing with us who really don't care when HL2 comes out (this year, please this year) as long as it is the best game ever concieved (no pressure Valve).

 

[Frutkola]

I say "screw the few bugs". They MUST be quite done about now.

I just can't believe we have waited this long. :S

 

[wonkers]

"F" anyone who thinks they know better because they choose Valves side. These quoted and one sentence answers to well thought out rants are pathetic.

Grow a set bubs. You don't have the right tools for the job as far as I am concerned. Every 12 yearold with free AOL and a sticky keyboard thinks he's the smartest human being in the world.

Talk like an adult and be treated like one. No more mediochre posts like a smart ass.

 

[Bait]

Is it not true?

I think I made my point quite well. If you want more detail, fine whatever.

Valve is working on the game. There is no doubt about that. They are trying to finish it up. They aren't sitting on their asses thinking about how people in random forums everywhere get pissed off at their lack of progress. I would think that these pre-loads would be a good sign for those of you who think Valve is just messing around.

Bah, what I'm saying is exactly what I posted before. The game is gonna be kick ass. It had better be after all this time. But if you think that you have been violated by Valve, and feel so strongly against all these delays, don't buy the game. Boycott it. Stay away from it. Don't even look at a screenshot. It would suck to be so gun-ho then have to prove to everyone you are a hypocritical idiot who has the patience of a rock.

 

[wonkers]

That's why I drew the line. September or nothing. If it comes out oct. 1st they are still too late.

I have no idea how good this game is. No one really does. It's all media and hype. Some binks, and pre-loads. Is this game really a genre breaking title? I have no clue. I have been dissapointed before. By big titles too.

They talk a lot of crap so I want them to back it up. Put up or shut up in my opinion. All they do is cower away and it's making me madder every time.

They sure hyped this game so it better be amazing. Good won't cut it.

 

[Mr. Redundant]

well.. even if it comes out in November theres no doubt, this game has lost some of its luster.
the only pple who would argue this are rabid fanboys really...i mean the game will be great and all...but.. now its like "mehh get the damn game released already"

rgr that senore, I feel the same bro.
Im sure the wait will be worth it, if only for the mods that will be made using the engine.

the thing I was thinking about this morning is.. why dont valve just let us know its not going to make their projected time frame, until its like the last second?

take "Brothers in Arms" for instance the game announced that it would be delayed LONG before the time it was meant to come out.. I mean months long.

it doesnt quite make sense to me, but then again Im not a game developer and Im sure they are doing the best they can.

 

[subtlesnake]

I think Valve should stop giving out out release date information. People obviously can't cope with it.

 

[wonkers]

They're best just ins't GOOD enough! Then again who the hell am I. For every conscious consumer their is 20 kids who don't know or care.

 

[Bait]

That's why I drew the line. September or nothing. If it comes out oct. 1st they are still too late.

I have no idea how good this game is. No one really does. It's all media and hype. Some binks, and pre-loads. Is this game really a genre breaking title? I have no clue. I have been dissapointed before. By big titles too.

They talk a lot of crap so I want them to back it up. Put up or shut up in my opinion. All they do is cower away and it's making me madder every time.

They sure hyped this game so it better be amazing. Good won't cut it.

Holy crap, this is a civil conversation. Good stuff.

Alright, my view.

Did Valve screw up on the release dates? Hell yea.
Has Valve been a little screwey as far as security goes? Hell yea.
Has Valve out-and-out lied to us? Hell yea, but maybe not intentionally all the time me thinks.

Valve has alot to answer for. No doubt about it. But figure everything they have done. Most of the production time they've spent must have been working on the source engine. No one can really tell how long HL2 itself has been in development, apart from the work on the Source engine.

Anyways, while it may seem like asking alot, we should cut Valve some slack. I mean, this game has been hyped like mad. Not so much by Valve, but by the community itself. It could be a curse or a blessing, we have to wait and see. And that brings me to my next point....

Once HL2 comes out, that will be a huge moment for Valve. It will either justify all the delays and bullshit they've dished out, or it will be a huge crash and burn. Regadless, the game is going to sell, and it is really going to depend on the consumers reaction as to how Valve will do in the future.

I think I can safely say HL2 will beat our asses into the dirt. It's going to be a breath of fresh air to have something like HL2 hit our PCs. Personally, I couldn't care less if the game shipped in 2005. I'll judge the game by it's quality, not a day on a calendar.
But the way Valve has been portraying that date has been pretty damn crappy.

So, in summary: Valve has screwed up. But we shouldn't judge HL2 on that. If HL2 kicks ass, it kicks ass, regardless of shipping date. Hell, even if the game DOES suck (which in my opinion is a minimal chance) we got the huge pile of kick ass mods just waiting for us.

Ok, there's my rant. I think most of it was coherant.

 

[The Mullinator]

I seriously think that Vivendi is causing some of these current problems, in the past any delay was because of Valve, but right now with the game so close to being finished the publisher automatically gets more control over the project, so it just strikes me that Valve cannot be solely to blame for any current problems.

We know Vivendi isn't exactly the greatest publisher, CZ went gold but wasn't released till a couple of months later because for some unkown reason Vivendi decided to keep the finished game in the warehouses and not ship it to stores.

 

[merc]

Well this year, it's pretty much certain that it's coming out in a few months at worst, since they CAN'T delay it any longer, they will seriously start to loose fans.

thats what everyone said last year...

-merc

 

[The Mullinator]

thats what everyone said last year...

-merc

Last year we didn't know what state the game was in. This year we know that they have been bug testing as was said by Greg Coomer over a month ago.

 

[Gossoon]

And the other thing that I constantly moan about is the complete lack of information about their product, even putting aside release candidates, gold jibberjabbers and whatnot. What is in the CE?? What is the pricing structure through Steam?? What is the multiplay?? On and effing on. People need to make informed decisions on how to spend their money. What other company or industry expects you to commit money to a product you know nothing about? Maybe traveling snake-oil salesmen.

 

[The Mullinator]

And the other thing that I constantly moan about is the complete lack of information about their product, even putting aside release candidates, gold jibberjabbers and whatnot. What is in the CE?? What is the pricing structure through Steam?? What is the multiplay?? On and effing on. People need to make informed decisions on how to spend their money. What other company or industry expects you to commit money to a product you know nothing about? Maybe traveling snake-oil salesmen.

You only commit money to the product once its finished, you can make a pre-order but its easy to just cancel it. Besides you commit money for the finished product, not for the time its in development.

 

[DoctorGordon]

We're still gonna buy it anyways, doesnt matter when they release it.

 

[Mr. Redundant]

Last year we didn't know what state the game was in. This year we know that they have been bug testing as was said by Greg Coomer over a month ago.

they said the game was finished and in testing last year too.
so technically it is just like last year

however thing that I wonder about is, if they were only "planning" on sending a "release candidate" to VU on the 15th... that only leaves them 15 days (or so) to go gold, mass produce and get the game to shelves, in order to make the "summer" release date... so they knew the game wasnt going to make Summer.. but hey thats the tom-foolery and trickery of Valve

 

[Jarman]

Maybe Vivendi is pushing for a holiday release in order to sell as much as possible - who knows. Anyway, knowing that 2 GBs of stuff already are on a million hard-drives all around the world makes me feel optimistic. Let's face it: the game is done. In my opinion, in September 2003 it was nowhere near completion, but this year they found the time to polish it and release a (good) beta of CS:S. I don't care if it comes out 15 days later or on November 1st, but all the positive news seem to indicate that the damn thing should be out in 2004.

 

[jet jaguar]

To be fair I believe Valve only stated that they were shooting for a summer release. I think Valve does a crap job of public relations but besides the Sep 30, 2003 screw up, I don't believe anyone from Valve can be quoted with set-in-stone release dates for HL2. That being said and in light of the Steam HL2 pre-loads, the only reason I could see for holding it up for a November release is for holiday sales...marketing tactics suck. I sure hope the people that bought 9600XT's last year can still play the game at SOLID framerates and GOOD visual detail.

 

[ShinRa]

I still have to disagree with those who think the game looks "meh" now. The engine is amazing, the game looks amazing, and in my opinion, there hasn't been, and won't be for a long while, a better title and engine to come out. This is just my opinion, I'm really not a rabid hl2 fanboy, I'm crazy about the game, but I wouldn't back my statements up with VALVE IS TEH ROCKZ. I just really think its an amazing engine and game, and its no where near dated, we just haven't seen it on our comps in full glory.

 

[subtlesnake]

they said the game was finished and in testing last year too

No, they implied this but it wasn't explicitly stated.

 

[Citizen 1150421]

i believe it was NELSON from the simpsons who said to Lisa once

"if you hadn't done it [make the yearbook], then some other looser would have so quit milking in"

this can apply to valve because there are other companies who will be more than happy to attempt a next gen fps... valve has a dedicated fan base even though they do acknowledge us they still are a business and as a business they are more concerned with building hype. geting people to pre-order and getting ever more people to buy CZ so they can playtest CS:S... . its all about the fiscal quarter earnings
and they don't seem to realize that one person can persude a 100 to revoke their pre-orders ...

but some one on this thread said. for one conscious consumer there are 10 more idiots who don't care or know..

so its a loosing battle..

plus people who say publishers don't meet deadlines... farcry came out on time.
most UBI and EA games come out on time.. you know why? because their fan base isn't so loyal so they have to be punctual... valve can F around all they want.. but they are pushing the wrong crowd by making us wait.



and yes the game has lost its luster.. when they released the ravenholm bink and when i saw the new parts in it i wasn't wowed or excited to see.. instead i was dissapointed at the LINEAR LEVEL DESIGN>>>

FkCU COrporations

 

[Rupertvdb]

Seriously i can't take it anymore, shut the hell up if you think anyone gives two shits if you don't get the game this year. I want the game, i crave the game, it being in my sweaty palms would amazing but i can seriously wait however long it takes for this thing to come out.

Anyone reasonably intelligent can appreciate that the game will come out this year, what with the preload and the beta testing of CSS, if it doesn't then Valve have screwed up bad and their incompetence shall hurt them, either way i'll still get the game because it shall be fun.

I am not turning into someone saying Valve don't owe us anything because i have always felt they do, the community their game created in turn gave them all very healthy bank accounts with which they have been able to make the next game they want, they have announced HL2 and so i still feel they owe it to us, a lot of people would be disappointed if it never appeared.

HOWEVER, this does not mean anyone mystically receives the right to complain in any form and if i manage to meet anyone who has at any point whined about Valve and said the delays have stopped them from purchasing the game i shall beat them to a bloody pulp, grow the hell up.

So what if they 'lied' so what if the CEO is fat so what what if they said one date and produced another, it's not a conspiracy it's not them screwing around, they have to provide for their families like all of us and they want to produce quality work to be proud of like all of us, to think that they have any urge to not provide is being blind, churlish and plain stupid.

So take these stupid threads and posts and individuals and wrap them in a huge ball of shut the hell up because it's high time you stopped wasting bandwith with your inane and annoying chatter.

 

[Agent.M]

I still have to disagree with those who think the game looks "meh" now. The engine is amazing, the game looks amazing, and in my opinion, there hasn't been, and won't be for a long while, a better title and engine to come out. This is just my opinion, I'm really not a rabid hl2 fanboy, I'm crazy about the game, but I wouldn't back my statements up with VALVE IS TEH ROCKZ. I just really think its an amazing engine and game, and its no where near dated, we just haven't seen it on our comps in full glory.

I agree with that HL2 and source are quite amazing from what i have seen and I know that once we have the game in hand everyone will suddenly be like OMG HL2 Fu%^$ng RoxErs Doom3 was quite a dissapointment for me....I really do think HL2 is gonna be something revolutionary.....If it ever comes out!

 

[ButtHoleMcGee]

What I don't understand, is why people are thinking a November release? Is there not a month called October? If they project a RC on the 15th, and if all goes well with a gold announcement, it could be damn well near release.

 

[cadaveca]

i'm willing to play the game with bugs myself...might even be able to fix them myself. to say it's delayed because of bugs is wrong....look at far cry....how long was it before 1.1 came out?
or doom3...how long before an update?
bugs...smugs...i don't care. they are bigger issues at hand here than bugs.

 

[Dr. Freeman]

The only hard hit HL2 took was the wow factor, since games like FarCry, Doom 3, and Pain Killer already introduced the next gen fps.

and thats what i mean by "luster"
although i think its lost more luster because of all the hype and how things have unfolded... lets put it this way... come the middle of September and we are met with another delay or what not.. most pple are gonna stop following the events of this release.. i know its just a game.. but if Valve aren't gonna shutup and release the game and continue with delay stuff then the charade/hype/marketing (call it what u want) is eventually going to stop working.

if Valve haven't come to a time in this game's process where its time to stay quiet and let the release happen, then their certainly close... from here on in the longer the game takes, the more it will tick off even the most sensible gamer.