Small chat with JohnC

[Joneleth]

For those who don't know, JohnC (John Cook) works a Valve.

Joneleth says:
Hey John
Joneleth says:
So HL2's delayed, eh?
Joneleth says:
At least that's what I've been hearing.
JohnC says:
yes
Joneleth says:
Ah, that's too bad.
Joneleth says:
What was the reason behind that? Or are you not allowed to say? :/
JohnC says:
it's not done
Joneleth says:
Heh, that makes sense to me. I thought you guys had said you were playtesting it in early September, though.
JohnC says:
yeah we've been playtesting for a while
Joneleth says:
But for such a game I can imagine a lot of stuff needs to be done before it's ready to ship.
Joneleth says:
Wouldn't want to release a crappy game, heh.
Joneleth says:
And I'm also guessing that, at this point, you all have more of a "when it's done" stance on the game's release date.
JohnC says:
i think we're just trying to get the new schedule finalized before announcing another date

Notice how he says the game just isn't done yet. There are no conspiracy theories, no problems with Vivendi, nothing. The game will not be released on September 30th, even through Steam, because it's not finished. This is just the truth everyone has to accept at this point. They're still apparently playtesting and finding bugs, which is as important as adding content.

Also note that John says he thinks they're finalizing a new development schedule before they promise another release date. Just wait a few days/weeks and we'll hear more from Valve.

 

[Ford the Word]

If it's not done, it would be even stranger that they didn't say anything earlier. 6 days doesn't strike like a possible time to get it out, press it and deliver it. So they probably knew that it would be delayed a while back. Oh, anyway, HALO is out soon...

 

[Joneleth]

I asked him if they had just come to the realization that they needed more time, or if they're known for awhile but didn't get a direct response to that question.

 

[DarkStar]

Good post.

 

[Robert]

http://www.halflife2.net/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=192808

 

[Feath]

Thanks Joneleth. Valve will have their reasons why it's delayed and they'll have their reason why they've only told us now.

I personally think that Gabe decided to give the team extra time so they could make improvements to the content. It sounds like something that they would do.

 

[Raziaar]

Pfft, I wont believe any other valve release dates for all history, until their games actually COME out. lol

 

[Maxi]

Well atleast it diddnt get delayed to 2004 like some (doom) games...

 

[Robert]

Originally posted by MaxiKana
Well atleast it diddnt get delayed to 2004 like some (doom) games...

Holiday Season.. Christmas eve >>>> Quarter One 2004

 

[Ford the Word]

Originally posted by geeK
Holiday Season.. Christmas eve >>>> Quarter One 2004

They didn't say what year's Holiday Season...

 

[Maxi]

No the holiday seasons are Thanksgiving ---> new years eve. Thats still 2003.

 

[Raziaar]

*BUMP*

Oh! There goes Rome: Total War, above on my list of most eagerly awaited game. ahahaha.

 

[mutt]

so sept the 30th it is then?

dont hate me

 

[ExE]

To you who start crying and kill yourself/valve because HL2 isnt released on 30th:
Would you really like to have uncomplete game than game without bugs of anykind?

 

[Raziaar]

To answer your question... Valve gave us all the hope in the world that the game was already along so far before annoucing it, that everything was pretty much finished, polished, save for a few minor things.

If they released it now, and it were a buggy piece of crap, they'd be incredible liars.

 

[wowyouareacow]

So if its holiday season its gonna be in november?

 

[Feath]

Originally posted by Raziaar
To answer your question... Valve gave us all the hope in the world that the game was already along so far before annoucing it, that everything was pretty much finished, polished, save for a few minor things.

If they released it now, and it were a buggy piece of crap, they'd be incredible liars.

I don't remember them saying that the game was finshed except for a few minor things.

 

[Incitatus]

I hope what they are doing is building in 64 bit support (assuming you don't need a 64 bit OS for 64 bit progs). That would be possible to do once the game was pretty much finished. I obviously hope this because I'm planning on getting an athlon 64

 

[Raziaar]

Would you like me to dig up the information where gabe said his plans were to not announce the game until it was far along enough to be near completion?

Hell... there's even a VIDEO of him saying it.

'near completion' true, doesn't mean bug free... but it also doesn't mean 'riddled with bugs that it is unplayable beyond belief'.

 

[theGreenBunny]

Very interesting info indeed. My guess is they just have a lot more bugswatting to do than they expected.

Finally things are clearing up a bit.

 

[Robert]

Yep.




VALVE KICKSASS!

 

[Organizer]

How the hell do you get to chat with him? MSN?

 

[Raziaar]

http://www.gamespot.com/cgi/chkpt.p...d271a5-88e7-80ff-6d43-d7f171fb1d7a/s/GameSpot

 

[Organizer]

WTF

 

[theGreenBunny]

Originally posted by Organizer
How the hell do you get to chat with him? MSN?

Steam.

 

[Feath]

If that's the video from Gamespot, it's available from hl2files.

But he doesn't say that he would only announce it when it was totally bug free.

I'd like to point out that one of the benchmark articles says that the issues surrounding NVidia only came apparently just before E3, so it's possible that other stuff can come up that will delay the game between it's annoucement and now.

 

[Joneleth]

Yep, through Steam. I really appreicate John taking the time out of his busy work day to answer a few of my questions. I'm sure him and Erik get spammed all day with questions from people like me, heh.

Although, I have been speaking with John since the Steam beta. He seems to be the most responsive of all the Valve employees who use Steam.

 

[Garp]

Mid-Novemeber I'm guessing at the latest. It isn't THAT far away really.

 

[Mr Neutron]

Notice how he says the game just isn't done yet. There are no conspiracy theories, no problems with Vivendi, nothing. The game will not be released on September 30th, even through Steam, because it's not finished. This is just the truth everyone has to accept at this point.

No statement from Valve could completely convince me things aren't fine and dandy with Vivendi. We're talking about a business relationship here with all the attendant legal actions and threats of legal actions. That means zero public disclosure--if there really is no dispute there, it has nothing to do with what they say to the public about their relationship with Vivendi.

 

[-AnthraX-]

Originally posted by Garp
Mid-Novemeber I'm guessing at the latest. It isn't THAT far away really.

Yes it is. Thats 52 days (assuming you mean the 15th). 52 days is like half a year lol.

 

[Murray_H]

Actually its about 1/7th of a year

Quite a difference

 

[Mr Neutron]

Originally posted by -AnthraX-
Yes it is. Thats 52 days (assuming you mean the 15th). 52 days is like half a year lol.

On Mercury.