Some things to think about..

[DigiMajik]

Basically the game is set to come out on the 30th(supposedly).

If so, why has there been absolutely no advertising. Yea, a great game will sell itself, but absolutely nothing points to it not coming out.. From a marketing standpoint, that's kinda questionable.. Is it to keep people from overrunning the steam servers? Who knows..

If Gabe and everyone is so busy at work "cutting it close" and they are so good at answering emails, then why dont they answer any on the weekends? Honestly... Maybe it's just my emails, but I've alwasy gotten the weekly ones right back, while the weekend ones get answered on Monday..

If they were truly in crunchtime with only 9 days left to lauch and the game still has to packaged, declared gold, etc, then wouldnt they have no time for emails or at least be working the weekend? Think about it. Why would they answer email during the week so quickly, but nothing on the weekend. It's obvious. They're not working the weekend..

Therefore, that pretty much means the game is done or is going to be delayed for a few more months.. Even the guy who got to visit said there was no hurry or any real development going on, thus supporting my theory..

So then you have to ask yourself.. If the game's done and whatnot, why havent they declared it gold, shipped the sdk, and started slinging some ads? Well, in my opinion, it's a simple answer.. Steam..

I think Steam is the last thing being developed or at least the last thing being finalized. As a developer myself, I know that if you're not really done with the game and it being ready for print(if not already printed and shipped) by the 9 day mark, then you're pretty much screwed..

It's that time when it's really too late to announce a delay because it's so short to deadline, but realistically you have to becuase it's not going to be done.. Therefore, since Gabe has all this time to answer emails and chooses to only answer them during the week, they are obviously done with the game..

I think they are waiting to see if Steam runs smoothly and fixes itself to announce if it's gonna make that Sept 30 mark. If you think about it, as crappy as it's running, the team working on it would pushing the limit to fix it by then... Gabe and the gamemakers however, obviously arent rushed for anyting with time for emails and interviews..

Just a theory.. What do you think?

 

[CrazyHarij]

Even guys at valve need to spend some free time, dude.

 

[Marijn]

Any gamer with a heartbeat knows hl2 is coming.

 

[PvtRyan]

Why would they stop working in the weekend if the game is delayed for a few months? Doesn't make any sense because they want to get it in the stores as fast as possible, then relaxing and going slowly is pointless.

My guess is that there are a few programmers working to crunch the bugs 24/7, but all the artists have nothing to do. Like it was with HL1 before the release.

 

[frances_farmer]

hes got a point. during the final months even, to Star Wars Galaxies release, the devs there were working weekends and the server guys occasional bank holidays to fix servers and bugs. I know this game isn't even the same genre to Half-life 2 but the Valves devs show no sign of busting a gut.

 

[DigiMajik]

that's my point exactly..

if they really were in crunchtime, with only 9 days left, then there would be no weekend. they would code every day from 8 am until probably midnight..

yea, i realize that everyone needs a break, but when you have deadlines like that and if you're that close, then it's required that you give those up..

thats why i'm thinking that hl2 is done, and they're just tweaking steam..

 

[Joneleth]

Most of the time only a few people are put on "bug duty", as it can be counter-productive to put more then that. As the people fix the bugs, they move on to new bugs.

It's quite normal for only a few people to be working on the last few bugs needed to finish a game. That's how most software companies function.

 

[SpaceRain]

...eventually.

 

[manny_c44]

Originally posted by DigiMajik
As a developer myself

Developer of what?

 

[No Limit]

Originally posted by DigiMajik
Basically the game is set to come out on the 30th(supposedly).

If so, why has there been absolutely no advertising. Yea, a great game will sell itself, but absolutely nothing points to it not coming out.. From a marketing standpoint, that's kinda questionable.. Is it to keep people from overrunning the steam servers? Who knows..

There has been some advertising, game spy has their ads up.

If Gabe and everyone is so busy at work "cutting it close" and they are so good at answering emails, then why dont they answer any on the weekends? Honestly... Maybe it's just my emails, but I've alwasy gotten the weekly ones right back, while the weekend ones get answered on Monday..

They have time to answer mails because mostly Gabe does it. Gabe is the CEO, do you really think that he is programming that much, they have the other 39 people for that.

If they were truly in crunchtime with only 9 days left to lauch and the game still has to packaged, declared gold, etc, then wouldnt they have no time for emails or at least be working the weekend? Think about it. Why would they answer email during the week so quickly, but nothing on the weekend. It's obvious. They're not working the weekend..

No they are probably not working the weekend, just like a million other companies. You forget that these people also have lives. Even if they didn't there is this thing called the government which says you can only work 40 hours a week unless you want to work more, if you want to work more you have to be paid overtime.

Therefore, that pretty much means the game is done or is going to be delayed for a few more months.. Even the guy who got to visit said there was no hurry or any real development going on, thus supporting my theory..

Spit went there during lunch time, most people don't work during lunch.

So then you have to ask yourself.. If the game's done and whatnot, why havent they declared it gold, shipped the sdk, and started slinging some ads? Well, in my opinion, it's a simple answer.. Steam..

I think Steam is the last thing being developed or at least the last thing being finalized. As a developer myself, I know that if you're not really done with the game and it being ready for print(if not already printed and shipped) by the 9 day mark, then you're pretty much screwed..

It's that time when it's really too late to announce a delay because it's so short to deadline, but realistically you have to becuase it's not going to be done.. Therefore, since Gabe has all this time to answer emails and chooses to only answer them during the week, they are obviously done with the game..

I think they are waiting to see if Steam runs smoothly and fixes itself to announce if it's gonna make that Sept 30 mark. If you think about it, as crappy as it's running, the team working on it would pushing the limit to fix it by then... Gabe and the gamemakers however, obviously arent rushed for anyting with time for emails and interviews..

Just a theory.. What do you think?

I can gurantee you the game is not done, no game is ever done. The question is is it done enough to be released. Steam has it's problems but it would not delay the release of HL2, that would be a horrible move for valve. Think of it this way, the game has been in development for 5 years, what's an extra month?

 

[Gunner]

Re: Re: Some things to think about..

Originally posted by manny_c44
Developer of what?

Of bullshit linear posts...

 

[manny_c44]

I see....then he is certainly qualified to make these assumptions.

 

[DigitalAssassin]

I agree 100% with what No Limit has to say. See? Not all headcrabs are bad...

 

[mhtsaras]

And what about the ad on ATI's first page , except the thing that they don't mention a date????????

 

[DigiMajik]

stay on topic please..

yes, i'm a headcrab, but i've been here for a very long time and dont have time to post constantly..

 

[CrazyHarij]

No Limit is absolutely right.

 

[Apos]

Even if they didn't there is this thing called the government which says you can only work 40 hours a week unless you want to work more,

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAHAAAA

I work around 58-62 hours a week on average. If I "wanted" I could quit my job and work 0 hours. But those are the only choices I have, and there's no law that says anything about me only needing to work 40 if I want.

if you want to work more you have to be paid overtime.

This is true, and I don't doubt that the Valve guys get paid plenty of overtime.

Bottom line: in crunch mode, everyone who can contribute works litterally every waking hour, and then some.

 

[No Limit]

Originally posted by Apos
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAHAAAA

I work around 58-62 hours a week on average. If I "wanted" I could quit my job and work 0 hours. But those are the only choices I have, and there's no law that says anything about me only needing to work 40 if I want.



This is true, and I don't doubt that the Valve guys get paid plenty of overtime.

Bottom line: in crunch mode, everyone who can contribute works litterally every waking hour, and then some.

Sorry, I phrased it wrong. Yes, an employer can require you to do overtime, however, it can not be extreme. He proposed that valve should make their employees work from 8am - midnight. I know that there is a limit to how many hours you can be required to work, I have to look up the fair labor act to find it though, give me a few minutes.

 

[No Limit]

Apos, looks like you are correct. There are laws that only allow a maximum of 48 hours a week, however, it only applies to people under 18 which is probably where I got this from. However, you can not expect to overwork your employees and have them turn out a good product in the end, my guess is that valve knows this.
-Paul

 

[Maskirovka]

my guess is that they have things to do other than deal with hl2 on weekends....

y'know...lives other than the game...so they don't answer your emails with questions about a game that's just gonna be on your computer soon anyway

 

[DigiMajik]

-i never said they made their employees work that long. it was an overstatement..

try not to be so anal..

the fact that you're actually looking up the fair labor law is sad..

-to answer your question from before, no i dont expect Gabe to be doing a ton of programming, but I wouldnt be suprised if you was..

maybe that's a great email question for him..

-as for you lunch reply, most companies dont let their employees all eat lunch at the same time.. that's anti productive..

maybe you guys dont understand, but like allot of jobs, creating games dosent fit in to that 2 breaks, 1 hour lunch, 8-5 shift, expectancy that you have..

yes sometimes, they do work, 8 to midnight. not all the time.. but it happens.. dont ever be fooled into thinking they dont. hell, the crimson skies team even put out a video showing them at their first crunchtime... they slept at the office..

 

[Maskirovka]

Originally posted by Apos
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAHAAAA

I work around 58-62 hours a week on average. If I "wanted" I could quit my job and work 0 hours. But those are the only choices I have, and there's no law that says anything about me only needing to work 40 if I want.

true

Originally posted by Apos

This is true, and I don't doubt that the Valve guys get paid plenty of overtime.

Bottom line: in crunch mode, everyone who can contribute works litterally every waking hour, and then some.

you'd better watch out for changes in the laws...

the US congress was set to vote on changes in overtime law that would allow companies to more easliy classify employees as inelgible for overtime (1.5x pay)

http://harkin.senate.gov/news.cfm?id=205808

i'm not from iowa, but senator harkin was one of the chief opponents to the bush adminstration's attempts to change these laws

luckly for many people...and you Apos, harkin's proposal won:
http://harkin.senate.gov/news.cfm?id=211058

 

[Maskirovka]

Originally posted by DigiMajik
[Bthe fact that you're actually looking up the fair labor law is sad..
[/B]

wait...he's learning stuff he didn't know...sad? i disagree. he thought a company couldn't force you to work more than 40 hrs a week...he was wrong...

of course you can quit...and they can't force you to work 80 hours a week just to get you to quit if they don't like you...it's good that he's learning his (and the company's) rights

 

[No Limit]

Originally posted by DigiMajik
-i never said they made their employees work that long. it was an overstatement..

It didn't sound like it so I apologize. However, the fact still remains a company can not overwork their employees and still be productive.

try not to be so anal..

I was simply showing you where you were wrong, if you can't handle that you probably shouldn't be here.

the fact that you're actually looking up the fair labor law is sad..

No what's sad is people that say something without any back up and end up looking like jackasses.

-to answer your question from before, no i dont expect Gabe to be doing a ton of programming, but I wouldnt be suprised if you was..

maybe that's a great email question for him..

That's actually a great idea, I will send him an email now.

-as for you lunch reply, most companies dont let their employees all eat lunch at the same time.. that's anti productive..

That's only "anitproductive" in certain companies when you need people there at all times, for example, a bank or a store. Valve doesn't have any clients coming in at lunch and they only have to take care of a few things so leaving a couple people there should be enough.

maybe you guys dont understand, but like allot of jobs, creating games dosent fit in to that 2 breaks, 1 hour lunch, 8-5 shift, expectancy that you have..

No it doesn't, but it all goes back to overworking someone.

yes sometimes, they do work, 8 to midnight. not all the time.. but it happens.. dont ever be fooled into thinking they dont. hell, the crimson skies team even put out a video showing them at their first crunchtime... they slept at the office..

This is true for some employees, however, you can not beleive that every employee will be happy about working 8 - midnight, most will sit on their ass half the time wishing they were home.

I am not making these comments to be a dick, I simply disagree with you. If you can't handle that just let me know and I'll leave this thread so you can pretend you are 100% correct.

 

[dis]

It's not uncommon for game developers, heck any type of worker, to bust their balls working 12 hour days for weeks ahead of an important, upcoming headline. That is unless they can all sit back and be lazy because of an existing labor union.

 

[Maskirovka]

Originally posted by dis
It's not uncommon for game developers, heck any type of worker, to bust their balls working 12 hour days for weeks ahead of an important, upcoming headline. That is unless they can all sit back and be lazy because of an existing labor union.

luckly programmers don't have a union...lol

 

[dis]

Well, most of the time (I think), companies don't necessarily have to force them. It's just that a deadline was set down and the developers earnestly want to reach it so they put forth all the effort they can and end up working a lot of overtime.