The date given when gold...

[scarecrow1]

I am curious and want to ask a question about the gold status and supposedly release date that will folow it. Is it at least possible that hl2 could go gold say this week and be released by end of septemeber? is there any chance? If VU approve the game say today will they automatically begin mass producing so that they could meet the sept30 date? or is it a long shot and we better off wait for October?

 

[AntiAnto]

Nothing is impossible. But I doubt this will happen.
And, hey... what the hell I know about that...

 

[Feath]

I think it's best to just wait an see. It's entirely possible that we won't hear any gold announcement till October. It's also possible that the game will go gold tomorrow.

 

[Bongfarmer]

It could go gold this afternoon

Half-life went gold in 2 days after release cadidate
Doom 3 had a NA release 1 week after going gold

for a huge game like hl2 theres no doubt they will use all resources possible to print the discs, could be possible to see it this month

 

[AntiAnto]

It could go gold this afternoon

Half-life went gold in 2 days after release cadidate
Doom 3 had a NA release 1 week after going gold

for a huge game like hl2 theres no doubt they will use all resources possible to print the discs, could be possible to see it this month

We all hope so

 

[exoeight]

let us hope that VU wants the game out as bad as we do, ^_^

 

[iamaelephant]

It's possible, but improbable.

 

[AngstyTeen]

I hope this game comes out as soon as possible but yes I know its not a day games come out but Halloween would be a cool date for it come out other then the fact its far away =P

 

[Vegeta897]

Speaking of a release date...
If one is given, will HL2.net have a big countdown thing? That would be fun IMO.

 

[FoxDie]

Speaking of a release date...
If one is given, will HL2.net have a big countdown thing? That would be fun IMO.

Agreed.

 

[ACROW_LEFT]

im having fun just thinking about a hl2 counter! OMG! LOLZ lemme go get a drool towel

 

[zitbug]

Hey I might even put one on my site now....

 

[KagePrototype]

A September 30th release date is very unlikely, but it could probably be done if VU really pushed for the manufacturing to be finished ASAP. but I doubt it. I would say the earliest is the first week of October, but that's just me.

 

[The Monkey]

I still wish for 20th September 2003.

 

[PvtRyan]

It's possible, HL did it in under two weeks after going gold if I remember correctly.

 

[FISKER_Q]

Remember this:
Vivendi expects 4 million copies(Retail) sold the first month
The game will be released worldwide on the same date(And yes it is due to a worldwide release)
We also have ATi that needs to get OEM copies of the game.

I reckon 3-4 weeks minimum to do that.

 

[Feath]

You know, I'll never get over the way people always make up statistics, especially ones like "The amount of time it takes to make X amount of copies".

You don't know, we don't know. Could we please stop guessing?

 

[FISKER_Q]

You know, I'll never get over the way people always make up statistics, especially ones like "The amount of time it takes to make X amount of copies".

You don't know, we don't know. Could we please stop guessing?

In that sense neither Vivendi or Valve knows either. Worldwide releases take time, not only to manufacture the copies, but also to ship them.

You'll usually see the game shipping aproximately a week before the release if you want it across the ocean to Europe.

The alternative is of course manfucaturing in Europe, but they have nowhere near the capacity of the american ones.

And it would still require the master disc being shipped to europe.

I never stated my guess as fact i said, "I reckon". But i'm not basing my guesses upon nothing.

Edit: A other possible delay in a worldwide release could be trade embargos. That however i have little experience with.

 

[Xenome]

4 million copies in the first month?

That's...'alot'..right?

 

[kaellinn18]

4 million copies in the first month?

That's...'alot'..right?

No, it's "a lot"

 

[Feath]

In that sense neither Vivendi or Valve knows either. Worldwide releases take time, not only to manufacture the copies, but also to ship them.

You'll usually see the game shipping aproximately a week before the release if you want it across the ocean to Europe.

The alternative is of course manfucaturing in Europe, but they have nowhere near the capacity of the american ones.

And it would still require the master disc being shipped to europe.

I never stated my guess as fact i said, "I reckon". But i'm not basing my guesses upon nothing.

Edit: A other possible delay in a worldwide release could be trade embargos. That however i have little experience with.

I wasn't just referring to you.

 

[Xrenity]

It's possible, HL did it in under two weeks after going gold if I remember correctly.

And that was 5 years ago.
I guess the machines and stuff have improved so they could do it a bit faster this time (I hope at least)

 

[el Chi]

In that sense neither Vivendi or Valve knows either. Worldwide releases take time, not only to manufacture the copies, but also to ship them.

You'll usually see the game shipping aproximately a week before the release if you want it across the ocean to Europe.

The alternative is of course manfucaturing in Europe, but they have nowhere near the capacity of the american ones.

And it would still require the master disc being shipped to europe.

I never stated my guess as fact i said, "I reckon". But i'm not basing my guesses upon nothing.

Edit: A other possible delay in a worldwide release could be trade embargos. That however i have little experience with.

It would be far easier to manafacture them in Europe, for Europe - I see no reason why they would do otherwise. Do they usually?
Besides "shipping" the gold master would take under 24 hours - all you have to do is lob it on a plane and you're away.

The same point goes for if you wanted to press the European copies in the US - Europe's only a plane-ride away.

And I doubt very much they'd give a passing thought about countries with trade embargos - it'd be a pretty bad business move to wait for diplomatic talks to open with Cuba before releasing the game, after all.

 

[kaellinn18]

It would be far easier to manafacture them in Europe, for Europe - I see no reason why they would do otherwise. Do they usually?
Besides "shipping" the gold master would take under 24 hours - all you have to do is lob it on a plane and you're away.

The same point goes for if you wanted to press the European copies in the US - Europe's only a plane-ride away.

And I doubt very much they'd give a passing thought about countries with trade embargos - it'd be a pretty bad business move to wait for diplomatic talks to open with Cuba before releasing the game, after all.

Vivendi is freaking huge, so yes, my guess would be they do European production for European games. After all, don't they do boxes, manuals, etc in the various other languages? I just don't think they would be doing that state-side. But then again, it is Vivendi...

 

[Feath]

It would be far easier to manafacture them in Europe, for Europe - I see no reason why they would do otherwise. Do they usually?
Besides "shipping" the gold master would take under 24 hours - all you have to do is lob it on a plane and you're away.

The same point goes for if you wanted to press the European copies in the US - Europe's only a plane-ride away.

And I doubt very much they'd give a passing thought about countries with trade embargos - it'd be a pretty bad business move to wait for diplomatic talks to open with Cuba before releasing the game, after all.

They don't even have to physically ship the disc, they could just transfer it digitally.

 

[FISKER_Q]

It would be far easier to manafacture them in Europe, for Europe - I see no reason why they would do otherwise. Do they usually?
Besides "shipping" the gold master would take under 24 hours - all you have to do is lob it on a plane and you're away.

The same point goes for if you wanted to press the European copies in the US - Europe's only a plane-ride away.

And I doubt very much they'd give a passing thought about countries with trade embargos - it'd be a pretty bad business move to wait for diplomatic talks to open with Cuba before releasing the game, after all.

Remember the gold master have to be made first. I don't know how long that takes though.

As far as i heard a ~week of shipping doesn't make up for the capacity of the european printers.

And i mean trade embargos for the stores to keep them from releasing earlier.

That and they'll probably have to launch an ad campaign as well.

Edit: Feath you can't digitally transfer the master disc. You can transfer a gold disc's content, but they'll still have to make the master disc.

 

[Feath]

Remember the gold master have to be made first. I don't know how long that takes though.

As far as i heard a ~week of shipping doesn't make up for the capacity of the european printers.

And i mean trade embargos for the stores to keep them from releasing earlier.

That and they'll probably have to launch an ad campaign as well.

The Release Canditate is the gold master. Valve will have sent off more than just the US release canditate to be approved.

 

[FISKER_Q]

The Release Canditate is the gold master. Valve will have sent off more than just the US release canditate to be approved.

Usually a gold master would be created after it's gone gold. And typical at the manufacturer.

 

[el Chi]

And i mean trade embargos for the stores to keep them from releasing earlier.

Well, that's not an issue, because if a store releases it early, they'd be in breach of contract and probably liable to a large law suit, not to mention the possibility of Vivendi limiting that store's supply of VU games. It's more trouble than its worth.

They will have had ad campaigns, etc. sorted out long ago.

And it would be possible and more productive to do a simultaneous mixture of EU and US production for the European release. That way, they can get the product out quickly without having too few supplies. Sort of. I have no idea.