What Valve said (with Comments by Feath)

[Feath]

A lot of people are unsure as to when Valve intended to send an RC to Vivendi. Some people are under the impression that Valve were going to send off the first RC when Half-Life 2 went bug free. I

don't think that's the case. Here are a few quotes relating to the RC and the state of Half-Life 2.

HomeLAN - Finally, we have to ask; how is Half-Life 2 coming along?

Gabe Newell - Good. It's in great shape. We anticipate delivering it to Vivendi in August.

This quote is really old. From the 18th of June, no less. It's mainly included here for completeness.

Right now we're targetting a July 30th release candidate. This means we give what we think is a shippable version to VU.

Usually you go through a couple of RCs before you reach Gold, which means that you have what you are going to manufacture. After you manufacture it, it goes to stores."

This quote is the first mention of a Release Canditate. It shows that Valve were intending a 30th of July RC. And also explains what an RC canditate is.

We're doing [the CS:S beta] before we RC Half-Life 2 to give us time to fix any
issues that surface (e.g. "on this graphics card with this version of
this BIOS and this video adapter the game won't run in widescreen
modes")."

We also get information back from the engine when it crashes, which is
also very useful in evaluating how close we are to being done (one crash
per play year - good! One crash per play hour - bad!).

So don't think of this as a CS:Source beta as much as it is a Source
engine configuration and compatibility test.

CS:Source is in great shape, and I don't see it impacting the RC date.
It is the plan to include it in the regular and collectors edition
boxes.

Now, this contradicts the quote above. This quote clearly states that they aren't going to send a Release Canditate till after the CS:S beta has started (or ended). This makes more sense if you consider that there's no point in submitting an RC until you think you have a bug free game. This is an important quote because people seem to ignore it and concentrate on the one quote above. Valve changed their plans, they decided to submit the RC after the CS:S beta started. They are allowed to do that.

August 10th is the day for CZ owners (it will start pre-loading on the 5th)."

This is the date that the CS:S beta was meant to be preloaded. It doesn't mean much unless you compare it to the quote below.

Right now we are looking at our bug numbers. Each day you fix some bugs
and you find some new bugs. The net number tells you how quickly you
will get to zero.

At our current rate of find/fix bugs, we'll be down to zero bugs in 16
days."

Now, this quote was from the 20th of July. 16 days before the 5th of August. Which is a bit of a coincidence. I think it shows that Valve were intending to start the CS:S beta when they thought that Half-Life 2 was in a bug free state. This would ensure that the bugs that are found would be new bugs, instead of bugs that they knew of. It also explained why the CS:S beta was delayed by a few days. They hadn't finished fixing all the bugs, and some of them could've been important bugs that would've meant the game wouldn't run on some graphics cards.

We're currently planning to send release candidates to Vivendi by September 15th. However, VUG hasn't given us a ship date

yet."

This just confirms what the third quote said, that . The CS:S beta still has Source related bugs in it. I wouldn't be surprised if the CS:S beta ends around the 15th. This would be about a month since it started. The word "by" implies that the RC could be send off earlier, depending on how they sort out the CS:S beta bugs. There don't seem to be that many CS:S beta bugs that need to be fixed. It seems very stable. Which is good.

I hope that cleared up any confusion that anyone had. It's in my view that Half-Life 2 was in an apparent bug free state when the CS:S beta began, and Valve are just waiting for the CS:S beta to enter a mostly bug free state. Then they'll send off the Release Canditate.

 

[Seppo]

Nice post. So it seems likely that the only thing between us and Half-Life 2 is Counter Strike: Source.

 

[Jarman]

Okay, next step. Unfortunately I'm not part of the CS:S beta testing, so how many relevant bugs is the community currently aware of? This piece of information could help to get an idea of how far the RC actually is.

 

[The Mullinator]

I had never seen this quote before:

We're doing [the CS:S beta] before we RC Half-Life 2 to give us time to fix any
issues that surface (e.g. "on this graphics card with this version of
this BIOS and this video adapter the game won't run in widescreen
modes")."

That really clears things up for me and puts this whole thing in perspective.

 

[Dr0ndeh]

its a shame really because some of us really couldnt give a flying crap about CS.

 

[Feath]

its a shame really because some of us really couldnt give a flying crap about CS.

The only way that the CS:S beta is delaying Half-Life 2 is that they are making sure that there are no bugs that affect Source Engine. I had a few crashes with CS:S but after the last few updates I've had none. I'd have hated to experience those crashes in Half-Life 2 instead of CS:S.

 

[el Chi]

Feath, I absolutely love that you're always taking an annoyed and well-informed stance against people who constantly complain for no real reason or simply have facts compltely arse-over-tit. Not only that, you're also literate. A beacon of sense in this madness. Thank you.
That sounded so sycophantic, sorry. But you're a member I respect so I'm just voicing my approval. Which you need. All of you. For I am mighty. Yes.

 

[^Ben]

Well the more I think about it the more I think that a mid-late september release date.

 

[ferd]

Quoting what Valve said over the last few months wont change anything to the actual facts. Facts are, Doug confirmed they're planning to send an RC candidate to Vivendi the 15th september...

 

[^Ben]

But nothing in the gaming industry is confirmed.

 

[exoeight]

it makes much more sense when all in one place put together with commentary, good job.

 

[Seppo]

Well the more I think about it the more I think that a mid-late september release date.

As much as I too liked to see HL2 on the store shelves in September, it looks nearly impossible. Even if it went gold on the 15th of September, it would take at least two weeks to manufacture all the millions of copies. Doom 3 went gold somewhere near July 15, and was released August 3. Maybe October 3 is the release date for Half-Life 2.

 

[^Ben]

I think this should be sticked.

 

[theotherguy]

omg, you are so right feath! I never saw it that way...now it makes sense

 

[The Mullinator]

I just thought I would add this in here, its from Jabberwocky over at PlanetHalfLife in the Geiger Counter. Its a good explanation of what an RC on the 15th could mean for the release date:

Most of you should already know this, but for those who still aren't quite familiar with how the system works (yes, that would be those of you E-mailing me), here's a run-down of the release process for HL2. Valve has announced that they will be delivering an RC (release candidate) to Vivendi around the 15th of this month. That does not mean that HL2 will be out immediately thereafter. Vivendi will still have to approve the RC, a process that could take another two or three weeks, depending on their QA department and how fit the RC is to be released. If it were rejected, Valve would have to cook up another one and submit that for approval. Once an RC is approved, we should get a "gone gold" announcement. Those of you who preloaded HL2 and intend to buy it online would *may* be allowed to purchase it shortly afterward and start playing it once you've downloaded the last few files (I'm still not certain whether Valve contractually obliged to wait until it's on the shelves - I don't have Fragmaster's psychic spy network). For those of you still intending to buy a physical copy, it would be at least another few weeks before the game hit the shelves; duplication, packaging and shipping take a while. Damn our lack of transporters.

I thought this would be the best thread to post it in as it is meant to clarify for people what the RC will mean.

 

[Icarus]

Incredible

*Stickied*

 

[Rupertvdb]

someone has been working hard, nice work feath.

 

[burnzie]

Lets just hope the "shit dosent hit the fan" again...

good job feeth :thumbs:

 

[X-Vector]

Nice sum up Feath, although this just strengthens my argument that Valve should stop commenting publicly on the progress of the game until gold status has been reached - it really shouldn't take all this digging to make sense of the situation for most people, even those that keep regular tabs on the game.
Moreover, as you've pointed out, some of the quotes you've posted are contradictory, which further indicates that healthy skepticism is warranted.

IMO it also suggests that the 1 November release date that VUG is supposedly guesstimating is not that far-fetched and perhaps simply a best case scenario.

 

[Feath]

Thanks for all the praise guys. I'm very flattered.

And X-Vector, only one quote contradicted another one, and that was because I believe Valve changed their plans about when to sumit the first RC.

And about that Jabberwocky statement. I hope he was referring to 2-3 weeks as the total time from the first RC to gold, not just the testing for one RC. The first Half-Life RC had 2 days of testing to go through before it was declared gold.

Anyone wishing to read about the final days Half-Life development can read this: http://www.gamespot.com/features/halflife_final/ The final RC was submitted on the Thursday and it was approved on the Saturday. This could mean that Half-Life 2 could go Gold on the 18th. But it's unlikely.

 

[Maxi]

Wow, they really contradict themselfs... they should post a roadmap or something on a site that they could update whenever something changes.

 

[X-Vector]

Feath, HL was created in about two years from start to finish and Valve was a relative unknown at the time.
The development time for HL2 has been much larger (as has the budget) and the 'stakes' are also a great deal higher, I would be surprised if first RC to gold status would take less than two weeks.

 

[Chris D]

http://www.halflife2.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=36442

You're front page news Feath


...or was it "top shelf" material?

 

[Murray_H]

Hurrah for teeth!

I mean Feath

 

[Akilles]

Kickass Feath!! Very good thread! Finally someone sorted things up for those who quite didn't understand and for those who just complained about how bad everything was. Posts like this is like candy for me because i am one of these optimists that thinks its going to be released in a not to far future...like this month..the valve guys are very skilled people in what they do and i don't think they bs us about RC and so on. They may be messing with our heads just to do a BOOM release soon.

 

[smacky]

if the RC is approved by vivendi then we could expect a gold date on the 17th maybe, alot of games only need 2 days of testing. and valve has been squashing bugs for a long time now, so according to valve they would have a bug free RC on the 15th. I have faith in this RC being bug free. So maybe we will see a game somewhere in october, but november would be a more realistic date i think. and if its going to be november i think both valve and vivendi will decide december is going to be better because of the holidays, this has nothing to do with the game of course but its good marketing.

 

[B-MAn]

yay sticky!

 

[Akilles]

Yeah, I think that too, that the RC is nearly bug free due to the massive testing. Why would november be more realistic if the RC passes the test and goes into gold (we say the 17th or in this month). It doesn't take til november to make the copies.

 

[Jarman]

if its going to be november i think both valve and vivendi will decide december is going to be better because of the holidays

December is too late: I already imagine tons of empty shelves, pissed off customers and the local dealers always on the phone shouting "SEND ME AS MANY COPIES AS POSSIBLE OR THEY'LL KILL ME!"

 

[Akilles]

Hahahaha, "They are standing outside my shop with crowbars and torches and doesn't let me go home until i have more HL2 copies"

 

[2o3]

Why cant Valve just put that info on there webby? I thought I read somewhere that Valve said CS.S would not efect HL2. But we all knew different. I'd still like to know if its got dm. Why the big secret over muliplayer. Nice work Feath they should give you a pr job mate.

 

[Chris D]

Why cant Valve just put that info on there webby? I thought I read somewhere that Valve said CS.S would not efect HL2. But we all knew different. I'd still like to know if its got dm. Why the big secret over muliplayer. Nice work Feath they should give you a pr job mate.

CS:S isn't affecting HL2.

They're not running the CS:S beta to test CS:S itself. They're running the beta to test the Source engine on the full hardware range out there.

Some of the bugs they've fixed probably wouldn't have been found unless it wasn't for this beta.

 

[el Chi]

Feath, HL was created in about two years from start to finish and Valve was a relative unknown at the time.
The development time for HL2 has been much larger (as has the budget) and the 'stakes' are also a great deal higher, I would be surprised if first RC to gold status would take less than two weeks.

Are you sure? I'm sure HL took longer than that in development, not least because it too was set back by an entire year.

 

[smacky]

yeah maybe they wont wait for december, they know people will buy it anyway, and the kids who dont have the money will get it for christmas anyway.

 

[evil^milk]

Does this mean CS:S beta will end soon? Well, at least I'm glad they've fixed the bugs

 

[smsKONG]

Nice post Feath, atlast something to stop all the moaners, whiners and general idiots :naughty:

But goddamn, November is a long time away, I just hope they meant October (fingers crossed- JEEZ I've had them crossed for soooo many months I've got a damn claw now )

Just one last job- for your next assignment, Feath, we would like you to research every game that vivendi has ever released....and find out how thorough they are about RC to GOLD. We already know HL took 2 days and cz took 3months (LOL-not quite but if I remember rightly they sat on it for some time past it's completion..).
Personally I've got no idea about anything else they've done, so somebody who knows, post what you know

 

[X-Vector]

Are you sure? I'm sure HL took longer than that in development, not least because it too was set back by an entire year.

Valve acquired the Quake engine code in late '96 and HL was released in late '98.
In those two years, Newell and Harrington had to build both a company and a game from scratch.

See also the GS link Feath posted earlier, specifically this page: http://www.gamespot.com/features/halflife_final/part22.html

 

[2o3]

Ok Chris. But if there was no CS.S would HL2 be on my hard drive now. I think it would mate. Its no big deal, but its getting old now. Come to think of it so am I.

 

[Link]

Ok Chris. But if there was no CS.S would HL2 be on my hard drive now. I think it would mate.

So you would be happy with a game that would likely not work on your hardware setup due to lack of hardware testing, as apposed to waiting for a near flawless game? Fair enough if you would rather have a non-working copy now I suppose...

 

[Agent.M]

Good read feath thanks man that hopefully will clear some minds!!