Will the litigation delay the release?

[Dr. Freeman]

i hope the litigation doesn't delay the game...i mean we already see rabid gamers going insane after normal delays.. can't imagine all the craziness coming out of a delay caused by the courts.. :|

 

[alan8325]

This litigation has been going on for 2 years now and we just found out about it. HL2's previous delays might have had something to do with it. Vivendi has HL2 now so it is up to them to determine whether HL2 gets delayed again.

I would think that the only way it could get delayed again would be if Vivendi intentionally holds out on the release for the holiday season or to try to harm Valve. If they have any regard for public relations (which they may not), they would release as soon as possible. A delay will result in a LOT of angry people, Valve and gamers alike. :flame:

 

[Quixote]

If we see a delay I don't think it'll be specifically blamed on the court both parties seem very interested in keeping this quiet. But I think if nothing is heard by friday on the status of the game one could pretty well assume it's because vivendi is sitting on the RC.

 

[MetalliMyers]

I think for the simple fact that all the Lawsuit issues are based on HL1 games, it shouldn't interfere with HL2.

" - in that contract, valve says, we want 100% of all "online" sales. I.e., anything downloaded off the internet, not bought in the store. Four years ago, before DSL was in 60 million households, this concept was pretty wild. So VU doesnt think twice, and says "OK". Valve, knowing that broadband will explode, starts working on Steam, a way to sell HL2 "online" and not having to give any percentage of a Steam sale to VU." - scaryberry

So Steam won't be an issue at least until May 2005 when there is supposed to be a judgement.

 

[MetalliMyers]

If we see a delay I don't think it'll be specifically blamed on the court both parties seem very interested in keeping this quiet. But I think if nothing is heard by friday on the status of the game one could pretty well assume it's because vivendi is sitting on the RC.

However, it could very well take 2 weeks for RC testing on VU's part. If they test it right, they need to introduce a lot of different variables to the gameplay if they want to declare a solid gold status.

This would put us into Wednesday of next week, and Valve could hold off telling us "Gold!" for some time.

 

[Feath]

This litigation has been going on for 2 years now and we just found out about it. HL2's previous delays might have had something to do with it. Vivendi has HL2 now so it is up to them to determine whether HL2 gets delayed again.

That doesn't make sense. The game wasn't finished before now, if any delays were because of this Lawsuit then Valve wouldn't now be saying "The game is finished".

 

[FISKER_Q]

That doesn't make sense. The game wasn't finished before now, if any delays were because of this Lawsuit then Valve wouldn't now be saying "The game is finished".

The Lawsuit could've delayed a lot of things.

But you don't look at damages when the storm haven't passed.

Which is exactly why the source code leak didn't cause a delay, when it was actually over the developers could start piecing together the information and then see it might've thrown them off by a month or 2.

The question should probably be asked in an year or 2.

 

[JFry]

But I think if nothing is heard by friday on the status of the game one could pretty well assume it's because vivendi is sitting on the RC.

You seem to be overlooking the possiblity of the RC being rejected. It is entirely possible that VUG sent it back to valve already and we haven't heard about it. They really have no reason to announce something like that happening.

 

[Quixote]

I'm not overlooking it I just don't find it very likely. The game has been in developement for six years now has undergone extensive playtesting at valve and Vivendi is reportadly not too stringint on their release candidates. So if it has been rejected one has to ask why. And the answer to that lies in the litigation.

 

[cadaveca]

That's what he said was the problem. Not Steam itself.

Vivendi's issue isn't that they don't get money from Steam sales, it's that they gave up the rights to get money after Valve misled and blackmailed them (or so they claim).

you've got it mostly right.
her's what is going on....sept15th..valve submits RC.
2 hours later, Vivendi filed the revised claim against valve, and had a date set for Oct 8th for judge's deliberation. This move was taken to ensure that vivendi did not lose out on revenues ON A DEAL THAT WAS SIGNED WITH SIERRA. It was SIERRA that gave up the right for internet distribution, based mostly, according to vivendi, on Gabe's claim "there is no finacial feasablity of internet distrubution right now." Those words are from a few years ago, when they truly applied. Vivendi, however, claims that because Valve had steam in the works when the time the deal was sealed, Valve knew that the future feasabilty was greater, and that by claiming a release a year ago, and not being able to meet it (intentionally through slow work, or a harddrive getting stolen at a trade show is not the point), that they frauded the proposal that they made to sierra to have the internet distribution clause removed from their contract.
Valve claim that Steam, wether in the works then or not, is their intelluctual property, and therfore vivendi has no rights. remember that Valve aquired the HL2 contract through purchase and destruction if seirra, not by thier own finagalling with valve.
Personally, i can see no release before Oct 8th, but from the wording of the documents filed, it seems as though vivendi want the game out RIGHT NOW, as do Valve, but 3 weeks to ensure a few million is no big deal.
remember too, that vivendi brass are under pressure (and have been for quite some time) to sell or disband the VUG side of their business, especially since they are the only side of their business that is losing money. the brass claims that althoug hte past few years have been losses, the next few look quite brilliant, and frankly, i agree with then. They made a big change in the Vug department in january, as consequences of the embezzelment charges or whateva that was. they've actually lost less, and have invested more. 9m euros ain't that bad...better than the 300someodd the past 2.