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Bio2hazard: If I recall correctly, Microsoft has some severe limitations on the size of patches that developers are allowed to put out. I seem to remember reading articles from disgrunteled developers who were not able to fully patch their game because they exceeded the size-limitations set by microsoft. In other words.. microsoft is really greedy with bandwidth for fixing up games, but really generous with it when it comes to trailers and advertisement.
So the only way for them to bring it out was via DLC. Meh... Microsoft's policy seems to be completely against that what gamers want lol.

They also charge for patches on the PC.
Here is the stuff about the Xbox vs PC thing.
I played Half Life for the first time on PS2 and liked it. :)
Post edited December 31, 2009 by chautemoc
Everyone who wonders about EP3...I just have to ask myself if they remember the same Valve I do.
It took them forever to do HL1. It took a really long time for HL2. TF2 took about 7 years with almost an entire rewrite and like a two year period where they refused to talk about the game.
Portal and L4D both came from a very different team within Valve. I remember reading a quote from the lead saying how proud they were to not be on Valve time.
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stonebro: Allright, it's now 2010, or almost, all around the globe and still there is no mention of the much coveted Half-Life 2: Episode 3.
In the meantime though, Valve have been busy with other tasks. First, we had Team Fortress 2. Then, out of left field came Left 4 Dead. A bit later and we have Left 4 Dead 2 which is Left 4 Dead with everything being bigger and better.
Okay.
But why no Episode 3? Why no other single-player releases, like Portal? Is it just because those games don't generate enough revenue anymore?
I don't think so.
This recent furore into multiplayer gaming has allowed Valve to do one thing; upgrade and expand their architecture, try out various things in the realm of multiplayer games, while still making money off it.
But where does it all end? Are we going to see Left 4 Dead clones for three years? Maybe an alien or combine invasion themed game based on the same mechanics? Have Valve suddenly shifted focus to releasing fun, over-the-top multiplayer games instead of state-of-the-art story-driven FPSes? In short, what about Half-Life?
I think Valve are up to something big.
Like a MMO Half-Life universe.

Half Life episode 3 MIGHT be out by this time next year.
Half Life 3 will be COMPLETELY episodic, and by the time it's released, there will have been 5 L4D's.
Remember I said that.
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Bio2hazard: If I recall correctly, Microsoft has some severe limitations on the size of patches that developers are allowed to put out. I seem to remember reading articles from disgrunteled developers who were not able to fully patch their game because they exceeded the size-limitations set by microsoft. In other words.. microsoft is really greedy with bandwidth for fixing up games, but really generous with it when it comes to trailers and advertisement.
So the only way for them to bring it out was via DLC. Meh... Microsoft's policy seems to be completely against that what gamers want lol.
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chautemoc: They also charge for patches on the PC.
Here is the stuff about the Xbox vs PC thing.
I played Half Life for the first time on PS2 and liked it. :)

Seems rather in convenient and not beneficial for developers to use games for windows or xbox live. Even the guys who made section 8 got around the multiplayer issue.
[url=]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Section_8_%28video_game%29[/url]
"Section 8 will support X-Server functionality, where players can run their own dedicated servers for Xbox 360 games using a Windows-based PC. An X Server can handle up to 32 players at once.[8] The PC version is to feature a 40-player maximum.[8] Computer-controlled characters (bots) may also be used to fill remaining slots in multiplayer games"
So it could be possible to get around the patching issue and dlc issue too.
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StealthKnight: Seems rather in convenient and not beneficial for developers to use games for windows or xbox live. Even the guys who made section 8 got around the multiplayer issue.

In terms of dedicated servers, yeah, it's definitely bad.
That's quite cool of them.
Post edited January 01, 2010 by chautemoc
They're up to no good, that's what.
I think they are trying to expand their Steam user base, and in turn tighten their already firm grip on the digital distribution market. But as long as they keep having the sales they are having, I'm glad to be a customer.
Are you up to something? I think you are. Yes, yes. I see it all now. You ARE up to something. Guards!
Overall Rep -10%
Militarists faction +10%
Police resented like soldiers
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stonebro: Wha? Half-life and Half-Life 2 have sold more copies than just about every other video game in existence, and is the sole reason Valve, or Steam, even exists.

That's more down to Half Life. It sold the most and funded both Steam and Half Life 2's development. Half Life 2 may have sold well but it took all those years to create. It wasn't such a great return on their investment.
Further single player FPS are only going to cost more while not seeing any better returns. Especially for an episodic game. Valve thought that splitting the game into episodes would make it more affordable and practical. That clearly hasn't happened for them.
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michaelleung: They're up to no good, that's what.

And they would have gotten away with it, if it weren't for you meddling kids! *fist shake*
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Navagon: Further single player FPS are only going to cost more while not seeing any better returns. Especially for an episodic game. Valve thought that splitting the game into episodes would make it more affordable and practical. That clearly hasn't happened for them.

and that is probably the biggest reason :( if Episodes made big bucks for Valve they would surely push the development of Episode 3 instead of Left4dead games or TF2...
maybe it is a good thing. there will be a split. Valve makes game while STEAM enterprise will take over steam and becomes just another digital shop like gamersgate or d2d.
Ep3 will appear. there is no doubt about it. they are probably working on it right now just it is not a priority.
OR
*fanboy mode ON*
they are working on Source 2.0 which will feature graphics better than crysis a new step in graphics comparable to the step first source took.
It will be used for episode 3 which is going to sum up current story arch and set up for new series
FEATURING Ardian Shepard. Episode 3 will be released along 3 hour game, a preview for Ardian's adventures.
We will also see Portal 2.0 a bit longer, darker and more funny at the same time
It will also rain strawberries covered in chocolate and 40 year old whiskey.
The L4D team is a completely different team than the Episode 3 team.
L4D development is not slowing down the development of other Valve games.
I'm not a big fan of MMOs, so probably I wouldn't play it if they release an MMO game.
Anyone saw that project natal "leaked video", demonstrating HL2?
If that isn't a fake video, I keep wondering why all the hate on the PS3 coming from Valve, on the last 2,3 years...
Post edited January 03, 2010 by taczillabr
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PoSSeSSeDCoW: The L4D team is a completely different team than the Episode 3 team.
L4D development is not slowing down the development of other Valve games.

it does
resources spent on L4D could be used on Episode 3. not all of them but seeing as the game haven't been released in 2 years although it is just an episode, l4d did slow down development of it.
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PoSSeSSeDCoW: The L4D team is a completely different team than the Episode 3 team.
L4D development is not slowing down the development of other Valve games.
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lukaszthegreat: it does
resources spent on L4D could be used on Episode 3. not all of them but seeing as the game haven't been released in 2 years although it is just an episode, l4d did slow down development of it.

I'll agree to L4D series slowing down or pushing back Half-Life series development. L4D is making them tons of money off the average gamer, so why not pour more cash into it for extra returns? Makes sense.
I just think it's sad that episodes take longer to make than actual whole games from Valve and am not a Valve fanboy anymore ever since L4D came out, support went out the window from them. I digress...........
The only thing left for me to get before I give up on Valve is a Portal Companion Cube plushy, after that I can leave happy :P
Post edited January 03, 2010 by tb87670