Valve - Post Half-Life

What is the future for Valve once the Half-Life saga ends? (presumably with the end of Episode Three).

What can we expect? Is the very best of Valve still to come?

Quarter-Life

Full-Life

No-Life

Life...

Like most people I love the games. But surely though there is going to be something beyond that?

They have proven that somewhat with the likes of TF2 and Portal and maybe Left 4 Dead.

I don't want to see this great company become like Epic: that is basing themselves on nearly 1 franchise (Like Unreal).

^um a game will not always continue it has to end sometime whats wrong with you

we can expect games thats about it for now left 4 dead is the biggest thing in my list

Like most people I love the games. But surely though there is going to be something beyond that?

They have proven that somewhat with the likes of TF2 and Portal and maybe Left 4 Dead.

I don't want to see this great company become like Epic: that is basing themselves on nearly 1 franchise (Like Unreal).

biggest_loser

What is the future for Valve once the Half-Life saga ends? (presumably with the end of Episode Three).

What can we expect? Is the very best of Valve still to come?

biggest_loser

Whatever it is I'm sure it will completly blow our minds.

i do hope they make a half-life 3 before they move on. just one more tremendously epic game please, valve~!

and epic has more than unreal: first, unreal is actually unreal tournament and unreal; second, gears. and in no way is there anything wrong with epic and what they're doing; they produce quality games again and again.

There is a new portal I think, maybe not.harrisi17

that much is a certainty; one of the leading devs on portal said that they're working on portal 2.

i do hope they make a half-life 3 before they move on. just one more tremendously epic game please, valve~!

and epic has more than unreal: first, unreal is actually unreal tournament and unreal; second, gears. and in no way is there anything wrong with epic and what they're doing; they produce quality games again and again.

fireandcloud

Unreal

Unreal 2.

Unreal Tournament.

Unreal Tournament 2003

Unreal Tournanment 2004

Unreal Tournament 3

Oh and Gears. Correct.

Unreal

Unreal 2.

Unreal Tournament.

Unreal Tournament 2003

Unreal Tournanment 2004

Unreal Tournament 3

Oh and Gears. Correct.

biggest_loser

unreal and unreal tournament play very differently from each other. so they have three franchises, not just the one 'unreal.'

[QUOTE="fireandcloud"]

i do hope they make a half-life 3 before they move on. just one more tremendously epic game please, valve~!

and epic has more than unreal: first, unreal is actually unreal tournament and unreal; second, gears. and in no way is there anything wrong with epic and what they're doing; they produce quality games again and again.

biggest_loser

Unreal

Unreal 2.

Unreal Tournament.

Unreal Tournament 2003

Unreal Tournanment 2004

Unreal Tournament 3

Oh and Gears. Correct.

Who's this imposer?

[QUOTE="biggest_loser"]

Unreal

Unreal 2.

Unreal Tournament.

Unreal Tournament 2003

Unreal Tournanment 2004

Unreal Tournament 3

Oh and Gears. Correct.

fireandcloud

unreal and unreal tournament play very differently from each other. so they have three franchises, not just the one 'unreal.'

True that. Sorry.

Ahhh once again I have shown the ignorance of my youth.

Not trying to bash Valve or anything while I do enjoy their games most feel rather the same. During Half Life and old Cs, TF, Dod many of Valve games felt really the same with different weapon tweaks and changes in certain mechanics much like a mod. It took really to see the release of Team Fortress 2 to see variety in Valve work that can really distinguish one from the other. While Portal seem new and refreshing I cant help but feel I'm still playing Half Life with mods. This is my opinion though.OoSuperMarioO

Its an interesting point but lets face it:

Half-Life 1 & 2 are very different in their approach. One is far more puzzle based and dependent on the environment, the second is more linear and action packed and utilises physics technology. Probably more diversity in HL2.

[QUOTE="OoSuperMarioO"]Not trying to bash Valve or anything while I do enjoy their games most feel rather the same. During Half Life and old Cs, TF, Dod many of Valve games felt really the same with different weapon tweaks and changes in certain mechanics much like a mod. It took really to see the release of Team Fortress 2 to see variety in Valve work that can really distinguish one from the other. While Portal seem new and refreshing I cant help but feel I'm still playing Half Life with mods. This is my opinion though.biggest_loser

Its an interesting point but lets face it:

Half-Life 1 & 2 are very different in their approach. One is far more puzzle based and dependent on the environment, the second is more linear and action packed and utilises physics technology. Probably more diversity in HL2.

also, devs usually make the same **** over and over again, so it's no surprise that all the games have a general feel that's very familiar. the question is how they keep their franchises fresh. i personally think that hl and hl2 feel very similar to each other, BUT hl2 was refreshingly new at the same time because they implemented great physics (and an ingenius gravity gun to boot) which was deeply entrenched in the overall gameplay and their storytelling technique seen first in hl was further enhanced by great 'acting' (and by acting, i mean facial expressions, body movement, etc.) by the npcs. that whole immersion thing was taken to an entirely new level - it brought a cinematic quality to the fps genre.

[QUOTE="biggest_loser"]

[QUOTE="OoSuperMarioO"]Not trying to bash Valve or anything while I do enjoy their games most feel rather the same. During Half Life and old Cs, TF, Dod many of Valve games felt really the same with different weapon tweaks and changes in certain mechanics much like a mod. It took really to see the release of Team Fortress 2 to see variety in Valve work that can really distinguish one from the other. While Portal seem new and refreshing I cant help but feel I'm still playing Half Life with mods. This is my opinion though.fireandcloud

Its an interesting point but lets face it:

Half-Life 1 & 2 are very different in their approach. One is far more puzzle based and dependent on the environment, the second is more linear and action packed and utilises physics technology. Probably more diversity in HL2.

also, devs usually make the same **** over and over again, so it's no surprise that all the games have a general feel that's very familiar. the question is how they keep their franchises fresh. i personally think that hl and hl2 feel very similar to each other, BUT hl2 was refreshingly new at the same time because they implemented great physics (and an ingenius gravity gun to boot) which was deeply entrenched in the overall gameplay and their storytelling technique seen first in hl was further enhanced by great 'acting' (and by acting, i mean facial expressions, body movement, etc.) by the npcs. that whole immersion thing was taken to an entirely new level - it brought a cinematic quality to the fps genre.

Agreed. There was enough nostalgia from the first game in HL2 to make it a true sequel.

I think both of those episodes have really taken the cinematic quality to a whole new level that we haven't really seen in a game before.

I think both of those episodes have really taken the cinematic quality to a whole new level that we haven't really seen in a game before.

biggest_loser

totally. episode 2 just felt tremendously epic, more so than any other game before and since. i felt lke i was really scrambling about trying to save humanity. i mean, i usually just play for the action, but in episode 2 i felt like i was part of the world and making a real difference.

[QUOTE="biggest_loser"]

I think both of those episodes have really taken the cinematic quality to a whole new level that we haven't really seen in a game before.

fireandcloud

totally. episode 2 just felt tremendously epic, more so than any other game before and since. i felt lke i was really scrambling about trying to save humanity. i mean, i usually just play for the action, but in episode 2 i felt like i was part of the world and making a real difference.

Yes. I just wish that I resisted playing the game until I got my new computer because it ran too slowly on my old one.

When I booted it up again it was terrific. The ending in particular is so powerful and cruel in a way.

Would you say that Episode Two is the game HL2 should have been? (Without taking anything away from HL2's brilliance).

Episode Three is probably my most anticipated game for this year, apart from Alan Wake and BIA: HH

Yes. I just wish that I resisted playing the game until I got my new computer because it ran too slowly on my old one.

When I booted it up again it was terrific. The ending in particular is so powerful and cruel in a way.

Would you say that Episode Two is the game HL2 should have been? (Without taking anything away from HL2's brilliance).

Episode Three is probably my most anticipated game for this year, apart from Alan Wake and BIA: HH

biggest_loser

i think it was their best 5 hours. in fact, i would say that it was the best 5 hours of all time. but hl2 was 15 hours long, so it's hard to compare the two (at least for me). i think hl2 gets my nod just cuz it's much longer, but certainly episode 2 was the culmination of everything they've done before coming together for the most perfect 5 hours i've ever experienced while gaming.

We will continue to belt out Half-Lifes, and then we have a surprise for you. I don't want to give it away, but it won't be good or innovative and it will as boring as our previous titles. Trust me, I know, I work for Valve.Ps2stony

no you dont know or you dont work for valve in another post you said you worked for activision now your saying you work for valve :S what are you trying to pull here you crazy teenager :P

here look its a post you made in another thread

I think Infinity Ward is the best, and that they make the best games which you should buy several copies of. Trust me, I know, I work for Activision.Ps2stony

[QUOTE="Ps2stony"]We will continue to belt out Half-Lifes, and then we have a surprise for you. I don't want to give it away, but it won't be good or innovative and it will as boring as our previous titles. Trust me, I know, I work for Valve.-Socrates-

no you dont know or you dont work for valve in another post you said you worked for activision now your saying you work for valve :S what are you trying to pull here you crazy teenager :P

here look its a post you made in another thread

I think Infinity Ward is the best, and that they make the best games which you should buy several copies of. Trust me, I know, I work for Activision.Ps2stony

he also works for microsoft and the queen of england, didn't you know?

Valve isn't very original. Have you noticed some of their greatest games were community projects that they adopted? And Left 4 Dead isn't by Valve. GodLovesDead

sort of. turtle rock was acquired by valve, so they're part of valve. so, technically, l4d is by valve. but personally, i still like to view l4d as having been developed by turtle rock, not valve.

[QUOTE="GodLovesDead"]Valve isn't very original. Have you noticed some of their greatest games were community projects that they adopted? And Left 4 Dead isn't by Valve. fireandcloud

sort of. turtle rock was acquired by valve, so they're part of valve. so, technically, l4d is by valve. but personally, i still like to view l4d as having been developed by turtle rock, not valve.

Also, remember some of the other things that Valve have done like Steam for example!! Its revolutionising the way games are bought! And it won't be limited to just games with the music industry rumoured to be getting on board.

[QUOTE="fireandcloud"]

[QUOTE="GodLovesDead"]Valve isn't very original. Have you noticed some of their greatest games were community projects that they adopted? And Left 4 Dead isn't by Valve. biggest_loser

sort of. turtle rock was acquired by valve, so they're part of valve. so, technically, l4d is by valve. but personally, i still like to view l4d as having been developed by turtle rock, not valve.

Also, remember some of the other things that Valve have done like Steam for example!! Its revolutionising the way games are bought! And it won't be limited to just games with the music industry rumoured to be getting on board.

yes, i love steam.

[QUOTE="GodLovesDead"]Valve isn't very original. Have you noticed some of their greatest games were community projects that they adopted? And Left 4 Dead isn't by Valve. fireandcloud

sort of. turtle rock was acquired by valve, so they're part of valve. so, technically, l4d is by valve. but personally, i still like to view l4d as having been developed by turtle rock, not valve.

Yea, that's my point. Valve just acquires all the popular community games. Day of Defeat, Portal, Team Fortress Classic, Counter Strike, etc. Valve is great at execution though and I do love how they take community projects (which are my favorite) and expand upon them.

[QUOTE="fireandcloud"]

[QUOTE="GodLovesDead"]Valve isn't very original. Have you noticed some of their greatest games were community projects that they adopted? And Left 4 Dead isn't by Valve. GodLovesDead

sort of. turtle rock was acquired by valve, so they're part of valve. so, technically, l4d is by valve. but personally, i still like to view l4d as having been developed by turtle rock, not valve.

Yea, that's my point. Valve just acquires all the popular community games. Day of Defeat, Portal, Team Fortress Classic, Counter Strike, etc. Valve is great at execution though and I do love how they take community projects (which are my favorite) and epxand upon them.

to be fair, though, most of these teams are completely dissolved into valve; all the members are now valve employees. so it would be not all that different from companies hiring talented developers to work for them. so portal and tf2 and cs:s are valve games (i'm just agreeing with what you wrote, basically, i realize). turtle rock, though, seems to be keeping a somewhat independent identity despite being acquired by valve, which may mean that it's not completely fair to call l4d a valve game.

Natural Selection 2

What is the future for Valve once the Half-Life saga ends? (presumably with the end of Episode Three).

What can we expect? Is the very best of Valve still to come?

biggest_loser

Valve's strong point isnt just halflife, but its lending aid and "sourcing" projects.

They didnt make portal, but they might as well have for the role they played in getting it to us.

COunterstrike was originally a mod by Gooseman, but Valve refined it and made it accessible while still keeping it challenging.

Who would know what Darwinia or DEFCON are unless it werent for Valve?

Valve not only makes great games, but they bring other great games to the surface. For all I care, the Halflife series could end after Episode 3 and so long as its good I would be happy. As long as Valve stays in the business and keeps supporting hese lesser known games I Will be happy.

Valve didn't say Half Life ends with Episode 3, they said Freeman's story ends with Episode 3. So I'm sure we'll see more from the Half Life universe, it just won't be about Freeman.

There's plenty of other stories they could cover. They could do a game about the seven hour war, for example. And at 7 hours long, it'd only take them 2 episodes and 4 years to make.

I really wish Valve makes a sports game :( Not gonna happen probably but I can dream

Half-life series is the best franchise I have played and I can see valve continuing this for atleast another 5-10 years...they are awesome devs and lets see how Left 4 Dead turns out

Valve didn't say Half Life ends with Episode 3, they said Freeman's story ends with Episode 3. So I'm sure we'll see more from the Half Life universe, it just won't be about Freeman.

There's plenty of other stories they could cover. They could do a game about the seven hour war, for example. And at 7 hours long, it'd only take them 2 episodes and 4 years to make.

fatshodan

they didn't say freeman's story ends with episode 3. they said the current story arc ends with episode 3. so freeman just may return in hl3.

[QUOTE="fatshodan"]

Valve didn't say Half Life ends with Episode 3, they said Freeman's story ends with Episode 3. So I'm sure we'll see more from the Half Life universe, it just won't be about Freeman.

There's plenty of other stories they could cover. They could do a game about the seven hour war, for example. And at 7 hours long, it'd only take them 2 episodes and 4 years to make.

fireandcloud

they didn't say freeman's story ends with episode 3. they said the current story arc ends with episode 3. so freeman just may return in hl3.

Oh, well that's neat. My point, anyway, was just that Half Life ain't gonna end with Episode 3. Valve has tons of non-HL franchises set up now (Left 4 dead, Portal, CS, Team Fortress) so it's not like there's an urgent need for change any more.

Personally, I would like to see Freeman out of the picture. There's tons of awesome HL stuff that is just background noise because it's not central to Freeman's story. I would love for them to flesh that stuff out a bit.

I'm playing Half-life 3 now...!!!!!