Valve is Overrated

Valve is one of the few companies that have successfully applied licensing fees to PC games. Their Steam service enables them to profit directly from games sold on PC, even if they didn't fund the development of the game. They are essentially like a console company but for PC, they have a stake in the PC gaming market and are in the best position to champion the platform.

This makes them one of the most important game companies on PC; regardless of what some people may say about them, they achieved with Steam what Microsoft failed to do with GFWL.

I haven't played L4D beside the demo, but Portal and Team Fortress 2 are awesome. And TF2 gets major updates which are great. I think Valve is one of the best developers out there so I disagree with you.

Wanderer5

Valve is a good dev but the only games they have made that does not include buying out a mod/dev team is Half-Life. (which takes a few liberties from the Mist I believe) They kind of lack creativity.SparkyProtocol

[QUOTE="Wanderer5"]

I haven't played L4D beside the demo, but Portal and Team Fortress 2 are awesome. And TF2 gets major updates which are great. I think Valve is one of the best developers out there so I disagree with you.

SAGE_OF_FIRE

I probably won't get it when it comes out. I actually have the first one lol, but I can't find it.:P If I find it, I probably stick with it for a little while. Plus I have my eyes on Resident Evil: Darkside Chronicles, which comes around the release date of L4D2, so I probably end up getting that one, plus getting that awesome shirt at gamestop.

[QUOTE="SparkyProtocol"]Valve is a good dev but the only games they have made that does not include buying out a mod/dev team is Half-Life. (which takes a few liberties from the Mist I believe) They kind of lack creativity.shadow_hosi

In the case of what happened with Portal, it's not like they bought a fully function large scale development teem with lots of experience. They highered a group of recent graduates from Digi-Pen who worked together on a senior design project. I wouldn't exactly call that buying a development company.

In the case of Counter Strike, they highered a mod group, not a professional development team with a serious company pumping out games on a regular basis. I don't think I'd call that buying a development company.

[QUOTE="shadow_hosi"]i dont know about 4 hour, last time i checked its over 1,000AssassinFonce

Because frankly, there's nothign about L4D that makes it more replayable than any other game.

[QUOTE="shadow_hosi"][QUOTE="SparkyProtocol"]Valve is a good dev but the only games they have made that does not include buying out a mod/dev team is Half-Life. (which takes a few liberties from the Mist I believe) They kind of lack creativity.trakem

In the case of what happened with Portal, it's not like they bought a fully function large scale development teem with lots of experience. They highered a group of recent graduates from Digi-Pen who worked together on a senior design project. I wouldn't exactly call that buying a development company.

In the case of Counter Strike, they highered a mod group, not a professional development team with a serious company pumping out games on a regular basis. I don't think I'd call that buying a development company.

Valve made half-life, your opinion is invalid.

Stringerboy

i dont know about 4 hour, last time i checked its over 1,000shadow_hosi

Because frankly, there's nothign about L4D that makes it more replayable than any other game.

L4D is SOOOO boring. its just the same crap over and over after the first two levels of it i couldnt take it anymore. i tried going back to it last night and just couldnt.river_rat3117

I think L4D is overrated and is not a good value for money, mainly due to the lack of updates. I mean TF2 has x10 the content of L4D and came out almost 1/3 of the price. Other than L4D valve is awesome.

Valve is overrated, just as people's opinions on the internet.

[QUOTE="brandontwb"][QUOTE="AssassinFonce"] Are people really going on about it being replayable? The same people who bash halo 3 for being about a 8 hour game? Yet you know, a replayable one. Something I personally have clocked tons of hours in on single player alone?

Because frankly, there's nothign about L4D that makes it more replayable than any other game.

SparkyProtocol

[QUOTE="river_rat3117"]L4D is SOOOO boring. its just the same crap over and over after the first two levels of it i couldnt take it anymore. i tried going back to it last night and just couldnt.brandontwb

[QUOTE="SparkyProtocol"][QUOTE="brandontwb"]Combine the AI director with co-op action and every game is a totally different experience.brandontwb

[QUOTE="brandontwb"][QUOTE="river_rat3117"]L4D is SOOOO boring. its just the same crap over and over after the first two levels of it i couldnt take it anymore. i tried going back to it last night and just couldnt.river_rat3117

Valve made Half life.

[QUOTE="brandontwb"]

[QUOTE="SparkyProtocol"]Yeah, that's a nice feature but it's not like it's needed for L4D to be great. [QUOTE="river_rat3117"][QUOTE="brandontwb"][QUOTE="river_rat3117"]L4D is SOOOO boring. its just the same crap over and over after the first two levels of it i couldnt take it anymore. i tried going back to it last night and just couldnt.shadow_hosi

I'll just use this as evidence--> they created a 4 hour generic zombie game (in every sense-- even generic shotgun, etc. weapons)and yet people try to pretend that game was anything more than good.

And really, in short, they really only make smaller games. They haven't made a full production since HL2 really.

lol.

AssassinFonce

[QUOTE="AssassinFonce"]

I'll just use this as evidence--> they created a 4 hour generic zombie game (in every sense-- even generic shotgun, etc. weapons)and yet people try to pretend that game was anything more than good.

And really, in short, they really only make smaller games. They haven't made a full production since HL2 really.

lol.

sakura_Ex

[QUOTE="sakura_Ex"][QUOTE="AssassinFonce"]

I'll just use this as evidence--> they created a 4 hour generic zombie game (in every sense-- even generic shotgun, etc. weapons)and yet people try to pretend that game was anything more than good.

And really, in short, they really only make smaller games. They haven't made a full production since HL2 really.

lol.

brandontwb

if you only played L4D for 4 hours you probably missed the point.

The only game made by Valve that isn't good is TF2, and Half Life deathmatch is pretty meh

Everything else is great.

And btw L4D was intentionally designed as a big, zombie movie cliche.

The only game made by Valve that isn't good is TF2, and Half Life deathmatch is pretty meh

Everything else is great.

treedoor

Lol, no. Valve is quality.

I agree. You would think that as far as technology has come that they would have been replaced by something else.

I think L4D is overrated and is not a good value for money, mainly due to the lack of updates. I mean TF2 has x10 the content of L4D and came out almost 1/3 of the price. Other than L4D valve is awesome.

Espada12

My feeling exactly.

I agree. You would think that as far as technology has come that they would have been replaced by something else.

Trmpt

In other words you don't respect them because they haven't fallen into the same cost trap as all the other developers?

Today's AAA games cost $15-$30 million to make as a result of increased technology costs, many developers have been forced to change the way they operate in order to survivie and those costs are getting higher.

Valve is successful with the technologies they are currently utilizing, why would they shoot themselves in the foot by bloating their development costs when their audience are happy with their existing quality level?

[QUOTE="Trmpt"]

I agree. You would think that as far as technology has come that they would have been replaced by something else.

AnnoyedDragon

In other words you don't respect them because they haven't fallen into the same cost trap as all the other developers?

Today's AAA games cost $15-$30 million to make as a result of increased technology costs, many developers have been forced to change the way they operate in order to survivie and those costs are getting higher.

Valve is successful with the technologies they are currently utilizing, why would they shoot themselves in the foot by bloating their development costs when their audience are happy with their existing quality level?

[QUOTE="mayforcebeyou"]yeh i think valve is overated. They have bad games like portalswazidoughman

GTFO of the internet

Valve is kinda overrated..

I really liked L4D, HL2 and Portal..

But They're not amazing

[QUOTE="brandontwb"][QUOTE="aaronmullan"]4 hour? My Xfire says 162 hours aaronmullan

[QUOTE="AssassinFonce"][QUOTE="aaronmullan"]4 hour? My Xfire says 162 hours WINDWAKER1

You wanna try out the online? The campaign is meant to be played with people as the zombies too. L4D is probably the best online shooter this gen.

[QUOTE="aaronmullan"][QUOTE="brandontwb"]At face value it's exactly what the TC said, but it's actually and amazing game. I probably have around the same play time as you.vashkey

[QUOTE="mayforcebeyou"]yeh i think valve is overated. They have bad games like portalswazidoughman

GTFO of the internet

yeah, i guess I'll agree. Valve is overrated. I like some of their games, but people act as if everything Valve touches turns to gold. SilverChimera

Yeah, but your just fighting zombies. All they do is run at you and hit you with no consideration of their personal safety. It's the special infected that make things interesting and they only show up a handful of times in the campaign. And ai director might be more usefully in a game where the enemies don't just rush you and repeatedly slap you. . A feature like the ai director is cool and it'd be interesting to see implemented into other games. But It's certainly not a feature I think would make a game repayable. It's how good the game plays in general. People still continue to play games such as The Legend of Zelda, Mario, Half-Life and Metal Gear Solid today and it's not because of an ai director. I think people would still thoroughly enjoy Left 4 Dead with out the ai director. It personally didn't convince me to play the game more than a dozen times and thats nothing compared to a game like Halo 3 that I've played through an uncountable times with my friends and it didn't have an ai director. vashkey

True, but its the thought that you have no idea 'when' they will have no consideration for their safety that makes it interesting.

Those games will always be fun. But as time goes on everything evolves. Level randomization is part of that evolution in my opinion. I mean how cool would it be to actualy have to SEARCH for the best sniping position EACH time you play.