I Wonder Why?

[nnyexoeight000]

Many said that if Valve wasn't hacked, we would see HL2 in 2003. Sadly, we wouldn't have.

Gabe: no

-----Original Message-----
From: Arzin
Sent: Thursday, November 27, 2003 12:49 PM
To: Gabe Newell
Subject: -

Hi Mr. Newell,

I'm gonna ask you a question assuming HL2 will release in 2004. If Valve
wasn't hacked, would we really have seen Half-Life 2 on 30th September
or later on in 2003?

It would appreciate it if you could answer this. It wouldn't really help
the situation or anything, but I would just like to know.

Arzin

so... how long was valve going to wait to tell us that the game was delayed? considering they didn't tell us 1 week before, because of the hacking. assuming there was no hacking, and gabe says the game wasnt going to release... well, was he going to wait until one day before?

 

[theGreenBunny]

Yeah, it's pretty weird. Also makes you wonder what's taking so long. I mean hey, they've had 2-3 months extra and still not finished.

They need to take some PR courses or something.

 

[The hotdog man]

how strange. also i heard that on the 30th the game was mostly done and all they needed to do was make a few finishing touches and finish the language translations. well i guess since the hack they're redoing everything i guess that explains it kind of.

 

[Someone]

I'm still in the boat who think Steam and possibly the Nvidia "thing" caused a great deal of the delay.

Steam clearly was not even close to being able to handle HL2 and the load it was going to require. I'm not even sure it's close to handling it right now either.

And Nvidia still has at least 50% of the market when it comes to video cards (just based on numbers). And Valve can not expect people to buy a brand new video card for their game (yes people do and have and will, but the "normal" working person can not afford to drop hundreds of bucks down for a video card every year). So I think there probably will be something with that going on behind the scenes since they want as many people to buy the game as possible (the goal is to make money after all).

As for the hack....I think it caused a tad of delay, but certainly not into 2004. They wouldn't be re-writting the entire game afterall.

Although no matter the reason, their PR does need a lot of work when it comes to things like this.

 

[PvtRyan]

EDIT: I saw the reply got removed

 

[Kschreck]

I think Valve never had intentions to release the game on September 30th, and that they wanted to hype it up and thats why they said September 30th, then the purposely made so that the beta would be leaked so that they had a reson to delay the game. Valve could of purposely put the beta in a non-secure place just so it would get leaked. Valve has been working on the game for five years (Or so they say) why woud they put it in such an unsecure location? Anyways thats my just mytheory so don't flame.

 

[PvtRyan]

Hmmm damned 15 minutes edit rule...

But ontopic now, I think the reason is Steam, CS:CZ isn't available yet either is it? I think they'll prepare Steam first for CS and if everything goes well, HL2 will arrive shortly (read: one or two months) after that.

 

[Kschreck]

Yeah Steam is also a likely reason for the Non-Stop Valve delays. That would really get me mad if I found out Steam was the cause because I really hate Steam a LOT!!!

 

[theGreenBunny]

But why delay HL2 over steam? I understand they want to use steam to sell it, but by delaying it they're only losing fans and buyers.

If they'd have released it this year they would have been the first of the big upcoming games. Are they taking the risk of losing buyers to stalker/farcry/doom3/etc just because they can't sell over steam yet? Can't see how that would be a good thing to do for valve.

 

[PvtRyan]

Originally posted by theGreenBunny
But why delay HL2 over steam? I understand they want to use steam to sell it, but by delaying it they're only losing fans and buyers.

If they'd have released it this year they would have been the first of the big upcoming games. Are they taking the risk of losing buyers to stalker/farcry/doom3/etc just because they can't sell over steam yet? Can't see how that would be a good thing to do for valve.

Well, Valve wants to sell Steam to other developers, and if they release HL2 without a capable Steam they would indirectly tell "Steam network sucks, the system doesn't work"

 

[Spiffae]

this is just all-around weird. I can't even begin to imagine where the truth is.

If they were so far behind, why would they have announced September at E3? If the hacker was telling the truth and the game was hardly complete, then that all makes sense except for the 30th September release date.

No matter how you look at it, something's funny.

 

[Kschreck]

The Valve Conspiracies!!! :dork: -Hears X-Files Music In Background-

 

[alco]

Originally posted by Kschreck
I think Valve never had intentions to release the game on September 30th, and that they wanted to hype it up and thats why they said September 30th, then the purposely made so that the beta would be leaked so that they had a reson to delay the game. Valve could of purposely put the beta in a non-secure place just so it would get leaked. Valve has been working on the game for five years (Or so they say) why woud they put it in such an unsecure location? Anyways thats my just mytheory so don't flame.

...that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

 

[nnyexoeight000]

...that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard.

...that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard!

 

[Kschreck]

LOL, just speculation thats all.

 

[the_prodigy]

Damn, I didn't want my E-mail to Gabe to give rise to such conspiracy theories. Sorry Gabe .

 

[Sashswash]

i guess now we should all hope for it to be done by April!!
idk why it wouldn't though....Steam maybe, or the "nvidia" thing. i bet the game's all done, and they're over there at Valve playing it, while trying to get Steam working...
-Sashswash

oh yeah...even though im annoyed the game's not out, im not pissed @ Gabe, or the Valve team. It might get even better by April :bounce:

 

[Dr. Shim]

Scope-creep! They're very creative people, so why not?

"What's that? You made up a way to do what? Cool!! Let's implement it!"

Kablaam, another two months.

I like speculation. I feel like a Bavarian house-wife!

 

[azz0r]

They wouldnt admit it even if that was the reason, its just not good PR to admit your products delayed due to something out of your control, its bad press.

 

[Dr. Shim]

Despite the fact that one promised, three times, a release date? hmmmm