Playing Half-Life 2 Down...?

[Edcrab]

This is entirely conjecture (hence the location, I suppose) but does anyone get the feeling that Valve are deliberately trying to play the game down?
Let's face it; some people are going to be disappointed by HL2, simply because they misinterpret facts and specifications and make unfortunate presumptions regarding game content and the Source engine's capabilities. But I'm not saying that Valve is trying to demean their work; I just wonder if, perhaps, they're slowly lifting the silence in order to begin a campaign of media.
Hell, someone’s said this before- it’s like a big cycle of silence-incident-silence-incident.

Horribly delayed Bink videos (that turn up in lower-than-usual resolution), MIA SDK and benchmark, no new videos for god knows how long (or generic forumite who's sure to tell me), screenshots that don't seem too mould-breaking (although they never do for me. The first HL2 screens bored me; it’s seeing the game in action that was incredible).

So does Valve just have a lot to learn about marketing, or is this just clearing a path for a surge of information come E3?

 

[bigun]

Compared to other games weve been spoiled with HL2 information and videos etc...
Duke4, Quake4, Doom3?

 

[Edcrab]

...all of which are games I didn't comment on or particularily care about right about now.

I'm not trying to have a go at Valve- I'm just wondering if the apparent "silence" people keep talking about (regardless of half a freaking gig of e-mail correspondence) is going to evaporate in a couple of weeks...

 

[bigun]

yes but you have to admit, theyre all games in the FPS genre on the same level of hype as HL2...

 

[Edcrab]

Very true- I suppose people need to see the bigger picture. Doom III has a far better community over all (uh... no offence guys), and they're less likely to try and mailbomb id. 'Course, if you have a bigger community, you have a bigger pile of idiots...

 

[Xenome]

true..but also a bigger pile of loyal fans

so that kinda 'breaks' your comment on the doom III community..

 

[SMT]

Well, Doug said there would be no new official info released until after E3, so it's only common sense to assume that the floodgates will open on the 12th or 13th of May. Just a couple more weeks and the boards will be buzzing with salivating gamers again, I'll bet.

 

[Farrowlesparrow]

Still the poor binks and the not very impressive screenshots of late don't do much for the hype. The review in PC Zone was quite good though, the writing more than anything was what made it good though.

 

[Edcrab]

Yeah, I got the PCZ preview issue this morning. Not sure what the guys obsession with weapons is, what with continual comments regarding the dissapointing lack of new firearms, and that they seem like the bog standard HL set.

Roll on E3...

 

[Jackal hit]

yeah i think they're saving all the good stuff for e3 ... i hope

 

[Sulkdodds]

I hope so. I really hope so.

 

[RoguePsi]

I think Valve have been very smart. The bad scheduling and hacking delays have seriously set back the project and with half-arsed copies of their game floating around the internet, naturally they're worried people will assume the game will be as bad as the leaked version.
As such valve have needed to get their head down and make sure the product will be better then expected. Any sign of arrogance and the community could respond badly if the game disappoints in any way. Plus, they want to make sure its done so they dont put their foot in it again with hype that leads to nothing.

If they're so busy completing the game, then why keep us in the loop. When the game arrives, there would be no real surprises waiting for us. Now the game is finished (and being tweaked), Valve are comfortable with starting a small hype machine leading into e3 where all the things you've been wanting will be revealed.

In a way, they have been playing it down, but only so they cover their ass's. Now all is pretty much done, they can stop being tentative and start the marketing wagon.

 

[Murray]

Still the poor binks and the not very impressive screenshots of late don't do much for the hype. The review in PC Zone was quite good though, the writing more than anything was what made it good though.

I fully agree, it was a good read. :cheers: