Why, Valve, Why!?

[Grant]

Why does it take Valve so long to design games?

[Grant]

Valve released their Golden Child, Half-Life 2, almost five years ago, and they have yet to bring anything to the table since. Their release of Portal 2 just got pushed back until later next year, and they were cited as saying, "Making video games is hard..." Well, it is hard. I was a tester once, no twice, well thrice, and that was even hard. However, it seems that up to a point that excuse can be taken seriously, but at this juncture I am starting to think that maybe making video games is so hard because they aren't making any.

It would be difficult to make a video game materialize out of thin air, or pull it out of a hat, or do a "prestige" and transport the video game. That would be hard.

I want to dispatch some soldiers with familiar, mechanized voices. More than once every five years...

[Steven]

What about L4D1/2? Does the zombie apocalypse mean nothing to you, sir? But as quality as those games are (the first more than the second from what I hear), admittedly they aren't quite as halfy-lifey as some would like them to be...

But wait a minute?...Why am I even talking about those two games? Isn't there something that I'm forgetting?

Hmmm...oh yeah, Portal.

To say nothing of the fact that Portal is now being taught to aspiring educated elitists, http://www.geek.com/articles/games/portal-becomes-part-of-college-curriculum-20100824/, it is also one of the most incredible games I've ever played -- and did you see the latest video release? http://www.joystiq.com/2010/08/24/portal-2-video-steven-merchant-debuts-as-wheatley/#continued ? The sequel is increasingly looking to be far more than just "more portal" i.e. more levels.

In other words, Valve be working hard. And if I have to wait a little for Portal 2, I will. Their track record speaks for itself.

Oh yeah, and Steam's pretty cool too.

[Grant]

Valve IS one of the greatest games ever made. However, it is short, and almost like an appetizer to tide fans over so they don't get anxious over a five year period of waiting. There needs to be a middle ground--Call of Duty Games are released far TOO often, and Valve games are released far TOO sparsely. Let's go with a nice Halo-paced release schedule: more games than you need, but enough so you don't grow old and die. 

[David]

The answer to "Why, Valve, Why?!?' is simple:
They're sadistic and know they can pull us along like heroin addicts because their shit is just that good.

Well... except for Ricochet.

Speaking of Valve... Click Here.

[Grant]

Undoubtedly, Portal 2 will be off the chain. They are obviously putting in extreme effort to make it perfect, which can be inferred by them pushing the date back (unless its marketing-related). We can expect to be amazed at least. Anticipation isn't so bad...?.?.? Maybe? Guys?

[Steven]

Here's the answer to what they've been doing: http://www.pcgamer.com/2010/08/26/valve-were-making-a-fairy-rpg-before-left-4-dead/