HL2 RC to VU

[ds91]

http://www.hl2fallout.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=6610&st=0

Joy.


This one is real. :P

[Uthor]

Is it sad that I don't what this thread is all about?

[ds91]

Release Canidate to Vivendi Universal
Gabe Newell confirmed today on our forum, that the Half-Life 2 release candidate was handed over to Vivendi Universal 15th of September. Vivendi Universal would still have to approve this release candidate, which could take several weeks. When the release candidate(s) are approved, an gold announcement should follow.
Yes, the RC went to VU yesterday.

With this short but vital piece of information, we can only determine that Half-Life 2 is in fact, right in front of our noses.

For readers who dispute and / or doubt the authenticity of this post due to recent events, the statement is true and made by Gabe Newell himself.

[Doc Wattson]

To many awesome games coming out at the same time.

-Gary-

[Canon]

F*** vivendi. They should release it exclusively through steam.

[ds91]

canon]F*** vivendi. They should release it exclusively through steam.

WHAT? I want a damn box.

[Canon]

With steam you can reinstall on any computer anywhere and it remembers your cd-keys. They should release the game through steam right now... then all that revenue goes into their pockets.

[ds91]

With a box i can input my cdkey into steam and reinstall from anywhere and have a box.

[nOOB]

canon]With steam you can reinstall on any computer anywhere and it remembers your cd-keys. They should release the game through steam right now... then all that revenue goes into their pockets.

Dip, you can buy it thourgh steam. VU is just the publisher. They put in it the box in the stores. HL2 will use steam just like HL/CS/ blah blah blah

[[gh]Spurty]

Excellent .. September 15th, 2005

[Canon]

canon]With steam you can reinstall on any computer anywhere and it remembers your cd-keys. They should release the game through steam right now... then all that revenue goes into their pockets.

Dip, you can buy it thourgh steam. VU is just the publisher. They put in it the box in the stores. HL2 will use steam just like HL/CS/ blah blah blah

Obviously, you stupid bix. I'm talking about cirvumventing the publisher completely and only making HL2 available through steam. Also, if this were the case they could release the game RIGHT NOW. I know it's going to be available through steam. Read, you fool.

[Doc Wattson]

They would be utter morons to not sell boxes via VU. There is no way they'd make as much money if they used steam only. I'd guess long term they'd make maybe 40% of the sales without VU invovled.

-Gary-

[Canon]

I'd guess long term they'd make maybe 40% of the sales without VU invovled.

-Gary-

Based on what?

[ds91]

Based on not everyone has cable? Not every little kids parents will let them use their credit card. Some people like having something tangible in their hands? Some people might not even know about the game, or that it was released.

[Canon]

Some people might not even know about the game, or that it was released.

I suppose Valve isn't going to advertise what is most likely the most highly anticipated fps ever.

How many kids have the hardware to run this game?
What percentage of sales do kids constitute in the fps market?
How many users are there on Steam? How many are kids?
How many people would rather have another cardboard box sitting in their closet plus another cdcase and cdkey to keep track rather than just letting valve worry about that crap?

If they're not going to cirvumvent the publisher... they should at least release the game on steam a couple weeks earlier.

[Doc Wattson]

Based on nothing but my far superior brain.

Lets put it this way. Most games that have a shorter shelf life then HL2 would jump to sell a large number of games via the web without a middle man. HL2 is different though.

1) I think you vastly under estimate the value of having a copy of your game on a shelf just for advertising perposes. Companys pay extra to have their games places at onthe best shelfs possible. A game that wishes to sell as many copys as HL2 does needs as much press and advertising as it can get.

2) HL2 won't be the last HL ever made. The more people that play HL2 the more potential customers you have for HL3. A company might make more money for one game via a web distrobution but you tanish the brand name for future releases since you have lowered the user base.

3) HL2 long term succes is hinged on community. For the best community possible you need the most people possible. For the most people possible you need to sell the most copys possible. If you get ride of one of the world's largest distributors in VU you just shot the size of your community in the foot.

4) HL2 is going to be a holiday game. You are telling me that the best way to sell a game you are marketing as a great XMas gift is to not have it in any store or have a box that can be wrapped as a present? Internet holiday sales ae way up but the Mall still dominates seasonal shopping.

To sum up if you get ride of VU and only go steam for HL2 you might make more money short term (which I doupt they'd make half as much money) but you've ruined your long term hopes for the brand. HL being Valve's flagship product is as much about brand as anything therefor dumping VU would be a long term mistake.

-Gary-

[Doc Wattson]

canon]How many kids have the hardware to run this game?

If not enough kids have the hardware to run HL2 then valve made a huge mistake with their required system specs for the game to do well.

canon]
What percentage of sales do kids constitute in the fps market?

Don't know a percentage but more are kids then aren't.

canon]
How many users are there on Steam? How many are kids?

I'd guess a vast majority, especially in CS's prime. When you go pubbing it's hard to find a server that isn't dominated by kids.

canon]
How many people would rather have another cardboard box sitting in their closet plus another cdcase and cdkey to keep track rather than just letting valve worry about that crap?

A majority. It's like web based books. People like tangable assests. People like CDs incase anything happens. People like giving their copys of games to friends/realatives. People just like the ritual of browsing and shopping.

-Gary-

[Canon]

A majority. It's like web based books. People like tangable assests. People like CDs incase anything happens. People like giving their copys of games to friends/realatives.

-Gary-

Web-based books are a bad example. Who wants to stare at a lightbulb for the duration of a paper-back book? Of course you want a hardcopy.

So far as the christmas release goes, I agree with you.

[ferret]

STFU, HL2 pwns j00.

[Canon]

I hate compuserve. Die.

[Doc Wattson]

I agree, Prodigy dunked on compuserve. You could order your groceries through them and they'd be delivered within 72 hours.

-Gary-