President of Gearbox questions Valves lack of PS3 support

[Morphine]

Speaking with OPM in the UK, Randy Picthford has questions the motives behind the discussion not to support the PS3 by Valve. Randy Picthford has worked with vavle in the past, and gave his opinion on the PS3 to the magazine. He states "the PS3 is awesome. I think Valve...I don't know why they are doing that. It's weird. but yeah, the Playstation platform's really cool. It's different to others and it's certainly a challenge to be able to develop software for. But that's where the fun is, right?".

After praising the PS3, Randy Picthford say's "I noticed something on the net not too long ago. Doug Lombardi (Valve's VP Marketing) had to take a swipe at the PS3 again, and I thought it was foolish. I read it the same way I read fanboys. Like there's a guy who brought the Sony platform and he's a Sony guy, so he decides he's going to spend a certain percentage of his time bashing Microsoft. And there's a guy on Microsoft doing the same thing. Those guys are childish and narrow minded, It's the same kind of thing" Randy then takes the comments to a more personal level "Valve think their own stuff is the only stuff that matters, to the point where they have their own distribution platform. It's like, I don't care about retail, about Marketplace, or PSN, I'm going to have Steam. It's cool, it's good, and they're doing a good job but at the same time they're reliant on the rest of the world. They had to do that deal with EA. When I see the L4D ad on the television I don't see a Valve logo, I see a EA logo, and when I bought it, I bought it at a store".

Gearbox has a multi-platform game out, which everybody seems to be enjoying on both the PC, PS3 and Xbox360, so Randy couldn't help but also comment on the Orange box fiasco. "I'm actually kind of mad at Doug because with the Orange Box, he said the 360 and PC versions are the good ones and the PS3 version is like the stepchild because some other developer made it. Well you Valve don't really think that, because look what you've done on the PC side. You've supported that, you've added all this content to Team Fortress 2, and you've left us hanging. It's hard to accept that genuinely, because I know the business, I know you guys make half the money on the PS3 version because you've got other fingers in the pie, and other developers getting a cut. It benefits you if nobody buys that, and only buys the PC version, because you make the most money. There's this underlying sleaziness. You know what, I thought the performance was a little slower on the PS3, but it Looked better. The colors were nicer, I thought the image looked better on PS3. It was a trade-off between the performance and the visuals. And I like visuals".

Oh snap, I wonder what Valve has to respond to this

http://www.analoghype.com/2009/11/pr...f-ps3-support/

[Icemage]

Considering how lovely Borderlands looks on PS3, I think he's in a fine position to criticize. (and no, that's NOT sarcasm, for those who haven't played Borderlands - the game is fantastic).

[kingofgrills]

I find it strange that Pitchford's doing this. Gearbox used to be a development partner of Valve, working on the Half-Life series, so maybe it's based on that experience. Gearbox created the Half-Life expansion Blue Shift, and also developed the PS2 and Dreamcast ports of Half-Life.

I read that interview a couple of weeks ago. not in OPM, but another publication, perhaps PC World or something. Anyway, the magazine I read it in tried to gather opinions on Valve from other game developers using Steam to see if they were similar to Gearbox's. Every other developer praised Valve and Steam, saying that distribution system offered the best revenue share of any distribution method. They all said Valve was an incredible distribution partner, and a few said if they were being taken advantage of by Valve, they jokingly asked for more abuse.

I don't think Pitchford's view is shared by many in the industry.

[GLaDOS]

FINALLY!!!!! At least someone talked some sense to Valve. Now where the hell are those PS3 developers Doug Lombardi promised back months ago!?

[Elandyll]

I didn't want to give this its own thread (it doesn't deserve it), but Randy has been proven correct about Valve: They are terminal fanboys, and just wanted to prove it some more today:

http://www.computerandvideogames.com....php?id=226831

Left 4 Dead project lead Chet Faliszek has said the 360 community is "head and shoulders above the PS3", and that's why the multiplayer-focused Left 4 Dead series isn't on Sony's console.

Speaking to CVG in a recent interview (read part one here) Faliszek said the community aspects of the PC and Xbox platforms "really fit" Left 4 Dead - so it's not coming out on PS3.

"Right now for Left 4 Dead 2 we're looking at PC and 360 because the community aspects really fit the game - it's all about playing with your friends," he said.

"But that's the short term. What we're looking at for the long term... if it works out, it works out. Right now don't not buy it on the 360 because you think it's coming out on the PS3 - it's not going to. Right? It's coming out on the PC and 360. It's going to be exclusive for that."

Faliszek replied went on: "In hooking up with your friends and the community aspects, I think the Xbox 360 is head and shoulders above the PS3. The 360 and PC are on par, right?"

Waiting for embarrassing change of tone from Valve PR saying:
"There was a misunderstanding, it was just humor.
The PS3 community needs to grow up and understand when someone makes a joke.
Bunch of idiots.
No ... I did not really say that we think that the PS3 community are idiots. You misunderstood. Again."

[GLaDOS]

Originally Posted by Elandyll

I didn't want to give this its own thread (it doesn't deserve it), but Randy has been proven correct about Valve: They are terminal fanboys, and just wanted to prove it some more today:

http://www.computerandvideogames.com....php?id=226831



Waiting for embarrassing change of tone from Valve PR saying:
"There was a misunderstanding, it was just humor.
The PS3 community needs to grow up and understand when someone makes a joke.
Bunch of idiots.
No ... I did not really say that we think that the PS3 community are idiots. You misunderstood. Again."

This is why Valve is so arrogant about which consoles they pick. At least they could've bundled the game with a PS3 Headset! Besides, the main key to survival in Left 4 Dead is teamwork and communication. Right?

[Warjack Prime]

Valve must not think it would be economically viable to put the game out on the PS3. Certainly if there was money to be made they'd want to make it so there must be some underlying cost they don't want to take a risk on. Surely the person who makes the decisions on which platform they make a game for isn't just a fanboy. Business is business and money is money.

Personally every time I play Uncharted 2 online there's always around 10K players online so I'm not sure why Valve wouldn't think there would be sufficient online support for their game. Personally I'd fork over $60 for it and I'm sure a lot of others would. Maybe Microsoft paid them to keep it exclusive. Who knows? As far as I'm concerned there are plenty of other good games out there for the PS3 so it's no skin off my back. It's their loss.

[alanshearer]

I think with yet more smack talk the reason they dont put games on the ps3 is because of close links to microsoft.

[Psx0005]

Ehhhhhh...I'm too busy playing Uncharted 2 and getting ready for Modern Warfare 2 to care about L4D2 or Val..wait, who?

[curse]

Originally Posted by kingofgrills

I find it strange that Pitchford's doing this. Gearbox used to be a development partner of Valve, working on the Half-Life series, so maybe it's based on that experience. Gearbox created the Half-Life expansion Blue Shift, and also developed the PS2 and Dreamcast ports of Half-Life.

I read that interview a couple of weeks ago. not in OPM, but another publication, perhaps PC World or something. Anyway, the magazine I read it in tried to gather opinions on Valve from other game developers using Steam to see if they were similar to Gearbox's. Every other developer praised Valve and Steam, saying that distribution system offered the best revenue share of any distribution method. They all said Valve was an incredible distribution partner, and a few said if they were being taken advantage of by Valve, they jokingly asked for more abuse.

I don't think Pitchford's view is shared by many in the industry.

man dont forget opposing forces. That was a badass expansion

[Cplhicks]

This is why I don't think I'd buy a Valve game even if they did get around to PS3 at this point. They want to continue being fanboys and insulting its users then I don't need 'em. And honestly, truthfully, I have no interest in L4D. Even if I did, there are plenty more way better looking games out there for PS3. Just wait till Valve comes crawling because PS3 has outsold 360. Ha.

[Terjyn]

Originally Posted by kingofgrills

I find it strange that Pitchford's doing this. Gearbox used to be a development partner of Valve, working on the Half-Life series, so maybe it's based on that experience. Gearbox created the Half-Life expansion Blue Shift, and also developed the PS2 and Dreamcast ports of Half-Life.

I read that interview a couple of weeks ago. not in OPM, but another publication, perhaps PC World or something. Anyway, the magazine I read it in tried to gather opinions on Valve from other game developers using Steam to see if they were similar to Gearbox's. Every other developer praised Valve and Steam, saying that distribution system offered the best revenue share of any distribution method. They all said Valve was an incredible distribution partner, and a few said if they were being taken advantage of by Valve, they jokingly asked for more abuse.

I don't think Pitchford's view is shared by many in the industry.

None of this is remotely opposed to what Pitchford said though. He even called Steam a good product.

He's right about Valve and Steam. I bought the box version of Left 4 Dead PC and the first thing it made me do is register it with Steam. Why?

[GLaDOS]

Originally Posted by Terjyn

None of this is remotely opposed to what Pitchford said though. He even called Steam a good product.

He's right about Valve and Steam. I bought the box version of Left 4 Dead PC and the first thing it made me do is register it with Steam. Why?

Because they're greedy money-making douchebags who make games with sub-par graphics and hate on other consoles for some ridiculous claims?

[AikonEnt]

And still I find no reason to ever buy a Valve game. The PS3 has plenty of bloody good games (both currently and to be released), I don't need their stuff. Please, make it official and only make products for M$, we will have no need to talk about them on a PS3 forum anymore

[GLaDOS]

Originally Posted by AikonEnt

And still I find no reason to ever buy a Valve game. The PS3 has plenty of bloody good games (both currently and to be released), I don't need their stuff. Please, make it official and only make products for M$, we will have no need to talk about them on a PS3 forum anymore

Yes. If they hate the PS3 so much and think that the 360 is much on-par that our console, just merge with Microsoft Game Studios and leave us alone.

[ratandjmt]

Originally Posted by icemage

considering how lovely borderlands looks on ps3, i think he's in a fine position to criticize. (and no, that's not sarcasm, for those who haven't played borderlands - the game is fantastic).

+1

[GLaDOS]

Originally Posted by alanshearer

I think with yet more smack talk the reason they dont put games on the ps3 is because of close links to microsoft.

Just to shut them up, I'm thinking of e-mailing Valve about leaving us alone and going back to Microsoft for exclusivity.

[Sylin]

It almost seems like Valve is afraid to develop for the PS3, at the risk of making a sub-par game and losing what little credibility they have with PS3 owners.

The "lack of community" argument is complete BS. Sure, XBL is great, but PSN is nothing to sneeze at. As others have mentioned, the good games on PS3 do have a great online community behind them.

If Valve was able to develop a PS3 game on-par with Uncharted, R&C, GoW, etc. they would do it, and they'd make a mint. But they can't, so they don't.

But what's most insulting is their arrogance. Instead of saying they have no interest in the PS3 platform, they bash it. They bash its fans. They bash its architecture. I think Randy's comments were a way of saying, "Enough. Either you can dev for the PS3, or you can't. Put up or shut up."