Several sources are reporting that the much-anticipated update to TF2, including the new medic achievements and the Goldrush map, will not be released until sometime next week.
In other disappointing Valve news, there will be no Portal sequel this year, though I hadn’t actually heard that there might be a Portal sequel this year, so I’m not actually disappointed, but maybe you are. At any rate, we should know by now that Valve releases things when they are ready, not when we are, and, while perhaps painful for us, it’s always the right choice.
Frankly, though, I think Portal would be a great vehicle for episodic installments. Moreso than Half-Life 2 is/was. The entire game was only a few hours long, and I’d be happy to pay 10 bucks or so for another hour of play every few months.
28 responses so far ↓
1 Koth // Apr 25, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Nice tag. Portal doesn’t need a sequel. It was good as it was, and I’m sure modders are doing some creative things with it.
2 Ojive // Apr 25, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Will the update be coming to 360? I must know…
3 RobotLiberationArmy // Apr 25, 2008 at 7:30 pm
I know Wolpaw has spoken as though Portal sequels are planned in interviews.
I’m wondering who actually expected Valve to release the update on schedule. These people are hopelessly naive.
4 jordan // Apr 25, 2008 at 7:53 pm
can’t wait for goldrush :D
5 AR // Apr 25, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Valve are one of the few companies I trust enough that, when they say they need more time, I don’t begrudge them it.
I trust them not to ruin franchises. And they once more have proven themselves worthy by not “cashing in” with a cheap Portal sequel.
Heck, I even trust Valve enough that I’ll happily run Steam :)
6 MadTinkerer // Apr 25, 2008 at 8:53 pm
According to the “Valve Episode” of Gametrailers TV: http://www.gametrailers.com/gametrailerstv_player.php?ep=10&sd=0
They are definitely working on Portal 2 and Counterstrike 2(!) and keeping very quiet on the details for now. It seems to me (educated guess) like HL2Ep3 might be bundled with CS2 and maybe something we don’t know about yet, but Portal 2 won’t be ready for that particular compilation.
7 Sizzlord // Apr 25, 2008 at 9:40 pm
@MadTinker.
It’s been a while since I’ve seen that video but I’m fairly certain that Gabe specifically said they had absolutely NO plans at making a counter-strike 2, it wasn’t even remotely on the cards.
The gametrailers dude threw all the CS2 stuff into the trailers for the show to drum up some interest the cheeky bastards.
8 Byron // Apr 25, 2008 at 10:52 pm
When can will you update Livin’ in Oblivion? You are hilarious, and so is that series, and I hope that you continue it.
9 mr. Brit // Apr 26, 2008 at 12:08 am
Why wouldn’t you want a mlnew portal game?! Modders may be making neqlw levels but nothing they make is canon, I can’t wait for the return of glados, however it happens.
@AR you say you trust valve not to ruin the franchise but are glad they haven’t made a cash-in. This is valve (sorry, the valve) and I think they can be trusted to make it great! What about a multiplayer version where each person has one colour portal to fire?
10 mr. Brit // Apr 26, 2008 at 12:10 am
whoops, sorry about the spelling (and double post) I am writing on an iPod touch, keyboard is kinds crappy
11 Lack_26 // Apr 26, 2008 at 2:01 am
I’m fine with giving The Valve more time, it just makes it better when they release it.
12 The Rev. Name Withheld // Apr 26, 2008 at 8:03 am
(ahem)
VAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLVVVVVVVVVVLVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
13 Enedok // Apr 26, 2008 at 8:50 am
@The Rev. Name Withheld
P-p-p-p-p-pagebreaker!
I think making completly new portal is the best idea. They made a fantastic new gameplay experience, but it only have “that” much before you have seen it before. Its a number of times you can “weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-sling” yourself around before you are seasick. As valve said themself, its a much better idea to re-revolution it then follow the same track.
14 SenatorPalpatine // Apr 26, 2008 at 9:55 am
“HL2Ep3 might be bundled with CS2 and maybe something we don’t know about yet, but Portal 2 won’t be ready for that particular compilation.”
Haha, MadTinkerer, just because Portal 2 isn’t coming out this year doesn’t mean it won’t be bundled with Ep3.
15 Ayrton // Apr 26, 2008 at 11:25 am
The valve said about 2-3 months back that they hadn’t even STARTED on ep3 yet, so I’m guessing that it’ll be at least 2 years before we see it if not longer (They also said that this one will be longer seeing as it is the end of Half-Life 2, so longer = more development time.)
Fingers crossed for the TF2 update before the apocalypse.
16 SenatorPalpatine // Apr 26, 2008 at 12:51 pm
I was under the impression that there were basically two teams working on episodes. One worked on Ep1 and one worked on Ep2, and when Ep1 released, they started working on Ep3. I’m not sure where I heard that. Anyone know what I’m talking about?
Also, what’s wrong with AT&T Chris?
17 Sinister Minister // Apr 26, 2008 at 3:54 pm
@Ayrton: No, they only said the plot details weren’t “formalized”.
18 Punjabi Fury // Apr 26, 2008 at 5:17 pm
I have more respect for Valve than any other game manufacturer. Whenever they delay something, I know they’re just making it better and to be patient. They don’t put out shoddy products quickly; they take their time and its always worth the wait.
…On the other hand, I am literally salivating over this update. Also over Left 4 Dead.
Seriously, my keyboard is getting moist. Do you want my keyboard to be moist, Valve?
Maybe you do. Maybe you just don’t care about the water content of my computer devices.
Maybe I should just stop buying your games until you release an saliva-proof TF2-themed keyboard for me to use. After a long delay.
19 Baejung92 // Apr 26, 2008 at 5:30 pm
SenatorPalpatine:
They did say that in an interview with Games For Windows magazine. The Ep1 team was supposed to “leapfrog” and start on Ep3 while the Ep2 guys did their thing. But later I think they said they just merged the two teams to work on 2.
20 John Saflo // Apr 26, 2008 at 6:30 pm
The longer Valve keeps TF2 unlockable-free, the happier I am. The shame of it is I can’t play it anymore on this jalopy of a computer, and so probably won’t be able to enjoy my beloved game before it’s catastrophically changed forever and anarchy is loosed upon the Steam Community.
Staying in killjoy mode, I also think Portal 2 is a bad idea. Using the portal mechanic or even the gun in another game, sure, great idea (coughEPISODETHREEcough), but attaching a lumpy, misshapen superstructure in the form of a franchise to a gleaming example of game-as-art doesn’t sit well with me. Say, would anyone happen to have a tissue? I appear to be crying hysterically.
21 Landon // Apr 26, 2008 at 8:03 pm
they haven’t even started episode 3 yet? why not just skip the episode and just make Half-Life 3 already? someone should really explain the whole concept of episodic gaming to valve.
and what’s with the “at&t” tag? lol
22 Sinister Minister // Apr 26, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Does anyone read the interviews? They just didn’t have the plot formalized. If they just skipped it and went to HL3, that means we’d have to wait several more years. You know how it goes.
23 AR // Apr 27, 2008 at 4:40 am
Landon:
This *is* an episodic product schedule for Valve!
Remember how long the non-episodic HL2 took to come out (ditto for TF2). Not to mention the delays they tacked on at the end.
24 n00bie51 // Apr 27, 2008 at 7:19 am
I couldn’t agree more with John Saflo. Team Fortress 2 with unlockables. That’s like adding RPG elements to Pac-Man, dude, it’s so out of place and it would dramatically change the gameplay, probably for the worse. TF2 has always been a simple, yet deep shooter; adding in unlockables could upset the balance that Valve so precariously fine tuned.
25 Slamhound // Apr 27, 2008 at 8:38 am
Okay folks, here’s something interesting:
http://forums.steampowered.com/forums/showthread.php?t=676607
Basically, a fair few of the achievements with (frankly) ridiculous requirements have been toned down to more realistic levels. Of note are the following:
Blunt Trauma: Was 4 fist kills in a single uber, now 2.
Medical Breakthrough: Down from 8 buildings to 5.
You’ll Feel a Little Prick: From 4 to 3.
Big Pharma: From 30 to 20.
Autoclave: From 8 to 5.
Sawbones: From 10 hits to 5.
And more importantly:
Chief of Staff: Health healed reduced from 10,000,000 to 1,000,000.
No word on how official these changes are, but the info is gleaned from the Flickr album of a guy who visited Valve’s offices.
26 Korolev // Apr 27, 2008 at 9:36 am
I hope Valve does Rock2 next. It’s the map where you have to get key and bring it the gas chamber to release the nerve gas. Here’s hoping for Hunted too!
27 Punjabi Fury // Apr 27, 2008 at 11:35 am
Hunted has evolved into Payload (Goldrush map type).
28 World of Arcana » The Ultimate Week // Apr 28, 2008 at 2:31 pm
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