670°

Gearbox CEO: Valve has a "foolish" attitude towards PS3

Gearbox Software's Randy Pitchford has reprised his attack on Valve, criticisng the company's attitude towards PS3 development and, once again, its Steam digital distribution platform.
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AndyA - contributor
Published: 48 days 21 hours ago | News | Industry News
 
 

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Leord - 48 days 22 hours ago
1 -
I love video game industry drama, lol
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Real Gambler - 48 days 22 hours ago
1.1 - Well, I particularly like this comment:
"I know you guys make half the money on the PS3 version because you've got other fingers in the pie"

(Is that literally?)
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Leord - 48 days 22 hours ago
1.2 -
Probably :P
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imdaboss - 48 days 21 hours ago
1.3 -
panda will be in here in a few to defend Valve lmao
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StanLee - 48 days 20 hours ago
1.4 -
OLD.
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toaster - 48 days 20 hours ago
1.5 - Panda always has something good to say.
But since I'm here first I might as well defend Valve.

"Valve think their own stuff is the only stuff that matters, to the point where they have their own distribution platform,”

Does he not know what Steam is? They are selling OTHER people's games too. They're even selling their competitors' games. In fact, There are more non Valve games being bought on Steam than games that Valve developed. Yeah yeah click the disagree button but anyone who has ever looked through the Steam store knows that.
And even small indie dev's make good money from Steam. Sure Valve is getting money from every purchase, but those small developers stated that they aren't being taken advantage of when it comes to the money. They actually said that Valve gave them a good share of it.

I really don't know why Pitchford is complaining because Borderlands is in the Top 5 best selling games recently on Steam. In fact, it is holding 4th quite nicely.
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STK026 - 48 days 19 hours ago
1.6 -
“It's like, I don't care about retail, about Marketplace, or PSN, I'm going to have Steam."

Valve has released a title on marketplace, maybe Randy should check his info. Also, what should they release on the PSN? They don't have games to put on it, they won't develop a title just for the sake of using the PSN. And since most of their catalogue is on PC, how the hell does he want them to use the marketplace or PSN more?

And what about EA, they hae their online digital store, and they only sell EA games (I think), isn't that much worse? What about Stardock and their Impulse?

As for retail, Valve games are sold at retail. They are. What else is there to say.

What Valve is doing is in no shape or form different than the PSN or the marketplace, except they don't own the platform. Following his logic, you could say that Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo don't care about retail, they have their own distribution system, would that make sense? Of course it wouldn't.

Gearbox is a competent studio, Borderlands is a very good game, I'll give them that much credit. However, they lack the vision Valve has. Back when they released Half-life, they showed they could make a FPS like no other. When Steam was released (I believe it was back when CS 1.6 was released, anyway, that's when I got in), they pushed digital distribution, and look where things are headed now, all three console makers have their own digital storefront. While in many ways Valve is ahead of the pack, Gearbox is either in the pack, or just beside it (Borderlands isn't a revolution in anyway, simply put, you could say it's a more shooter-centric cel shaded fallout3).

Also, look at the pedigree for both developpers. Valve has pretty much only released stellar titles, with some disappointing outings (yes Condition Zero, I'm obviously talking about you). Their internally developped titles are pretty much all "AAA titles". Take a look at gearbox, some decent to good ports and spinoffs (including some related to Half life) and 2 franchises, the brother in arms one (started awesome, but seems to be dieing out now, with the awful Double time wii port and the slightly disappointing earned in blood) and borderlands (again, great game).

Just my thoughts. Also, don't bite the hand that feeds Randy. Don't.
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sikbeta - 48 days 17 hours ago
1.7 -
It has no sense, you CAN'T Force valve to make games for PS3, but you CAN Force them to Shut Up when they're talking about PS3 and It's community, no more, no less
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pogibaldy - 48 days 17 hours ago
1.8 - I LOVE my PS3...but this is Ridiculous.
The fact is, as a PC gamer I haven't PERSONALLY found a better source of convenient distribution than Valve's Steam service. There are competitors, such as Direct2Drive, other sites, and brick and mortar stores, but they simply don't currently match Steam's community of gamers, ease of installation after downloading, or ready user support. At least as far as I have experienced. With that in mind, why should I hate Steam if it is easy and convenient and a great venue for PC gaming companies everywhere? Frankly, kudos for Valve for saying "Hey, here is a great idea. If we create a venue of distribution for PC devs everywhere, backed by a great community system so gamers can socialize, we can grow our business and help other PC devs too!"

Secondly, I would love to see some good Valve games appear on PS3 and not as Ports. However, Valve has the right to choose for themselves. It is ridiculous that they should be forced as a company to do something they don't want to. Look at it this way, are people trying to force NAUGHTY DOG and INSOMNIAC to put their great games (like Uncharted 2 and Ratchet and Clank) on 360? Of course not. So why is it okay to try and coerce Valve into developing on PS3? It is simply ridiculous...and I am a genuine PS3 fan.
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stewgart - 48 days 16 hours ago
1.9 -
steam is great despite its occasional hiccups. Valve make great games despite them being a$$holes about the ps3. I don't want them to make games on ps3 or any console for that matter, I'd prefer them to focus PC. The only problem is, if steam was to go down the sh!tter for whatever reason there is no legal obligation on them to get you your games back...
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Raz - 48 days 16 hours ago
1.10 - ZOMG PS3 IS SO HARD TO PROGRAM FOR!!!
I am sooo tired of hearing this nonsense regurgitated over and over.

God forbid anyone should ever have to learn anything new; they might actually have to put some genuine effort into making their games, instead of slapping them together on the ancient PC hardware standard and then porting them to consoles for an insultingly high markup.

So would someone turn off Valve? It's leaking all over the floor.
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mastiffchild - 48 days 16 hours ago
1.11 -
pogibalsy-firstly you shouldn't have to defend your opinion by staing what you game on. Secondly I think yiou're missing the issue with Valve. Noone goes on about insomniac being PS3 exclusive because he(Ted Price) is always straight about why they do this and doesn't ever write anything our of the question either. He also doesn't slag off the PC or the 360 or the Wii and certainly doesn't knock the users of non Sony platforms.

Sadly, Valve contunually, and with no reason and noone else staring anything, do all the above in the direction of the PS3 and it's gamers. It's that which annoys gamers who otherwise would very mch agree with Valve that they can develop for whoever they want.

Yes, Valve should do what they want development wise but they need to drop the hatred(and that's what it looks like to me)of Sony and her gamers. What have PSN users done to deserve being knocked by Chet? How stupid do Gabe's moans about(and about a soncole he NEVER had any intention of working on!)PS3 architecture look when games that look like KZ2 and U2 arrive from devs without Valves stellar rep? Gabe's MS heavy past doesn't help things look good and leave him open to accusations of fanboyism(and devs CAN be fanboys)so the reasons for Valve to stop publicly hating on the PS3 are numerous aside from it lookin very unprofessional and distasteful-it muct be below them and while it isn't they'll look silly.

Personally I have begger issues with Valve than all this-like the pathetic state of L4D on the 360 compared to the great little game it is for PC gamers who, if they're wise like most of us, will have paid less than half what 360 owners did for the game. On PS3 Epic were allowed to give full support to UT3-we got mods and everything community based as well-and Valve SHOUL, if community is neck and neck to them on PC and 360 want their game to be as much the same as possible, no? Things like that ar what 360 fans should be asking Valve and not supporting them for theor indefensible outvursts. Outbursts that NO other dev makes in any direction.

For me Steam works well. L4D is a great, if shallow PC experience and I'm as excited for Ep3 as anyone. BUT I won't be geting anything new from Valve til they stop the bashing as there's simply too much of it about these days even iof Valve are the only ones prepared to pick on gamers and a platform.T10 have been awful this year with their antics and don't start me on IW/Activision! GAMERS DESERVE BETTER THAN BEING ABUSED AND/OR LIED TO BY THE PEOPLE WE KEEP IN A JOB! Thats' where Valve are clearly in the wrong, by neing at the vanguard of the move towards crappy behaviour among devs and it's got little to do with PS3 gamers "forcing" them to make PS3 games at all.

Maybe they want to make it clear to EA that they don't want to make PS3 games. That there's too much on their plate and, by knocking the Orange Box on PS3, also saying they don't want others porting their games there either. It's understandable that they wouldn't wish to be associated with poor ports afterall and equally that they might not have the team to dev for PS3 right now. Thing is, when push comes to shove EA WILL want EP3 on PS3, we all know that's a fact as the market is a big one for such a game-and where will Valve go then?

Honestly I think they need to can it before they really make fools of themselves. However, this has far less to do with PS3 fanboys than it does Valve continually starting flamewars for no apparent reason when they could act like Epic,Incomniac or any othr dev hthat makes exclusive games and then gets asked about it.
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pogibaldy - 48 days 15 hours ago
1.12 - @ mastiffchild
I'm not trying to defend Gabe who definitely has a big fat mouth and stokes fires that shouldn't even exist. In fact, his PS3 stance has long angered me. I simply refer to Valve, the company that employees more people than just its aggravating leader. I do so not to support what the company does wrong, but what the company does right. Me saying I personally appreciate Steam doesn't mean I agree with Gabe's stance on Sony's console. With that in mind, I'm not going to let certain individuals (Gabe, other Valve leaders) stop me from enjoying what are otherwise good offerings from the company.

In other words, I throw Pitchford into a similar group with Gabe because, just as you said, there is too much bashing in general these days. Pitchford disagreeing with much of Valve's moves are fine, but him bashing the service (Steam) that his game (Borderlands) is sold through makes me think of him as just another loud mouth in a sea of loudmouths. Most importantly, just like I don't let Gabe ruin great Valve products for me, I don't let Pitchford ruin Borderlands for me. It's frankly a fun and engrossing game.

Maybe after all of this you will simply think I am a real tool, but I am not here to anger you. All I am saying is that as a gamer I need to pick my battles. For example, just as you said, IW's treatment of the PC community has been enough to keep me from buying MW2. That doesn't, however, keep me PERSONALLY from purchasing any future title they may one day make if it seems like a better deal for the gaming community. In other words, I can hate Gabe's big fat mouth full of bad opinions, but still take advantage of Steam - through which I have, ironically, only purchased non-Valve games thus far. On that note, I own Borderlands, but still disagree with some of Pitchford's reasoning.

Again, perhaps you will strongly disagree and think of me as a horrible person. Even if that is the case, I wish you well because I feel you are COMPLETELY entitled to your opinions...and I would never take that from you. I pick my battles and happily let you choose your own. Game on.
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thetamer - 48 days 22 hours ago
2 -
I love Pitchford
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Maticus - 48 days 22 hours ago
3 -
I used Steam for the first time recently, and I must say I had problems with it. Not a fan either.
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Geralt - 48 days 22 hours ago
3.1 -
Steam is a real nuisance at first, and really gets under your skin - I started off in September last year with it, and being forced to use it when I installed the Orange Box was annoying as hell - being forced to update all the games, but I just wanted to jump in and play them... I gave up, and didn't use the program for months.

Then in February this year I decided to reinstall it and give it one more go - once I understood how it all worked, I quite liked it.

Now it's always opened on the tray, and I never exit it - it's become my main source of games, with currently over 140 games I've purchased through it.
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Fyzzu - 48 days 21 hours ago
3.2 -
Yeah, I'm with Geralt. It was a nightmare when I first used it for Orange Box, but they've iterated on it a lot since then and it's now quick and useful - once you've got past the initial setup. I can imagine it's a pain if you need to forward ports and so on.
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hatchimatchi - 48 days 17 hours ago
3.3 -
steam is a POS.

I bought the orange box when i was deployed in the desert, and we had the internet out there every once in a while. Well when i wasn't logged into the internet it wouldn't let me play half life 2. I can't tell you how "happy" i was when steam wouldn't let me play a game i had bought.

I know i'll get some comment about how i was doing something wrong, but i wasn't. Any software program that takes DRM so seriously that it comes to the point when you can't play a product that you bought from a store is a horrible horrible program and design decision.

I can't be bothered by anything valve has to offer at this point. L4D is overrated and the source engine looks like garbage nowadays.
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Fyzzu - 48 days 22 hours ago
4 -
Is it sleazy? Really? I can see his point but I still think he's making a big fuss out of absolutely nothing.
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AndyA - 48 days 22 hours ago
5 -
He just likes to sound off a bit, it's hard to take him too seriously IMO. Still, though, another kick in the nuts for Valve.
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Dorjan - 48 days 22 hours ago
6 -
Nice, drama +1!
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SpoonyRedMage - 48 days 21 hours ago
7 -
Yer Randy it's great how Gearbox self-published Borderla- oh wait...

Both him and Valve just need to shut up and people need to stop pestering Valve about the PS3 because then they won't come out with the BS...
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Eddie20101 - 48 days 21 hours ago
7.1 -
I have a PS3, Xbox 360 and a good PC, I bought for my PC. It's over hyped, not worth pestering for, and nothing Valve should be beating there chest over. Weak game engine graphics wise and its basically a one trick pony, no real variety and the single player should have been called the tutorial, no story.
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Gamingisfornerds - 48 days 21 hours ago
8 - Pitchford is a tool
Which makes it difficult to take anything serious coming out of his foul mouth.
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SL1M DADDY - 48 days 20 hours ago
8.1 - Gabe Newell is a tool too...
So you use a tool to combat against a tool, tit for tat.
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lowcarb - 48 days 18 hours ago
8.2 -
How is Gabe a tool because he doesn't like the PS3 and only wants to develop for the 360 and Pc? Pitchford just has some personal issues going on to the point where he's just out of the loop on why some developers can't stand anything Sony or it's fanbase.
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z-hayden - 48 days 15 hours ago
8.3 -
^^^
because the fat turd feels its necessary to put down ps3 owners and sony in general...ps3 owners like myself haven't forgotten about all the crap he has said in the past to fuel the stupid fanboy war.
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BlackTar187 - 48 days 15 hours ago
8.4 - Lowcarb
please let us know the loop of why devs. dont like sony? or is it just Valve and valve alone?

Please link the list of some sort or we will just tally this up to your nonsense posts on n4g.
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Gamingisfornerds - 48 days 15 hours ago
8.5 - Imo, Gabe is also a tool.
I think it's funny I get 10 disagree's for that statement. And you know what's funnier? They're all from PS3 fanboys jumping on the Pitchford bandwagon just because he said something negative about Valve, at which Gabe resides.

So when I say Pitchford is a tool, they take it as a personal attack against the PS3. Yes, that's how disturbed you PS3 fanboys really are.
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mattygamefreak - 48 days 21 hours ago
9 -
I could care less whether Valve develops for the PS3 or not. They used to make great games, but haven't for quite a few years now. Where's Half Life 3?

Valve probably realized that they would have to make a new engine to run their games on PS3 and since it wouldn't be the Source engine they wouldn't be able to make anything good. It seems that's the only thing they know how to use these days.

Valve, you aren't cool anymore. Show me Half Life 3 or GTFO !
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ultimolu - 48 days 21 hours ago
10 -
Hmm, interesting comments...
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TheDeadMetalhead - 48 days 7 hours ago
10.1 -
How do you get 7 disagrees for saying that? @_@
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Pumbli - 48 days ago
10.2 -
Maybe people find these comment so extremely uninteresting that they disagree with the guys who finds them interesting.

On topic:
Though I mostly agree with telling Valve just to shut up about the PS3 already, this guy doesn't sound any better then them...
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LightofDarkness - 48 days 20 hours ago
11 -
You know, for a company that got their start thanks to Valve, they certainly show a lot of disrespect. Valve granted them a total of SIX projects based on Half-Life, essentially Gearbox wouldn't exist without piggy-backing off of the success of Valve's greatest IP. And since they're selling their products via Steam, I would advise Mr. Pitchford to stop biting the hand that feeds.
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Eddie20101 - 46 days 7 hours ago
11.1 -
On the same note. Since this company has worked with them so much, they probably understand how Valve is run, and what there motivation is.

Maybe since they have a pretty successful game being published by 2k Games,and don't need Valve anymore, He (Gearbox) feel they can speak freely about Valve and how they do business.
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Feral Gamer - 48 days 20 hours ago
12 -
His bickering makes him no better than Gabe.
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divideby0 - 48 days 20 hours ago
13 -
this nitwitt clearly didnt play his companys own game...
Borderlands is hands down the most broken and messed up game I have ever purchased.

the only thing going right for GB is calling out Valve
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Bathyj - 48 days 20 hours ago
14 -
Randy, Randy, Randy.

We love you Randy.

Make love to me Randy, please.
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ElementX - 48 days 20 hours ago
14.1 -
I didn't know you swung that way, welcome to the club!
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Bathyj - 48 days 17 hours ago
14.2 -
Easy Tiger. Its a Southpark gag.

Only Vampires are allowed to try and turn me.
15 becoolbiz00 | 48 days 20 hours ago - comment has been reported as SPAM -
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toaster - 48 days 20 hours ago
15.1 - This becoolbiz guy is a bot.
Oh no! I'm going to get banned!! :O

Seriously. The mods here need to block this ip address. Not hard to do..
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FxckOSX - 48 days 20 hours ago
16 -
A born fool(and FAT) is never cured.
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FanboysSuk - 48 days 19 hours ago
17 -
Who really gives a sh!t about what Pitchford thinks?...and who really gives a sh!t about what Valve does?

On a further note...when has Gearbox EVER made a game that was ABOVE mediocre?...they HAVENT. So get of your high-horse Pitchford and maybe focus a little more on what your own crappy company is doing. I for one will never again pay for another perpetually mediocre Gearbox game. ie: borderlands and BiA and what other IPs do they have? Nothing. You piggy-backing schmuck.

Ever seen or heard this guy blabber? Pitchford is gaming's poster boy for the snikering lisping dork. Probably spends his evenings researching his next foray into the dark realms of D&D, or painting warhammer miniatures...or trying to get laid (and failing) by using his business card...or perhaps he has a real 'looker' of a girl who really 'loves' him(bank account). Maybe him and Gabe could hang out, eat some nachos and wings, diet cokes, you know, have a "bro-mo".

What a goof.
17.1 Trebius | 48 days 4 hours ago - User only got 1 bubble - Show
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red2tango - 48 days 19 hours ago
18 -
I think he's right. Valve are just making excuses to not make PS3 games. First they say the hardware sucks (Uncharted 2?), and then they say the community sucks (PSN just doesn't have in-game chat). Valve are either pussies or M$ fanboys.
18.1 FanboysSuk | 48 days 19 hours ago - deleted by mod -
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SolidSystem - 48 days 18 hours ago
18.2 - Valve
Valve is free to think what they want.
its a known fact that the PS3 has a unique architecture under the hood, one that isnt like any computer in the past. from the cell processor (which shouldn't be confused with having 7 cores, its 7 spes) to how the ram is divided, and the techniques you have to use in order to get everything working right is pretty different. from valves point of view, who focuses on the PC, the PS3 is a worthless platform they dont want to bother working with, spending time learning, just to have it vanish in 5 years.

from now on every time i hear "only possible on the PS3" i better hear just as much hate for that company.
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BlackTar187 - 48 days 15 hours ago
18.3 - Solidsystem
your right they shouldnt be saying stupid stuff like can only be done yada yada nonsense garbo. But its not the same thing as what valve has said not even close. I agree with your point A not point B
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SolidSystem - 48 days 14 hours ago
18.4 -
your entitled to dissagree with my point b,

but its just how humans are i suppose.
"I'm better than you" in a snotty is more well recieved than "you suck"
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