Half-Life 2 definatly before 10/24/04?

[mayro]

Today i worked my last day at best buy, i know so sad. Today we got in and started selling the pre orders for Vampires:Bloodlines. I know that doesnt sound like much but the street date and ship date are both in the computer.

This means that bestbuy has talked to the shipper *activision* about when the game will come. The Street date and the Ship date are two differnt things. When bestbuy and most companys tell you a date they are telling you the street date. Thats what they use for a place holder as half life 2 only has a street date.

Vampires has a street and a SHIP DATE! The importance of that is that they are expecting to recive the game 10 days before the street date of 10/24/04. (This is more set in stone than any other type of date). What this means for halflife 2 is that ither A: Valve has told them since they made them wait a year to go ahead and release their game on X date. or the more realistic one, B: Valve know their game will be out before 10/24/04 and their for activion can start selling their game.

If this were just a street date i wouldnt get going nuts over here and i did put this in speculation since everything is always up in the air. This is so close to literaly being told by Activision that the game is comeing that it isnt funny. Best buy has never in the year of me working their put a ship date on something that they didnt fully expect to get that date or within a week of.

[Mr-Fusion]

Interesting. EB games have 10/20/04 and Gamestop 10/20/04.

I'll watch this with interest but won't get too excited.

[mayro]

To add some fuel to this fire check this out : http://vnboards.ign.com/Bloodlines_Inn/b22439/73328892/?23

on their he
*************
HollywoodVamp
Title: VtM:Bloodlines Online Representative
Posts: 82
Registered: Jun 03
***************
Posted this nice little bitty :Bloodlines has NOT been delayed for any reason and is still scheduled to ship Fall 2004.

I am now leaning toward they told valve to get it done or they are just going to release it as they are tierd of waiting.

[tricky]

we will just have to wait and c

[Feath]

To add some fuel to this fire check this out : http://vnboards.ign.com/Bloodlines_Inn/b22439/73328892/?23

on their he
*************
HollywoodVamp
Title: VtM:Bloodlines Online Representative
Posts: 82
Registered: Jun 03
***************
Posted this nice little bitty :Bloodlines has NOT been delayed for any reason and is still scheduled to ship Fall 2004.

I am now leaning toward they told valve to get it done or they are just going to release it as they are tierd of waiting.

Or, Valve let them publish it early (as some people said a while back). They won't just "release it because they are tired of waiting" because they'd get into a lot of trouble.

[Platinum]

i can not believe they would release this game before HL2 ... ughgh so stupid

[Alec_85]

Or, Valve let them publish it early (as some people said a while back). They won't just "release it because they are tired of waiting" because they'd get into a lot of trouble.Like Mayro's Option A then. You need to have a little faith Feath ;)

This is very interesting. But there's not much we can do except sit tight & hope for the best (which is a release yesterday).

[DigiQ8]

Mayro if this is true im gonna kiss you...

[Wildhound]

Another crazy possibility is that Valve aren't sad gits and they don't actually care who sells the engine first as long as they get the money in their wallets. Maybe they're also used to being messed around by other companies and don't want to do the same thing to a fellow small developer?

Just a crazy idea. Gabe doesn't strike me as an asshat though.

[mutt]

Another crazy possibility is that Valve aren't sad gits and they don't actually care who sells the engine first as long as they get the money in their wallets. Maybe they're also used to being messed around by other companies and don't want to do the same thing to a fellow small developer?

Just a crazy idea. Gabe doesn't strike me as an asshat though.

i can understand why valve would want to be the first to sell the source engine in a game, i might be wrong but i would think being the first to sell a game with it in would be worth a fair bit of money.

also thanks mayro, nice find, i hope this works out to be true :)

[lonestar]

i really don't think, vampire will be released before hl2, keeping in mind valve developed the source engine, so, they want to be the ones, releasing the first game [hl2] on the source engine. in their contract it's listed, for sure.

that's, how it always was in the past.

well, thx for the info, mayro! *dance* ;)

[Platinum]

if hl2 were to come out before that vampire game then wouldnt that mean that hl2 is gold and they've already begun production????? if they wnat hl2 out before stupid bloodlines then they better get cracking ... :frown: :cheers: :bounce: :cat: :cat: :thumbs: :frog: :cheese: :farmer: :bonce:

[Some_God]

I really truly hope that it comes out before the 24th...

[Democritus]

I think Vivendi has intended late Nov. all along, I just hope that Halo2 going gold changed their minds in the "Oh, crap. We'd better get this out now!" sort of way. I think Halo2 and Half-Life2, despite being for different platforms, will compete heavily for gamers' dollars.

[Bandages]

Something to be interested in...but honestly, I'm not giving up any hopes, and expecting the worst.

[poksmote]

I wouldn't be suprised if hl2 did come out this month, along with bloodlines. If this bloodlines date is correct, that does indeed mean we'll expect to see hl2 very soon.

With cs:s being released this week, and valve raking in TONS of sales from steam only pre-orders of hl2, vivdeni is really going to have a flame put under their ass to get hl2 out ASAP. otherwise the majority of people will order hl2 through steam just to get something (cs:s) early. and with counter-strike being one of the largest parts of the halflife comunity, valve is rather clever for releasing it through themselves before vivendi can ship it. if vivdeni wants to make a good chunk of the sales through retail they will release hl2 within 1 to 2 weeks after cs:s's release - which conveniently fits with this bloodlines release date.

[RoyaleWithCheese]

I really doubt Vivendi will be scared of the steam downloads. They will release HL2 end of november, no matter how many hardcore fans pre-order on Steam.

[dream431ca]

that very interesting...but I think bloodlines will be out a month before HL2 comes out.

Actually if Bloodlines does come out before HL2 then that would be very bad for valve as, valve made the source engine..not the creator of bloodlines. AND people will probably be buying bloodlines just for the source engine.

[poksmote]

I really doubt Vivendi will be scared of the steam downloads. They will release HL2 end of november, no matter how many hardcore fans pre-order on Steam.

I don't know about that, every person that orders through steam is money vivdeni won't be getting. get enough people to order the game through steam, thats a lot of money vivendi won't be getting.

lets say 100,000 cs fans buy cs:s through steam this week, assuming they order at least the bronze package at $50. thats 5 million dollars that vivendi loses out on. even if its only half as many people, theyre still out millions. and if steam wasnt a signifigant threat, why the lawsuites?

[FoB_Ed]

I don't know about that, every person that orders through steam is money vivdeni won't be getting. get enough people to order the game through steam, thats a lot of money vivendi won't be getting.

lets say 100,000 cs fans buy cs:s through steam this week, assuming they order at least the bronze package at $50. thats 5 million dollars that vivendi loses out on. even if its only half as many people, theyre still out millions. and if steam wasnt a signifigant threat, why the lawsuites?


yes :farmer:

[dream431ca]

I don't know about that, every person that orders through steam is money vivdeni won't be getting. get enough people to order the game through steam, thats a lot of money vivendi won't be getting.

lets say 100,000 cs fans buy cs:s through steam this week, assuming they order at least the bronze package at $50. thats 5 million dollars that vivendi loses out on. even if its only half as many people, theyre still out millions. and if steam wasnt a signifigant threat, why the lawsuites?


I don't think losing out on millions will bother vivendi..they have been through that before.

[L337_Assasain]

I hope this is true...

[Kiva128]

I don't think losing out on millions will bother vivendi..they have been through that before.

What do they have to lose before it "bothers" them? Billions? Get a clue. VUG is hurting for money so yes, losing millions will "bother" them.

[mutt]

i wish i was in gabes position now :) think of watching the valve bank account and all that steam money rolling in :)

[dream431ca]

What do they have to lose before it "bothers" them? Billions? Get a clue. VUG is hurting for money so yes, losing millions will "bother" them.

You really think VU cares about losing another "million" before HL2 gets released?? What I heard is that this is about the lawsuit. When half-life 2 gets released finally...vivendi WILL get there money back 10 times over.

[affen]

PC Gameplay September issue says that Vampire isn't bounded anymore by the agreement with Valve to release the game after HL² has been released. If another HL² release delay occurs, Activision now can release Vampire when they want. So option A for me.

[wonkers]

It should have been out in Sept! But what can you do? I just don't or (can't stand) seeing it out for holiday sales. Drives me absolutly...well...wonkers.

As they say "Money makes the world go round." If it wasn't for the money the world would surely stutter and halt in it's place. Vulcanoes would erupt the gravity would diminish & seasons would go hay-wire. Armageddon as we know it would commence.

So...thak god (anyone really) we have greedy execs who keep the world from ending. Or at least that's their perspective on things!

[DannoHung]

My money's on Valve giving them the go ahead on publishing before HL2 because they weren't entirely sure that they were going to be able to get it out before Christmas and they didn't want Troika to be ****ed over.

That... and I've also heard that the Vampire release date wasn't tied to the HL2 release date.

[Kiva128]

You really think VU cares about losing another "million" before HL2 gets released?? What I heard is that this is about the lawsuit. When half-life 2 gets released finally...vivendi WILL get there money back 10 times over.

You didn't say million, you said millions - as in plural. And as someone already said, if they don't care about even 1 million dollars, why are they sueing Valve? Surely they would make more money by releasing it (10 times over according to your nice made up numbers).

[mashed]

I'd like to believe this but I have a feeling it will come out the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Vivendi really wants to milk Christmas season sales, even though it would sell great no matter what month it was released.

[Democritus]

I'd like to believe this but I have a feeling it will come out the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. Vivendi really wants to milk Christmas season sales, even though it would sell great no matter what month it was released.

And we must remember that VUG doesn't need to cater to us as the hardcore fans in terms of release date. We'll buy it whether it comes out tomorrow or two months from now.

They want to maximize sales for the casual, take it or leave it, mommy please buy me a video game crowd. Thanksgiving weekend is the biggest shopping time of the year....

[Cyber$nake]

Why on earth would they wait until november anyways? It just doesnt make sense to me. Usually it only takes a few weeks for them to mass produce, sometimes less, and on rare occasions more. It would be against themselves to hold a final game for a few weeks before starting too mass produce it. More time until Moolah. Really they should be trying to get it out as soon as possible (unless they dont like the RC), and none of what they're doing makes any sense. Plus they know that the community has been going insane for it since last year.

[VGJosh]

Where does it say Half life 2 has to come out before these other games?

[Cyber$nake]

No clue link-wise, but I do clearly remember there being several discussions complaining about games made w/ source being delayed due to Half-life not being released before them.

[-smash-]

I'll watch this with interest but won't get too excited.

Which is hard...

[poksmote]

none of what they're doing makes any sense. Plus they know that the community has been going insane for it since last year.

they know that holding out is only going to make you want the game more and more. and this is where valve is getting pissed. they know they can make money off the game now, WITHOUT a publisher (via steam, the reason for the lawsuite). thats why they're releasing cs:s next week to speed up this process, or at least sedate rabid fans until the games released. (while making a good wad of cash for themselves in the process, while simultaneously pissing off vivendi)

valve and vivendi are substitute retailers. you're either going to buy the game from valve through steam, or you're going to wait and buy the box from vivendi. very few people will be impatient enough to buy through steam, and then have the need to spend the same ammount of money for a box and a manual.

the reason why vivendi is pissed at valve is because valve no longer needs a publisher due to steam. the publisher is the middleman between valve and the consumer. take out the middleman, and get all the profit. (in fact I wouldnt be suprised if valve sells halflife3 exclusively through steam thanks to this lawsuite bs)

vivendi IS pissed about steam because it will take sales away from them. thats why they're suing valve! how can anyone say "oh vivendi doesnt care about losing a few million dollars because of steam". of course they do! they're a business! if they didnt care about steam, there wouldnt be any lawsuites and we'd all be playing the game right now!

with valve taking pre-orders of hl2 through steam AND making cs:s available next week, they are in fact forcing vivendi into making a move to get the game out IMMEDIATLY.

[ViolenceJack]

I wouldnt say it was bad if valves forced them to delay bloodlines. It is there engine after all and they would want the first game to be release with it to be theres. It is all there hard work and everything.

[satch919]

I want HL2 by the end of October.

[fragShader]

[spelling nazi]
lawsuit ppl
lawsuit
not lawsuite - that's a bunch of lawyers' office furniture :)
[/spelling nazi]

[Zero-One]

[spelling nazi]
lawsuit ppl
lawsuit
not lawsuite - that's a bunch of lawyers' office furniture :)
[/spelling nazi]


people
not ppl




:P

[flo_Orian]

maybe the games are released in this order:

cs:s, vamps, hl2.

that would mean valve still has released the first game with the source engine and hl2 comes after vamps. :P

[Hitman47]

maybe the games are released in this order:

cs:s, vamps, hl2.

that would mean valve still has released the first game with the source engine and hl2 comes after vamps. :P

Interesting view and seems logical, as cs:s is for MANY people a reason to buy half-life - so why not buy it standalone? (also for the people who just want to be the first to play with the source engine ... just look at all those people who bought cs:cz just to get the cs:s beta ...)

[Ownzed]

Cross your fingers. :)

[Darth Valium]

perhaps they are allowed to release bloodlines if a defined date(an estimated release-date for hl2) has passed.

btw, hl2 is not one of those games which must be released near x-mas to get most out of the sales.

[Cyber$nake]

they know that holding out is only going to make you want the game more and more. and this is where valve is getting pissed. they know they can make money off the game now, WITHOUT a publisher (via steam, the reason for the lawsuite). thats why they're releasing cs:s next week to speed up this process, or at least sedate rabid fans until the games released. (while making a good wad of cash for themselves in the process, while simultaneously pissing off vivendi)

valve and vivendi are substitute retailers. you're either going to buy the game from valve through steam, or you're going to wait and buy the box from vivendi. very few people will be impatient enough to buy through steam, and then have the need to spend the same ammount of money for a box and a manual.

the reason why vivendi is pissed at valve is because valve no longer needs a publisher due to steam. the publisher is the middleman between valve and the consumer. take out the middleman, and get all the profit. (in fact I wouldnt be suprised if valve sells halflife3 exclusively through steam thanks to this lawsuite bs)

vivendi IS pissed about steam because it will take sales away from them. thats why they're suing valve! how can anyone say "oh vivendi doesnt care about losing a few million dollars because of steam". of course they do! they're a business! if they didnt care about steam, there wouldnt be any lawsuites and we'd all be playing the game right now!

with valve taking pre-orders of hl2 through steam AND making cs:s available next week, they are in fact forcing vivendi into making a move to get the game out IMMEDIATLY.


THANKYOU SO MUCH for giving me an update w/ this whole lawsuit thing. I never really read much of it and everything that you say helps abbreviate it I guess. Are they really releasing CS:S next week though? Never heard that...

[Spugmaster]

Just to add some fuel to the release date fire:

Gamespy.com has HL2 listed in their October releases for the 26th.

They also have all the new screenshots, so it seems as though these are now kosher for everyone to view...?

[Some_God]

Just to add some fuel to the release date fire:

Gamespy.com has HL2 listed in their October releases for the 26th.

They also have all the new screenshots, so it seems as though these are now kosher for everyone to view...?

Hmmm... I wouldn't get excited yet. One thing I learned since that fatefull September day (Sept 30th that is) is that you shouldn't have any hope because that hope can easily be squashed by companies who are out for the money. :)


FLAME ME! :D

[poksmote]

Hmmm... I wouldn't get excited yet. One thing I learned since that fatefull September day (Sept 30th that is) is that you shouldn't have any hope because that hope can easily be squashed by companies who are out for the money. :)


FLAME ME! :D

well a few major differences this time around are

A) the game is actually DONE
B) magazines have played the entire game AND reviewed it
C) hl2 preorders through steam begin this week, releasing cs:s full worldwide.

no question this game is coming out within 6 weeks, although i have a feeling (due to cs:s release, valve prelordering this week) that the game will be released within THIS month.

as someone stated earlier, this game does not need to be released durring thanksgiving for it to sell well. whenever this game is released its going to sell more than anyone expected. there is no set date yet, the november one is just as good as any october date. with cs:s this week, i seriously doubt it will be another 5+ weeks before hl2 itself is released.

[dream431ca]

well a few major differences this time around are

A) the game is actually DONE
B) magazines have played the entire game AND reviewed it
C) hl2 preorders through steam begin this week, releasing cs:s full worldwide.

no question this game is coming out within 6 weeks, although i have a feeling (due to cs:s release, valve prelordering this week) that the game will be released within THIS month.

as someone stated earlier, this game does not need to be released durring thanksgiving for it to sell well. whenever this game is released its going to sell more than anyone expected. there is no set date yet, the november one is just as good as any october date. with cs:s this week, i seriously doubt it will be another 5+ weeks before hl2 itself is released.


I also believe that HL2 will be released within october...kinda makes sense with bloodlines using the source engine.

[tokin]

i seriously doubt it will be another 5+ weeks before hl2 itself is released.

That's a good point, everything you said. However, valve is obviously screwing/man handling VU by "if you purchase hl2 this upcoming week, you get the full version of CS:S instantly, and then play HL2 once its released." They are doing this because VU is holding HL2 back and they could easily hold it back for 2 more months (Nov. 26) because of this. So i guess we will wait and see. It's still possible HL2 will be out later this month, according to the recent interviews being released, so they can't wait forever.

[johnnypoopoopant]

lets just wait and see if its going to happen

[mayro]

Cant belive you guys brough this thread up from the dead...

Did you guys have this thread marked in your favorites or something? lol

[M1RAG3]

What if Valve/VU is making a silent release, meaning it has already gone Gold and is in production, with a retail release very very soon. (i.e. before Bloodlines).

[tokin]

Impossible.

[poksmote]

That's a good point, everything you said. However, valve is obviously screwing/man handling VU by "if you purchase hl2 this upcoming week, you get the full version of CS:S instantly, and then play HL2 once its released." They are doing this because VU is holding HL2 back and they could easily hold it back for 2 more months (Nov. 26) because of this. So i guess we will wait and see. It's still possible HL2 will be out later this month, according to the recent interviews being released, so they can't wait forever.

theyre not going to punish valve by holding the game back longer, its only going to screw themselves over even more. the longer they wait, the more people will want to play cs:s since its available, the more money goes to valve and not vivendi. they've got nothing to gain by delaying the game further once cs:s is released.

[mayro]

If we are going to start throughing ideas out here...

They have literaly one option here:

Think for a momment that you are a all powerful game produceing company. What is your goal?

To make the customer happy.
To deliver a product that they want.
And also.... SELL THE SHIZ OUTA IT!

They "some other game companys" have FEARED *pun* releaseing this holiday season becuase of the fact we are finaly getting some games to scream about. This has been the best 6 months in gameing history.

*the problem*

If the game doesnt come out before halo 2 you can expect to wait even longer.

[KnifeKnight]

i have got a strong feeling valve will anounce a release date within the next few days.

At least they better.... or gabe, im coming for you buddy...

[Asuka]

Ya Cs:s is suppose to come out this week. Pc gamer US is suppose to come out monday. So we will see.

[john41]

Intriguing, Late October and late November both have good and bad points running for them…
I am leaning towards late this month. However, the final days of Half-Life 2’s testing and production are anything but written in stone… hell there not even written! Odds are well find out more in the next week and start the official countdown to the release date.

[Goombatommy]

Seems very intriguing indeed, but take things with a grain of salt. There have been no official announcement. If I can recall, something similiar like this happened with Doom 3 and the whole retailer buisnesses (I.e Gamestop for a good example), claimed the game had gone GOLD and will be released 8/3. Yet, no gold announcement was made up until a couple weeks before the game was released.

[Mitch2891]

I am looking at it this way, even if HL2 does not come out till late November at least we get to play with a game written specifically for the source engine before the end of the month.

Can only be a good thing and will help the wait pass quicker.