Valve: "We're not PS3 developers"

A recent interview with Valve Software's Doug Lombardi speaks on PlayStation 3 being left out of the loop on Left 4 Dead.

Valve's Lombardi says "We're not PS3 developers - we're doing PC and 360 like with Orange Box. EA came to us and said 'Wow, Orange Box was an incredible project, can we do a PS3 version?'" Unfortunately, they couldn't find a better handler for the project, as EA did a bad job on the port.

What could bring Left 4 Dead to the PlayStation 3 then?

"Left 4 Dead doesn't have that guaranteed appeal yet - it's a new IP," Lombardi explained.

"If you mention a new Half-Life, people want to make as many versions of it as possible. If Left 4 Dead is big, then we may see a PS3 version later, or if and when we do a sequel, people may be more interested in that.

"We're only 150 people, so there's only so many things we can do. But it's one of those things with partners, wanting to take on that investment and risk. I think until Left 4 Dead is proven, you'll probably just see what we make in that franchise."

Lets hope EA is not the one that wants to do the port this time. Perhaps someone more "worthy".

[Valve: "We're not PS3 developers"]

The Orange Box: This Is Exactly Why We Need a Patch

If you are wondering why we keep on posting these series belonging to The Orange Box petition, it is because we are fed up of going into a server in Team Fortress 2 and find moving weapons or weapons stuck in the walls. Or going in to get disconnected hundreds of times. Or playing Portal and getting killed only to wait 30 seconds to respawn. Or playing Half-Life 2 and dying due to that crappy frame-rate. Or once again playing Team Fortress 2 to realize we don't have all the features we should. Watch this new video from the petition above, and you'll realize why EA is slacking, and we need a patching.

[SIGN THE ORANGE BOX PETITION]

The Orange Box Petition Continues: Videos and Images

The guy who started that Orange Box petition continues on with proof of why we need this new patch. Some of the evidence includes screenshots from the PlayStation 3 version and screenshots from the Xbox 360 version. Other includes videos demonstrating the work EA has put into the game, such as the one above were the beginning of the match lags like crazy. Visit the site to sign the petition.

Update: Big shout out to the site as they've featured us on their homepage. We want our good Orange Box too!

The Orange Box PlayStation 3 Petition Started

An Orange Box PlayStation 3 gamer has started a new website with a petition for "a patch, a REAL one" for the game. The site features an Images section where it shows all the menus and components the Xbox 360 version of Team Fortress 2 has, and the PlayStation 3 lacks, such as private slots, and what not. We know we are going to sign it. If you support it, hit the link.

[EA PS3 Petition]

Team Fortress 2: Meet The Scout

The latest issue of GameTrailers TV featured a hilarious new short of the Scout from Team Fortress 2. You really need to watch this, because basically, he's "a pretty big deal". Enjoy!

EA Details Orange Box Patch v1.10

If you downloaded that v1.10 patch that was released for The Orange Box on the PlayStation 3 yesterday and still wondering what the heck it does, then read on for details of the patch.

• Fixed a graphical issue whereby a player would have the explosion effect left on the end of their Rocket Launcher when attempting to Rocket Jump.
• Fixed a memory leak to improve single player stability.
  
• Fixed an issue whereby the players name would not appear on the Stats comparison screen.
  
• We have fixed an issue that would cause the vote tallies to disappear when you viewed the scoreboard between rounds.
  
• Fixed an online server issue.
  
• Fixed an issue that caused a crash when a player that wasn't in Division 1 entered 'Your Leaderboards.
  
• Fixed an issue with players not always being added to the 'Players Met' menu on the XMB.
  
• Fixed a bug where a player viewing a friend without an EA account would have an empty entry in the friend's Leaderboard.
  
• Fixed an issue where it was not possible to connect to the EA servers if you had more than 30 friends.
  

As you can tell, no game lobbies were added such as the Xbox 360 and PC versions have, and none of the frame rate problems were fixed. What the hell EA?

[Details On The Orange Box PS3 Patch You've Probably Already Downloaded]

The Orange Box: Patch 1.10 Released

After what seems like months of waiting, Electronic Arts and Valve Software finally released a patch for The Orange Box on the PlayStation 3. The patch is labeled as v1.10 and is 128MB in size. We are not sure if it fixes any of the problems, but are installing it as I write this. We will keep you updated.

Update: We've been messing around with the game for a bit, but we haven't really seem to found anything new.

Team Fortress 2 DLC Price to Be Decided by Sony & Microsoft

Recently, Valve stated that they are going to bring downloadable content to Team Fortress 2 on consoles, hoping for it to be free. Valve has stated today that regarding pricing, "The platform holder owns the final call." Lets hope that Sony goes the nice way and gives it to us for free.

[Team Fortress DLC Price Is Up To Microsoft And Sony]

Valve Fans Start PlayStation 3 Petition

Some dedicated Valve and PlayStation 3 fans started a petition over at petition online asking Valve to support the PlayStation 3. As you know, Valve only develops on the Xbox 360 and PC, and if anything, has EA UK port a game to the PlayStation 3.

Currently, they have Left 4 Dead coming for the Xbox 360 and PC, along with a new Counter Strike game. It would be nice to see them on the console as well.

[Petition] [Petition PS3-Valve ! Sign please]

Valve May Port Left 4 Dead to PlayStation 3

In a new interview with Valve Founder, Gabe Newell, they spoke about the possibility of Left 4 Dead on the PlayStation 3. Regarding a port, Newell said: "If folks want to do a PS3 version, we're open to talk with third parties about that." That basically means, if they will do one, they'll let EA UK handle it and make it terrible. Makes you think if we really want one.

[Left 4 Dead First Impressions]

The Orange Box Patch Coming in March

A PSN@Home writer contacted EA today about a patch for the PLAYSTATION 3 version of The Orange Box, which is a bit inferior to the Xbox 360 & PC versions. He received a reply.

"Our engineers have finally provided details regarding the issue you are experiencing. Currently, this is a known issue and our engineering team are creating a patch which should resolve the issue. Unfortunately, the patch has yet to be tested and will be released sometime in March. Other issues will be addressed but unfortunately we do not have a list at this time. If you have anymore questions please feel free to respond back to this email or please visit our website and review our extensive Self Help Knowledgebase (http://support.ea.com). Have a great day!!!"

Well lets hope this patch coming in March addresses the issues we are experiencing while playing the game such as skipping frame rate, server disconnections and such.

[Orange Box (PS3) Patch to come in March]

GDC 2008: Valve Confirms No Left 4 Dead for PLAYSTATION 3, Rather Develop for Wii

Valve's Doug Lombardi today confirmed that the highly anticipated zombie shooter, Left 4 Dead, will not be arriving on the PLAYSTATION 3. They said that the game will only be arriving on the Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii.

“We were really crappy at bringing games to consoles,” he said. He said that it took time for the company to get into the console generation. They now develop games simultaneously for the Xbox 360 and PC, but have limited interest in developing games for the PLAYSTATION 3.

“EA wanted to do Orange Box on PS3 and they handled it,” said Lombardi. “Left 4 Dead isn’t coming out on PS3 because we’ve not had that call. If the phone rang we would have the conversation, certainly, but it hasn’t happened.”

Lombardi also revealed that, “If Valve were to develop in-house for another format, it would be the Wii. It’s growing, there’s already a huge user-base, and it’s fun. Source is really scaleable. We can do that.”

I guess Sony Computer Entertainment would take that as a big insult. I don't know why Valve hates the PLAYSTATION 3 so much. They are a great company and they should release their titles on all consoles.

[GDC: Valve confirms Left 4 Dead left off PS3, moots Source for Wii]

Valve: No PS3 version of Left 4 Dead In Development

The latest 1UP Podcast featured Brian Intihar from Electronic Gaming Monthly. He stated that he knows that Left 4 Dead will be coming to the PLAYSTATION 3. He (yet again) claims to have been told by a good source. The game is also listed as multiplatform in EGM's "Games of 2008" feature.

However, Destructoid contacted Valve. Doug Lombardi stepped in to say "There is no PS3 version of Left 4 Dead announced, nor in development. Not sure how that got started."

You never know, it could just be a secret. It's called surprise fellas. I have a good feeling about this one.

[Rumortoid: Left 4 Dead headed to PlayStation 3 (Update)]

Half Life 2: Episode Three: Tossing Ideas

In a recent interview with Valve's David Speyrer, he was asked what we can expect in Half-Life 2: Episode Three.

He explained "We don’t know entirely what’s happening in the next episode, but we’re gonna figure it out! There are always things we want to do that we can’t because of the constraints of either the story or the arc we’ve laid out for the gameplay - or just time. So we shelve them and carry on. Ideas fly around here quite a bit, so we have this huge laundry list of things to try [from previous Half-Life 2 games] for the next thing… [Half-Life 2: Episode 3]"

Valve stated that Episode Three will not be the last of the franchise. It could go into Episode Four or even Half-Life 3.

[Half-Life 2: Episode 3 will contain Valve’s laundry list]

Ninja Gaiden II Not on PS3, Left 4 Dead Instead?

Time to debunk another rumor. Ninja Gaiden II will not be coming to the PLAYSTATION 3 as previously suspected. Like I said on the original post, the PLAYSTATION 3 listing in the magazine was just an editor mistake.

Bryan Intihar, the previews editor for Electronic Gaming Monthly, confirmed it is not coming to the PLAYSTATION 3. All is not lost though, at the end of his post, he wrote:

"As for Left4Dead: Yes, it will arrive on the PS3, as well."

So I'm guessing to make up for the ninjas, they are going to throw some zombies at us. I'm cool with that.

[Via NeoGAF] [Thanks Toto-Sama]

Orange Box Patch Is Definately Coming

Original Post 1/1/08 Morning: Just when I do my impressions we get a rumor about a patch for The Orange Box. Let's hope this baby comes to us.

Like I said in my impressions, the PLAYSTATION 3 version of The Orange Box comes in last place compared to it's PC & Xbox 360 brothers due to bugs, left out features, and such.

One upset gamer wrote a complaint on the official Steam User Forums. Soon after he posted this, a Valve employee responded to his complaints saying the below.

"I am sorry that you are unsatisfied with your game. I hope that we will be able to correct any major issues in the future.

Thank you for your support and Happy New Years."

Now, could this mean that an update is on the horizon? It could be intepreted in many ways.

Thing is, this is Valves fault for letting EA London develop the PLAYSTATION 3 version in the first place, knowing that they do bad ports. It's still Valve's game, and they probably want to keep the quality of the series alive. We'll have more on this "update" as it comes.

Update 1/2/08 Morning: In a thread about surround sound support for the PLAYSTATION 3 version of The Orange Box, Jay Stelly, a Valve employee responded mentioning a patch.

"The PS3 version has full surround sound but only over an HDMI connection.
We're working on getting the optical cable support into an update. I'll post when I have details."

It's highly likely that this update will contain more than just help for sound.

Update 1/2/08 Evening: BurtonJ, a Valve employee started a thread asking users to state the problems in the PLAYSTATION 3 version of The Orange Box. A patch is definitely on it's way.

The Orange Box Impressions: Team Fortress 2

I've recently picked up a copy Valve & EA's The Orange Box, which as you know, contains Half Life 2, Half Life 2: Episode One, Half Life 2: Episode Two, Portal, and Team Fortress 2.

I'll tell the truth, I picked up this box with no interest in playing the Half Life 2 games considering I've already played those three titles. I'm probably going to end up playing them anyway though.

But today, I bring you my thoughts on Team Fortress 2. Having played the game on the PC, Xbox 360, and owning it for PLAYSTATION 3 lets me compare it better.

Of course, the PC version beats both the PLAYSTATION 3 and Xbox 360 versions of the title. It's servers are loaded with people, and I'm sure there are tons of mods out there for the PC version.

Second best would have to be the Xbox 360 version, having the option to do a player match, ranked match, or even a system link. There have also been game lobbys in the Xbox 360 version where you can communicate with other players or add them as friends before the match begins.

The PLAYSTATION 3 version sadly doesn't feature any of that, only a quick match, or custom match with no tracked statistics. Technically, you can have a ranked match, but it doesn't list any of it on the server selection.

The gameplay is the same on both consoles though, switch your weapons, kill your enemies, capture the intelligence, defend your point, you know the drill. What surprised me was how good I was upon starting. I've never played a Team Fortress title before, this being my first. As soon as I started, I was a Scout, got second top on my team with 19 points. Second time, I was a pyro with 24 points, third time I was a Sniper with 15 points. I love how they made it more like an RPG and divided it into classes.

The sad thing is, you don't really have a profile page to see your stats, considering mine always delete themselves every time I turn off the game.

All in all the game is fun, but EA and Valve seriously need to patch the PLAYSTATION 3 version big time. Considering it's the console I own it on, I want just as good of a gaming experience as those with an Xbox 360.

Portal Gets Rebuilt Lego Style

We all knew Portal was going to be a great game, but I don't think we've ever though it would get this much reception. Whether it was cake jokes, to companion cubes, to now Legos.

The crafty Lego makers over at Brickshelf constructed this concoction. Lego Portal. It doesn't get any better.... or does it.

[Via Brickshelf]

Orange Box Soundtrack: The Stocking Stuffer

In Valve's online store, they have released an official Orange Box soundtrack. In this soundtrack you'll find many of the scores you've heard throughout you Half-Life & friends experiences.

Robot to Portal's electronic score titled "Still Alive". Sneak up to someone while listening to Half-Life's haunting score. Truly a great stocking stuffer for any fan.

[Buy: The Orange Box Soundtrack]

The Orange Box: PLAYSTATION 3 vs. Xbox 360

GameTrailers compares all five games from Valve & EA's The Orange Box for the PLAYSTATION 3 and Xbox 360. The difference isn't really in graphics, but in framerate. Thats where EA messed up.