Hl2 And Xbox
<div class="IPBDescription">Microsoft and Valve duke it out</div> XBox Claims no H-L 2, Valve Denies
Description
In a recent interview on a Seattle bussines journal, David Hufford, a product manager in Microsoft's Xbox group, suggested that Half-Life 2 may not be released for the console.
VUGames have been quick to respond, on Valve's behalf and claim that the developer plans remain the same and that an XBox version is still planned. Without going into any further details Amy Farris, PR manager at Vivendi Universal Games, stated that there has been no change in plans and that the XBox version of Half-Life 2 is still go. In what is quickly becoming an embarassing situation, we have Microsoft claiming one thing and Valve another making gaming and news sites feel like pawns in the negotiation game between the companies involved.
If the original statement did really come from Microsoft lips then it does suggest some kind of problem in communication with Valve, since Doug Lombardi, only last month, could be found stating we're also working on an Xbox version.
Despite Lombardi's statement and a variety of previews surfacing on Xbox magazines, Hufford seemed to be pretty specific. He told the journal As of now, Half-Life 2 is not going to be on the Xbox. Strangely he also added Valve is sending us mixed messages on that.
In order to better examine what may be behind this story we probably have to look at Valve's console history and at the bussines model which Microsoft offers XBox developers. The fact that Valve have no qualms about pulling a console version of H-L even if it is deep into development has been demonstrated in the past, they did, after all withdraw the Dreamcast version of the original H-L even though development had been completed.
When looking for reasons why Valve may be playing hard to get, it seems unlikely that the development or XBox performance aspect of H-L 2 may be behind it. Following EA's decision to pull out of XBox Live, doubts have been raised over the deal MS are offering developers. It is very likely that Valve have some objections concerning that, they are definitely confident enough of their title to feel strong enough to demand more of Microsoft.
This is exactly the type of news Microsoft do not want to hear. With a very small selection of exclusive games and really only Halo becoming a successful one, Xbox desperately needed the guarantee provided by a title such as Half-Life 2. On the other hand a rebellion of this sort regarding the financial model of the cooperation, if such a rebellion is taking place, could really harm Microsoft's console career since XBox is losing the company money at an extreme rate. According to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Microsoft's Home & Entertainment division, where Xbox resides, lost USD 190 million in the fiscal quarter ended March 31, nearly twice the USD 97 million lost during the same period in 2002. With 8 million units already sold this means that title sales are not doing well enough to help XBox break even. Any reduction in MS's cut of title profits and those figures could become even worse.
Having considered all that, there still remains some doubt concerning the validity of the story. Hufford's statements did appear in a very non-gaming web site and could therefore, be a result of some form of misunderstanding. Then there is the possibility that MS and Valve are still negotiating the financial details of the game and this statement is simply an attempt to lay some pressure on Valve.
Whatever the truth behind this story it remains more likely than not that Half-Life 2 will appear on XBox, the game does need some form of console representation and provided nothing is denied from PC gamers, Valve have nothing to lose from such a move.
Description
In a recent interview on a Seattle bussines journal, David Hufford, a product manager in Microsoft's Xbox group, suggested that Half-Life 2 may not be released for the console.
VUGames have been quick to respond, on Valve's behalf and claim that the developer plans remain the same and that an XBox version is still planned. Without going into any further details Amy Farris, PR manager at Vivendi Universal Games, stated that there has been no change in plans and that the XBox version of Half-Life 2 is still go. In what is quickly becoming an embarassing situation, we have Microsoft claiming one thing and Valve another making gaming and news sites feel like pawns in the negotiation game between the companies involved.
If the original statement did really come from Microsoft lips then it does suggest some kind of problem in communication with Valve, since Doug Lombardi, only last month, could be found stating we're also working on an Xbox version.
Despite Lombardi's statement and a variety of previews surfacing on Xbox magazines, Hufford seemed to be pretty specific. He told the journal As of now, Half-Life 2 is not going to be on the Xbox. Strangely he also added Valve is sending us mixed messages on that.
In order to better examine what may be behind this story we probably have to look at Valve's console history and at the bussines model which Microsoft offers XBox developers. The fact that Valve have no qualms about pulling a console version of H-L even if it is deep into development has been demonstrated in the past, they did, after all withdraw the Dreamcast version of the original H-L even though development had been completed.
When looking for reasons why Valve may be playing hard to get, it seems unlikely that the development or XBox performance aspect of H-L 2 may be behind it. Following EA's decision to pull out of XBox Live, doubts have been raised over the deal MS are offering developers. It is very likely that Valve have some objections concerning that, they are definitely confident enough of their title to feel strong enough to demand more of Microsoft.
This is exactly the type of news Microsoft do not want to hear. With a very small selection of exclusive games and really only Halo becoming a successful one, Xbox desperately needed the guarantee provided by a title such as Half-Life 2. On the other hand a rebellion of this sort regarding the financial model of the cooperation, if such a rebellion is taking place, could really harm Microsoft's console career since XBox is losing the company money at an extreme rate. According to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Microsoft's Home & Entertainment division, where Xbox resides, lost USD 190 million in the fiscal quarter ended March 31, nearly twice the USD 97 million lost during the same period in 2002. With 8 million units already sold this means that title sales are not doing well enough to help XBox break even. Any reduction in MS's cut of title profits and those figures could become even worse.
Having considered all that, there still remains some doubt concerning the validity of the story. Hufford's statements did appear in a very non-gaming web site and could therefore, be a result of some form of misunderstanding. Then there is the possibility that MS and Valve are still negotiating the financial details of the game and this statement is simply an attempt to lay some pressure on Valve.
Whatever the truth behind this story it remains more likely than not that Half-Life 2 will appear on XBox, the game does need some form of console representation and provided nothing is denied from PC gamers, Valve have nothing to lose from such a move.
Comments
<span style='color:red'>"No you won't."</span>
<span style='color:yellow'>"Yes we will!"</span>
<span style='color:red'>"No you won't!"</span>
<span style='color:yellow'>"We'll see about that."</span>
<span style='color:red'>"Yes you will."</span>
<span style='color:yellow'><span style='font-size:7pt;line-height:100%'>"... release HL2 on your console."</span></span>
<span style='color:red'>"No you won't."</span>
<span style='color:yellow'>"Blast!"</span>
Heck, when Sierra ported Tribes 2 to the Playstation 2, keyboard / mouse support was specifically excluded for the fact that it gave the users too big of an advantage against gamepad users online.
Give me my mouse and I'll be happy. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
It would be neat if they allowed the use of mods on the XBOX, but I think it would fill the hard drive up too quickly. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
Oh yeah for the note, Remember that thing about Halo so long ago. Oh yeah (sarcasm) me remembers when Halo was first planned for PC/MAC because Bungie software wanted to be loyal to all us Marathoners but guess what, Stupid Microsoft made a deal with $ to make Halo exclusive to the Xbox and now almost a year and a half later Halo 1 for PC is still in testing stages. **** Microsoft and their corporate monopoly over the entertainment industry. Why should Valve work arm and arm with microsoft when Valve can be something to itself. Ya know, like they can truly give that reputation to themselves that the greatest FPS ever created was for loyal PC gamers. Amen and peace out.
err apart from that: HL2 will just own on PC.
and what is everyones problem with microsoft ? jesus christ you all moan about them it's really sad, it's just frickin company trying to make money !! how about we moan about sony and stealing some good games like devil may cry and final fantasy x ?
yes they do, but when you have to aim at specific things like the sniper on the roof it often gets difficult. i remember playing Golden Eye on N64 in that map where you're in a train and you have to use your Laser-watch to open a hatch, for me <i>that</i> is just impossible...
I'v been waiting for that for a long time. Once they see how bad the gamepad is compaired to a mouse and keyboard on PC, they will stop acting like kids or the smart ones will just find some way to connect them.
you could mod your xbox and then make a keyboard and a mouse for your xbox... 'cause the ports for the gamepads are just usb-ports so with a little fiddling you could proberbly game with mouse and keyboard.. though im not sure, but a friend of mine managede to get online on irc with a modded xbox <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
even if you got keyboard + mouse on a Xbox, you would still have the Xbox control options which is designed for a Gamepad, not keyboard + Mouse...