Does Valve hate consoles?

[Flishiz]

It seems like every time Valve has released a game, they make a console version that just doesn't live up to what's on the PC. I mean this specifically between Valve and consoles, instead of the argument "PC controls > console controls/vice versa."

All I'm trying to say is; they make a console version of a great PC title and then barely look at it after that (considering their graphics, and even some maps, are far obsolete at release). Not to mention the lack of server lists for a piss-poor matchmaking service. Granted, I've never been a matchmaking fan, but at least with servers you get the choice before you're catapulted into a game.

 

[Ghost]

look at the updates for TF2 on xbox compared to that of its pc counterpart...

 

[Baby Tea]

I don't think so.
L4D on my 360 runs great, plays great, and I love it (And so does my wife!).
And The Orange Box was great on my 360, though admittedly I never played TF2 on it.

 

[Lukeje]

No, you've got it the wrong way round. The console manufacturers hate Valve.

 

[Johnn Johnston]

I don't think they have any direct animosity geared towards consoles; I just feel that they are PC programmers that happen to release games for consoles, and as such, provide more support for their primary platform. Besides, the TF2 updates are reportedly coming soon to consoles.

 

[Doc Theta Sigma]

Yes. If I remember correctly someone from Valve said they didn't want to make Left 4 Dead for consoles. Or even The Orange Box for that matter.

 

[ROCK LOBSTER]

I don't think they have any direct animosity geared towards consoles; I just feel that they are PC programmers that happen to release games for consoles, and as such, provide more support for their primary platform. Besides, the TF2 updates are reportedly coming soon to consoles.

Yeah, they were reportedly last year too.

 

[Hachura]

I'm gonna have to say no. I wasn't the biggest fan of The Orange Box, but I must say they did a really good job porting it to/for the 360. They added individual achievement counters for each game (not sure if Steam had this as well?), customisable controls, etc. These features you don't even find in most console exclusive games. Kinda goes to show the attention to detail Valve puts in, even for a console port!

 

[jamesworkshop]

Valve dislike the console industry proprietry hardware and being limited to the owners networks whereas in the pc industry they provide the steam service and dont charge for patches

 

[DeadlyYellow]

I heard there were some problems with the PS3 version of The Orange Box, but that came from a Gamestop employee so I can't say for sure.

 

[Nimbus]

If you are talking about the PS3 version of the orange box, Valve didn't make that. EA was incharge of that Port, because noone at Vavle knew PS3 development. At least, that how I remember it...

 

[Booze Zombie]

Yes, yes they do.

 

[LordOmnit]

Well, in terms of shooters I think a major point of import is that the mouse and keyboard more closely imitate how you move around than a couple of little sticks that causes the-
Feh, that's what you said to not talk about, so I won't, but anyways:
If they changed the game upon console-porting then it wouldn't be the same game. Sure, adding things might be fine, but changing supposedly 'obsolete' maps (which they aren't) would defeat the purpose of not making a new game. If you want different graphics, maps, etc. then don't buy a console version and just buy a different game. In terms of online stuff I have no real opinion since I've never really done anything online with consoles.

 

[Squarewave]

It's probably a bit much to say they hate consoles otherwise they wouldn't port games to them. However, they view them as competition to Steam, and gimp them in a way to favor people getting the Steam version over the console ones. Much of the same way Apple stuff, quicktime, itunes, safari, etc. sucks on windows

 

[Neverhoodian]

Traditionally, Valve has always been a PC game developer. This is mainly because they like to refine their games through patches. Critics have said that their "refinements" are fixes that should have been implemented in the first place, but that's beside the point...

The bottom line is that through their Steam service, they can release these patches relatively painlessly over the PC. Until the rise of the Xbox Live, there was no way of implementing this on consoles. Even with the 360, Valve's practice of releasing updates for free runs at odds with Microsoft wanting to charge customers for each and every download, hence the long lag time for console users. It appears they are finally working out an agreement of sort however, so I wouldn't be surprised if Xbox Live users start reaping the benefits Steam users have been enjoying for months, if not years.

 

[Doug]

No, you've got it the wrong way round. The console manufacturers hate Valve.

Indeed, because they don't want to charge a fortune for the updates like XBox live wants them too (I don't know about the PS3 network).

However, for XBox 360 at least they've finally managed to convince Microsoft to let the consolers have it for free. I don't know about any matchmaker service, as you can still get the server lists on PC if you de-select the option.

... (considering their graphics, and even some maps, are far obsolete at release)...

To be honest, people always say that, and I have to think to myself "Huh?". Ok, its not as good as Killzone 2 or Crysis, but its far from "obsolete", to me at least.

 

[oliveira8]

Gabe Newell starts the day by burning PS3's and beating Xbox 360's with a crowbar.

Really!

 

[Strong Intelligent]

For orange box, yes.

For L4D, no.

 

[IsoNeko]

look at the updates for TF2 on xbox compared to that of its pc counterpart...

It's an issue with Microsoft. Valve WANT to give the updates, but Microsoft won't allow them. That and they hate PS3. Gabe even said so

 

[thiosk]

I bet they don't like consoles. And I also bet it goes along with the control scheme. I'm sorry to all the thumbstick afficionados, but console controls are inferior for the most popular PC games, just like a mouse is inferior for mario.