Newell: Valve to Replace Single-Player With "Single-Player Plus"

[monkey_man]

God no. I can't think of anything worse!

I play single player games because I HAVE no connected friends. I only have about 2 irl friends on Steam. The rest are either console players or aren't gamers.

Hell, I haven't even played the Portal 2 co-op yet, because my choices are that limited.

Dont get me wrong, I like multiplayer, but a multiplayer game where I can just dive right in and play, with having to "know somebody".

Wanna do Co-op with me?

 

[Randomeaninglessword]

I hate when game companies try to make me socialize with people. I play video games BECAUSE I don't want to be out socializing with people.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

I don't quite get it. I'm so in the dark on what this "Single Player Plus" is. A single player game where friends can hop in and play with you? I'm confused.

 

[Bloodstain]

I agree. I don't get why everything has to be connected to a social network, just let me play SP games alone if i want to.

Plus, many games become good because you are completely alone. To name some Valve games, Portal and the Ravenholm chapter in Half-Life 2.

 

[RA92]

Maybe you've missed the article in the first post that, you know, states that something is about to change.
Perhaps you should read it if you're not sure what people might be upset about.

/facepalm

Explain to me this - why would they say Portal 2 was the last of its sort if the new stuff is going to be the same?

The fact is Valve has always brought changes to its multiplayer formulae - ranging from TF2 to L4D. So far, they have held a pretty good record of not fucking up. And none of those new features have ruined any of Valve's single player experiences. So why all this sudden pessimism?

 

[Lord_Gremlin]

I'm a gamer and I don't have a facebook account and won't create one ever. Shove your social shit where the sun don't shine, Newell.

 

[Vrud]

. . . Not everything's better with chocolate.

 

[blankedboy]

More multiplayer bullshit.

I feel like a relic nowadays.

I know how you feel. Sauerbraten did the exact same thing, they just dropped singleplayer almost entirely when Trooper edition came around. The weird thing is, they also dropped about 6 multiplayer gamemodes, the fucking awesome gun and player models, and pretty much everything good about the game.
And then they added ragdoll animations. And tried to pull it off as a worthy compensation >.>

 

[RadiusXd]

TRANSLATION:
"It's hard to sell people useless cosmetic dlc when nobody else is there to ogle at your vast disposable income."

 

[RedEyesBlackGamer]

Gabe Newell clears up the situation by saying: "What we're trying to talk about is the fact that, not that we're not doing single-player games ... It's more that we think we have to work harder in the future, that entertainment is inherently increased in value by having it be social, by letting you play with your friends and recognizing that you're connected with other people. That's the thing we're trying to say."

No. No it isn't. At all.

Can someone please explain this thinking? What's wrong with a fully single-player experience?

Yeah, my favorite genre is RPGs. I do not want to be in contact with someone while playing one.

 

[Abedeus]

I have a Facebook account that I only used... never? I think I was bored and wanted to look for a profile of someone from my class. But everything I wanted to know was already on a Polish social networking site, which I also use rarely for interactions with classmates after school.

LEAVE MY SINGLE PLAYER GAMES ALONE, BAD ENOUGH I CAN'T PLAY HALF OF THEM WITHOUT INTERNET CONNECTION!

 

[Theflyingass]

Then turn the feature the fuck off then. Stop acting like its going to be mandatory. "What!? Ill have the option to talk to people if I WANT TO?! OMG VALVE IS GOING TO SHIT. I HATE PEOPLE!"... All these other Developers are pulling some serious bullshit, but for some reason everyone is looking at Valve like they just murdered a kitten because of small Micro-transaction hats and wanting to give the option of integrating steams social functions more.

 

[BeerTent]

Jesus Christ you people, get your head of your collective asses. Gabe isn't saying that he'll force Facebook and IM and Twiiter down your throat while you play single-player. Read the story again, and this time, carefully. He is merely using Facebook as a point by saying that most people nowadays are integrated into these social sites. That's a fucking given. People like social integration, and Valve wants to find ways to bring to the table but still deliver single-player experiences. How the hell did anybody here get that Facebook was going to shoved in your face while you play Valve games? Nowhere does he say this. Nowhere.

When did this community turn into a bunch of whiny, jump-the-gun babies who don't read the stories they whine about?

Well said. I also feel a bit left in the dark about it like TheYellowCellPhone, but when I hear "Social single player experience" I think the sole reason why I got a console. The ability to bring your friends in a single player experience. Co-op.

IMO, Everything is better with the inclusion of Co-op.

 

[Atmos Duality]

More multiplayer bullshit.

I feel like a relic nowadays.

Likewise.
I don't mind games having co-op potential, but unless said games are made with co-op in mind you end up with serious balance issues.

There's something to be said for the potential of atmosphere in a single player game. The main reason I like the Half Life 2 games is primarily because of the level design and how things are squirreled away.

 

[Dunn159]

Not even someone else on PSN? Remember nobody on PSN has had the ability to play online co-op

 

[GeorgW]

I resent the comment that all gamers have Facebook. A lot of us are anti-social dickheads that equates Facebook to the plague, myself included. Otherwise, great.

 

[Orcus The Ultimate]

And after that they'll invent Singleplayer DLC ! oh right! it's already made...

 

[Psycho Cat Industries]

Just have an option to make it minus.