Oh VALVe...

[Megacherv]

Left 4 Dead
Left 4 Dead 2
Portal
Team Fortress 2
Half-Life 2: Episode 1
Half-Life 2: Episode 2
Portal 2
Alien Swarm

L4D, Portal and Alien Swarm were community projects Valve bought. TF2 is, geez, not even a worthy rehash of a 15-year old mod (frankly, I find it inferior to TF for HL). The episodes are hardly more than mission packs. Portal 2 isn't out yet.

Valve is able to polish stuff well (hence my appreciation for Portal), but they've showed zero invention of their own since the original HL. And no, gravity gun doesn't count.

And yes, Gravity Gun does count, they invented that after-all.

Also, Portal 2 is still being made, and there's evidence that a lot if it is done. That's like saying that there's been no work done on Duke Nukem Forever when we've clearly seen that it's in an almost-releasable state.

TF2 changed from TF classic so fucking much it's untrue, and it's so well made you're mad to see it as inferior; you can't say they didn't do any work because if you look at just how fantastic all of the game is, then you'll see how much was poured into it.

Also, Left 4 Dead wasn't a community project, nor was Portal. Left 4 Dead was gonna be made by Turtle Rock studios, but Valve bought them. Portal was based on the game Narbarcular Drop, and Valve hired the guys who made that and they decided to make Portal.

The Episodes aren't just mission packs, they continue the story and set up the events for the next one. Also on Half-Life 2, I'd say that the Combine were invented for that. Wallace Breen, Alyx Vance (the greatest female game character ever). They created these. These are what Valve have made. Saying that they've had no invention since Half-Life 1 is truely and utterly a huge load of bollocks, and nothing will ever change that.

 

[fix-the-spade]

and it's really pathetic, especially considering how much they made off the Mannconomy, you'd think they could put a little more manpower into it.

Portal 2 is in crunch mode before release. There were dry spells for Valve updates when L4D2 came out as well, it's pretty common practice for them to shunt extra staff onto the nearest release when needed. They'll get back onto it when Portal 2 is released and working.

 

[Woodsey]

Updates or patches? You realise those community made weapons and stuff allow people in the community to earn money from their creations?

See, this is the kind of attitude being good to your customers breeds. If you slow down for even a second, someone, somewhere, will complain that you're a terrible person/company.

Next to no work? Oh right, they're totally not developing Portal 2 and DOTA 2, and very likely working on Left 4 Dead 3 and HL2: Ep 3, all that in addition to maintaining and improving Steam. Those lazy, despicable bastards.

Come on, we all know they're not working on Ep3.

PC Gamer: Is there some sort of big surprise in Episode Three?

Gabe Newell: ?

(Long, uncomfortable pause)

Doug Lombardi: Next question! (Laughs)

PC Gamer: When are you going to start talking about it?

Gabe Newell: ?

(Long, uncomfortable pause)

Doug Lombardi: Next question!

PC Gamer: Nothing at all? I have to ask.

Gabe Newell: I understand, and I have to not say anything.

PC Gamer: Every now and then you guys give a hint of something.

Gabe Newell: And then he (points at Doug) yells at me!

Doug Lombardi: So I tend to sit in and just cut it all off. (Laughs)

http://www.pcgamer.com/2010/09/15/we-ask-gabe-newell-about-piracy-drm-and-episode-three/

Judging from that, they most probably are.