Valve? Vs. Bioware?

[Vancifer]

I was playing Half Life 2: Episode 2 recently after beating Mass Effect 2 for the second time when I had an epiphany.

This huge showdown between Valve & Bioware, is it really two companies battling it out?

Or is it first person shooters against third person RPGs?

I'm absolutely in love with both companies & when I go through the list of games I've played for each, I can say with confidence that Valve has created nothing but first person shooters & Bioware has made nothing but 3rd person RPGs.



What do you think? Valve vs. Bioware?
or FPS vs. RPG?

 

[L3m0n_L1m3]

I like FPS's better than RPGs, but I'm definitely going with Bioware on this matter. I like their games a lot more, and, um..... That's about the only reason, really. The rest of the reasons Valve matched equally.

 

[Denamic]

Valve and Bioware are both way, WAY more than just Half-Life and Mass Effect.

 

[Ricotez]

Valve and Bioware are both great developers that have created some of the best games out there, so I think asking which one is the better developer is like asking whether apples or pears are the better fruit.

However, the kind of games they make is vastly different (you could call ME a third person shooter, but shooting is only part of the game), and we as gamers will most likely prefer the developer that makes games that are more our 'style'. Personally, I like both RPG's and FPS's, and casting my vote on Valve had deeper reasons.

So, I think this battle will be more of a 'FPS vs RPG' battle than it'll be a 'Bioware vs Valve' battle.

 

[Dexiro]

They're too completly different ends of the spectrum so neither are necessarily better or worse.

If you want it could be seen as Consoles vs PC too.

 

[Taneer]

The real issue is that the two companies are so different, it's like comparing apples and oranges. The question isn't who likes which company, it's who likes what genre.

 

[Daveman]

Yes, I was thinking exactly this earlier today. If it is the case I'd imagine Valve to win as shooters are generally more popular. However this past year I think the RPGs have been better games than the FPSs, so that's why, despite my Valve fanboyism, Bioware deserves to win.

 

[Jandau]

I honestly don't really like anything Valve has done since Half Life 2. I don't like TF2, I think Portal is a nice minigame, the Episodes were inferior to the main game, L4D2 is basically a repeat performance of L4D which I found repetitive and lacking in content. Overall, Valve isn't a very productive developer, and all they seem to be able to make are FPS games, and they're not even particularly interesting.

On the other hand, Bioware has been making awesome RPGs for a while now. You've got your shooter RPGs, your tactical RPGs, you've got your Star Wars RPGs, fantasy RPGs, Chinese Mythology RPGs. Bioware has provided FAR more variety and has done some nice things with in-game storytelling. When a company gets to the point that mentioning their latest game has good writing and plot is almost redundant, that HAS to mean something

Overall, Valve isn't bad, but they do too little and too rarely. Bioware is a productive developer that provides me with variety and depth in games, both in gameplay and story. It's not a contest as far as I'm concerned, Bioware all the way!

That being said, Valve will win this one, both because shooters are the mainstream genre these days and because they have an easy-to-mobilize fanbase that was already brought into action for the Valve VS Zynga fight.

 

[Volucer]

While I prefer RPGs to FPSs, and however much I love Bioware, my vote had to go to valve. For their great games, their humour, the continued support they show their games (which is the reason why 3 years after release I still play TF2 regularly, can't say that about any other game) and for Steam as a whole. Keeps my games organised, give me good offers on games, update things so I don't have to, let me access internet and talk to friends while playing games, and making it so getting my old games on my new PC was as simple as logging into my account after copying across my files.

 

[Vancifer]

Wasn't just talking about Half Life & Mass Effect.

I mean Valve has Portal (FPS) Team Fortress (FPS) Left 4 Dead (FPS).

Bioware has Jade Empire (RPG) Dragon Age (RPG) Star Wars KOTR (RPG).


So in my mind it would have to be FPSs vs. RPGs.

 

[Marmal4de]

For me the genres don't really apply in this case.
I usualy get bored with RPG's very quickly and generaly tend not to finish games but theres no doubt that Bioware is something special, I loved KOTOR and have finished both of the Mass Effect games and Dragon Age.

Although I tend to go for the shiny explody games more Bioware is an exception and i'm definitely rooting for them.

 

[Vancifer]

I forgot about Valve & Steam.

 

[SLy AsymMetrY]

Only played Half-Life 2 so I have to go with Bioware, for KOTOR and Mass Effect. Although, i'm not sure if I really care who makes the games so long as they're good.

 

[The Madman]

Pretty much. You've got the undisputed champion of FPS facing off against it's RPG counterpart. Neither developer really dabbles in the other devs genres, and both have their own distinct style and fanbase. They're about as different as it gets!

Went with Bioware myself! Half-Life may have completely blown my mind when it first came out, but I haven't bothered going back to it in years whereas Baldur's Gate is not only installed on my computer *right now* but is pretty much the sole reason I started delving into fantasy as a genre.

Just can't compete with that!

Oh, and this youtube video is pretty snazzy too:

 

[Lightnr]

Bioware has pretty need personal sites as well: http://social.bioware.com/brc/160120

 

[SantoUno]

Although I don't think it's a matter of pitting two genres against each other, some people might think of it that way.

Personally I'd rather vote for Bioware, KOTOR is just too awesome, and for Valve, well you can't really have much quality and variety when all you develop are FPSs who almost all use the same engine.

 

[=HCFS=Discoman]

I can't really decide myself. I have a bunch of valve games and mass effect/mass effect 2.
while the fast paced shooter action with interesting puzzles of half-life is fun, and gives replay value, the third person RPG of mass effect is fun as well.
I'd say mass effect has a bit more replay value. while you can replay HL2, and try different tactics/earn new achievements, it really doesn't change.
at least another playthrough of mass effect can be done as a different class, changing gameplay, tactics, etc.
and for those that like it, there is the optional romance subplot in mass effect and mass effect 2. Valve doesn't offer that.

I'd say my vote just barely goes to Bioware.

 

[Kikosemmek]

It is a hard decision.

Both companies set the standard for the respective genres they release games under. To me, I can settle the issue with a series of observations.

Valve consistently makes the best FPS's I've ever played, barring perhaps Bioshock, while not all of Bioware's games are up to the standards of their best productions. Valve 1 - 0 Bioware.

Bioware made my favourite game of all time, Baldur's Gate II. Valve 1 - 1 Bioware.

I've spent more time per game playing Bioware RPG's. Valve 1 - 2 Bioware.

I've spent more time playing Valve games than Bioware games. Valve 2 - 2 Bioware.

Hard decision indeed...

 

[Auric]

Yea its basically RPG vs FPS isnt it...

Well, i have a love for both, but bioware did it for me

 

[blankedboy]

I like both, but TPS will rule once NaughtyDog starts making games for PC... oh god, that will be a good day