To quote big-time Valve honcho Gabe Newell, "We are delighted to announce Portal 2 for the PlayStation 3 and believe the Steamworks support included will make it the best console version of the game." In layman's terms, this means that arriving with Portal 2 on the PS3 will come Steam. Well, perhaps not "with", but you get the drift of his statement. After all, it isn't everyday that Valve hand out such a great bundle of gifts, especially to Sony, which you must already know, haven't had a great history together, but that is all backstory. Valve have chosen to leave the past in the past, and so should we. So anyway, what can we expect to come from their massive announcement?
Well, join the queue. Everyone has been trying to make sense out of this, and so far Valve have kept a lid on it. Well, no shock there - Valve are notorious for having "secret" projects, and keeping fans in suspense. First, let's take a closer look at Portal 2. It could mean that the PS3 version has better graphics, more textures and other technical updates that make it superior to the others, although it is unlikely for a few reasons, such as how PC graphics have a wide range of customizable options, making it leader in this domain. However, Xbox 360 graphics and PS3 graphics are somewhat equal (let's not open that door... lol), and therefore it is possible for Valve to upgrade the PS3 port's graphics and still become the best version, seeing as PS3 and Xbox 360 gamers are more common than PC ones.
Another variable that is viable to make the PS3 port exceed the other versions is exclusive content. Levels/test chambers accessable only on the PS3 version, or perhaps new character/texture/portal gun skins, exclusive game modes and perhaps other ingame features could enhance the PS3 variation of the game. Microsoft seem to be the winning competitors in buying exclusive deals from the multi-console market, and people agree that it has made the Xbox 360 versions of games deeper than PS3 versions. Therefore, it is possible for Valve to pick up this tip from their former business partner and incorporate it into their current project. This is slightly possible, although unlikely as it shows less of a benefit for Valve, as a company itself.
I could rant on and on about other reasons which could make the GAME better on the PS3, but let's not forget the second part of Gabe Newell's deal: Steamworks. Now how could Steamworks make the PS3 version of Portal 2 superior to other platform versions? Well, for starters, there is the obvious and confirmed feature that will allow PS3 owners to play against PC owners, and vice-versa: online cross-platform gaming. Now we're talking BIG, because in this day and age it is very rare to find cross-platform games, what with the console war and all - but with PC and PS3, it could work. The only thing is that this gives the PC servers lots of more players too, so both consoles gain something with this, although it is still possible for the PS3 version to be the "best" despite this.
Steam on the PS3 could be radically different for all we know - it could be changed in many ways from the PC one. This might lead to in-game features, as we don't know anything about how Steam could help make Portal 2 greater on ONE platform. Right now, all anyone can do is speculate, but I'm sure that Valve have something clever up their sleeves.
So, what do you think could make Gabe's statement come true?
Waiting a decade for new instalments in franchises as massive as Fallout and Elder Scrolls feels like a waste.
Microsoft have Obsidian but I feel it's Bethesda who just don't want to play ball as they've always said they want to do it themselves.
Once MS bought Zenimax in 2020 they should have put the Outer Worlds 2 on the back burner, allow Bethesda to finish off its own Space RPG with Starfield (despite totally different tone why have two in your first party portfolio with two developers who's gameplay is a tad similar) and got Obsidian for one of their projects to make a spiritual successor to New Vegas.
When the Elder Scrolls VI is finished Bethesda can then onto the main numbered Fallout 5 themselves.
The Outer Worlds 2 started development in 2019 so putting it on the back burner wouldn't have been the end of the world, they'd have always come back to it once Fallout was done and it would have been nicely spaced out from Starfields release once they had most likely stopped supporting it and all the expansions were released.
If they did this back in 2020 when they bought Zenimax and the game had a good, steady 4 - 5 years development, you might have seen it release in 2025.
We are literally going to be waiting until 2030 at the very earliest for Fallout 5 and all they seem bothered about is pushing Fallout 76.
Its not just only Todd not playing ball.
Obsidian have made a name for themselves in delivering stellar RPGs, but most famous once have always been sequels/spin-offs to borrowed IPs like KOTOR 2, Neverwinter Nights 2, Fallout: New Vegas, Stick of Truth etc.
Obsidian wants to invest more in their own original IPs like Outer Worlds or Pillars of Eternity with Avowed.
Similar to what Bluepoint & inXile wants to do or Kojima is doing (i.e not involving anymore in Konami's IPs).
So yea, even if New Vegas has the most votes from 3D Fallout fans, Obsidian just wants to do their own thing, like any aspiring dev studio and MS is likely currently respecting that.
But a future Fallout game from Obsidian will surely happen. Founder Feargus Urquhart has already stated an year ago that they're eager to make a new Fallout game with Bethesda, New Vegas 2 or otherwise. Urquhart was the director of the very first 1995's Fallout game after all.
And don't forget Brian Fargo and his studio inXile, as Brian Fargo was the director of Fallout's 1988 predecessor: Wasteland
"The Vancouver-based (Canada) indie games developer Blinkmoon Games are today very happy and proud to announce that their dark fantasy bullet heaven "Necromantic", is coming to PC via Steam Early Access in 2024." - Jonas Ek, TGG.
Athenian Rhapsody is a JRPG with a difference: alongside turn-based combat & exploration, you'll need to complete WarioWare-style microgames.
yeah i canny wait for this not just for portal but this could lead to L4d XD
want to know what makes people say the things they do? *CHA-CHING* the nice paycheck they're handed.
Dude Steamworks is the difference. MS's Portal 2 will be a static disc that will require DLC be approved by MS. Sony will have an open platform similar to that of PC.
It's pretty big news and there isn't much "read between the lines" SteamWorks is already available elsewhere, so it's likely the PS3 SteamWorks will offer similar functionality.
http://www.steampowered.com...
1) Steam is NOT coming to PS3. Why would Sony allow a rival game distribution service to compete on their own platform? Or even a rival network? I don't want to have to get a seperate login ID to play Portal 2 (reminds me of MGO).
2) He said the PS3 version will be the best CONSOLE version. This is because of the steamworks implementation; it is only a minor advantage, but makes it the best CONSOLE version nonetheless.
money