Gabe Newell Did Not Make Decision to Develop For PS3

When Sony’s E3 press conference last year commenced no one had thought Valve co-founder Gabe Newell would come out and announce Portal 2 for the PlayStation 3; a shock for many after the acclaimed developer criticizing Sony’s black behemoth machine. Now, it seems that Gabe wasn’t the person who made the initial decision to start developing for the PS3.

[LOGICWINS]

Funny, thats not the story I heard from people in the N4G comments section.

http://n4g.com/news/547475/...

[Dante112]

So some people who worked in Valve wanted to develop games for the PS3.

"That’s why we’re working on the PS3 now,because we had about four engineers – some of which have worked here for a few years –who were annoyed that we hadn’t developed for that platform, and they were willing to cross over."

Edit: @ LOGIC Who said anything about majority? Are you mad that Valve makes games for the PS3 now?

Edit2: @ disagrees Some= Majority now? And I don't even see how you're trying to spin this into something negative. Valve are still making game for the PS3 now lol.

[WhittO]

Whatever the case of who actually wanted to make the PS3 version, they must ALL be P/O!!

PSN went down JUST as their game launched, and after putting all that effort into cross-game play with PC and Steam features for PSN, then noone has barely had a chance to even use them yet!?
Or have a chance to even use their servers or anything lol.

I would think they place this blame on Sony too, not the hackers, it makes them seem incompetent, wonder if it will effect future games/DLC??

[Pixel_Pusher]

And yet we got the better version out of the two consoles.

[Wobbuffet]

I'm just glad that they have decided to work with ps3.

Off topic look at these people freaking over psn lol

[YodaCracker]

@Pixel_Pusher

LOL. In what way was it better?

[badz149]

question for you, in which way it isn't?

[b163o1]

POP, Wobbuffet lol

[onanie]

@logicwins
Not the majority perhaps, but those "four engineers" were enough to change Valve's direction.

It's a kind of important logic to leave out, isn't it?

[gta2800]

Does it matter who made that decision? Only thing that matters is that it has finally happened.

[WhittO]

lol @ Disagrees, ok, so some random hackers made their way into the PSN, stole everyone's (Millions!) personal info and has left Sony to pick up the pieces for the past couple of weeks??

How does that make them seem competent again?

Especially when Amazon etc have also been targeted in the past but barely flinched at all.

[KDubyah]

Ha, way to dodge the question dude. Not confident?

:P

[badz149]

it's not that I'm not confident but I would like to know why he thinks that the PS3 version is not the better version of the 2. getting PC copy for every PS3 copy is enough to warrant "THE BEST VERSION"

[LOGICWINS]

"That’s why we’re working on the PS3 now,because we had about four engineers – some of which have worked here for a few years –who were annoyed that we hadn’t developed for that platform, and they were willing to cross over."

4 engineers make up the majority of Valve?

"So MOST who worked in Valve wanted to develop games for the PS3."

Thats what you originally wrote...and then you changed it like a coward. THATS why your getting disagrees.

[RedDead]

"Thats what you originally wrote...and then you changed it like a coward. THATS why your getting disagrees."

This is the truth people

[Dante112]

Red, stop trolling. That might be why you have one bubble now.

@ Logic

Oh, personal attacks now? Also it appears that you changed your comment around there times already. By your logic, are you a coward as well? Serious question, what happen to you today that has you so hurt?

[B1663r]

Dantes

No we have one bubble because when the PSN disaster started, the mods went through and took all of our bubbles for saying anything negative at all about Sony at all.

[phantomexe]

"Logicwins" I think you get what he trying to say and he is right.

[Funny_Observation]

@B1663r

In 6 words you said 'at all' twice.

[dabri5]

@b1663r
I lost two bubbles for the following comment which was marked as trolling.

"Ignoring the fact that they did a horrible job of encrypting our information (which was just stored as plain text), I would say the people who were hurt the most were the developers/ other companies who have titles that rely on PSN and or sell software through Sony's store on PSN. They have been making 0 money this entire time. This is seriously going to hurt Sony's reputation with these developers. I know everyone here thinks the only games that matters are the ones Sony makes themselves, but this isn't the case. This was not done professionally or handled well at all. I'm not talking from a customer stand point. I'm talking about from a company to company standpoint."

Still not sure why.

[BabyTownFrolics]

i too lost bubbles for for being critical of Sony during the outage, said nothing fanboyish, just stating an unpopular opinion.

I want my PSN up as much as anyone else, just glad that netflix on the ps3 still connects since I prefer it over netlfix on my 360.

[dabri5]

I can't tell if I got disagrees because you disagree that I lost bubbles for the above comment or you think the comment is trolling. If someone who disagreed could respond why you consider it trolling, it would help be with future comments. Thanks :)

[No Way]

I've been here long enough, to know that people disagree no matter what.
It really doesn't matter what you have to say, or how you word what you say.
People on this site, will disagree for no other reason than to disagree.

I used to have seven bubbles, back in the day, though, makes me mad! >.<
Though, it's cause the damn site changed, it dropped me to four bubbles..
Iduno why though, hmph. Oh well. Don't worry about disagrees, lol.

[undercovrr]

You sound surprised to find out that many n4g users are full of it

[Zydake]

Lol ;D

[FamilyGuy]

"“Having someone tell someone else what to do [at Valve] would just be completely destructive to Valve. We’re completely allergic to that.”

Valve has yet to sneeze."

I LOVE this lol

[Vherostar]

Who cares though is it really that big of a deal?? Are the people writing this happy that he didn't? They trying to prove he a fanboy or something?? Articles like this are a pointless waste of time.

[TVippy]

Of course he didn't, he's a smart man, he still hates the machine.

[50Terabytespersec]

Funny I heard he made a decision to eat a dozen doughnuts lmao!
Give us a new improved half life game with new next gen engine!!! or go back to running Steam and making repetitive Serious sam type of games like Left for dead with a ridiculous marketing budget!

[rabidpancakeburglar]

Doesn't matter. All that matters is that his opinion of the ps3 changed after developing on it

[iamnsuperman]

I am glad those engineers saw a good move unlike Gabe. Funny when he had to come out at E3

[Shadow Flare]

Well it takes a big man to go back on your words. And gabe is a big man

[LOGICWINS]

Funny how a story that "doesn't matter" just reached 100 degrees in less than 3 minutes.

[rabidpancakeburglar]

Thanks for the d*ck comment, I never said that the story didn't matter, I was saying the fact that he didn't make the decision didn't matter

[LOGICWINS]

WOW..not that serious bro.

[Dante112]

What's wrong with LOGIC? He tries to make everyone out to be hurt by this or something.

Edit: Oh, I'm hurt now. So far you've called me a coward, liar in caps lol.

[LOGICWINS]

Ummm..if ur "hurt" by anything I said, I guess I apologize, that wasn't my intention. I was simply just speaking my mind.

[BlackTar187]

logic what a waste of bubbles.

[rabidpancakeburglar]

I understand, I often get disagrees for speaking my mind as well but most times that I get a reply from you it seems like a personal attack. It's probably not but just think about what you write before you do so

[solidjun5]

@rabidpancakeburglar don't be suprised.That's how deadreckoning666 works

[Legion]

What is funny about it? Just get some fanboys ranting going on and you assure yourself some hits.

[wsoutlaw87]

@logic im really trying to figure out a logical reason why this story is getting you all worked up. Portals already on the ps3, not to mention with steam. If it makes you feel better thinking that Gabe is a fanboy then go for it. No ones worried about it, the ps3 got the better version of portal 2 so its cool.

[AnttiApina]

It would be ridicilous to think that Gabe decides everything inside the company.

Valve is huge and these decision aren't made by few persons.

[SonyPS360]

Indeed. What difference does it make who's decision it was?

Valve's "nobody tells anyone what to do" worth ethic is incredible. More developers should adopt it.

Just look at the amount of creative ideas and success they've had as a result.

[theonlylolking]

I dont really care. As long as portal is on PS3 and runs very good then I am happy.

[lazertroy]

Still needs his approval.

[Raendom]

Just a question: was it his decision to develop for Wii2/HD? I read an article saying Valve have plans for it.

[GRIMLOCK_79]

i dont care about valve games ,

[the_kutaragi_baka]

I care, problem?

[GRIMLOCK_79]

if you care about valve games...........ps3 is not your platform ...........go to pc.
After the fat guy said over ps3 , I'll never buy a valve game.

[unknownhero1123]

you are missing out dude.

[SonyPS360]

No real gamer would say that.

[Dno]

ima real gamer and id say that. portal is not my type of game and left 4 dead is boring after a couple hours and that's all they made new since 2007 ....

[SonyPS360]

Those aren't the only games Valve have ever made.

You not heard of half life, a genre-defining FPS?

Team Fortress, the predecessor to class-based team games?

I say you're quite young and spoiled.

[Rybakov]

maybe maybe not either way he said and meant a lot of bad stuff toward the ps3 and then sony put money in his pocket and he is now happy as a clam....money dose that to people

[mastiffchild]

I don't know, myself, whether all the talk of Valve being this autonomous beast is that true and wouldn't, in the least, be shocked to find their EA publishing deal had more to do with finally laying the PS3 hate to rest. Call me cynical, but there you go-I just found it odd all the time Valve were semi in bed with EA and the games weren't coming to PS3 yet the nasty comments WERE. It had to stop and kudos to Gabe for having the balls to come onstage with Sony but whether this was ever the result of anything other than EA pressure will have to be proven to me a lot more forcefully than this.

[wsoutlaw87]

im surprised ea didn't push for all valve games to be multiplat from the start. They know it makes more money.

[dead_eye]

And this article changes what?

Whatever the reason for starting it Gabe kinda cemented it by turning up at Sony's press conference and making the announcement. I'm sure the 4 engineers didn't make the co-founder and managing director of valve do that.

[clintos59]

I see that lack of exclusive games are making a few butthurt lol. Hey I would feel the same way if sony, put all their focus on ps move & forgot about us hardcore.

[undercovrr]

You mean like MS is doing? heheh, had to say that

[clintos59]

Why ruin my comment? LOL

Edit: Fair Enough lol.

[undercovrr]

@clintos59

I'm sorry lol, I just could not resist. You set me up for that one

[maxcer]

I have both systems but i can still see the majority of N4G are ps3 only douchebags who would defend sony no matter what they do. why do you care what MS or their user base does?

[mendicant]

Funny how all those exclusives still hasn't helped Sony at all. Only in the mind of the typical Sony supporter does exclusive equal good.

Sony rose to their past glory on the backs of third party games and now that doens't matter? Now it's all about exclusives? That's why they're in last place.

[JMyers]

@mendicant... Let me first say that I own all 3 consoles, having said that let me point out the flaws in your argument:
1) Many of Sony's Exclusive are highly rated and will continue to be (as the trends show). So we can assume that typically when buying an exclusive it will more likely be a higher quality experience.

You should have added that Xbots think Sales = Quality.

2) Exclusives have helped Sony both this gen and last. Infact especially last gen... Think of the major ones lost before the PS3... Namely RE, DMC, GTA, and many more. And yes these did eventually came to other consoles but the PS2 was linked to these franchises in most countries. The PS2 didn't become a success because of third parties. Actually many companies grew because of The PS2's install base, especially RockStar, Capcom, Namco, etc.
Exclusives have helped this Gen as well... In regions other than North America. For example GT5 in Europe, FF13 in Japan.

3) The Playstation's past glory was due to timing, marketing and social position of business decisions. Just like the 360, which came a full year ahead, cheaper, and with many games. Adding to this was Sony's mistakes in the first year of launch.

In summary, it's not all about exclusives, and sales. Or about fanboys. It's about who is demanding what as a gamer. 50 million consoles is by no means a failure.

[mendicant]

@nelo,

While you make a good argument, I humbly disagree.

1) Many is not all. No one is disputing that there aren't great PS3 exclusives. I have all three consoles as well and for me for all the exclusives they have, few of them are truly that good. You can make all the assumptions you want on what is or isn't going to be good but I'll wait until the finished product.

Your "xbot" comment is silly and shouldn't have been added. None of my friends who own 360's nor gamers I have talked to say that sales=quality. Just because some clown on a forum posts that doesn't mean that is the most held attitude. The gamers I know play games and don't have time to troll on forums. They buy and play games and could care less what any of us has to think about this "console war."

2)Your second point doesn't make sense at all. All those companies you mentioned are third party and got Sony to where they are at. Period. They didn't start of with their own studios and games. To deny this is to simply deny the facts, the history of it all. Exclusives aren't as important anymore and that's a fact. I'm not saying that's a good thing or that they don't matter. But when you have Sony having so many exclusives coming out and yet we see them drop rapidly in mind and market share, that has to say something. Uncharted is bad as shit but Modern Warfare sells more. What does that tell you? The lie that Sony gamers have better taste or are more sophisticated is just that, a lie.

3)The Playstations past glory is due to third party support. Sony screwed themeselves this gen by releasing an over priced product with crappy launch software. You can't release a $600 console on the marktet and not have anything for almost two years that justifies the price. Not to mention their hubrace turned off a lot of gamers (like myself) who normally jump on new hardware. I didn't buy a PS3 until Killzone2 came out and I've never waited that long to purchase a new system. Timing was a part of it seeing as how Sega screwed up but "marketing and social position of business decisions" that doesn't even make sense.

In summary it's not about exclusives or sales, it's about the games. Obviously people are finding more value in Nintendo and Microsoft's consoles than Sony's. 50 million isn't a failure and no body said it was. However, you have to give credit where it is due. Sony underestimated MS and the big N and they paid for it. They've turned things around and are doing much better but lets not fool ourselves. To go from number one crashing down to third place is nothing to scoff at. More importantly is the loss of mindshare. You can make all the shoulda, woulda, coulda arguments you want but at the end of the day Sony only has itself to blame. And I for one don't feel sorry for them.

[xtremexx]

i really want to work at valve, you just make what you have a passion for making and if its good, its gets published

[Rikan]

Gabe has always hated Playstation 3, he said so many time lol In fact, there was a time he was anti-console period. I can't blame him...limitations, limitations...

[rob6021]

yea. but they were already developing half way on 360; they were already limited; so it annoyed some of the engineers that wanted a real challenge, and PS3 was somewhere where their talents/efforts would show results in the game itself. Makes sense to me.

[Rikan]

Your one of those kids who thinks the PS3 is some alien hardware which has so much potential, aren't you? If you know anything about hardware, and your remark illustrates the fact you don't, you'd know the PS3 is not capable of much more than the 360--they are more or less equal in power. This is fact and has been established long ago. The fact the power argument still exists in forums such as this is the fact they are saturated with kids who know little about the internal workings of these machines.
The PS3 is a 'challenge' to work with alright, just loose the positive connotation you implied while saying it. Its a challenge because it's architecture was tediously designed along with its CPU. The PS3's tech specs, which I'm sure are gibberish to you and anyone else who thinks the PS3 is such a leap over the Xbox, simply don't equate to A) More power than the Xbox (minor variations in speed) or B)"untapped" power (Please, these consoles were outdated 6 months after launch).

If the PS3 was so much more powerful and untamed than the Xbox, you'd see results. Please save your "But Uncharted this and Grand Turismo this" remarks--there are no games that exist on either platform that drastically exceeds another. Gears of War 3 looks as good as any other title out there. If you think otherwise, than your blinded by being condemned to owning one console or fan boy retardation.

There is only one platform that exceeds others in graphics and that is and always will be PC.

Rob6021, you were almost right. The 360 AND PS3 limit studios, not just the 360. The consoles hold back talent and graphical progress (no DX11, tesselation etc in most multiplatform PC games a.k.a Crysis 2 among others.) I find it amusing and sad how so many argue over the graphics of consoles when the specs for each machine limit them to roughly the same outcome. If graphics matter SO much to you people to the point where you constantly compare screen shots ad infinitum, why not get a PC? You buy one that out performs both consoles for 550$?

It seems to me that only PC gamers understand the fact the consoles are neck in neck in power. Why is that? Anyways, I'm sure this whole post will mean nothing to you. Just save your fanboy accusations as I care little for the consoles; only play the console exclusives like Uncharted/Gears/Halo/God of War/Alan Wake etc.

[death2smoochie]

And yet with all that so called PS3 power, how may games on the PS3, like the Xbox360 run at full 1080p@40+fps using REAL Anti-Aliasing in conjunction with higher Floating point precession Eye Adaptive High Dynamic Range Lighting?
I will give you a hint:
It's less than 1%...and those are mostly if not all PSN and XBL games.

[dead_eye]

@rikan. How many 360's does it take to make a super computer?? Seriously is it the same as the ps3 cos if it's not then I'd say the ps3 was more powerful;)

[Wolf951]

You can't blame Gabe for being scared to develop on PS3.

It is alien technology after all, taken from Area 51...probably.

[BeastlyRig]

I would think aliens would develop a 1920x1200 system at least & maxes out bf3!

aliens fail then?

[Wolf951]

Of course they fail, they crashed into a field.

[a_bro]

they probably abducted Ken Kutaragi in the process and told him what to do...

[RevXM]

Yes, but it really isnt.It is really good for being 6 years old though.

Aliens that were able to come to earth would probably have calculators that would run everygame ever at max and upscaled simultanoiously with a framerate of a steady 42 and handling a million wireless inputs.

We are just not ready I guess.

[GLoRyKnoT]

Only men that actually own suits are allowed to make these decisions.

[DelbertGrady]

Or men that are in the position where they can choose whatever they want to wear and still be in power.

[BeastlyRig]

"For example, according to Newell, the reason there was no Source engine on Playstation 3 before now was that no one at the company had been interested in building one. Sure, it would have been profitable, it would have been good for the company, but Newell would never tell his employees what to work on. If no one ever decides to make a PS3 engine, then Valve won’t be releasing one. It seems like it couldn’t possibly be that simple, but unless it’s an elaborate ruse, this is how Valve works."

- http://gamrconnect.vgchartz...

[death2smoochie]

And just think.....not too long ago PS3 fans HATED the man...
Now they are praising him :P

[solidjun5]

Not a big deal if it wasn't his "initial" decision. He was part of it and the game turned out great on the PS3. It wasn't the Orange Box fiasco and when PSN is back on, the steam integration will be enjoyed. I mean...he didn't have to comment during E3 2010. So it turned out alright in the end.

[Silly gameAr]

What does it matter now? Portal 2 is on the PS3 and I hope it's not the only Valve game to come to PS3 with Steam features. Leave the past in the past.

[Holeran]

It's great that they made the leap because after playing Portal 2 it seems they already know thier way around the PS3 pretty well, maybe not to Naughty Dog or Guerilla standards but very good none the less. Portal 2 turned out terrific. I can't wait for PSN to get up to play a little co-op.

[NateCole]

And this is important why?.

[xstation79]

I guess people thought that gabe newell turned into a ps3 fanboy.

[Speakindatruth]

So?

[DAS692]

Least they didn't get bought out. :)

[th3_d3an]

so sick of these stories grow up look at the money its making you! what an ass beside looks like someone thats hangs out at parks and offers little kids candy. you make games make them and shut up!

[earbus]

They wanted to wait to see if the ps3 sold before they made games for it.

[Veeger]

Who cares. Portal 2 is great and I'm glad I could play it with DS instead of kb+m.

[RevXM]

Im glad I can play it with BOTH!

Buy on ps3, play on both Ps3 and pc.

WIN.
Play with all your friends who owns this game on either PC or Ps3.

[Platinum_k]

YOU LYING FAT PIECE OF $%^&! ARGH!!!
LOLS JK...
I DONT REALLY CARE

[Inzo]

with the success of Portal 2(visually and in sales) on the PS3 I dont think he regrets the decision.

[OMGitzThatGuy]

He owns Steam!!!!! He doesnt give 2 shits about portal's visuals or sales.

[Inzo]

Yip, another "smart" comment on N4G buy a 12 year old.

[OMGitzThatGuy]

@Inzo Im 18 and graduating in 9 days as a matter of fact. Dick!!

[solidjun5]

sure you are, You're 18 and finally passing 8th grade. >_>

[hot111]

Basically some Valve engineers are such big (stupid)PS3 fanboys and they decided to risk their well payed jobs by making an ultimatum "PS3 or we leave"...lol
I suppose they are paying for PS3 development out of their pockets too.
Nobody is that stupid especially today.Fake "news".

[zero_cool]

Some of these users are acting like caffeinated monkey spaz tards!Anyways i don't care who did im just glade valve are making games on playstation 3 & not doing it half assed like some other multi platform studios *cough* bethesda!

[Morgue]

Who cares. People should now be happy because Valve released a game for the PS3 but are they? No.

[Sikct9a]

I wish to see more Valve games on the Ps3 in the near future. Well done on Portal 2 btw.

[Ingram]

Their corporate structure sounds much like...anonymous.

DUN DUN DUUNNNN

[jon1234]

thats gotta be the ugliest picture of anybody ever

[MasterCornholio]

Valve in the past made a lot of harsh comments on the PS3. But looks like Live ticked them off and they changed their tune ever since then. I am glad that they did a good job with portal 2 but i am waiting for a price drop (and PSN) before i pick up the title. I only hope that in the future they will bring a good version of team fortress to the PS3.

Where are the Tmen?

[gersh]

Fatty.

[PickAShoe]

fat version of harry potter lol