Should Valve Give In To Protestors Over Half-Life 3?

(Originally posted February 2012 for Press2Reset)

Recently, a group of Half-Life fans banded together in order to show their dissatisfaction with Valve and the developer’s silence regarding Half-Life 3. In the hopes of urging Valve to talk about the highly anticipated sequel, the group has begun to take further steps in the form of demonstrations. The first demonstration has already taken place in which 13,000 members played Half-Life 2 at the same time. Yet Valve has continued to remain silent on the subject. But should Valve capitulate and inform their fans as to whether or not they are working on HL3?

Given the developer’s penchant for keeping quiet, regarding their projects, I can’t see Valve giving in to a vocal minority which numbers around 53,000+ members. In an industry where the norm is to flood the market with information about their games, Valve is one of the very few who does not follow suit. Their lack of information may seem like a bad idea from a marketing standpoint but it works.

People seem to forget that there were only rumors about Half-Life 2 after the original Half-Life game was released in 1998. But when Half-Life 2 was confirmed five years later at 2003’s E3, it rocked the video game industry and walked away with several awards for best in the show.

Of course, it wasn’t just Half-Life 2 which was shown off at that show. Valve used the game to demo their brand new Source graphics engine which was a wonder to behold. A graphics engine which still holds up well today judging it by Portal 2; Valve’s latest released title to-date. Valve’s practice of staying quiet about Half-Life 2 paid off. A lasting impression was made and the caliber of the game was such that it has a Metacritic score of 96, won a total of 39 Game of the Year awards when it was released in 2004, and has sold around 12 million physical copies as of February 2011.

In an industry where developers and publishers are jockeying to stay in the public’s eye, certain Half-Life fans have forgotten that this is not how Valve operates. It is one of the reasons why I have been a fan of Valve ever since I picked up Half-Life when it first released in 1998. Too much information about a game, in my opinion, can cause you to build up expectations and pre-conceived notions which ruin the first-time experience of playing a newly released title.

While developers and publishers rely too heavily on press releases to remind consumers that a certain title is coming up Valve has no need to do so. Half-Life has been seared into our brains and the lack of information is the perfect marketing strategy for Valve who continues to put out quality games. The sales figures are a perfect testimony to the efficacy of this strategy and the success this franchise has achieved despite the lack of information.

Those fans who feel the need to be vocal and band together to try and get Valve to open up are doing a disservice to the developer they claim to be fans of. Valve has never changed their way of doing things, nor should they do so. This sense of entitlement for being informed is rather childish. Trust in Valve that they are working on the title and that they will let us see it when they are ready.

Just like they have always done.

I waited five years for Half-Life 2 and I am content to sit back and wait for Valve to give us Half-Life 3. This doesn’t mean that I am indifferent to the franchise. On the contrary, I will be one of the first to purchase it when it comes out. I just accept Valve for what they are and what they do.

Yet with Half-life 2: Episode 2 ending the way it did in 2007, Valve is going to be exceptionally careful with how they handle the next installment. Valve is going to try and rock the gaming world again just like they did in 2003. If they follow the same path with Half-Life and Half-Life 2 then 2012’s E3 event could be when we finally get to see something. Perhaps even a revamped Source engine, or Source 2 engine, to be shown off alongside the long-awaited installment.

However, those of you who feel entitled to be informed about the game should stop. It is a poor way to treat a developer who has done so much for the gaming community despite its approach to game ownership. Be happy in the knowledge that Valve is working on it and, when they feel the time is right, will show it to us. You may be trying to avoid being disrespectful, as mentioned in the message to Valve, but that is exactly what you are by forming this group and having these demonstrations. You don’t respect Valve’s policy on disseminating information about their projects even though it is a tried and true formula for them.

Valve doesn’t need to be reminded that there are fans that are dying to play Half-Life 3. The sales figures and constant asking of “When is Half-Life 3 coming out?” are more than enough motivation for them to keep working on it.

So Valve, keep doing what you need to do. You have proven that it works and I’ll be there ready to purchase your game the second it is released.

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