Well... didn't see this one coming.

I'm of the opinion Valve's work will change neither for the better or for the worse as a result of this deal.

1) EA Partners IS NOT EA (atleast in the sense you're thinking of.) EA Partners allows you a lot of creative control, even over your marketing and stuff. You're ultimately responsible, and they spend very little. It's low risk because it's ALWAYS on talent they can bank on. Valve is extremely bankable.

2) Valve isn't infallable. In my opinion (and I might be alone) the quality of half life 2 wasn't up to what half life 1 was. It had amazing art design, but it ended there for me. I found the story to be non existant, and they took no chances.

3) Why would EA care about Half Life 3,4,5? They know 1 and 2 were super sellers, it's not their property, they don't own it. They won't even bat an eyelash to change what's there. They only destroy good stuff when they own it and they do it in house. Neither of these is true. (Refer to Criterion's continuing quality on the Burnout series and the success of their renderware engine.)

4) I love pudding.

Mike

Considering that GBX hasn't had (to my knowledge) any deals with EA, you know a lot about how they work. Research on competitors, did someone who must know told you or is it GBX facing its back to Ubi?

Quote from FrieChamp

Mike Considering that GBX hasn't had (to my knowledge) any deals with EA, you know a lot about how they work. Research on competitors, did someone who must know told you or is it GBX facing its back to Ubi?

Nightfire was EA.

Quote from FrieChamp

Mike Considering that GBX hasn't had (to my knowledge) any deals with EA, you know a lot about how they work. Research on competitors, did someone who must know told you or is it GBX facing its back to Ubi?

is the single funniest smiley we have... i will use it more often.

As for having any knowledge into the inner workings of EA. I know how a lot of the publishers work, it's important information to have in this industry. I know about EA Partners because I've talked to some people representing them. I didn't reveal much as to how they work at all, fact is I don't think a lot of people have any idea what goes on at the top level board meeting at EA (I hear it involves sacrifice of virgin chickens to a lower power, the wolf ram and heart if you will.)

I'm just sharing my opinions of what I believe will happen just like everyone else. I also trust Valve to make good business decisions, because outside of taking a bit too long to make their games, their biz dev is good.

And knowing how publishers work isn't "researching competitors." Develoeprs and publishers are not competitors (unless a publisher buys you I suppose.)

Quote from mikezilla

is the single funniest smiley we have... i will use it more often.As for having any knowledge into the inner workings of EA. I know how a lot of the publishers work, it's important information to have in this industry. I know about EA Partners because I've talked to some people representing them. I didn't reveal much as to how they work at all, fact is I don't think a lot of people have any idea what goes on at the top level board meeting at EA (I hear it involves sacrifice of virgin chickens to a lower power, the wolf ram and heart if you will.)

I'm just sharing my opinions of what I believe will happen just like everyone else. I also trust Valve to make good business decisions, because outside of taking a bit too long to make their games, their biz dev is good.

And knowing how publishers work isn't "researching competitors." Develoeprs and publishers are not competitors (unless a publisher buys you I suppose.)

SCHOOL'D

Seriously, I have no real love for EA, but half the time people get their panties in a bunch simply because they feel the games industry is one big pantomime, requiring a single dastardly villain.

Quote from mikezilla

is the single funniest smiley we have... i will use it more often.

As for having any knowledge into the inner workings of EA. I know how a lot of the publishers work, it's important information to have in this industry. I know about EA Partners because I've talked to some people representing them. I didn't reveal much as to how they work at all, fact is I don't think a lot of people have any idea what goes on at the top level board meeting at EA (I hear it involves sacrifice of virgin chickens to a lower power, the wolf ram and heart if you will.)

I'm just sharing my opinions of what I believe will happen just like everyone else. I also trust Valve to make good business decisions, because outside of taking a bit too long to make their games, their biz dev is good.

And knowing how publishers work isn't "researching competitors." Develoeprs and publishers are not competitors (unless a publisher buys you I suppose.)

2 points for the Buffyverse reference

I really, really think that valve throws a shit over the fence as what they are concerned about EA, it's just pointless to them to take any orders from EA what so ever.

Valve, manhandling the single most powerfull publishing platform in the internet, also known as Steam, do you really think they are going to bow down and take a dump from EA?

Yes, EA IS very powerfull, but their reach ends where sales end, Valve has a force in their very posession that doesn't just end with distribution, it will, distribute users with patches, modifications and free expansions. So IMO they care about EA as far as they can throw them.

If I had the power of Steam in my posession (and yes, you can make ALL the jokes you can about steam engines and steam technology) I'd kick EA in the nuts as fast as my sales figures were straight down to zero, so no more retail copies of the game is going out, equals, bye bye, EA and its partners and what ever gay shit they were cooking up.

Oh and >

Quote

And knowing how publishers work isn't "researching competitors." Develoeprs and publishers are not competitors (unless a publisher buys you I suppose.)

Sorry my association of GBX with Ubi somehow went a little bit over the top there