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I should've posted this in one of the console forums, oh well...
Just over three months ago, one of the most contentious relationships in game history came to an end. On April 28, after months of overt legal disputes and covert bickering, VU Games and Valve Software announced they were ending a half-decade-long publishing deal. The arrangement saw the former publish the latter's groundbreaking PC first-person shooters Half-Life, Counter-Strike, and Half-Life 2.
However, Valve's next console game--after the PlayStation 2 Half-Life and the Xbox Counter-Strike--will be distributed by one of VU's main rivals. Today, Electronic Arts revealed that as of this fall, it will be the international publisher of the forthcoming Xbox version of Half-Life 2, which will now ship in October 2005. EA will also assume distribution duties on a new Game of the Year edition of Half-Life 2 for the PC, which will include Half-Life 2 and Counter-Strike: Source, as well as Half-Life 2: Deathmatch and Half-Life: Source, in a single box.
However, Valve will now officially self-publish all its PC products, although the newly announced--and carefully worded--agreement will let EA "deliver a collection of Valve games to players worldwide" in the future.
"We consider Half-Life and Counter-Strike to be two of the best game franchises of all time," said Tom Frisina, vice president and general manager of EA Partners, in a statement. "We could not be more excited to have the opportunity to help deliver these outstanding games to players around the globe."
Valve founder and president Gabe Newell had similarly kind words. "By combining EA's unparalleled operation structure and distribution channel with Valve's award-winning development teams and games community, we've established an awesome combination for delivering great products to console and PC gamers around the world," he said.
The EA-Valve arrangement covers the boxed, retail editions of Half-Life 2 and Counter-Strike: Source but does not affect digitally distributed versions of the game. As before, those games will be delivered and updated via Steam, Valve's online service.
This is great news. I cant wait for Half Life Underground 2006.
Just over three months ago, one of the most contentious relationships in game history came to an end. On April 28, after months of overt legal disputes and covert bickering, VU Games and Valve Software announced they were ending a half-decade-long publishing deal. The arrangement saw the former publish the latter's groundbreaking PC first-person shooters Half-Life, Counter-Strike, and Half-Life 2.
However, Valve's next console game--after the PlayStation 2 Half-Life and the Xbox Counter-Strike--will be distributed by one of VU's main rivals. Today, Electronic Arts revealed that as of this fall, it will be the international publisher of the forthcoming Xbox version of Half-Life 2, which will now ship in October 2005. EA will also assume distribution duties on a new Game of the Year edition of Half-Life 2 for the PC, which will include Half-Life 2 and Counter-Strike: Source, as well as Half-Life 2: Deathmatch and Half-Life: Source, in a single box.
However, Valve will now officially self-publish all its PC products, although the newly announced--and carefully worded--agreement will let EA "deliver a collection of Valve games to players worldwide" in the future.
"We consider Half-Life and Counter-Strike to be two of the best game franchises of all time," said Tom Frisina, vice president and general manager of EA Partners, in a statement. "We could not be more excited to have the opportunity to help deliver these outstanding games to players around the globe."
Valve founder and president Gabe Newell had similarly kind words. "By combining EA's unparalleled operation structure and distribution channel with Valve's award-winning development teams and games community, we've established an awesome combination for delivering great products to console and PC gamers around the world," he said.
The EA-Valve arrangement covers the boxed, retail editions of Half-Life 2 and Counter-Strike: Source but does not affect digitally distributed versions of the game. As before, those games will be delivered and updated via Steam, Valve's online service.
This is great news. I cant wait for Half Life Underground 2006.
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Hedfix wrote:
> I wrote:
> My PC doesn't annoy me.
>
>
> Opinion.
No, that's a fact. My PC really doesn't annoy me at all.
> I'd put more efficient control over trigger shaped buttons any day.
>
> Opinion.
Yes, but a valid one.
> All my FPS are PC games, designed to be played with keyboard and
> mouse and horribly rubbish with anything else. I tried to play BF2
> with a controller and weeped at how awkward it was.
>
> Opinion.
How is that an opinion?
HL2 = a game designed for the PC, obviously with KB&M in mind.
CS = " "
BF2 = " "
Unreal Tournament = " "
oops, sorry, the BF2 thing. Well, controller is clunky at best.
It's slightly easier to fly planes but that's about it. Even at that a joystick would probably be the best solution.
> I wrote:
> My PC doesn't annoy me.
>
>
> Opinion.
No, that's a fact. My PC really doesn't annoy me at all.
> I'd put more efficient control over trigger shaped buttons any day.
>
> Opinion.
Yes, but a valid one.
> All my FPS are PC games, designed to be played with keyboard and
> mouse and horribly rubbish with anything else. I tried to play BF2
> with a controller and weeped at how awkward it was.
>
> Opinion.
How is that an opinion?
HL2 = a game designed for the PC, obviously with KB&M in mind.
CS = " "
BF2 = " "
Unreal Tournament = " "
oops, sorry, the BF2 thing. Well, controller is clunky at best.
It's slightly easier to fly planes but that's about it. Even at that a joystick would probably be the best solution.
The thing is, we're specifically talking about FPS. A controller is a general solution because it has to serve lots of different genres.
Obviously I don't play racing/sports games etc with a keyboard because that would just be awkward. With my PC I can vary control methods to get the best setup for each individual game.
Obviously I don't play racing/sports games etc with a keyboard because that would just be awkward. With my PC I can vary control methods to get the best setup for each individual game.
Memorandum! wrote:
>
> I don't see how everyone using a controller is any more standardised
> than everyone using keyboard & mouse. If everyone is using a
> mouse, they all have the same potential for speed and accuracy as
> well, you know.
Shame a lot of people don't like using them.
Oh look we're back at 'it's all down to opinion', which I've been saying from the start. Co-incidence?
>
> Non-annoying setup.
>
> My PC doesn't annoy me.
>
Opinion.
> I'd put more efficient control over trigger shaped buttons any day.
Opinion.
>
>
> All my FPS are PC games, designed to be played with keyboard and
> mouse and horribly rubbish with anything else. I tried to play BF2
> with a controller and weeped at how awkward it was.
Opinion.
Shall we circle again?
>
> I don't see how everyone using a controller is any more standardised
> than everyone using keyboard & mouse. If everyone is using a
> mouse, they all have the same potential for speed and accuracy as
> well, you know.
Shame a lot of people don't like using them.
Oh look we're back at 'it's all down to opinion', which I've been saying from the start. Co-incidence?
>
> Non-annoying setup.
>
> My PC doesn't annoy me.
>
Opinion.
> I'd put more efficient control over trigger shaped buttons any day.
Opinion.
>
>
> All my FPS are PC games, designed to be played with keyboard and
> mouse and horribly rubbish with anything else. I tried to play BF2
> with a controller and weeped at how awkward it was.
Opinion.
Shall we circle again?
I think it just takes a while to get used to.
Everyone finds it annoying at first, i know three people converted to PC gaming this year and they all hated the keyboard/mouse setup to start with and tried to change it.
They all went back to it, and now can't imagine using anything else.
edit: that's also the reason no-one would bundle a keyboard/mouse with a console - its much more daunting than a pad.
Everyone finds it annoying at first, i know three people converted to PC gaming this year and they all hated the keyboard/mouse setup to start with and tried to change it.
They all went back to it, and now can't imagine using anything else.
edit: that's also the reason no-one would bundle a keyboard/mouse with a console - its much more daunting than a pad.
smv wrote:
> If a joypad was an acceptable alternative to mouse/keyboard, PC FPSs
> would offer them as a control option. They dont, it isn't.
If the keyboard and mouse setup was the better alternative to a controller then console maufacturers would bundle their consoles with a mouse + keyboard rather than a controller.
They don't, it isn't.
> If a joypad was an acceptable alternative to mouse/keyboard, PC FPSs
> would offer them as a control option. They dont, it isn't.
If the keyboard and mouse setup was the better alternative to a controller then console maufacturers would bundle their consoles with a mouse + keyboard rather than a controller.
They don't, it isn't.
Hedfix wrote:
> Standardisation (everyone has pretty much the same level of accuracy,
> whoopie!)
I don't see how everyone using a controller is any more standardised than everyone using keyboard & mouse. If everyone is using a mouse, they all have the same potential for speed and accuracy as well, you know.
> Non-annoying setup.
My PC doesn't annoy me.
> Triggers.
I'd put more efficient control over trigger shaped buttons any day.
> Controller designed specifically to play games with.
> Etc etc.
All my FPS are PC games, designed to be played with keyboard and mouse and horribly rubbish with anything else. I tried to play BF2 with a controller and weeped at how awkward it was.
> Standardisation (everyone has pretty much the same level of accuracy,
> whoopie!)
I don't see how everyone using a controller is any more standardised than everyone using keyboard & mouse. If everyone is using a mouse, they all have the same potential for speed and accuracy as well, you know.
> Non-annoying setup.
My PC doesn't annoy me.
> Triggers.
I'd put more efficient control over trigger shaped buttons any day.
> Controller designed specifically to play games with.
> Etc etc.
All my FPS are PC games, designed to be played with keyboard and mouse and horribly rubbish with anything else. I tried to play BF2 with a controller and weeped at how awkward it was.
Memorandum! wrote:
> I'd like to play against someone with a controller while I use a
> mouse and see what happens. I'm not particularly good, but I bet it
> would still be easy.
Would depend on the pad really. The PS2 analogue sticks are awful but the Gamecube's would probably be a close match for a mouse.
> I'd like to play against someone with a controller while I use a
> mouse and see what happens. I'm not particularly good, but I bet it
> would still be easy.
Would depend on the pad really. The PS2 analogue sticks are awful but the Gamecube's would probably be a close match for a mouse.
Memorandum! wrote:
>
> I'd like to play against someone with a controller while I use a
> mouse and see what happens. I'm not particularly good, but I bet it
> would still be easy.
Yeah most likely, as I say I'm not fussed. I'd rather play with a standardised setup that I don't find annoying. I'm not fussed if it's more accurate,if I wanted the most accurate control system for games then I'd play lightgun games all the time.
>
> I'd like to play against someone with a controller while I use a
> mouse and see what happens. I'm not particularly good, but I bet it
> would still be easy.
Yeah most likely, as I say I'm not fussed. I'd rather play with a standardised setup that I don't find annoying. I'm not fussed if it's more accurate,if I wanted the most accurate control system for games then I'd play lightgun games all the time.
If a joypad was an acceptable alternative to mouse/keyboard, PC FPSs would offer them as a control option. They dont, it isn't.
Hedfix wrote:
> and altering the mouse sensitivity doesn't work that well because of
> what you've described above.
Well, you just don't understand how crazy that is because you haven't played it. I think the standard setting is about 2.5 so you can imagine what 7 times the sensitivity is like. With a mouse it's a lot easier to balance for speed/accuracy and your own playing style.
I'd like to play against someone with a controller while I use a mouse and see what happens. I'm not particularly good, but I bet it would still be easy.
> and altering the mouse sensitivity doesn't work that well because of
> what you've described above.
Well, you just don't understand how crazy that is because you haven't played it. I think the standard setting is about 2.5 so you can imagine what 7 times the sensitivity is like. With a mouse it's a lot easier to balance for speed/accuracy and your own playing style.
I'd like to play against someone with a controller while I use a mouse and see what happens. I'm not particularly good, but I bet it would still be easy.
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