Gearbox Software head Randy Pitchford has a long history with the folks at Valve, which is probably why he’s able to speak with just candor when it comes to what he believes are serious missteps on behalf of the acclaimed developer.
Coming off a series of comments criticizing Valve over their digital delivery platform Steam, Pitchford recently told the UK gaming publication OPM that Valve’s avoidance of PlayStation 3 support bears similarities to the kinds of “childish and narrow minded” attitudes that fanboys are famously known for having for or against a particular console, AnalogHype (via Develop) reports.
"I noticed something on the net not too long ago. Doug Lombardi (Valve's VP Marketing) had to take a swipe at the PS3 again, and I thought it was foolish. I read it the same way I read fanboys. Like there's a guy who brought the Sony platform and he's a Sony guy, so he decides he's going to spend a certain percentage of his time bashing Microsoft. And there's a guy on Microsoft doing the same thing,” Pitchford explained.
As for his own stance on the PS3, Pitchford said, “The PS3 is awesome. I think Valve...I don't know why they are doing that. It's weird. But yeah, the PlayStation platform's really cool. It's different to others and it's certainly a challenge to be able to develop software for. But that's where the fun is, right?"
Valve has rather famously criticized the PS3 for being too difficult to program for, and as such, Sony’s console has received very little in terms of support from the developer. Then again, I don’t think anyone would criticize Epic Games or Insomniac Games for having “fanboy”-like attitudes towards the 360 and/or PS3 because they work exclusively on their respective consoles of choice. When developers say things like, “We prefer working on the 360 because we find it easier” and “This game could only be made on the PS3,” it doesn’t strike me as fanboy-ish; it just sounds like developers expressing their personal technological preferences (which are oftentimes dictated by exclusivity deals, but those deals wouldn't have been agreed to in the first place if the developers didn't feel some kind of reasoned draw to a particular console).
I’ve contacted Valve to get their take on this, so I’ll let you know if I hear anything.
Do you think Pitchford’s characterization of Valve’s attitude toward the PS3 is fair/accurate?
Source: AnalogHype (via Develop)
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DamonTheMoney
I think he's right in what he's saying. I haven't read much on Valve's views of the Playstation, but from what I have read it seems they're just trying to provoke people into providing an emotional response.
So in that respect, technically Valve are more like trolls than fanboys.
MrPickering
Come on, Valve is just looking at this from a business standpoint. Why build an entire team/department to to do PS3 stuff unless its a profitable experience. their PC service is doing GREAT and developing for xbox is so similar to PC that its easy and doesnt involve a lot of cost to generate a profit. the PS3 would require a lot of risk until it has a higher installed user base.
Krypton ShowHide(4 Replies)
It's obvious that Pitchford is a PS3 fanboy himself. Why doesn't he mention anything like Konami & Square Enix how they prefer the Playstation platforms over Microsofts?
Why only critize Valve for doing this? If he's gonna make a statement like this, then he better include all developers that do this, not just target one of them. It's very unfair to only mention Valve and BS to not mention any of the ones who side with the PS3.
BigDogW ShowHide(5 Replies)
WTF he called them childish he must not see what the ps3 fanboys are lyk here
thesilentmole
Kind of like how most developers and journalists pour Haterade all over the WIi? So where are you, there, Randy? Because this kind of sounds like more fanboyism. "I think the PS3 is great and he's wrong because he doesnt'." Did it occur to you that maybe he has real, grown-up reasons for disliking the platform, and isn't mindlessly defending a corporation that doesn't care about him like normal fanboys? Just playing some devils advocate here.
KJB
Ok here is my opinion of things so far.
If you want to make art, go for the PS3.
If you want to make money, go for the XBox 360.
If you want to make more money, go Multiplatform.
ZyloWolfBane
They arent the first company to say this either, Bethesda has professed the same thing yet they cant make a perfect game to save their lives on ANY platform so apparently that makes them liars as well as poor programmers.
Valve lost my support with no support for TF2 on PS3 and then with shafting L4D players, they arent much better than Activision right now if you ask me.
triggerhippy
This guy reeks of anti Valve sour grapes agenda. Was he trying to get a job with Valve or did he work at Valve and get fired?
Anyway, I think he's a dolt.
muthacomputer
I only buy good games. I don't care what platform it's on.
Does that make me a Gameboy?
bolo73
Publishers only designing for one console is old news. I think Value will respond. If Randy Pitchford thinks Value needs to make games for the PS3 then strike an agreement with them to bring Value's stuff over to the PS3.
mp1289
@Krypton... He already answered your question " We prefer working on the 360 because we find it easier and This game could only be made on the PS3, it doesn t strike me as fanboy-ish;"
That is not as insulting as:
"The PS3 is a total disaster on so many levels, I think It's really clear that Sony lost track of what customers and what developers wanted," Newell reportedly said in an interview with Game Informer.
He continued: "I'd say, even at this late date, they should just cancel it and do a do over. Just say, 'This was a horrible disaster and we're sorry and we're going to stop selling this and stop trying to convince people to develop for it'.
http://www.computerandvideog ames.com/article.php?id=155309
So yeah, they are fanboys.
lucidity
There is a huge difference between a first party developer comments and third party developers comments.
First party developers must tow the line or be fired.
Third parties choose what they want to do for business reasons.
cashbrown
If valve wants to avoid the PS3 (a move I believe is foolish), then it's their loss both in terms of revenue and respect from the gaming community.
Krypton ShowHide(8 Replies)
@ mp1289:
And Naughty Dog is not a fanboy for saying Uncharted 2 is only possible for the PS3? Give me a freakin break! Any developer who says crap like this is obviously a fanboy.
BlackPrince42
I think Pitchford is right. Even if there is some justification for Valve's criticisms the fact that they keep harping on a console they're not even developing on smacks of fanboyism. The PS3 has proven itself as a viable console and the recent comments by Valve just seem petty in the wake of the platform's new momentum.
It'd be one thing if they just quietly chose to develop on their preferred platforms like Insomniac and Epic do, but no they go out of their way to bash a system they've chosen not to work on. Moreover, it's hard to take Valve's technical considerations seriously when they're still working on such a dated engine.
shortysvilla
I don't get you fanboys. Microsoft/Xbox gives you nothing in return. They don't give you money back, there are no hand jobs or even rim jobs! Why are all of your lips permanantly glued to their a**hole?! I own a 360 and am also going to purchase a PS3. The only thing a consumer should want from these consoles/companies are good games! PERIOD! Get over this fanboy crap and support games that are quality! Get over your Halo this and XBOX that! Again there is nothing in return but your almighty dollar to THEM! BTW look where that goes...to a call center in India!!! Talk about VALUE!
gamersince1995 ShowHide
SEE NOW G4 KNOWS THAT WE STUPID BLOGERS ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO IS A FANBOY
BUT ALSO A HUGE GAME COMPANY/ LIKE VALVE!
gamersince1995
I REALY THINK THAT PROGRAMMERS THAT
UNDERSTAND AND STUDY WHAT THE PS3 IS CAPABLE ARE VERY HARD WORKING PEOPLE "AND VERY INTELLIGENT TOO!!
THATS WHAT NOUGHTY DOG IS BRAGGING ABOUT
THAT THEY CAN WORK ON THE MOST COMPLEX THINGS!!!
usetheforce666
they are not avoiding it they just made a decision not to focus on it valve has been loyal to pc owners since day 1 so to say they are 360 lovers is re( you know what)
valve is a awesome company and i support them in what ever they do so what if it's not on ps3 buy a xbox 360 if you don't want to shut up then a company has the right to do what they please
we are just the consumers that have no idea what kind of work and innovation it takes to make and come up with ideas for the games we love alot of idiots have been attacking valve and this just adds to the list shame on you people
aztecyankee
@gamersince1995
CAPS LOCK OF DEATH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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