Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve [Updated]

A post on reddit covers an email exchange with Marc Laidlaw that says the writer is no longer affiliated with Valve, where he wrote the stories for both Half-Life and Half-Life 2, as well as the episodic Half-Life 2 expansion, which remains only 67% completed. There are a couple of follow-ups attempting to prove this exchange is genuine, and GameSpot reports this news is "confirmed," but we're not seeing anything as concrete as that. Presuming this is true, it could be taken as another indication that Valve has no plans to return to the first-person shooter series, though on the other hand, Marc certainly had time to write stories for more than one game in the series in the over eight years since the release of Half-Life 2: Episode Two. Update: Gamasutra reports they have confirmed this news directly.
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53.
 
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve?
Jan 11, 2016, 00:16
53.
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve? Jan 11, 2016, 00:16
Jan 11, 2016, 00:16
 
AngelicPenguin wrote on Jan 8, 2016, 14:20:
Darks wrote on Jan 8, 2016, 12:57:
thecakeisalie wrote on Jan 8, 2016, 12:30:
I was watching a video on Youtube that talked about HL3 and Valve and because Gabe Newell is rolling in dough from skimming off the top selling other people's content, why take the risk on trying to make HL3 and risking it flopping? They will just string us along counting their money from Steam until everyone that actually wanted HL3 dies off.

No, it's called be a fat lazy fucking asshole who has no drive other than making profit from other people's hard work. The guy has become the next George Lucas, someone who has lost his desire and will to continue on. If he can't find the time or will or desire to complete the Half Life story, then sell it off or have someone else finish it.

But please do not defend this asshole as someone who never intended to finish the HL3 story. That is utter bulshit to say they never intended to make HL3.

Valve as a whole has forgotten where they came from and what made Valve what it is today.

Big deal - steam is far more important than HL3. I'd rather they concentrated on what was good for gaming as a whole then churning out what will probably be a let down of a sequel.

Let everybody else make the games, and they can concentrate on their gaming platform.

I don't even know what I'd want to see in a Half Life 3 to be honest. It's not like the story was super compelling so I feel like I really need to have an ending.

So you count Greenlight as contributing anything to the gaming community? That's really funny.
52.
 
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve [Updated]
Jan 10, 2016, 16:43
Ant
 
52.
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve [Updated] Jan 10, 2016, 16:43
Jan 10, 2016, 16:43
 Ant
 
Dacron wrote on Jan 9, 2016, 13:35:
Oh god is he going to burn valves offices down?

Won't somebody PLEASE think of the servers! /lovejoy
But did he even use a baseball bat, with his buddies, to smash the office's printer (fax machine? I forgot)?
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51.
 
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve [Updated]
Jan 9, 2016, 13:35
51.
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve [Updated] Jan 9, 2016, 13:35
Jan 9, 2016, 13:35
 
Oh god is he going to burn valves offices down?

Won't somebody PLEASE think of the servers! /lovejoy
Currently setting a record for most edited posts, 1 reply at a time.
50.
 
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve?
Jan 9, 2016, 13:11
50.
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve? Jan 9, 2016, 13:11
Jan 9, 2016, 13:11
 
El Pit wrote on Jan 8, 2016, 11:08:
He felt lonely, sitting alone there since he moved his desk to the Half-Life (Episode) 3 group eight years ago. Everybody else was working on new TF2 hats, Counterstrike gimmicks, useless hardware and some operating system. Once he found out that Valve is no longer about making games, he left.

lol

http://i.imgbox.com/8wsWfYbz.jpg

http://i.imgbox.com/jHHuT0Hs.jpg

http://i.imgbox.com/isdAW2F9.jpg

http://i.imgbox.com/sS5TkFXh.jpg
49.
 
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve [Updated]
Jan 9, 2016, 12:50
49.
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve [Updated] Jan 9, 2016, 12:50
Jan 9, 2016, 12:50
 
Mr. Tact wrote on Jan 9, 2016, 10:58:
They don't need a new story for HL3, TFA just proved that. (sorry, I couldn't resist)

Half Life was one of the best games ever made. Sadly, I think the series is done, but that's probably a good thing. Luckily Crowbar Collective is finishing up their version of the original, Black Mesa is coming along nicely.
"I expect death to be nothingness and by removing from me all possible fears of death, I am thankful to atheism." Isaac Asimov
Avatar 58135
48.
 
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve [Updated]
Jan 9, 2016, 10:58
48.
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve [Updated] Jan 9, 2016, 10:58
Jan 9, 2016, 10:58
 
They don't need a new story for HL3, TFA just proved that. (sorry, I couldn't resist)
“Extinction is the rule. Survival is the exception.” -- Carl Sagan
47.
 
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve?
Jan 9, 2016, 10:57
47.
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve? Jan 9, 2016, 10:57
Jan 9, 2016, 10:57
 
There have been plenty of content delivery services or downloaders before the advent of the initially VERY shitty Steam.

Really, now? They were the first to allow OTHER developers to sell their games on their own content distribution network and that's a huge step. No one cares how many crap games Stardock allowed you to download :p
Avatar 56185
46.
 
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve [Updated]
Jan 8, 2016, 22:44
46.
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve [Updated] Jan 8, 2016, 22:44
Jan 8, 2016, 22:44
 
Maybe he can help out the writing team for the next Star Wars Movie.
Avatar 12670
45.
 
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve [Updated]
Jan 8, 2016, 22:29
45.
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve [Updated] Jan 8, 2016, 22:29
Jan 8, 2016, 22:29
 
Why do you need a writer when you don't make games anymore?
44.
 
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve [Updated]
Jan 8, 2016, 21:58
44.
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve [Updated] Jan 8, 2016, 21:58
Jan 8, 2016, 21:58
 
So the story is done!?

/runs
43.
 
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve?
Jan 8, 2016, 20:41
43.
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve? Jan 8, 2016, 20:41
Jan 8, 2016, 20:41
 
Sepharo wrote on Jan 8, 2016, 20:15:
Timmeh wrote on Jan 8, 2016, 16:21:
Inventing the worlds first digital content delivery service that changed the world is not hard work?

I guess you qualified it with "that changed the world" but Stardock would still be upset to hear "the world's first digital content delivery service" applied to Steam.

Yeah it is extremely silly to give Valve that sort of credit. Must be the millennial kiddies who don't know better. There have been plenty of content delivery services or downloaders before the advent of the initially VERY shitty Steam.

Valve did a good job of convincing other publishers to publish via Steam and that's how Steam became a pretty big deal when those other publishers thought PC gaming was dying anyway (not unjustified... Ubi made less than 10% of their revenue on PC back then) and initially did not want to invest in their own infrastructure.

But Valve definitely did not pioneer digital content delivery. LMAO. Every single MMO that came before Steam had digital content delivery, Napster had P2P content delivery, Battle.net was a thing back then already and so on and so on.
Valve fanbois are almost as bad as Star Citizen cultists "OMGOMG it's NEVER been done BEFORE!!! OMGOMG Gabe is soooo awesome!!!!11".

Yeah. Pathetic.
42.
 
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve?
Jan 8, 2016, 20:15
42.
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve? Jan 8, 2016, 20:15
Jan 8, 2016, 20:15
 
Timmeh wrote on Jan 8, 2016, 16:21:
Inventing the worlds first digital content delivery service that changed the world is not hard work?

I guess you qualified it with "that changed the world" but Stardock would still be upset to hear "the world's first digital content delivery service" applied to Steam.
Avatar 17249
41.
 
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve?
Jan 8, 2016, 19:24
41.
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve? Jan 8, 2016, 19:24
Jan 8, 2016, 19:24
 
Darks wrote on Jan 8, 2016, 12:57:
thecakeisalie wrote on Jan 8, 2016, 12:30:
I was watching a video on Youtube that talked about HL3 and Valve and because Gabe Newell is rolling in dough from skimming off the top selling other people's content, why take the risk on trying to make HL3 and risking it flopping? They will just string us along counting their money from Steam until everyone that actually wanted HL3 dies off.

No, it's called be a fat lazy fucking asshole who has no drive other than making profit from other people's hard work. The guy has become the next George Lucas, someone who has lost his desire and will to continue on. If he can't find the time or will or desire to complete the Half Life story, then sell it off or have someone else finish it.

But please do not defend this asshole as someone who never intended to finish the HL3 story. That is utter bulshit to say they never intended to make HL3.

Where are you getting this from?
I have a nifty blue line!
Avatar 46994
40.
 
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve?
Jan 8, 2016, 19:12
40.
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve? Jan 8, 2016, 19:12
Jan 8, 2016, 19:12
 
CJ_Parker wrote on Jan 8, 2016, 14:39:
AngelicPenguin wrote on Jan 8, 2016, 14:20:
I don't even know what I'd want to see in a Half Life 3 to be honest. It's not like the story was super compelling so I feel like I really need to have an ending.

^ this

There isn't enough yawning in the world to do HL justice. Fuck this overrated garbage and let it die.

You have lost your fucking mind.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
"Both the “left” and the “right” pretend they have the answer, but they are mere flippers on the same thalidomide baby, and the truth is that neither side has a clue."

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39.
 
Re: Evening Legal Briefs
Jan 8, 2016, 19:03
39.
Re: Evening Legal Briefs Jan 8, 2016, 19:03
Jan 8, 2016, 19:03
 
Abandon all hope ye who post here
Avatar 46370
38.
 
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve?
Jan 8, 2016, 17:47
38.
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve? Jan 8, 2016, 17:47
Jan 8, 2016, 17:47
 
Dev wrote on Jan 8, 2016, 17:32:
descender wrote on Jan 8, 2016, 16:00:
Do you think Valve should stop making tons o cash with Steam and... go back to their previous and considerably less profitable business model?

LOL... the selfish arrogance on display here.

Valve isn't dysfunctional, your desires for how they should run their company are.
No but that's what handing off jobs to other dev houses is for. They could hand the job to another company, have them make the game. Happens quite frequently. Valve has even done it in the past with HL games. I suspect valve just doesn't want to give up on doing it themselves, and have made some attempts, but can't get enough wheeled desks on it long enough.

When you work for Valve, feel free to fix all their problems.
"I expect death to be nothingness and by removing from me all possible fears of death, I am thankful to atheism." Isaac Asimov
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37.
 
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve?
Jan 8, 2016, 17:32
Dev
37.
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve? Jan 8, 2016, 17:32
Jan 8, 2016, 17:32
Dev
 
descender wrote on Jan 8, 2016, 16:00:
Do you think Valve should stop making tons o cash with Steam and... go back to their previous and considerably less profitable business model?

LOL... the selfish arrogance on display here.

Valve isn't dysfunctional, your desires for how they should run their company are.
No but that's what handing off jobs to other dev houses is for. They could hand the job to another company, have them make the game. Happens quite frequently. Valve has even done it in the past with HL games. I suspect valve just doesn't want to give up on doing it themselves, and have made some attempts, but can't get enough wheeled desks on it long enough.
36.
 
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve?
Jan 8, 2016, 16:51
36.
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve? Jan 8, 2016, 16:51
Jan 8, 2016, 16:51
 
Jagacademy wrote on Jan 8, 2016, 16:41:
Didn't play Half Life 1 very long, got bored with it early.

Did play all the way through Half Life 2, and it was "meh" at best.

Really don't understand the hype.



Because at the time there was nothing like them. HL was the first FPS to integrate a complete and working story as a background for the game.
"The horse I bet on was so slow, the jockey kept a diary of the trip." - Henny Youngman
35.
 
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve?
Jan 8, 2016, 16:41
35.
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve? Jan 8, 2016, 16:41
Jan 8, 2016, 16:41
 
Didn't play Half Life 1 very long, got bored with it early.

Did play all the way through Half Life 2, and it was "meh" at best.

Really don't understand the hype.


34.
 
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve?
Jan 8, 2016, 16:40
34.
Re: Half-Life Writer Marc Laidlaw Leaves Valve? Jan 8, 2016, 16:40
Jan 8, 2016, 16:40
 
Verno wrote on Jan 8, 2016, 16:05:
Marc Laidlaw is 55 and filthy rich, I'm sure retirement would look pretty attractive to me too at that point.

But uh sorry, back to your regularly scheduled "Valve sux...but still make Half-Life 3 please" bitchfest

No, it's called be a fat lazy fucking asshole who has no drive other than making profit from other people's hard work.

What a silly comment, as if he hasn't earned anything through hard work and some very astute incubation over the years. Running any business with employees is profiting from other peoples hard work by the way, assuming the business makes money.

He even says that's why he quit. But this is a video game forum, may as well just blame greed and conspiracy theories.
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