Half-Life 2 Delayed

Shacknews has finally received official word that Half-Life 2 will not be making its planned release date of September 30, something a quick glance at the calendar can confirm. Here's the quote from Valve's Doug Lombardi:
The previously announced September 30th release date for Half-Life 2 is being pushed back. We are currently targeting a holiday release, but do not have a specific "in-store" date to share at this time. We will release that information as soon as we have confirmed a new date.
View : : :
206.
 
Re: Film vs. Games
Sep 26, 2003, 04:26
Re: Film vs. Games Sep 26, 2003, 04:26
Sep 26, 2003, 04:26
 
Obviously, none of you have ever worked on software.

Something you have with movies: marketing strategy when it comes to release time. With games (and software in general) it's whenever you can get it on shelves. That's the way the software industry works.

When building movie schedules, directors and producers plan for problems based on past experiences. Ptoblems in the movie industry are predictable. In software, there are so many variables, there's no way in hell you can account for all of them. It's just plain impossible.

Software timetables look like this:

Code, code, code, release code.
Build content, content, fix code bugs, content, code bugs, content, code bugs.
Testing, fix content bugs, fix code bugs, more tetsing, fix, test, fix, test, fix.

You can write up a 5 billion page manual on how to make your release date, and you still won't make it. Why? Because bug fixes aren't always five minute syntax changes, they sometimes take days or weeks to fix because of faulty architecture.

In the movie industry, you have a story that is set, a video camera that you know works, and a crew of digital special effects people who make models and textures and computer animations with software that they know works.

When coding software, you're dependant on stuff that hasn't even been created yet. You have to create your own level editor, your own scripting language, your own 3d renderer. And once you have that all done, you have to build your own levels, which uncovers problems in your rendering engine, which leads to bug fixes and architecture changes.

With movies, you have a solid base of working tools to get you through. With software, you're developing your own tools, often from the ground up.

I know this because I write software for a living, and I can tell you that the best way to estimate when you're going to be done is to say what you think, add 50%, and then expect to slip, because you will.

Half-Life 2 has a brand new engine working on brand new technology being driven by brand new video cards that use brand new drivers. They're not working with pixar to create a couple models and animate them through a movie. They're creating a 3D world that is interactive. A world where YOU have control. The only control you have in movies is fast forward, rewind and play.

Games are much more complex and take a lot more time to develop than movies. The two aren't even comparable.

Date
Subject
Author
1.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
2.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
3.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
21.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
22.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
46.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
50.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
58.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
 ?
134.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
 So?
189.
Sep 25, 2003Sep 25 2003
190.
Sep 25, 2003Sep 25 2003
191.
Sep 25, 2003Sep 25 2003
192.
Sep 25, 2003Sep 25 2003
194.
Sep 25, 2003Sep 25 2003
196.
Sep 25, 2003Sep 25 2003
4.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
5.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
9.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
7.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
8.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
28.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
30.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
35.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
36.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
38.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
40.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
     Re: shacknews
41.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
      Re: shacknews
42.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
       Re: shacknews
43.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
        Re: shacknews
45.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
         OH NO
48.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
          Re: OH NO
49.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
           Re: OH NO
52.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
          Re: OH NO
74.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
         Re: shacknews
75.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
          Re: shacknews
76.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
           Anyone see
78.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
           Re: shacknews
84.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
            Re: shacknews
85.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
             hahahahahaha
86.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
              Re: hahahahahaha
87.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
             Re: shacknews
88.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
              Re: shacknews
110.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
               KMFDM - WWIII
61.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
      Nvidia's fault
65.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
       No subject
145.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
       Re: Nvidia's fault
82.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
      Re: shacknews
83.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
       Re: shacknews
143.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
     Re: shacknews
186.
Sep 25, 2003Sep 25 2003
      Re: shacknews
187.
Sep 25, 2003Sep 25 2003
       Re: shacknews
31.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
33.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
37.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
55.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
56.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
60.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
64.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
71.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
10.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
73.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
11.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
15.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
20.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
23.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
24.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
25.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
95.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
96.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
98.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
101.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
147.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
97.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
102.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
107.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
120.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
     Re: WTG Valve!
99.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
12.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
13.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
18.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
14.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
16.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
17.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
19.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
26.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
27.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
29.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
32.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
34.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
39.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
44.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
47.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
51.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
53.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
54.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
57.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
59.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
62.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
63.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
66.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
67.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
68.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
89.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
92.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
93.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
   Re: nyeah
94.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
    Delayed?
69.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
70.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
72.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
77.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
237.
Sep 29, 2003Sep 29 2003
79.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
80.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
178.
Sep 25, 2003Sep 25 2003
179.
Sep 25, 2003Sep 25 2003
185.
Sep 25, 2003Sep 25 2003
181.
Sep 25, 2003Sep 25 2003
182.
Sep 25, 2003Sep 25 2003
81.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
90.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
91.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
100.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
104.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
105.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
  ...
106.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
103.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
108.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
109.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
112.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
238.
Sep 29, 2003Sep 29 2003
239.
Sep 29, 2003Sep 29 2003
   Re: Nox
111.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
118.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
119.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
121.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
148.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
161.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
114.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
115.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
116.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
117.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
122.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
123.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
124.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
125.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
126.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
127.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
128.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
129.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
   Re: HL2
130.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
   Re: HL2
131.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
    Re: HL2
132.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
136.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
   Re: HL2
139.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
    Re: HL2
166.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
    Re: HL2
137.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
   Re: HL2
133.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
135.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
138.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
140.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
142.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
141.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
151.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
152.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
144.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
146.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
149.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
150.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
153.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
154.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
155.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
156.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
159.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
157.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
158.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
160.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
162.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
163.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
164.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
165.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
167.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
168.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
169.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
174.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
170.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
171.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
172.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
173.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
175.
Sep 24, 2003Sep 24 2003
176.
Sep 25, 2003Sep 25 2003
177.
Sep 25, 2003Sep 25 2003
184.
Sep 25, 2003Sep 25 2003
188.
Sep 25, 2003Sep 25 2003
199.
Sep 25, 2003Sep 25 2003
200.
Sep 25, 2003Sep 25 2003
201.
Sep 25, 2003Sep 25 2003
202.
Sep 25, 2003Sep 25 2003
203.
Sep 26, 2003Sep 26 2003
204.
Sep 26, 2003Sep 26 2003
215.
Sep 26, 2003Sep 26 2003
193.
Sep 25, 2003Sep 25 2003
195.
Sep 25, 2003Sep 25 2003
197.
Sep 25, 2003Sep 25 2003
198.
Sep 25, 2003Sep 25 2003
180.
Sep 25, 2003Sep 25 2003
183.
Sep 25, 2003Sep 25 2003
205.
Sep 26, 2003Sep 26 2003
 206.
Sep 26, 2003Sep 26 2003
 Re: Film vs. Games
207.
Sep 26, 2003Sep 26 2003
209.
Sep 26, 2003Sep 26 2003
210.
Sep 26, 2003Sep 26 2003
211.
Sep 26, 2003Sep 26 2003
212.
Sep 26, 2003Sep 26 2003
213.
Sep 26, 2003Sep 26 2003
216.
Sep 26, 2003Sep 26 2003
      Re: Film vs. Games
217.
Sep 26, 2003Sep 26 2003
      Re: Film vs. Games
218.
Sep 27, 2003Sep 27 2003
       Re: Film vs. Games
219.
Sep 27, 2003Sep 27 2003
       Re: Film vs. Games
220.
Sep 27, 2003Sep 27 2003
        Re: Film vs. Games
221.
Sep 27, 2003Sep 27 2003
         Re: Film vs. Games & STEAM
224.
Sep 28, 2003Sep 28 2003
          Re: Film vs. Games & STEAM
225.
Sep 28, 2003Sep 28 2003
          Re: Film vs. Games & STEAM
226.
Sep 28, 2003Sep 28 2003
           No subject
227.
Sep 28, 2003Sep 28 2003
            Re: No subject
228.
Sep 28, 2003Sep 28 2003
             Re: No subject
232.
Sep 28, 2003Sep 28 2003
            Re: No subject
235.
Sep 29, 2003Sep 29 2003
             Re: No subject
231.
Sep 28, 2003Sep 28 2003
           Re: Film vs. Games & STEAM
236.
Sep 29, 2003Sep 29 2003
        Re: Film vs. Games
214.
Sep 26, 2003Sep 26 2003
222.
Sep 28, 2003Sep 28 2003
223.
Sep 28, 2003Sep 28 2003
208.
Sep 26, 2003Sep 26 2003
229.
Sep 28, 2003Sep 28 2003
230.
Sep 28, 2003Sep 28 2003
233.
Sep 29, 2003Sep 29 2003
234.
Sep 29, 2003Sep 29 2003
240.
Sep 30, 2003Sep 30 2003
241.
Sep 30, 2003Sep 30 2003
242.
Oct 7, 2003Oct 7 2003