Well, Valve + EA = bye bye Valve. And that would suck. You won't even hear me speak well of EA at EA's funeral.

"Please come buy us for an obscene sum so I can retire."

I predict this thread will contain much hilarity.

EA is facing the new Blizzard/Activision giant so of course they are flirting with high profile studios (valve, id).
I smell fear.

EA just got a huge boner!

R.I.P George Carlin 1937-2008

"But it's turned out that all those scary stories - which, you know, maybe some of them were true, and maybe some of them are history; I don't know - haven't appeared to us; we haven't seen the boogeyman."

That's probably because of the clout Valve brings to the table. Valve has already established themselves financially independent of publishers (except for replication and distribution).

And also being privately held, right? I mean, we don't have to report to the Street; we're not beholden to the Street. We don't have to have a release this quarter, or this Christmas, or by the end of the financial year.

And that success from Half-Life, and Half-Life 2, has allowed us to be very independent from publishers.

That doesn't sound like a developer that wants to be "acquired." From the article, they mention they wanted a publisher deal to handle replication and distribution, which is what they got from EA. They don't need to take that relationship any further.

On being acquired Lombardi says they are "happy to have that conversation,"

nonononononono!!!!

------------------------------------------------
http://theslip.nin.com/
"The Bellic boys! Taking over your town, assholes!"

One good thing I could see coming from EA acquiring Valve would be the merging of Steam with the EA Download service - if that was to happen that would be a huge boost to digital distribution. However, the likelihood is that EA would fuck it up by doing something stupid like shutting down Steam.

NEway, this sounds more like a "we're happy to talk to anyone but have no plans to be acquired" than anything more serious.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Founder of the "I Hate Smiley Fitz" society

Remember: Riley has autism. He has trouble communicating, and in an overstimulating
environment, he can get frightened and run away, leaving his parents frantic. - Auburn

However, the likelihood is that EA would fuck it up by doing something stupid like shutting down Steam.

Exactly.

------------------------------------------------
http://theslip.nin.com/
"The Bellic boys! Taking over your town, assholes!"

Having independent developers who can distribute their own games is hugely important for us gamers. Valve being acquired by anyone would be a bad thing.

I don't think anyone has the $ to acquire Valve. Look at the ungodly sums EA is trying to harass R* with. Valve is a lot more products, a lot more to offer, and a lot larger.

Just a strange article and idea all around.

Have you ever been to American wedding?
Where is the vodka, where's marinated herring?
Where is the supply that gonna last three days?

Exactly. If EA is struggling to buy Take-Two - resorting to slander in the press - then I don't see it that likely that Valve would be bought either, especially with the success of the Steam store. At the same time Valve is already working with EA and not resistant to the idea, so it is a possibility.

I'm not one to say that EA is evil and needs to be stopped, though I would say I fear the idea of changing a company like Valve that already works very well.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Founder of the "I Hate Smiley Fitz" society

Remember: Riley has autism. He has trouble communicating, and in an overstimulating
environment, he can get frightened and run away, leaving his parents frantic. - Auburn

There's no mention of it ever happening anywhere in that article. Just says they're open to speaking about it and, as is often the case with Valve, they're happy to speak about anything at all. They often talk release dates, too. Doesn't mean it happens;P

And anyway, like Gabe himself said a couple of months back when asked about the chance of an EA buyout, he said Valve have no interest in buying out EA.

he said Valve have no interest in buying out EA.

THAT would be an absolute fucking riot.

------------------------------------------------
http://theslip.nin.com/
"The Bellic boys! Taking over your town, assholes!"

Yeah, have to admit I'd probably try and bribe someone for a press pass to see that announcement if it ever happened.

I'd like to see Valve push on and start developing more original IP's either in house or by supporting studios. I think they are poised perfectly to become one of the big publishing houses and I'd love to see Valve shift gears and start focus'ng on Steam as a platform and get smaller developers making games on them and funding projects the same way EA, Activision, Take Two, UBIsoft, etc. are doing.

and I'd love to see Valve shift gears and start focus'ng on Steam as a platform and get smaller developers making games on them and funding projects the same way EA, Activision, Take Two, UBIsoft, etc. are doing.

... and in doing so, slowly becoming the way EA, Activsion an all the others have become? Big corporates with only one interest: Earning the maximum of cash in the shortest possible time period. Without regards for their customers or their contracted studios.

That is the way things get, when money is not rolling in steady creeks and streams, but giant rivers and oceans. Because at this time, the original founders are being bought out and ordinary businessmen take over, who have NO FUCKIN CLUE about making good games. Only about making money. Which is perfectly fine for them, but not for us ...

... and in doing so, slowly becoming the way EA, Activsion an all the others have become? Big corporates with only one interest: Earning the maximum of cash in the shortest possible time period. Without regards for their customers or their contracted studios.

That is the way things get, when money is not rolling in steady creeks and streams, but giant rivers and oceans. Because at this time, the original founders are being bought out and ordinary businessmen take over, who have NO FUCKIN CLUE about making good games. Only about making money. Which is perfectly fine for them, but not for us ...

So it's better that they be acquired by one of these big companies so that they can keep operating business as usual? (Because that is totally going to happen!)

This comment was edited on Aug 5, 12:36.

So it's better that they be acquired by one of these big companies so that they can keep operating business as usual?

Wow some people sure know how to get ahead of themselves, and everyone else.

Did you even read the article beyond the quote? It's a hypothetical question. Valve is not seeking to sell to anyone, it's also very unlikely they would, at least anytime soon.

Also, they cannot be forced into selling, as they are a private company and are not dictated by stockholders.

I'd like to see Valve push on and start developing more original IP's either in house or by supporting studios. I think they are poised perfectly to become one of the big publishing houses and I'd love to see Valve shift gears and start focus'ng on Steam as a platform and get smaller developers making games

What exactly do you think they are doing now? They just acquired Turtle Rock, all their games have been 1st party, most of which began as mod or third party development ideas and Valve bought/hired the staff/IP. So I'm sure Vale will thank you for suggesting to do exactly what they are already doing!

----------------------------------------------------
Civilization Revolution, Grand Theft Auto IV, GRID

PSN ID= Puscifer73
"Blues News" Steam Community... http://steamcommunity.com/groups/bluesnews/

So it's better that they be acquired by one of these big companies so that they can keep operating business as usual?

Nobody says that.

(Because that is totally going to happen!)

Can you please tell me the next lottery numbers? Thnx! I give you 10 percent, ok?