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Pitchford: Valve are childish fanboys that bash the PS3 photo

Mad Randy's at it again! Gearbox Software boss Randy Pitchford, after implying that Valve's Steam service is a conflict of interest, has criticized Valve once more, this time because the studio doesn't work with the PlayStation 3. He really goes for the jugular this time.

"I noticed something on the net not too long ago. Doug Lombardi had to take a swipe at the PS3 again, and I thought it was foolish," Randy tells Official PlayStation Magazine. "I read it the same way I read fanboys. Like there’s a guy who bought 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. Those guys are childish and narrow minded, it’s the same kind of thing."

Pitchford also brought up Steam again, with harsher words than last time: "Valve think their own stuff is the only stuff that matters, to the point where they have their own distribution platform. It’s like, I don’t care about retail, about Marketplace, or PSN, I’m going to have Steam. It’s cool, it’s good, and they’re doing a good job but at the same time they’re reliant on the rest of the world. They had to do that deal with EA. When I see the L4D ad on the television I don’t see a Valve logo, I see an EA logo, and when I bought it, I bought it at a store."

I'm amazed that an industry representative, a studio president at that, would slag off a peer and distributor  so heavily and so personally. I love both Valve and Gearbox, but damn son. Randy's savage.


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108 comments | showing # 1 to 50

Jon B's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 08:05
Jon B
"Randy tells Official PlayStation Magazine"

BIAS.

No, really. He's hardly going to tell OPM that the PS3 is shit to work with and they're doing the right thing by dodging it, are they?
Although it does strike me as brown-nosing that they'd give a "scripted" interview just to gain popularity.
Oh and if Gearbox don't like Steam, why don't they make their own system, hmm?
Xzyliac's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 08:07
Xzyliac
Gee, this guy is talking a lot like a Gearbox fanboy. Spending a small amount of time to bash Valve.

Also he needs to get a clean shirt.
DLZ's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 08:07
DLZ
Seems appropriate to me.

It be one thing for the guys at Valve to simply say that they weren't interested in PS3 development, but they (especially Lombardi) just can't seem to resist trash talking. Someone in the industry needs to say what we're all thinking, looks like it was Randy Pitchford this time.
EternalDeathSlayer's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 08:09
EternalDeathSlayer
I respect Randy Pitchford.
Onlineatron's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 08:10
Onlineatron
His opinion.

Can't blame him for it.

Does seem he has something to gain by it though. One he is talking to 'OFFICIAL PLAYSTATION magazine' so he's not gonna agree with Valve's stance. Plus he dislikes Valves Steam platform so he is trying to devalue them.
bloodylip's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 08:11
bloodylip
@Jon B

They don't need their own system, they have Gamespy. *snicker*
Klarden's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 08:11
Klarden
funny. seems like after some time working with Valve they have some personal grudges.
And as i remember, Valve actually said that they simply can't make quality games with PS3, not that it sucks or whatever like that
EternalDeathSlayer's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 08:12
EternalDeathSlayer
Also he's not gonna agree with Valve's stance because, ya know, he company makes games for the PS3.

Though ironically Borderlands is not enjoying good sales on the PS3, only the 360 and PC.
Ruben Hanssen's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 08:17
Ruben Hanssen
@EternalDeathSlayer Not to mention that Borderlands is a top seller on STEAM. XD
360-ps3-guy's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 08:18
360-ps3-guy
very sad, coz the ps3 looks 44% better than xbox 360
DeusPayne's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 08:19
DeusPayne
Heh, it took 3 stores to find Borderlands for the 360, yet oddly enough all the stores had it for the PS3.
D-503's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 08:22
D-503
We don't need to fight. Let's all be friends XD
MEECROB's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 08:23
MEECROB
Is it me, or has Randy Pitchford become the Rush Limbaugh of video games?
Takeshi's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 08:28
Takeshi
What DLZ and EDS said.

Randy, you're a cool guy in my book. Thanks for Borderlands.
crusnchill's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 08:30
crusnchill
What's wrong with EA these day's? They're trying new things. And they're no the big monster corporation they once were in terms of crappy games.
So even if steam DID do a deal with EA, how's that any different from what Activision did with Blizzard?
megatomm's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 08:33
megatomm
all i want is left 4 dead for my ps3 :(
funran's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 08:37
funran
I agree that Valve is unfairly negative towards the PS3. They've written them off as a failure because of their rocky launch. Now that the PS3 has "caught up", they should change their stance, it's an entire market they're missing out on. Why would you not want to make more money? Also, if they do start releasing PS3 games, I'd hope they do the ports, not pass them along to someone else. It's not going to happen though.
pascuz46's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 08:39
pascuz46
@ megatomm

Yeah, all Valve needs to do is that and problem is solved about the PS3 bias shit. Anyways I think that's also inevitable. With PS3 gaining massive momentum and selling a hell of a lot more units if your a third party developer it would be stupid not to cash in on that market. Same goes for 3rd party PS3 exclusives, that's why MGS5 is on 360.
Mr Pibb's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 08:44
Mr Pibb
I can agree with him in that some of the things that Gabe said a couple of years ago did sound quite fanboyish. It's a shame that Valve seem to dislike the PS3, especially if they don't release Episode 3 on PS3 and I don't have a 360 or better PC by then.
Ace Flibble's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 08:46
Ace Flibble
Now I'm dying to see him drop the big elbow on Gabe.
Mentok the Mindtaker's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 08:49
Mentok the Mindtaker
More please...
hbl's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 08:49
hbl
Randy should concentrate on finishing Aliens Colonial Marines so I can BLOODY PLAY IT. I don't give a rats ass what he thinks about Steam. He should take care of his own house.
Brannigans Law's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 08:51
Brannigans Law
It's not that Valve really hates the ps3. It's that at the moment they don't feel they can make a quality game on it because it's difficult to program for and they don't have the guys for it. The only reason it keeps coming up is because people always ask them about it in interviews. They don't want to have another orange box fiasco. Also pitchford seems to really have a raging hardon for bashing valve.
DarkOblivion000's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 08:51
DarkOblivion000
Ironically, I play Borderlands on my PC... using the Steam launcher. HA.
Jon B's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 08:53
Jon B
Actually, I'm going to bring up an arguement from a while back. Why ISN'T L4D1/2 on the PS3? All the reasoning that Valve have given us is "it's too difficult to code for", yet EA ported the Source Ep2 engine over for PS3 for the Orange Box, and L4D is only an incremental upgrade to that?

Strikes me as awfully strange.

Yes, I am aware the PS3 version wasn't very good. But it was done, after all.
foxhound421's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 08:55
foxhound421
i'm glad to hear someone has the balls to call Valve – the most ridiculously overrated developer on the planet, IMO – out on anything. and he's right, Valve's comments about programming for the PS3 reek of laziness and a refusal to step outside of their knowledge base. this company has been re-skinning Half-Life for over a decade (even L4D2 still feels like HL, only with zombie-zombies instead of headcrab-zombies) and everyone blindly loves them for it.

good show, Mr. Pitchford. now get back to work on Colonial Marines!!!
Kahoona's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 09:00
Kahoona
So he talks about Lombardi taking swipes at the PS3 every chance he gets, while Pitchford is taking swipes at Valve...every chance he gets?
TheJesusNinja26's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 09:02
TheJesusNinja26
Randy is correct, VALVE is just like the whiny entitled PC gamers that boycott them. Birds of a feather...

VALVE if you're so great why don't you put in the work to LEARN the PS3 if it's SO HARD. Ask Naughty Dog how it's done maybe they can learn you.

For the record I buy all my multi-platform games on XBOX, so not a PS3 nut, I'm just tired of the excuse "It's too hard", because that argument has lost it's legs completely.
PhazonYoshi's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 09:03
PhazonYoshi
Valve at least port RIGHT when they port. Borderlands' UI makes no sense for a keyboard and mouse, and it needs ini tweaks before the mouse stops feeling like a controller. I love the game, but put your money where your mouth is and treat everything equally.
Zulu's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 09:03
Zulu
vidja gaymes
Isay Isay's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 09:04
Isay Isay
Randy's savage?! OH YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAHH
Jon B's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 09:05
Jon B
@TheJesusNinja26

I don't really think it's a case of "it's too hard", it's just they don't see the worth in porting the engine to an entirely new and different architecture.

Even though all they do is update the engine incrementally and thus it would be easy for all their new releases to be multiplat.. Tis strange. I think Sony ate one of Gabe's puppies or something. Or Gabe himself ate it, because I haven't noticed a Gabe joke yet.
Mr Pibb's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 09:07
Mr Pibb
Also, would anyone else not be surprised if Gearbox announced their own distribution service after the past few Pitchford/Steam comments?
Trev's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 09:08
Trev
I want to stop playing borderlands and play the GOW3 demo again, or maybe finish leveling stuff in R&C, but I can't. I thought I was over it and then I played Borderlands all evening, again. Pitchford, you can say anything you want about Valve because I have never been this hooked on a Valve game.
squirrelyg's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 09:11
squirrelyg
I'm sorry but, Valve being unable he time and money to afford to learn or hire on a team of people dedicated to making there games work on the PS3 became a huge load of crap in my eyes as soon as they spent $25 MILLION to market L4D2. I'm glad someone inside the industry has the guts to call them out.
squirrelyg's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 09:14
squirrelyg
*Valve being unable to have the
dfielder's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 09:15
dfielder
Let's be honest with ourselves, Steam is awesome. Valve makes good games , Gearbox has had a couple of dud games these past few years with exception to Borderlands. I don't know why he keeps trash talking Valve when Borderlands seems to be selling quite well on Steam.
entrager's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 09:17
entrager
Anyone else find it odd that this is coming from a company that was MADE by Valve? Not directly, but Gearbox's first projects were Half-Life expansions (Blue-Shift and Opposing Force). If it wasn't for Valve, Gearbox might not exist.
wittynickname's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 09:18
wittynickname
If he hadn't been critical of Valve, or if he'd hidden his true feelings beneath friendly play-nice-speak, we'd all be lambasting him for being a mindless corporate shill.

I don't mind honesty, and this didn't seem like anything more than calling out fanboyish behavior. It's a far cry from nonsense like the Dead or Alive idiot carping about everything that isn't Dead or Alive while he shines his gold pants, in that the latter is nothing more than an attention-grab.
Strandli's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 09:21
Strandli
I think he is just a Gearbox fanboy that bash Valve.

But honestly, Valve does a great job at some points, I've never had any problems with their support where they actually have their attention. TF2 support is fantastic!
Brannigans Law's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 09:23
Brannigans Law
I've thought about it more now. With all the swipes and "controversial" stuff he says... he's trying to fill the void left by jaffe. Someone has to be the rebellious loud mouth who says crazy shit.
natetehgreat's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 09:23
natetehgreat
Valve's great, their games are fantastic, but I have a strong suspicion that the reason they've knocked non-Microsoft-owned platforms like the PS3 and in the past, the Mac, is due to a lack of expertise or a lack of foresight (probably a bit of both).

That said, I have heard that the PS3 is not the easiest platform to develop for. Not being xenophobic but I think there needs to be another American company, other than Microsoft, making hardware platforms capable of videogaming because I've heard the Wii isn't that intuitive to develop for either. It appears Apple has a shot of being that other company given the iPhone's/iPod touch's popularity as a portable game system (1/3rd of the App Store is games, I believe, and they're by far the most popular category). Introduce a more powerful Apple TV with an SDK for developers, maybe use an iPod touch or a wiimote-like pointer remote, an you've got an all-digital home console.

/rambling off-topicness
Xhumation's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 09:41
Xhumation
Personally I think it's sad when the developers are the ones starting the fanboy wars
Br0th3rGr1mm's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 09:44
Br0th3rGr1mm
He doth speak the truth, however. Fanboi-ism in any form is childish and narrow minded. Period.
The Silent Protagonist's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 09:59
The Silent Protagonist
Its easier for Valve to port to 360 because its a more PC-like architecture.

Playstation consoles always have to these mysterious architectures that developers are made to discover the mysteries behind. This has been a turnoff for developers since Playstation 2. Its nice to see Sony learned nothing last generation.

Also, cool to see Pitchford biting the hand that distributes the PC version. Sounds like he's destined for a position somewhere in Activision.
TheJesusNinja26's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 09:59
TheJesusNinja26
@Jon B - yeah I think that with all the games that are working fine on PS3 it just comes down to laziness on Valve's part. I love their games, but at this point it's just looking bad on their part. Imagine a co-worker of yours who says, "yeah I can't do that" but everyone else on your staff can do it fine with no complaints. If you don't know how to do something, the steps are simple...

1. Learn it
2. Do it

Yeah it takes time, but VALVE is just coming off as 'prima donna'.


"Why is there a blue M&M in this bowl, I asked for orange and brown only! Ahhhh I need a massage to blow off some STEAM" - Gabe Newell
Eficent's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 10:05
Eficent
Kind of sad to see bad blood between the two considering Gearbox made the first expansion pack to Half-Life. I'll never understand how the solution to someone bashing something is to bash them. He comes off as no better than Valve with his hate towards something. Then again I guess the video game world would be a much less interesting place without the industry loud mouths spewing out verbal diarrhea.
Misanthrope's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 10:13
Misanthrope
Dear Mr Randy:

Steam is the only reason I actually bought your latest game, Borderlands. Your retail version is not sold in my country, importing involves incredible price hikes, and in all honestly, I could have easily pirated your game since you have no CD key and friends were playing online 4 days before I could even though i pre-ordered 15 days in advance, yet the convenience of steam is what kept me from cancelling my preorder.

But you are right, to hell with steam, I will listen to your advice and pirate your next games.

Best Regards,

One of the few paying customers who actually bought Borderlands knowing that I didn't needed to.
Deny Everything's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 10:16
Deny Everything
I can support his statements on the steam, because I think he is pointing something out that is true, but unless there is some secret information about Valve's attitude that we don't know about I think he is blowing it out of proportion.

It's not like Valve would be the only console exclusive company, they just seem to be the only one to do it for technical reasons as opposed to financial reasons. If they were or if he broadened his statement to include other exclusive developers like Insomniac or Naughty Dog, he might have something. But they are not and he did not.

I'd like to read the entire interview, because the last quote seemed less incendiary when in context, so I wonder if this would be the same. But as is, I think he is putting his foot in his mouth.
Ryfael's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/06/2009 10:21
Ryfael
@Misanthrope. You are an idiot. Steam isnt the only way to buy ganes online. He is right about Valve being lazy with the PS3. It is there right to make or not make games for it, but his point is valid.

Valve inst the video game fairy. You can get off their scrotum now and dont let your conscience stop you from pirating games.
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