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[Wario64]

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/09/16/news_6107603.html

After years of missed launch dates and release mishaps, the Half-Life 2 saga is entering its final chapter. Doug Lombardi, Valve's director of public relations, confirmed to GameSpot today that the release candidate for the game has been sent to its publisher, VU Games, for approval. "Yes, the release candidate went to VUG yesterday," he said.

Word of the submission first came via a forum post from Valve CEO Gabe Newell. "The RC went to VU yesterday," read Newell's one-line post on the hl2fallout.com forums. In light of the recent false postings on the site, shacknews.com confirmed the post's authenticity. "Yes. Getting close," Newell responded.

Submission of a release candidate to the publisher is the final step in a game's development. If VU approves the candidate, Half-Life 2 will "go gold," and will be sent to the factory for production. However, no official release date has yet been set for the game, although online vendors have given it a speculative November ship date.

 

[Deg]

About time. The hype is big on this one.

 

[open_mouth_]

What's this game all about, again?

 

[Wario64]

How come they say years of missed release dates? Was the game suppose to come out years ago?

 

[Patrick Klepek]

yes yes yes yes yes !!!

 

[Eric-GCA]

VU is probably going to be stupid and wait for a November release when it could probably be out earlier.

I swear developers never learn not to release your big budget titles at the very same time as others (Halo 2, GTA:SA, MP2)

 

[jonhuz]

The wouldn't want to release it too early to miss out on the Christmas rush. They will hold out.

 

[Deg]

They will wait and tease.

 

[Eric-GCA]

For some reason, I really think the Christmas rush is quite overrated and releasing a quality game anytime during the year will net you great sales, especially one with such a high profile as Half Life 2.

 

[Slo]

I'd laugh my ass off if the candidate was rejected.

"WTF IS THIS CRAP VALVE? PROJECT CANCELLED!"

 

[sonycowboy]

I'd laugh my ass off if the candidate was rejected.

"WTF IS THIS CRAP VALVE? PROJECT CANCELLED!"

LOL. I doubt Universal will even bother to boot it up.

START THE PRESSES!
SHIPMENTS START TOMORROW!

 

[epmode]

omgomgomg.
go valve!

 

[XMonkey]

I believe the first RC Valve sent of HL1 to Sierra was accepted the first time out. I bet it happens again, Valve has probably playtested the hell out of the game.

 

[Mrbob]

HAWT.

I believe the first RC Valve sent of HL1 to Sierra was accepted the first time out. I bet it happens again, Valve has probably playtested the hell out of the game.

Well rumors suggest that the game has been practically finished for awhile now and Valve has been polishing the hell out of it the past 6 months.

 

[djtiesto]

Hopefully the controls will be a bit less slippery this time around... I recently downloaded Half Life 1, and don't get me wrong, it's a good game and all, but the controls seem too fast and too slippery, it makes precise jumps difficult.

 

[teepo]

a lot of things have been cut in order to make the deadline

 

[ZombieSupaStar]

a lot of things have been cut in order to make the deadline

???

Such as?

 

[DSN2K]

what a year for FPS!

 

[Vennt]

a lot of things have been cut in order to make the deadline

???

Such as?

Gabes Internet connection?

*bad-a-bum*

 

[Mrbob]

Fable, what?

HALF LIFE 2 WOOO. Steam release soon plzkthxValve!

 

[Wario64]

a lot of things have been cut in order to make the deadline

huh

 

[Mooreberg]

a lot of things have been cut in order to make the deadline

The deadline was September 30, 2003. The only thing that's been cut were people's hopes that it wouldn't be delayed for an entire year.

Still can't wait for it.

 

[DopeyFish]

What?!? since when does Halo 2 have to be sent to VU games for approval?

 

[Mooreberg]

Since xbots started making lame jokes in unrelated threads.

 

[DopeyFish]

lols, ok. Is Valve going to be releasing it on STEAM the exact time it goes gold?

 

[Vennt]

lols, ok. Is Valve going to be releasing it on STEAM the exact time it goes gold?

I doubt that their deal with VU would allow them to get a 2-3 week sales headstart somehow, I expect it will be unlocked on Steam at the official release date, not the 'gone gold' date.

 

[ravingloon]

What?!? since when does Halo 2 have to be sent to VU games for approval?

And when I read the thread I though putting Half Life 2 in parenthesis was redundant.

 

[Coop]

Years of delays? I thought Valve announced HL2 last year. And it will probably be available on steam when the game ships.-

 

[jonhuz]

For some reason, I really think the Christmas rush is quite overrated and releasing a quality game anytime during the year will net you great sales, especially one with such a high profile as Half Life 2.

Tell that to the marketeers.