I don't mind this at all, just really want a Portal 3 since I enjoyed the other two so much.
You know it'll never happen. Valve can't count to 3.
Speaking of which, L4D3 has been an "open secret" since like 2012, still not out. Source 2? Still not out (outside of DotA2 which give/take on the benefits for that). Their focus right now? 3 VR games (and this and their card game I guess) which was announced last year IIRC.
Valve simply has too many irons in the fire (Gabe "these things take time".gif here) and aren't focusing on the one thing that folks want them to focus on (AAA console/PC development, stupids). So I can understand why "Valve fans" are pissed, Morma. It's not "rational thinking" it's simply wanting things that they enjoyed to be furthered.
This is the type of response I wanted
My main point will always be, Valve has no reason to care about the money made from traditional AAA games. They're a private company, so their bottom line has nothing to do with constant expansion. The biggest threat or pressure to Valve employees would be internal politics, or a competitor trumping Steam as a service. There aren't shareholders that expect YoY increases with revenue or profit.
Have resources and time been wasted on AAA projects theyve been working on? Of course! Makes no sense why Source 2 as an engine isnt out there. That criticism makes sense, that Valve is sorta flinging shit every where and nothing to show for it. Their VR emphasis is questionable and dumb too.
In my mind, any expectation that Valve will release games people want, likeeee, stopped a couple years after Portal 2 came out. If theyre weird pet projects dont pan out, why dont they just make AAA games that would be safe bets?
I don't know the answer, but any expectations of Valve being a traditional gaming company aren't there for me.