Valve Receptive to a Buyout

[Karamazov]

From Gamasutra (http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=19695):

Independent developer Valve is "happy to have that conversation" should the company be approached with a buyout offer, marketing VP Doug Lombardi has revealed.

That said, he noted that the independent studio behind Half-Life, Counter-Strike, Team Fortress, Left 4 Dead, Portal and the Steam digital distribution platform is "doing pretty well" and is "really happy with what we're doing."

Lombardi also heaped praise on publishing partner EA, describing the relationship between EA and Valve as "really good," with Valve yet to see the fabled EA "boogeyman."

[BalekFekete]

Oh For The Love Of God Nooooo!!!

[Evil_SPanKY]

Yikes. Dear god I hope they dont sell out to EA.

[Albinobees]

anyone else feel like EA is buying up the real AAA developers like bioware, pandemic, now value if this is true and then next console generation they'll release a console that has so many high profile exclusives like madden, half life, mass effect etc that they will be stratigically placed to dominate?

or not =)

[Telefrog]

Steam to turn into EA's download service confirmed!

[archon]

Maybe it's just me, but I don't see how any acquisition by any publisher would be of benefit to Valve. Haven't they been making buttloads of cash off their games? Certainly Steam should be doing well for them, at least if you believe what they've been saying about it. The people at the top (Gabe specifically at least) were all freakin' rich before Valve and are probably only more so now, so... what's the point? I can only see it as a negative for them.

[Squidbot]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/linvuiet/DrDoomChap.gif

[Demo_Boy]

So I think this is Gabe goading EA to make them an offer so they can assess their market value. or laugh in their face.

Certainly there is value for EA with their crap download store, eliminating a competitor, and tons of good properties.

[J3DI]

If they were going to be bought, I'd much rather it be MS than EA. I mean, its not like they really do PS3 games anyways. If it isn't that way, I'd much rather them stay independent. Steam as the PC's LIVE Marketplace... I could dig it.

[roboninja]

I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror.

[H.Bogard]

Maybe it's just me, but I don't see how any acquisition by any publisher would be of benefit to Valve. Haven't they been making buttloads of cash off their games? Certainly Steam should be doing well for them, at least if you believe what they've been saying about it. The people at the top (Gabe specifically at least) were all freakin' rich before Valve and are probably only more so now, so... what's the point? I can only see it as a negative for them.

They've spoken a number of times about how they're a small company with only 6 or 7 people for PR... EA, the marketing mammoth, can sure be of help if they get a good deal.

[Ancalagon]

I really really hope this doesnt happen.

I dont want Half Life Soccer, Counter Strike Pinball and Iron Man vs Gordon Freeman.

Let Valve be Valve, they do their best work that way.

[Yeti2005]

If they were going to be bought, I'd much rather it be MS than EA.

I agree MS should buy Valve. The Gaming for Windows initiative hasn't been going well at all and Steam would certainly help there.

[silv]

Please no.

[sflufan]

Where on Earth in Lombardi's comments does he state that Valve is receptive to a buyout from EA specifically? All he said is that Valve would consider a buyout offer -- nowhere does he suggest that Valve would sell to EA (though that can theoretically be implied).

Please report accurately as opposed to stating something that is implied.

[Shifter]

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I actually think EA deserves quite a bit of credit for taking some risks lately. They haven't acted like a big bad soul-and-creativity-crushing company for a while now.

[LarsenNET]

It "may" even be positive for Steam. If EA buys Valve and lets them run it as usual, similar to Bioware then it's not a big deal. Also a huge back catalog could open up to Steam.

[Deadend]

I can't believe I'm saying this, but I actually think EA deserves quite a bit of credit for taking some risks lately. They haven't acted like a big bad soul-and-creativity-crushing company for a while now.

More importantly, their numbers are doing better while not being soul and creative crushing. Which means there is hope for the game industry if EA can make record profits by fostering a creative environment.

[Klade]

I think a MS buyout of Valve would be a hell of a lot worse then an EA buyout. I don't want Half-Life to become an Xbox exclusive ala Halo. Anyone who remembers what Halo looked like before Microsoft bought them out knows exactly what I'm talking about.

That being said I don't want to see an EA buyout either unless its a blizzard type deal where EA does nothing but provide money and Valve runs itself independently.

[Kelegacy]

Jesus. Pretty soon the game industry will just be called Electronic Arts.

[tehhu1k]

Title sounds like some primitive mating act.
I just picture Valve bending over, being all receptive ;]

[Nimos]

and Iron Man vs Gordon Freeman.


I'd buy it !!!!!

[Yeti2005]

I think a MS buyout of Valve would be a hell of a lot worse then an EA buyout. I don't want Half-Life to become an Xbox exclusive ala Halo. Anyone who remembers what Halo looked like before Microsoft bought them out knows exactly what I'm talking about.

Not quite sure I understand your argument. Halo looked like a 3rd person POS on the Mac before Microsoft got a handle on it. Also if MS bought Valve then Half Life wouldn't be exclusive since it would be on the PC and the 360.

[Lunar Blue]

8IXCK1EyP4s

'nuff said.

[Squidbot]

The beef, denying.

That's very amusing :D

[J3DI]

No no no vid
'nuff said.

So Awesome! Because its true :D LOL...

[Exodus]

...........................
and hear my friends...
is the point in video game history where steam gets microsoftized and all those free things us pc users had in terms of network support...become EA points...

D:

[Goronmon]

Where on Earth in Lombardi's comments does he state that Valve is receptive to a buyout from EA specifically? All he said is that Valve would consider a buyout offer -- nowhere does he suggest that Valve would sell to EA (though that can theoretically be implied).Well, no, he doesn't specifically state "We want to be bought out by EA." However he does state they would be open to an offer and proceeds to explain that they like the guys over at EA. It's not hard to imagine the situation where EA makes an offer that they like.

I do have one complaint though. Why the hell is the news post linked to Shacknews and not Gamasutra? Is it really that hard to click through the source links before posting something?

[Karamazov]

I do have one complaint though. Why the hell is the news post linked to Shacknews and not Gamasutra?

Whoops.

If its that big of a deal then can a mod edit it?

[Goronmon]

If its that big of a deal then can a mod edit it?It's just a pet peeve of mine. I don't really care what some site thinks about an interview, I want to read about the interview itself.

[asimonk]

I really really hope this doesnt happen.

I dont want Half Life Soccer, Counter Strike Pinball and Iron Man vs Gordon Freeman.

Let Valve be Valve, they do their best work that way.

I want Gears of Golf personally.

[Citizen Philip]

I thought EA only buys publishers and MS only buys developers, Valve is somewhere in between.

[Shadowstorm]

What the hell. No.

[AgtFox]

If they were going to be bought, I'd much rather it be MS than EA.
Gabe would be going full circle then...heh.

[Ghostbear]

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/ghostbear1/128340218662187500khaaan.jpg

[MelbaToast]

Dear Lord baby Jesus, lyin' there in your ghost manger, just lookin' at your Baby Einstein developmental videos, learnin' 'bout shapes and colors. I would like to ask you to give Valve the strength to resist the temptations of EA's filthy whorish embrace.

[Rommel]

Not quite sure I understand your argument. Halo looked like a 3rd person POS on the Mac before Microsoft got a handle on it. Also if MS bought Valve then Half Life wouldn't be exclusive since it would be on the PC and the 360.

Are you serious? Halo was heavily hyped because of how revolutionary those early Mac/PC versions of "3rd person" Halo looked for their time. If anything, a great deal of promised features were removed from the Halo we saw in the original videos.

Much like how Halo 3 was simultaneously released on PCs? Oh wait, it wasn't? Microsoft is only purchasing development houses to fuel its console division at the moment. The PCs do not get ports until long, long after.

[bKangy]

So this is what heartbreak feels like

[J Arcane]

Where on Earth in Lombardi's comments does he state that Valve is receptive to a buyout from EA specifically? All he said is that Valve would consider a buyout offer -- nowhere does he suggest that Valve would sell to EA (though that can theoretically be implied).

Please report accurately as opposed to stating something that is implied.
Indeed. The sudden paranoid freakout is ridiculous.

It was a response to a hypothetical question, blown out of proportion, and really, if you read the second fucking paragraph he's basically all but outright saying "Sure we'd consider it, but then we'd probably turn it down because we're find on our own".

I mean, it's not like Valve needs the money. They're in every bit as cushy a position as Blizzard, but without the third-party ownership hanging over their head dragging them along into whatever bullshit the parent company does to bail itself.

[wyeast]

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/ghostbear1/128340218662187500khaaan.jpg

My sentiments exactly.

[Kem0sabe]

Looks like Valve is whoring itself to EA... so slutty. :p

[Kheldar]

Your headline is inaccurate and sensationalist. Please have it dialed back a notch.

[Sammael]

If they were going to be bought, I'd much rather it be MS than EA. I mean, its not like they really do PS3 games anyways. If it isn't that way, I'd much rather them stay independent. Steam as the PC's LIVE Marketplace... I could dig it.

Strangely enough, I agree. MS would be a good publisher for Valve.

Imagine Sony went and scooped them up? I'm sure Gabe would be pissed!

[Dingobloo]

They aren't publicly held, any buying would be voluntary on valve's part, so there would be no "Scooping up".

As to the MS vs EA debate... MS would worse, by far. EA might give them some leash these days, MS would just stop production of steam (not close it down, that would be bad PR) but let it stagnate, and try again to establish GFW Live as the defacto standard without actually iterating on it, and only so much as that allows more PC users to be siphoned off to the Xbox.

[Azriel77]

Have any of you actually used EA's horrible download service? You have LIMITED installs for games, AND if something happens to your game you are screwed unless you BUY insurance that only covers TWO YEARS.

yea, look at the future and weep.

[digitalErich]

Anyone that thinks that MS would buy Valve and keep Steam around in any form is dreaming. I'd rather they stay private all things considered, but it's not company.

MS would kill off Steam and move all franchises over the console, at least as lead platform...no thank you.

[civil_dead]

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q135/tlots/Cosplay/2149602.jpg

[grognard66]

Both EA and MS would be wise to pick them up as both are struggling with their PC online stores/community. For MS, this would also give them more valued exclusives which Don Mattrick claims is what they're actively looking for right now.

[Deadend]

I think the offer that Gabe would entertain for the purchase of Valve would be somewhere way over what EA would be willing to pay. As most of the reason Valve is valuable is because of their brand and goodwill, along with Steam which is the largest and most popular online store for games from what I can tell. EA buying Valve would ruin a bit of that, as there would be no more Activision games on Steam, or probably most other companies.

So I don't really see a reason WHY EA would buy Valve, as it would be expensive and much of the value of Valve would soon be lost. Although EA should look into supporting Steam as it works so much better than what EA has.

[cp#]

Where on Earth in Lombardi's comments does he state that Valve is receptive to a buyout from EA specifically? All he said is that Valve would consider a buyout offer -- nowhere does he suggest that Valve would sell to EA (though that can theoretically be implied).

Please report accurately as opposed to stating something that is implied.

Your headline is inaccurate and sensationalist. Please have it dialed back a notch.

Welcome to the nooooooooooooooooooz section

[jeffbax]

Fuck an EA buyout and especially fuck an MS buyout. Valve is doing fantastic and hardly needs some overbearing corporate behemoth ruining how they run things.

[LongStepMantis]

EA...the borg of the videogame business.

[alienchild]

I think I just died a little inside... as well as lost my enthusiasm for online distribution :(

[laggerific]

I think I just died a little inside... as well as lost my enthusiasm for online distribution :(

Me too...I'm just getting into loving Steam, and this would really ruin it for me...especially if they lower it to EA's standards of digital distribution.

[KNOTE]

No one could possibly meet Valve's asking price.

[Sl1pstream]

They aren't publicly held, any buying would be voluntary on valve's part, so there would be no "Scooping up".

As to the MS vs EA debate... MS would worse, by far. EA might give them some leash these days, MS would just stop production of steam (not close it down, that would be bad PR) but let it stagnate, and try again to establish GFW Live as the defacto standard without actually iterating on it, and only so much as that allows more PC users to be siphoned off to the Xbox.

I'm not so sure of that. They might integrate it into GFWL but they're huge fans of digital distribution, I don't see why they wouldn't use it.

Then again, Steam is pretty big, I can't see why they wouldn't keep it. The name alone is worth at least something.

[Jotoco]

I'm not so sure of that. They might integrate it into GFWL but they're huge fans of digital distribution, I don't see why they wouldn't use it.

Then again, Steam is pretty big, I can't see why they wouldn't keep it. The name alone is worth at least something.

Because Steam doesn't have "microsoft" OR "windows" OR "live" in it's name?

Seriously, both EA and MS would try to move all steam customers to their own, proprietary digital distribution form. That is, you have to pay for each install, tech support is paid and you must sign an agreement saying that you're handing then your a**holes

[KNOTE]

Because Steam doesn't have "microsoft" OR "windows" OR "live" in it's name?

Seriously, both EA and MS would try to move all steam customers to their own, proprietary digital distribution form. That is, you have to pay for each install, tech support is paid and you must sign an agreement saying that you're handing then your a**holes

To me, this is an ignorant view of the marketplace. Why would you buy a service to shut it down and move people onto another? You'd buy it FOR those customers. You'd buy that service for its FEATURES.

Second, why would the purchaser change the base functionality of the service, and change it contrary THEIR OWN EXISTING POLICIES of not charging for repeated downloads. Both XBL and EA are license based, not dowload based. JESUS why am I even explaining this?

Your conspiracy theory bullshit is wasting space. And I don't even know what signing an agreement to "handing then your assholes" even means. To download games you give these huge corporations power of attorney? Gimme a break.

Here's a short lesson of how business works. Businesses invest in a product. They try to sell that product. People buy it, they build on it. If people don't, they take a long hard look at what they're doing wrong and either kill the product or go back to the drawing board.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

Let's hope this stays in the hypothetical realm. Valve is one of the very few large independent publishers left these days.

I really don't understand why anyone would want MS or EA to buy up Valve. Corporate whoring FTW? :confused:

[cp#]

I really don't understand why anyone would want MS or EA to buy up Valve. Corporate whoring FTW? :confused:

They want to buy HL2 themes?

[Telefrog]

To me, this is an ignorant view of the marketplace. Why would you buy a service to shut it down and move people onto another? You'd buy it FOR those customers. You'd buy that service for its FEATURES.

I direct your attention to the history of phone companies and their buyouts. Also, if you get the time, check out what MS does to every single software firm it buys.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

They want to buy HL2 themes?

Don't forget gamer pics, and avatar outfits!

[KNOTE]

I direct your attention to the history of phone companies and their buyouts. Also, if you get the time, check out what MS does to every single software firm it buys.

Phone companies don't really apply here. But I will point you to the only relavant MS acquisition to this argument and that's Massive, which operates exactly like it did pre-acquisition.

Does anyone seriously believe that if Microsoft or EA purchased Valve, that they would shut down Steam and try to move their customers over to an ass-raping system that doesn't take advantage of the features that already exist in Steam??

[H.Bogard]

If MS buys them : Half Life 2 Ep3 exclusive to 360... and on the PC 3 years later as a windows 7 or whatever next OS they release "exclusively".

If EA buys them : Game development won't change much, look at Bioware and Pandemic. I have doubts about Steam, though... as their competitors would be skeptic about approaching them for online distribution.

Perhaps Acclaim should buy them? :p

[Xerxes]

Seriously, both EA and MS would try to move all steam customers to their own, proprietary digital distribution form. That is, you have to pay for each install, tech support is paid and you must sign an agreement saying that you're handing then your a**holes

I'm not sure either publisher would buy Valve and shut Steam if it's pumping out numbers the way they say. If things are that good, I could see EA getting it's whole library out there, if it isn't already, and juicing people for super duper versions on Steam. MS would probably try and conjure up a LIVE/Steam hybrid.

Gabe would be going full circle then...heh.

Two super pay days from one company.

[Wasson_]

_zHV9prpEco
XP

[boratika]

There's a bigger kid in the playground than EA these days. No one seems to be thinking of Activision.

What could possibly be wrong with that?...

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f66/boratika/oneofthesethings.png

oh...

[Exodus]

There's a bigger kid in the playground than EA these days. No one seems to be thinking of Activision.

What could possibly be wrong with that?...

oh...

Activision itself is big but not as big as EA. You're really taking lightly what the sims anything library has done. But if you want to take activision as a whole including their absorption into the much bigger company I would have to agree.

To be honest I'm kind of pissed that Valve would even entertain such an idea. But I understand. These guys have a really great thing going. They can continue what they are doing. Or they can 'sell out' and sit back, relax and enjoy very comfortably. I don't know about you guys but being able to enjoy life financially for the rest of my life sounds pretty good to the 9-5 kraft dinner eating out of school person inside me.

[Arnold Darkshner]

Please report accurately as opposed to stating something that is implied.

Please take your moronic head out of your ass.

[alienchild]

I don't know about you guys but being able to enjoy life financially for the rest of my life sounds pretty good to the 9-5 kraft dinner eating out of school person inside me.

I thought the founders of Valve already where wealthy when they left Microsoft and funded Valve. Of course their funds into Valve, but since they own the whole schabang, I would assume they are well off.

I don't really think "selling out" is just a matter of money, but perhaps selling parts of the company to fund something... I dunno... bigger than Steam? Or perhaps a symbiose of Steam and for example EA download store?

[Emabulator]

I think the offer that Gabe would entertain for the purchase of Valve would be somewhere way over what EA would be willing to pay. As most of the reason Valve is valuable is because of their brand and goodwill, along with Steam which is the largest and most popular online store for games from what I can tell. EA buying Valve would ruin a bit of that, as there would be no more Activision games on Steam, or probably most other companies.

So I don't really see a reason WHY EA would buy Valve, as it would be expensive and much of the value of Valve would soon be lost. Although EA should look into supporting Steam as it works so much better than what EA has.What boggles my mind is that EA has not come up with a better digital distribution system (unaswered/missing questions in their FAQ tell the tale). Clearly they don't want to support their customer's needs with bandwidth cost down the road. That withstanding, their download manager itself if pure crap. The bottom line is I don't want to burn my games to costly dual layer DVDs and hope I can activate them down the road.

[Bushido]

Jesus. Pretty soon the game industry will just be called Electronic Arts.

hahaha that was funny.