Half-Life Fans Call for Communication from Valve

In a story straight from the “It was gonna happen eventually” department, a large contingent of disgruntled Half-Life fans have created a Steam group begging for some sort of communication from Valve regarding Half-Life 2: Episode Three (otherwise known as Half-Life 3, Half-Life: Lambda Free or Die Hard, and Duke Nukem Forever 2: Freeman Rising). It’s not just a small effort, either – the group currently has over ten thousand members, with over a thousand joining each day.

The founders of the group have written a lengthy manifesto on their motivations behind creating it, which can be found right after the break.

The lack of communication between Valve and the Half-Life community has been a frustrating experience. While continued support for current and future products is greatly appreciated, fans of the Half-Life series have waited years for a word on when the franchise will return.

So, Instead of focusing efforts in a negative and disrespectful way, we have decided to gain Valve’s attention by delivering a basic message:

Your oldest and longest running fanbase would like better communication.

Waiting patiently for over four years is a daunting task, especially when E3 comes and goes without any beat of a Half-Life pulse, time and time again. Valve had stated that information was scheduled to be released towards the end of 2008, and we believe that if they have chosen, for whatever reason, to withhold this information, fans should at least be acknowledged in some way, regardless of developmental plans for the next Half-Life project. The entire trilogy of episodes was supposed to be completed and released by 2007, and if Valve have decided to do other things for the time being, that is fine; all that we ask for is a basic response on the matter, and to let fans know whether or not the current story arc is scheduled to conclude at another point in time.

In addition: This message is in no way, shape or form attempting to rush the development of the Half-Life series; in fact, most members agree that Valve should take the time needed to deliver a complete and polished product.

If you agree with the above message and statements, please join this group and share your support constructively.

Hopefully such attention will be recognized by Valve, and the community’s voice will be heard.

In a way, this is almost similar to the Left 4 Dead 2 boycott group, which garnered nearly 20,000 members before Valve flew the founders over to their top-secret Seattle HQ to reassure them that the sequel wouldn’t be completely awful. Hopefully we’ll get a similar response this time – I predict that the group will have, at the very least, 50,000 members by the end of the month.