While everyone on the internet has been clamoring for an official word from Valve on Half Life 3, it seems the Australian based gaming powerhouse has other things in mind. Earlier this year they released the Workshop, a place where users can change and modify their favorite games in various ways. Then they released Source Filmmaker, the software they used to make TF2’s popular “Meet the” series, free for all of its users. They even announced yesterday that they’re adding “Big Picture” mode, a version of Steam that’s compatible with larger TVs. Yet with all of this new software and technology, Valve still had time to work on a documentary about Dota 2 and E-Sports.
While the documentary appears to be all about Dota 2, it really looks like it focuses more on E-sports and the players who call games, not just a hobby, but a profession. It looks like they’ve spared no expense in making it either, as they’ve collected stories from professional gamers all over the globe. While each of them may compete in the same world, the documentary shows how each of them has struggled explaining their profession to their friends and families, attempting to convince them that they are in fact not just wasting their lives.
It’s clear the documentary will paint a different picture than does the mainstream media, which to them shows gaming as nothing more than a catalyst for violent behavior. But these guys are true professionals, often making huge sacrifices to practice and hone their craft in the same way a sports athlete does.
This is a big step for Valve, while other companies are looking for ways to squeeze more money out of just making games, Valve is spending their time diversifying their business, showing the world that a game developer can do much more than simply make games. They may not be the first company to do so, but Valve has embraced the idea that gamers like to do more than just play games, giving them the tools to play with their games instead.
