Quote from msleeper on April 28, 2011, 3:19 pm

Player1 wrote:

I'm reading this as "probably 2+ months before we hear anything SDK/DLC wise".

Then you are projecting whatever you want to into the article, then. Maybe I missed something in the article, but the SDK isn't even mentioned.

Quote from Player1 on April 28, 2011, 3:24 pm

msleeper wrote:

Then you are projecting whatever you want to into the article, then. Maybe I missed something in the article, but the SDK isn't even mentioned.

Oh it's definitely speculation. But I have a hard time seeing Valve release the SDK before there is at least some sort of menu option to launch custom maps. But I could be wrong of course.

Quote from Nightgunner5 on April 28, 2011, 3:25 pm

Player1 wrote:

Oh it's definitely speculation. But I have a hard time seeing Valve release the SDK before there is at least some sort of menu option to launch custom maps. But I could be wrong of course.

For all we know, there is already one, but we don't know how to use it.

Quote from xitooner on April 28, 2011, 3:46 pm

Player1 wrote:

Doug Lombardi wrote:

We will be announcing some DLC for it, so folks can keep a look out for more content coming this summer. We'll be putting more details out about that in a week or so. We'll support that with more videos or more comics.

Source: http://www.fastcompany.com/1750003/portal-2-valve-eric-wolpaw-jeep-barnett-doug-lombardi

I'm reading this as "probably 2+ months before we hear anything SDK/DLC wise".

Oddly enough, I read that whole thing as "It might be a week or so before we hear anything DLC-wise; and when any DLC announcement is made there is always a chance that the SDK aspect will get more details."

Now. . .it may really BE two months before the SDK arrives. . . but I'd rather just wait and let them tell us that instead of guessing.

Quote from Beer-Me on April 29, 2011, 11:00 am

I agree with Player 1, it makes no sense for Valve to release the SDK before any DLC maps.

Quote from Nightgunner5 on April 29, 2011, 11:03 am

Beer-Me wrote:

I agree with Player 1, it makes no sense for Valve to release the SDK before any DLC maps.

I don't see why that would be a problem... Alien Swarm and the entire Orange Box have SDKs and no DLC.

Quote from Hober on April 29, 2011, 11:51 am

I think Beer-me's argument is "Why would Valve release tools so that the community can make and distribute additional content for free, which people will download instead of our official DLC? Thus, the SDK will cut in to DLC sales."

I can see the demented logic of this from a pure bean-counting perspective, but Valve has always been committed to the idea that mods and mapping and SDKs earn them money indirectly because it creates a rabid fan base, and they're right.

Gabe Newell, when HL2 launched wrote:

I firmly believe that our users will be able to make Half-Life 2 mods that a commercial company couldn't make with 24 months of development and a $5 million budget.

(Quote from the excellent The Final Hours of Half Life 2; read it if you haven't already.)

So, if Valve does withhold the SDK so they can cash in on DLC, that'll be a seachange for the community. But I doubt that'll happen. It's just really hard to make productivity tools for users.

Quote from Beer-Me on April 29, 2011, 12:22 pm

You are misinterpreting my post completely. It's not about Valve missing out on DLC sells. It makes sense to release it in full together, sort of like "Heres some cool DLC maps, and heres the tools to make ones of your own!"

It would also tie in with any new additions of Portal 2, like the challenge or advanced maps. It also makes logistic sense.

Quote from Hober on April 29, 2011, 12:49 pm

Okay, no sweat. I guess given that the SDK is a completely separate download and not a patch to the main game, if they did release it, most players wouldn't notice or care. But I do like the idea of Valve pitching the DLC as "And here are the tools to make your own", to bring in more potential mappers.