Well, I think a lot of Dota players will still give that new game a dip even if it's not their type given "IceFrog" has become a brand itself, smart move by Valve business wise.

Valve has promised "at least" three "big surprises" for gamers in the next 12 months. Half-Life 3, anyone?

Unfortunately - in typical, teasing style - it refused to be drawn on any detail of what the surprises entailed.


Speculation over a Half-Life 2: Episode 3 announcement was rife before E3 in June, but never materialised. Valve cancelled a planned press conference at the LA Expo very suddenly - which was supposed to reveal a "surprise".

Maybe that was one of the three?

"I can guarantee you people are going to be surprised at stuff we do. That isn't going to stop any time soon. I'm just laughing because... people will be shocked again," Valve boss Gabe Newell told the latest issue of PC Gamer.

"We have three pretty big surprises in the next 12 months at least."

Bring 'em on, Gabe. Bring 'em on.

Newell has also revealed that Valve is working hard on biometrics to better understand their customers - and, potentially, to bring freaky new heart-monitoring thrills to gameplay.

Portal 2?