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Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 3:52 pm
by Leisher
Half-Life 2: Episode 2 will be hitting stores in October. The episode by itself off of Steam will cost approx $20 or something (same as Ep1). However, the store copy in an orange box will cost $49.99 and package: Half-Life 2, HL2:Ep1, HL2:Ep2, Team Fortress Classic 2, Portal, and some other goodies that I can't remember right now. That's a hell of a package.
Apparently, Ep2 will reveal some tidbits about the G Man. PC Gamer states that his origins may be from Portal. They may be joking, but it's an interesting concept that he at least uses the technology. It would explain a lot of his appearances.
Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 4:54 pm
by GORDON
The regular Ep 2 box will still contain TFC2, right? That was the deal.
I have no need to purchase new copies of HL2 and HL2 Ep1. If they require that just to get TFC2... then Valve has fully gone to the dark side.
Edited By GORDON on 1182372894
Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 5:43 pm
by Leisher
No, Ep2 will still be available alone. The package I described is just one of the ways they'll be selling it.
Just a good jump on point for those who have yet to play HL2.
Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 2:14 am
by WSGrundy
No Episode 2 just by itself from what I read. Not sure if you were saying that or just meant the Ep. 2/Portal/TF2 package.
It will only be available packaged with Portal and Team Fortress 2 online or in the Orange Box with Half Life and Episode 1.
If you buy the orange box you don't actually get Half Life 2 and Episode 1 on CD but a piece of paper that has a code for both that you can give to someone else or sell online.
That was the situation last I heard but I don't really keep up on Half Life beyond TF2.
Edited By WSGrundy on 1182406765
Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:13 am
by Leisher
No Episode 2 just by itself from what I read. Not sure if you were saying that or just meant the Ep. 2/Portal/TF2 package.
It will only be available packaged with Portal and Team Fortress 2 online or in the Orange Box with Half Life and Episode 1.
Yes, that's what I saying.
If you buy the orange box you don't actually get Half Life 2 and Episode 1 on CD but a piece of paper that has a code for both that you can give to someone else or sell online.
You mean a code to get the games off of Steam...? Well, I'm sure that'll piss off those who think Steam is the devil, but it makes sense to their business. They probably couldn't fit all five games on a single DVD, so instead of increasing cost, they give people a code to introduce them to the online distribution system, Steam.
Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 12:41 pm
by WSGrundy
Leisher wrote:You mean a code to get the games off of Steam...? Well, I'm sure that'll piss off those who think Steam is the devil, but it makes sense to their business. They probably couldn't fit all five games on a single DVD, so instead of increasing cost, they give people a code to introduce them to the online distribution system, Steam.
Yeah off steam. From what I read their reasoning was they didn't want people getting pissed that they bought the games they already had by putting them on the same DVD so they would make it so those who already have the games could buy the orange box and sell some of the games.
Bit of a scam they just should have kept the Black Box for retail but then cutting out best buy and etc just forces everyone to steam.
Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 1:08 pm
by GORDON
I wont be getting it until I can get a box with Ep2 and TFC2 for $20 or less.
I want the box, dammit. And it aint my job to resell what they packaged just so I can get it at a good price.
Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 1:25 pm
by WSGrundy
GORDON wrote:I wont be getting it until I can get a box with Ep2 and TFC2 for $20 or less.
I want the box, dammit. And it aint my job to resell what they packaged just so I can get it at a good price.
If it makes you feel any better the Orange Box that will be in stores with everything in it was originally $60 bucks but after valve decided to get rid of the Black Box version with just TF2, Ep.2 and Portal for $50 in stores they lowered the Orange Box price to $50.
Still not at the price point you are looking for but not a total screw job if you were going to buy the old Black Box on day one.
I keep waiting for the price of the game to go down before I buy anything from digital distribution.
Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 1:28 pm
by GORDON
Maybe I can get the same sugar daddy who bought my HL2 to get me this one, too.
Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 2:58 pm
by Leisher
It'll probably start on Steam at $30.
Maybe I can get the same sugar daddy who bought my HL2 to get me this one, too.
We'll see what Santa brings you. Do you even have Ep1?
As for the boxes...eh...I'm getting used to buying games online. I purchased Defcon, and Sam & Max Ep 1-3 through Steam this year alone. Ep1 was purchased through Steam last year. But I get your argument as I want all my movies to be store bought. The boxes add to the impressiveness of my collection.
(P.S. Speaking of what your sugar daddy brings you...All those Dark Tower books are your books. I think in 3-4 months the series will have concluded so I'll just hand them all back over then.)
Edited By Leisher on 1182452981
Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 3:15 pm
by GORDON
Ok.
And yes, I got Ep1 a while ago. Good expansion, and worth the $16 I paid.
Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 4:01 pm
by Leisher
Apparently, Ep2 is a third longer than Ep1.
Also, Ep3 should hit shelves quicker than Ep2 did. The real question after that becomes when will Valve announce HL3.
I'm thinking episodic gaming has kinda, sorta worked, but works better for adventure games and such versus FPSs.
I think I liked the expansion packs that went with HL more than the episodes for HL2 (so far). I'm not saying the gaming hasn't been fantastic because it has been. However, I enjoy the break from the overall storyline that some expansions offer.
With HL, you had Opposing Force and Blue Shift, neither of which stared Gordon Freeman. In Opposing Force, you played as a nameless special forces whose story ran parallel to Gordon's which gave the game an interesting twist. Blue Shift introduced us to the concept of Barney being more than just cannon fodder and also took place while Gordon was living his HL adventure.
I guess I wish the episodes would get off the main storyline path and show us alternative stories. The story of what Dr. Kliener was doing would be interesting. how about a story involving a resistance leader in a different section of town? I'd kill him at the end and tie in a character he saves, preferably a child, into HL3. Gordon could be in trouble only to be saved by the child who shows him an escape route or some shit. Sure, it's been done, but tying all of these things together makes for a bigger world (not to mention more marketable) and gives you cameo appearances that make people get excited. Remember how geeked people were about Barney?
Want to make a game/mod that will get you noticed? Make one for HL2. Look what it did for Neil Gaiman(sp?).
Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 6:09 pm
by TPRJones
If I'm paying for a piece of software, I want it on a disk with a nice pretty silkscreened label on it. Doesn't have to be in a box, I just toss those anyway, but I want something more permenant than just a download and an install. The contents of my harddrive is subject to reformatting without notice, and I don't want to lose something I paid good money for. Maybe that's backwards of me these days, but I don't care.
MMOGs and other service-fee based games are a different story, since you can always redownload for free for as long as the service exists and the game is thus playable.
Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 9:04 pm
by Leisher
If I'm paying for a piece of software, I want it on a disk with a nice pretty silkscreened label on it. Doesn't have to be in a box, I just toss those anyway, but I want something more permenant than just a download and an install. The contents of my harddrive is subject to reformatting without notice, and I don't want to lose something I paid good money for. Maybe that's backwards of me these days, but I don't care.
MMOGs and other service-fee based games are a different story, since you can always redownload for free for as long as the service exists and the game is thus playable.
Ok, so you don't have nor have never used Steam. I say that with certainty because one of the features of the Steam distribution system is that your games are ALWAYS in your account.
For example, in my account right now is HL2, CS:S (free with my HL2 purchase), Defcon, HL2:Ep1, HL2:LC (a free mod for HL2 from the developers), and three Sam and Max games. I have reinstalled the OS on my PC twice in the last 2 months and I have installed at least one of the above games each time. I have done so with a simple process: Get on the web, Download Steam, Log in with my ID and password, download and install the games in my account. No CDs needed. No codes needed. No patches to find, download, and install.
Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 9:14 pm
by GORDON
What is Lost Coast?
Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:28 pm
by TPRJones
Leisher wrote:Ok, so you don't have nor have never used Steam. I say that with certainty because one of the features of the Steam distribution system is that your games are ALWAYS in your account.
I know that, but what if they go out of business? Then what will you do when you need another copy of your game?
Me, I'll just snag the install disk and I'm good to go.
EDIT: Which is why I make an exception for MMOGs. The discs do no good when there's no more servers running.
Edited By TPRJones on 1182479754
Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 12:45 am
by Leisher
I know that, but what if they go out of business? Then what will you do when you need another copy of your game?
Valve has already been asked that question by many media outlets (I believe it's even on the Steam website in the FAQ) and their answer was pretty straightforward, if they go under they already have plans in place to ensure that their customers have full copies of the games they purchased through Steam.
I think I remember part of the plan involved a patch that would remove all the security from their games. That means registration and codes wouldn't be required for their use anymore.
They might have a policy to supply CDs/DVDs if you ask for them when purchasing a game now, I haven't looked into it.
Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 9:32 am
by TPRJones
Unless they've already placed sufficient funds in escrow to pay people to develop the code and print and ship all those discs (or provide servers to let people download and burn their own), then they'll be too busy being out of business to follow through on such a plan. I'd rather not trust a game company to manage funds properly like that; as an industry the track record isn't that good.
'Course if it ever comes to that I'm sure someone will be able to hack the registration system, so as long as you've got discs it should be okay if a little annoying. Still, unless there's a game I just have to have and can't get any other way, I'll wait until these delivery systems are demonstrated as long-term reliable under such conditions.
Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 3:43 pm
by WSGrundy
Leisher wrote:The real question after that becomes when will Valve announce HL3.
This was written a while ago but probably not what you wanted to see.
The episodes are HL3. Didn't rule out a revisit to the universe but nothing is planned.
With steam is there anyway to sell your games after you have played them. I am assume steam locks the game to your email address or something and if I was to sell it steam would think the buyer has a copied game. Or is that wrong?
Posted: Fri Jun 22, 2007 4:09 pm
by GORDON
What is Half Life 2: Lost Coast?
I've seen it referenced here and there, but wasn't able to find it for sale anywhere.
Edited By GORDON on 1182542975