Half-life 2, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm..... Options

[camsmith]

This appeared when I rebooted my machine this morning...



2 questions -

1) Has anyone actually seen a release date for it yet?
2) How long have Valve been using Polo as a male model?

[james]

I saw a date of 2nd September the other day.

[camsmith]

I've just been sent this link. November is still a long way off, and that's not even definate.

also rumours - "According to some reports, the download only includes files such as textures, rather than the actual levels and programs needed to run the game."

[Murray]

It's not gone gold yet (the gold announcement yesterday was somone logged in as Gabe Newell's account on a forum) so this pre-load is just the shite that won't change (like textures, sounds) after they have cleaned up the engine from the bugs found in the CS:S beta.

But as soon as the game is released, you'll probably have to download a smaller file then boom you're ready to play on the same day, rather than having to wait for this download (it's about a gig i think) to play it.

It also means the Steam servers won't get arse raped on the day of release as much as they could have done.

No definate release date yet, but don't get your hopes up for anything earlier than late September.

[Murray]

Not the gold announcement we all want to hear (but a release candidate has been sent off for testing at Vivendi last week so that should be soon), but PC Zone, PC Gamer and a couple of other mags have bagged HL2 reviews (about 8-10 pages long each). They will come out in the first week or so of October.

So it looks like it's finally on its way

[james]

Seems like Valve and Vivendi are having 'issues' story here

[Murray]

Purchase options have been released:

Retail Boxes

* Standard Edition ó includes HL2 and CS:Source. Ships on six CDs, in one of three box-art packages (Gordon, Alyx or the G-Man)

* Collector's Edition ó includes Half-Life 2, Counter-Strike: Source, Half-Life 1: Source, a Half-Life 2 T-shirtand a Prima book sampler. Ships on a single DVD.

Steam Packages

* Bronze ó HL2* and CS:Source

* Silver ó HL2*, Counter-Strike: Source, Half-Life 1: Source*, Day of Defeat: Source*, Valve's back catalog currently available on Steam.

* Gold ó HL2*, Counter-Strike: Source, Half-Life 1: Source*, Day of Defeat: Source*, Valve's back catalog currently available on Steam, Complete Strategy Guide from Prima Games, 3 different Half-Life 2 posters, Half-Life 2 hat, Half-Life 2 postcard, Half-Life 2 stickers, Half-Life 2 Soundtrack CD, Chance to win a trip to Valve! (1 trip offered for every 5000 Gold packages purchased).

*To be made available upon product's release.

So if you buy HL2 off Steam you will be able to play the full version of CS:S as of next week.

I am so tempted to buy the gold edition now, I was so sure about getting a hard copy. I think lots of people are regretting pre-ordering/paying the full amount for the CE now

Looks like Valve have poked VUG up the bum with this little announcement, I hope they will act fast and get HL2 gold so they don't lose many sales

[camsmith]

Woohoo, YEAH BABY!!!!

I can't search for these things at the moment (secure client site). Any idea when the product is actually being released?

i.e. please pay and download now, but it will be useless until 1 April 2007...

[Murray]

Still no indication of a release date, but some people are taking informed guesses at an announcement of sorts on October 8th, when a hearing between Valve and VUG is taking place. So it could be gold then, or bad news......

But PC Gamer has its review on Friday, so that's something else to look forward to!

And I think I'm getting the silver version, unless the gold is a reasonable price.

[Murray]

HL2 PC Gamer UK review......

96%

Which is the same score as HL got, so it looks like we're in for a real treat!

[camsmith]

CS: Source is available for download purchase NOW!!!!

Through Steam only, as far as I know. BBC Report here.

Package prices (see above or Steam for details)
Gold - $89.95
Silver - $59.95
Bronze - $49.95

I think I will be going silver!!!

This post has been edited by camsmith: Oct 12 2004, 03:19 PM

[Murray]

It's gone gold!

[Murray]

It came out today!

But can I play it? Can I bollocks....bloody Uni connection has the Steam ports blocked

[michael]

We haven't sold a single copy yet .

[camsmith]

I must say that I'm a bit disappointed with the Steam download. I had pre-loaded the files, received the "unlocking" and was still told that it would still take over 3 hours to Prepare my copy to play (it might only be at 256k, but still...). Having already used up my Dad's download limit for the month (100MB in one day - OK, so a quarter of that was a new video driver which half-life says is still outdated) I decided not to wait.

I played Digital Paintball instead

Yeah, OK I am pissed off, but I'm on holidays, so Valve will have to wait a couple of weeks to feel the wrath of Cam.