Valve Repaints the Black Box

[malware]

The Black Box has been cancelled...We're going to have one package, The Orange Box

said Doug Lombardi, Valve's director of marketing. The package, which was to offer only Half-Life 2: Episode 2, Portal, and Team Fortress 2, has been officially cancelled by Valve. The Orange Box will be the only collection offered when Episode 2 releases this fall. In addition to the three new products - Portal, Team Fortress 2, and Half-Life: Episode Two - The Orange Box will also contain the full version of Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode One and cost additional $10. The Orange Box, will be available on the PC (US$49.99) as well as the 360 and PS3 (US$ 59.99) game consoles.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Benpi]

I remember when they said they wanted to do episodic content so they could release their games more frequently - like every few months or so....

 

[Zeratul_uy]

I remember when they said they wanted to do episodic content so they could release their games more frequently - like every few months or so....

...And make more money, coz if you want to know how it continues, you got to buy it xD

 

[Wile E]

So what happens to those that were promised the Black Box upon release for buying an HD2900XT?

 

[zekrahminator]

Yeah, this REALLY sucks for everyone that got a "black box coupon" with their HD2900 .

 

[DaMulta]

I bet the ones that got it, still have it.

 

[MaxBurn]

This blows, I bought HL2 and EP1 all separately. All activated on steam too, so I can't sell them now?

What is the point of episodic content if you have to by the whole thing every time?

 

[a111087]

This blows, I bought HL2 and EP1 all separately. All activated on steam too, so I can't sell them now?
What is the point of episodic content if you have to by the whole thing every time?

well, would you rather buy each of them early or wait a few years to buy every episode? thats where the price tag comes from. i think they are doing a big favor for those who haven't played HL2 yet. but those who got 2900 code will still get what they suppose to, no doubt there.

 

[ktr]

The Orange Box will also contain the full version of Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode One. Those who purchase the PC version of The Orange Box will get three separate Steam product codes: One for the three new games, one for HL2, and one for Episode One. This way a PC Orange Box owner can give away their Half-Life 2 or Episode One unused Steam product codes if they don't need a copy of those games. We are excited to deliver the highest value of new gaming content ever offered in one box."

from ign...

 

[EastCoasthandle]

The Black Box still works. I was able to download DOD:S once I entered the product code from within steam itself (not the website).

 

[GSG-9]

well, would you rather buy each of them early or wait a few years to buy every episode? thats where the price tag comes from. i think they are doing a big favor for those who haven't played HL2 yet.

Um.. that does not make any sense. You buy a game when it comes out. If they released all of them at once we would be waiting years unlike episodic content that would be released as it was made, letting you game more often and would allow for higher quality games (less content removal) . Sure, I guess they are doing people who dont have any of the games a favor but people who bought Hl2 Collectors Edition and Episode 1 are losing...lets see...I will lose $109? (89 for Collect. + 30 for EP1 - 10 for added price) given I bought them new but still. They did claim episodic content, so people did buy thinking it would come that way, that they could buy the next one for $15-$25. Now its not, and money has been wasted for people who were buying under that impression. Noobies getting a favor? Sure, while everyone else gets screwed.

 

[a111087]

well, thats the point, they release games with not much content and then release some more on the same engine so we don't have to wait 10 years to play a game
they can't simply work on the game all their life's and do not release them, in other words they release separate episodes so they could gather some money and then continue to deliver more products

 

[wazzledoozle]

These are just retail packages. Steam will still let you buy things à la Carte, or one at a time. Steam generally has other steam-only packages too.

 

[EastCoasthandle]

These are just retail packages. Steam will still let you buy things à la Carte, or one at a time. Steam generally has other steam-only packages too.

There is a very big problem with that. Something that most of us forgot. Wasn't Steam hacked a few weeks back? If so, why would you risk giving them your cc information on steam?

 

[ktr]

The guy who supposly hacked steam, wasnt really the "valve" itself, but some puny internet cafe business that steam hosts.

 

[a111087]

"Doug Lombardi, director of marketing for Steam, tells 1UP, "There has been no security breach of Steam ... The alleged hacker gained access to a third-party site that Valve uses to manage the commercial partners in its Cyber Cafe program. This Cyber Cafe billing system is not connected to Steam. We are working with law enforcement agencies on this matter, and encourage anyone with more information to e-mail us at Catch_A_Thief [at] ValveSoftware [dot] com."
http://www.joystiq.com/2007/04/19/valves-steam-service-hacked-credit-card-information-obtained/

 

[Mussels]

yeah as long as you can buy them seperately on steam i'm cool... i only want ep 2, none of the extras.

 

[ex_reven]

i havnt played EP1 or 2 yet. This is whats good

 

[rhythmeister]

i havnt played EP1 or 2 yet. This is whats good

Jesus, get Episode 1 asap! Short as hell but fun while it lasts

 

[WarEagleAU]

eh, no big deal really.

 

[Tatty_Two]

I have never played episode 1......is it any good? Is it VERY similar to Half Life 2 as in a continuation of the story line?

 

[Mussels]

Its a continuation, but more linear. Its more of a cinematic experience in that there truly is only one way through, but its fun nonetheless.

If you skip straight to ep 2, you really aren't missing anything plot-wise however.

 

[Ripper3]

If the case were that buying this also came with HL2M, and CSS in teh box, then I'd buy this, and give away my current Steam account to a mate, but since it doesn't mentione them, I think I might wait to do that when they release the final episode of HL2, and wrap up everything in a huge collector's edition box, with HL2, Ep1,2,3,etc., Team Fortress 2, HLS, etc.
Actually, they'd get a lot more customers by selling a huge box set with all of their games based on HL and HL2 me thinks. Customers that, upon hearing Episodic Content, decided to wait for a final box set (like I was going to do... DAMN my impatience).

 

[Grings]

it's (episode 1) only $9.95 now (£5)!, bit short though, but it was fun

 

[Ripper3]

Funny, over here, Ep1 is £20 in stores still... and I think Steam might have a say about how much i really end up paying for Ep1 if i buy over Steam.
Might try at som point though, everyone says Ep1 is great.