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Half Life 2 To Be DVD Only In UK

Posted by Zonk on from the upgrade-to-access-headcrabs-plz dept.

Thanks to Halflife2.net, who today recieved word from game retailers that, at least in the UK, Half Life 2 will only be available via DVD. This is evidently becoming common for US games in Europe, as FarCry was not released on CD in Europe either.

5 of 63 comments (clear)

  1. Kind of annoying, but... by Ayaress · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Is this another case like broadband where Europe/Asia have better coverage than the US?

    I don't have a DVD drive on any of my computers yet, and don't really plan to get one any time soon, and I know that many of the people I know don't have one either. Since most PC games still ship on CDs, I'm happy enough without spending money on one. I just assume that when games start doing this, the prices on a DVD drive will be down a bit and I can grab one on the cheap.

    Anyway, back to my point: Are DVD drives more common in the UK than the US? Or do I just have a bunch of lame friends who can't play DVDs on their computers?

  2. Re:I wish they would do the same in The States by T-Ranger · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Without a doubt the hardware that actuall does the DVD production would be more expensive then the eqivelent CD thinger (esp. since the later is already paid for). But the actuall pressing of the disc is a relativly small component. They are exactly the same size, the same robots can deal with them in exactly the same way. The box/case production, exactly the same.... In the grand scheme of things, I doubt that the thinger in question is even a signifcant cost component of a disc factory.

  3. Re:Come down in price? by EnglishTim · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Wait!

    You're saying you won't buy anything more than $3, and are complaining that a game an order of magnitude more expensive won't run on your computer? Especially when a computer capable of running that game is almost two and half orders of magnitude more expensive?

  4. Download HL2 by Castaa · · Score: 2, Interesting
    Forget about hard media installs. We should be moving away from that. It makes sense on multiple fronts for people with broadband connection to the Internet to download their games directly from the developer.

    • It's a much cheaper distribution method
    • Automatic updates and expansions
    • No retail (no middleman) price mark up which should result in cheaper games
    • Game developers ultimately see more return on their investment which will yield better funded (and higher quaility) games in the future.
    --
    Chew: You Nexus, huh? I design your eyes.
    Roy: Chew, if only you could see what I've seen with your eyes.
  5. Pricing? by robot+captain · · Score: 2, Interesting

    This question has been asked in various places but no one seems to have a solid answer. Does anyone know the pricing details for the US (and UK) releases? Here is what I have found so far:


    Retail:
    Stanard (US): $54.99 (source: ebgames.com)
    Collector's Edition (US): $79.99 (source: ebgames.com)
    Standard DVD (UK): £39.99 (source: amazon.co.uk)

    Steam:
    Bronze: $?
    Silver: $?
    Gold: $?

    Other:
    Buying Day of Defeat stand-alone if you buy a
    retail version without it: $?