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HL2 Packages Available on Steam

Posted by Zonk on from the good-morning-mr.-freedman dept.

aWalrus writes "The long wait for Half Life 2 and bundled games through Valve's online distribution system, Steam, ends today. Steam news reports that Half life 2 packages will be available at 11 am PST. With HL2 still trapped in publisher approval limbo, these packages don't have the game yet (available upon products' release), but they do have Counter Strike:Source. This could be a good bargaining chip for Valve and a boost to Steam distribution."

7 of 72 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Source? by aWalrus · · Score: 3, Informative

    Source is the name of the new game engine (graphics+physics). Counter Strike Source is the old Counter Strike implemented on the new engine with better models, physics and textures. It's quite a big deal for CS fans.

    AFAIK, Valve is making the usual stuff available for modders, but that does not include source code to the whole engine.

    --
    Overcaffeinated. Angry geeks.
  2. what a mess... by fireduck · · Score: 3, Informative

    lemme see if i've got this straight,

    back in the day Valve signs with Sierra and agrees to certain things, namely Sierra as distributor and giving Sierra some intellectual property stake in the game. Couple years later, Valve then plays hardball with Sierra and gets the IP back (so now they can make HL action figures and rake in the bucks like Lucas), but they are still under contract to produce games, however they can now distribute some stuff online. At some point Vivendi buys Sierra, and begins distributing games to cyber cafe without compensating Valve. Valve sues, then gets counter sued by Vivendi/Sierra claiming they lied about Steam and its capabilities.

    So, what I can't figure out is whatever happened to powerplay?

    Actually, given how much of a nonstarter powerplay was, I'd imagine if I were Valve, I'd downplay my plans with Steam as well. As much as I love the game, the company doesn't really have much of a track record with anything not directly related to HL...

    1. Re:what a mess... by mconeone · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Powerplay died awhile back, it was too broad of a scope with little actual substance to back up its claims.

      Steam on the other hand, is an immediate benefit to Valve. At $50+ a pop, with millions of counter-strike players worldwide, Valve is looking at a huge profit. Its been proven to be able to sell games (condition zero) as well as handle a hot new release (cs:source beta).

      Unless they lose the countersuit from Vivendi, the sky's the limit!

  3. Re:Online Gamers. by fluxrad · · Score: 3, Insightful

    You'll pay for it because the package is CS:Source now and also HL2 when it comes out. I certainly agree with you that I probably wouldn't shell out $50 just for CS:S alone. But this will get you both.

    --
    "It is seldom that liberty of any kind is lost all at once." -David Hume
  4. I like Valve, but wtf? by quantax · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I'm just wondering why I should shell out $50 for a steam copy of HL2, the same amount I'd pay for a physical copy in a store. Basically, are they going to drop the prices once HL2 comes out in stores to something more reasonable like $40, and thus are using their leverage since everyone wants HL2/CSS/etc so badly that theyll pay $50 for nothing more than HL2 & CS:S? I was going to buy it today, but I guess ill wait till the prices become a little more reasonable considering I dont even get a physical product.

    --
    "What can a thoughtful man hope for mankind on Earth, given the experience of the past million years? Nothing." -Bokonon
  5. Re:Er.. not a good idea. by ADRA · · Score: 4, Informative

    HL2 hasn't been beta tested because HL2 isn't multiplayer!

    CS:Source is the only out-of-the-box multiplayer support the last I heard, so your beta woes are unfounded.

    If you actually had Steam & Source, youd know that we have a couple gigs of data sitting around waiting to be unpacked. I don't see how this is all just an elaborate charade. Reviewers are getting first hand accounts of the game, it may be controlled, but none the less, if THEY are playing the real game, everything but some here-and-there bugs must be done.

    --
    Bye!
  6. Re:Er.. not a good idea. by Ahnteis · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Facts:
    1) Halflife 2 was announced 1 1/2 years ago. It has been delayed a total of 1 year to date.

    2) DNF has been delayed how many years? Are we up to 7 now?

    3) The HL2 release candidate(s) have been delivered to Vivendi. The game is done or very nearly done.

    4) Vivendi Universal:Games is the only money losing portion of Vivendi Universal. They need HL2 to be on shelves this year badly. By contract, they can only delay the game a maximum of 6 months but that would be financial suicide.

    5) Steam has been extensively tested or did you miss the 30 bizzillion people playing CS? CS:CZ has been sold over steam for quite some time. Just because you had trouble with the beta versions 1-2 years ago doesn't mean it's the same now.

    6) HL2 multiplayer has already been revealed to be CS:Source which people have been playing for nearly a month in beta form. The final version is available NOW to people who preorder through steam, and if you read the fan forums, there are people playing right this very minute.

    I think you may be reading some other book between the lines.