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HL2 Packages Available on Steam
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."
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!
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!
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.