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Pre-Order Valve Games Via Steam Next Week, Enter the TF2 Beta

Posted by Zonk on from the time-of-a-million-games-is-upon-us dept.

The British Gaming Blog notes that the Orange Box (Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode 1, Half-Life 2: Episode 2, Portal, and Team Fortress 2) will be available for pre-order via Steam starting next week. What's more, ordering the games via Steam will give you access to an advance Beta test of Team Fortress 2. "The Orange Box contains Half Life 2, Episodes 1 and 2, Portal and Team Fortress 2; you'll have to purchase the entire package to receive the Beta. Valve recommends giving the extra codes for Half Life 2 and Episode 1 (if you already own them) to someone who's been missing out. Not explained on the actual pre-purchase page is an added bonus for early adopters, Peggle Extreme; a special edition of Popcap's Peggle featuring new challenges and Orange Box related artwork." Apparently current HL2 fans will miss out on the Beta ... because we've already paid them money.

11 of 141 comments (clear)

  1. Oh, come on now... by Gothic_Walrus · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Apparently current HL2 fans will miss out on the Beta ... because we've already paid them money.

    There's no possible way that the beta could support everybody who bought Half-Life 2, or even the fraction of that number that'd be interested in it. Given that you bought and played the game (ages ago, most likely) and I would assume enjoyed it in the process, I'm not sure what there is to get upset about. If you bought the game three years ago at launch, then I don't see why Valve owes you anything after this much time has passed.

    --
    Goo goo g'joob.
    1. Re:Oh, come on now... by Nos. · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Since when do you offer support to beta testers, other than typically informal, forum type support? That's all I would expect from this. As far as allowing people to beta test, why not? Other than the forums may get overwhelmed with posts if there are issues. Its not like Valve will be the only ones running servers.

      What I'm upset about, is that as a loyal Valve customer for years, I'm actually being treated worse than someone who has never owned the game before.

    2. Re:Oh, come on now... by Novotny · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Typical Slashdot whining. I may not have a lot of karma to burn but I'll explain why you're making no sense.

      You get into the beta for buying three new games for the price of one, these being Episode 3, Portal & Team Fortress 2. It just so happens they're bucking in the original HL2 and Episode One (both of which I paid for) as well. So that's actually 5 great games for the price of one. Yes, that's right. The Orange box is priced comparably to any singular title also in the market.

      And typically, you guys whine because you bought HL2. One of these five titles. Whine whine! We want the last three years of development work for free! This from an Editor too.

      Er, no. I'm so with Valve on this one. And I don't give a damn if I come over like a fanboi or you all burn me at the stake for heresy.

    3. Re:Oh, come on now... by Deadbolt · · Score: 2, Insightful

      You're being retarded. For $45 (counting the $5 off preorder), you get Episode 2, Portal, and TF2. That's, say, 15 hours of single-player game and god knows how many hours of TF2 (at least 24 over the life of the game). Plus they throw in a 10-level Peggle, which is actually pretty damn fun and is even more awesome for being free. $45 for all that is a hell of a value, especially since Bioshock costs $50 for 10 hours of single-player. (Really awesome single-player, yes, but kinda short, and no multiplayer at all.)

      And you get a free HL2 and Episode 1 to give to someone.

      How is Valve screwing you again?

      (Disclaimer: I just ordered it a few minutes ago and am thrilled.)

      --
      "Honey, it's not working out; I think we should make our relationship open-source."
    4. Re:Oh, come on now... by Novotny · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Oh I know he's a troll, but I'll bite.

      Episode 2 brings a lot of new tech to the series and has been in development for quite some time. It is a new title. It is made by some of the most talented people in the industry. It will, most likely, be very good.

      Team Fortress 2 is extremely exciting to people who like fps online or who enjoyed the original (I didn't like the original much, but that's a different story). You clearly know absolutely nothing about it.

      And as for 'Portal is just a new set of skins on half-life with a bit of storyline' - now we know you really are just making this up to annoy people.

      'if I want to pay 50$ for a game with one new gun' - is it just the banging noise guns make in game that you appreciate? Sounds right about your intellectual level.

    5. Re:Oh, come on now... by Psiven · · Score: 2, Insightful

      In regards to your last comment, I'd say that has to be some of their motivation. I have friends who've bought the CSS/DOD/HL2DM pack for lan marties, but still never experienced EP1. I will happily try to turn them on with my extra copies of HL2.

      I guess I just don't see the issue. I'd pay $30 for Portal, $40 for TF2, and $20 for EP2 (sry big multiplayer guy here). This just seems like a great value to me. It's $45 to preorder, and I get TF2 early. Holyshit, whats the issue?

  2. Bah! by jacksonic · · Score: 2, Insightful

    True fans will shell out whatever monies are necessary to get their hands on the ambrosia that is Team Fortress 2.

  3. I am happy with value recieved by senahj · · Score: 2, Insightful

    If Valve has extracted a few more dollars from me than from another person for the same merchandise, I really don't give a toss.

    If there is any company in the world that I think deserves my money, it's Valve.
    Thanks, guys.

    (I can see that my friend the GTA addict has actually gotten more replay value from San Andreas than I have from HL / Blue Shift / Opposing Force / HL2 / Lost Coast / Episode One, but he's welcome to it; I just don't enjoy being Carl Johnson, though it's fun to watch, and the music is superlative)

    --
    Wait a minute. Didn't I say that on the other side of the record? I'd better check ...
  4. Re:Orange Box is cheaper anyway by MtlDty · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It's a cunning move. Seeing as I already own HL2 and EP1 my obvious choice is to buy the orange box, and gift the extra HL2 and EP1 to a friend... who then likes them enough to want to buy EP2, and decides the orange box is best choice, so he passes on the extra HL2 and EP1 to a friend...etc etc...

  5. Re:Does Valve suck for anyone else? by nuzak · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Yes, I find Steam to be pretty buggy, from not launching games except the second time I select the launch, to losing games in my list until I log out and back in, to a very sluggish store UI, which is merely an embedded IE component.

    But it still beats the living crap out of dealing with physical discs, and it's still a much better delivery service than Direct2Drive. I've never found the authentication to be slow, and BTW, it only has to do it once if you're not doing multiplayer.

    Your criticisms might carry a little more weight if you even knew what the name of the app was called. You sound like my gf's mother, who says things like "My Microsoft is slow".

    --
    Done with slashdot, done with nerds, getting a life.
  6. Re:We dont want ALL those games. by Pluvius · · Score: 2, Insightful

    False dilemmas are no way to argue, son.

    Rob