Jonathan Coulton Track Part of the Orange Box

Joystiq notes that along with Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode One, Half-Life 2: Episode 2, Portal, and Team Fortress 2, folks who purchase Valve's Orange Box compilation will also be getting a musical treat. 'Geek Troubadour' Jonathan Coulton composed an entirely new song for the offering, apparently with help from the Valve design team. "At this point, with less than a week to go before the game's (games'? gameses'?) release, we're surprised the track hasn't already made its way to the seedy, illicit , peer-to-peer underbelly of the internet. Hey record industry, you should take notes!" The official Coulton site has plenty of information about the singer, and you can see his command performance of 're: your brains' from this year's PAX at the Penny Arcade site.

Comments

games'

[richie2000]

Sheesh. And what should the RIAA take note of, not releasing any more songs to combat piracy? Hey, I'm all for that approach.

Re:games'

[Aladrin]

They should take note that Jonathan Coulton cares about his listeners, and sells directly to them, and even gives quite a few of the songs away on his website. They should note that all it takes to make money in music is good music and caring about your fans, not bleeding your artists dry and suing the fans as well.

But in this particular deal? I have no idea. 1 man keeping his song secret until release is not that hard. It's when the whole bloody industry has access to the song that keeping it under wraps is impossible.

Re:games'

[ucblockhead]

They should take note that he's made a successful career out of producing music that is available free (legally) for download.

Where's the torrent?

[xxxJonBoyxxx]

Joystiq notes that along with Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode One, Half-Life 2: Episode 2, Portal, and Team Fortress 2, folks who purchase Valve's Orange Box compilation...

"Folks who purchase?" C'mon, this is 2007. Where's the torrent?

Re:Where's the torrent?

[bbcisdabomb]

Don't you know anything? You buy a CD of "The Orange Box" and all that's on there is an unencrypted torrent file. Valve figures, if you're gonna torrent the damn thing anyway, you'll pay them for it!

this leaves one question

[Anonymous Coward]

Who the hell is Jonathan Coulton?

Re:this leaves one question

[ThirdPrize]

Code Monkey. Nuff said.

Re:this leaves one question

[Turn-X Alphonse]

He's a musician featured on Slashdot several times.

For a year he released a song a week completely free on his website, each song was written and performed in the week it was released. It was quite an impressive feat and he did many great songs in that time, including "Code Monkey" which took wings and is pretty damn popular around here.

Basically he's a geek with a guitar who took a gamble on singing for a living while still wanting to release things for free and letting people buy from him if they want to pay for the stuff.

http://www.jonathancoulton.com/ is his website.

Re:this leaves one question

[Dr. Eggman]

I dunno, but I bet a lot fewer people will be asking this question after the Orange box comes out. Good for him for having the opportunity and good for Valve for giving it.

Re:this leaves one question

[Keebler71]

I could see why code monkey would be popular but please... his version of "Baby got Back" is a masterpiece.

Re:this leaves one question

[everphilski]

Also was the 'minstrel' for John Hodgman's book-on-CD "The Areas of my Expertise".

Satiate your Portal needs

[The MAZZTer]

If you haven't found this already.

Re:Satiate your Portal needs

[Aladrin]

Great game, way too short, beat it. That's why everyone is SO looking forward to Portal.

Jonathan Who?

[Anonymous Coward]

Couldn't they have picked someone good? There are things that you shouldn't even give away for free.

Wow

[Steauengeglase]

I heard about this yesterday. At this point I think there are probably 3 modders in Idaho who aren't or have yet to work for Valve. They seem to be snatching up all of the indie talent. Hell, I'm pretty sure Stevie Case is working reception or something for them.

BTW, Coulton's music isn't that bad. Who here could hate the Code Monkey song?

That sounds great

[Vaibhav_Locke]

Too bad I won't be able to enjoy it since steam has, at last count, rejected 3 credit cards a debit card and paypal and so now i'm out of payment options ...

Re:That sounds great

[Dr. Eggman]

They still offer games through B&M stores, Gamestop and even Amazon has the same deal as on Steam now, so no more excuses: go out and buy it! =D

Re:That sounds great

[Vaibhav_Locke]

Nah, --- India I hate paying shipping and duties it makes stuff much more expensive than it needs to be. Torrents, here i come!!!(Code monkey rules)

Re:That sounds great

[vrmlguy]

How about e-gold? I hear it's growing in popularity every single day.

Re:That sounds great

[Constantine XVI]

Prepare to be the loneliest Team Fortress 2 player in existence.

Re:That sounds great

[Anonymous Coward]

have used that for an iop i think

I thought it read John Coltrane

[gblackwo]

Was wondering why they would put a jazz track in the Orange Box, Blue Train anyone?

Why is valve alienating their steam consumers?

[Da w00t]

HL2 came out, with Steam. You rejoice, HL2 was an awesome game.
But wait, there's more! Valve promises a 3-part episodic sequal!
You buy the first episode, and rejoice. Yet another awesome game.
You buy other games on Steam, ragdoll kung fu, Sam and Max, etc.
You hear about the second episode coming out -- but it's bundled with everything else HL2.

I ask politely: why is valve alienating their existing steam consumer base? If I want this extra sound track, which is likely to be an exclusive part of the Orange Box, why do I have to buy the same product twice? No, I don't care for 'certificates' that I can give to a friend for HL2 and HL2:EP1. I'm a gamer just like everyone else I know -- they all already have purchased HL2.

Re:Why is valve alienating their steam consumers?

[Cornelius the Great]

Honestly, I believe the strategy is they're giving you HL2/Ep1 again for free. The whole package is $45 (currently) for Ep2, Portal, and TF2 with HL2+Ep1 thrown in. It's not like they're making much money on HL2/Ep1 anymore, so it's hardly a loss for them. If you don't need HL2 and/or Ep1, you can give them away to someone else, who in turn may become hooked on the Half-Life storyline/gameplay, adding more customers.

Modern shareware- Valve seems to know exactly what they're doing. I already pre-ordered (and pre-loaded) mine, and promised my younger brother my extra HL2/Ep1.

Re:Why is valve alienating their steam consumers?

[hyphz]

The song is in Portal. You can buy that alone for $20.

Zombie music is woefully under represented

[ScotchForBreakfast]

n/t

And the science gets done.

[Anonymous Coward]

And you make a neat gun.
For the people who are still alive.

The Song!

[Toridas]

Jonathan Coulton's song is "Still Alive" and is played during the end credits of Portal. Lyrics: This was a triumph I'm making a note here: huge success It's hard to overstate my satisfaction Aperture Science We do what we must because we can For the good of all of us... Except the ones who are dead But there's no sense crying over every mistake You just keep on trying till you run out of cake And the science gets done And you make a neat gun For the people who are still alive I'm not even angry I'm being so sincere right now Even though you broke my heart And killed me And tore me to pieces And threw every piece into a fire As they burned it hurt because I was so happy for you Now these points of data Make a beautiful line And we're out of beta We're releasing on time So I'm GLaD I got burned Think of all the things we learned For the people who are still alive Go ahead and leave me I think I prefer to stay inside Maybe you'll find someone else to help you Maybe Black Mesa That was a joke, ha ha, fat chance Anyway this cake is great It's so delicious and moist Look at me still talking When there's science to do When I look out there It makes me GLaD I'm not you I've experiments to run There is research to be done On the people who are still alive And believe me I am still alive I'm doing science and I'm still alive I feel fantastic and I'm still alive While you're dying I'll be still alive And when you're dead I will be still alive Still alive Still alive

Re:The Song!

[Anonymous Coward]

Argh, that's what I get for expecting for /. to have basic formatting like every other message board on the internets where line breaks in the text box actually makes new lines in the post!

Lyrics:

This was a triumph
I'm making a note here: huge success
It's hard to overstate my satisfaction
Aperture Science
We do what we must because we can
For the good of all of us...
Except the ones who are dead

But there's no sense crying over every mistake
You just keep on trying till you run out of cake
And the science gets done
And you make a neat gun
For the people who are still alive

I'm not even angry
I'm being so sincere right now
Even though you broke my heart
And killed me
And tore me to pieces
And threw every piece into a fire
As they burned it hurt because
I was so happy for you

Now these points of data
Make a beautiful line
And we're out of beta
We're releasing on time
So I'm GLaD I got burned
Think of all the things we learned
For the people who are still alive

Go ahead and leave me
I think I prefer to stay inside
Maybe you'll find someone else to help you
Maybe Black Mesa
That was a joke, ha ha, fat chance
Anyway this cake is great
It's so delicious and moist

Look at me still talking
When there's science to do
When I look out there
It makes me GLaD I'm not you
I've experiments to run
There is research to be done
On the people who are still alive

And believe me I am still alive
I'm doing science and I'm still alive
I feel fantastic and I'm still alive
While you're dying I'll be still alive
And when you're dead I will be still alive
Still alive
Still alive