Half Life 2 Orange Box official release date

Since 7016 Days

Last night, Valve representatives confirmed to Shacknews that its upcoming trio of Source-powered games will ship for all announced platforms on October 9, 2007. The suite, sold at retail and through Valve's Steam download service, will consist of the shooter sequel Half-Life 2: Episode Two, the team-based multiplayer game Team Fortress 2, and the action/puzzle game Portal. Valve is handling development of the games on PC and Xbox 360, with EA UK's Chertsey, Surrey office bringing the titles to PlayStation 3.

Shacknews has had extensive hands-on time with all three upcoming games. Check out our Half-Life 2: Episode Two preview and our Portal preview, and check back next week for impressions of Team Fortress 2.

Today's news follows rumors originating last month that the PlayStation 3 versions of the games would be delayed into 2008. Valve's Doug Lombardi noted to Shacknews that development has been progressing well on all three platforms.

Electronic Arts is distributing the games at retail as a package entitled Half-Life 2: The Orange Box, which also includes the original Half-Life 2 and last year's Half-Life 2: Episode One. It will sell for $49.99 on PC and $59.99 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Previously, the company intended to sell a slimmer package, The Black Box, which would not include Half-Life 2 or Half-Life 2: Episode One, but those plans were cancelled last month. It is expected that Steam customers will retain the option to purchase only the newly-released games.

Halo is hardly alone this fall. Call of Duty, Quake Wars, Team Fortress 2!

That's not even mentioning some other biggies (like Crysis!).. 2007.. FPS RETURNS.

Sucks that they canned the black box though. Does this mean I can just purchase everything seperately.. or rather.. that I have to? I'm okay with that. TF2 and Portal will be the first things I snag :)

In reply to

[quote]Last night, Valve representatives confirmed to Shacknews that its upcoming trio of Source-powered games will ship for all announced platforms on [b]October 9, 2007[/b]. The suite, sold at retail and through Valve's Steam download service, will consist of the shooter sequel Half-Life 2: Episode Two, the team-based multiplayer game Team Fortress 2, and the action/puzzle game Portal. Valve is handling development of the games on PC and Xbox 360, with EA UK's Chertsey, Surrey office bringing the titles to PlayStation 3.

Shacknews has had extensive hands-on time with all three upcoming games. Check out our Half-Life 2: Episode Two preview and our Portal preview, and check back next week for impressions of Team Fortress 2.

Today's news follows rumors originating last month that the PlayStation 3 versions of the games would be delayed into 2008. Valve's Doug Lombardi noted to Shacknews that development has been progressing well on all three platforms.

Electronic Arts is distributing the games at retail as a package entitled Half-Life 2: The Orange Box, which also includes the original Half-Life 2 and last year's Half-Life 2: Episode One. It will sell for $49.99 on PC and $59.99 on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. Previously, the company intended to sell a slimmer package, The Black Box, which would not include Half-Life 2 or Half-Life 2: Episode One, but those plans were cancelled last month. It is expected that Steam customers will retain the option to purchase only the newly-released games.[/quote]

Halo is hardly alone this fall.  Call of Duty, Quake Wars, Team Fortress 2!

That's not even mentioning some other biggies (like Crysis!).. 2007.. FPS RETURNS.

Sucks that they canned the black box though.  Does this mean I can just purchase everything seperately.. or rather.. that I have to?  I'm okay with that.  TF2 and Portal will be the first things I snag :)

Heretic

Since 6989 Days

wow. bout time haha

never played HL so i'll be buying this

In reply to

Finish The Fight Sept. 25th

Halo 3 Bitches!!!

Beware, Heretic is on the prowl!!!

GriftGFX

Since 7016 Days

Posted by Heretic

never played HL so i'll be buying this

You're in for a treat. Sequel to the best (single player) FPS ever made, and a damn fine one itself!

In reply to

alimokrane

Since 6946 Days

I NEED MORE MONEY!!!!!! My god so many games to buy !

In reply to

Blue Dragon - Lost Odyssey - Eternal Sonata - Final Fantasy XIII - Cry On - Ninja Gaiden 2 - Heavenly Sword - Assassin's Creed - Devil May Cry 4 - Resident Evil 5 - Naruto 360 - Mass Effect - Alan Wake - Too Human -Infinite Undiscovery

szaromir

Since 6772 Days

Posted by GriftGFX

You're in for a treat. Sequel to the best (single player) FPS ever made, and a damn fine one itself!

You're kidding aren't you?

In reply to

"That just happened 'cause that was awesome" - Randy Pitchford, Gearbox

alimokrane

Since 6946 Days

Posted by szaromir

You're kidding aren't you?

I do indeed agree with grift. Played Half life on the PC and it's my second favorite shooter ever after FarCry.

In reply to

Blue Dragon - Lost Odyssey - Eternal Sonata - Final Fantasy XIII - Cry On - Ninja Gaiden 2 - Heavenly Sword - Assassin's Creed - Devil May Cry 4 - Resident Evil 5 - Naruto 360 - Mass Effect - Alan Wake - Too Human -Infinite Undiscovery

Heretic

Since 6989 Days

Posted by szaromir

You're kidding aren't you?

ofcourse he's kidding!

Halo takes that honor =)

In reply to

Finish The Fight Sept. 25th

Halo 3 Bitches!!!

Beware, Heretic is on the prowl!!!

GriftGFX

Since 7016 Days

Posted by szaromir

You're kidding aren't you?

Oh I'm sorry, it's no Halo! Just quite a bit better!

I wasn't counting: System Shock, Thief or Deus Ex. Since they're not typical FPS games. But otherwise.. yes.. I'm serious.

In reply to

Heretic

Since 6989 Days

Posted by GriftGFX

Oh I'm sorry, it's no Halo! Just quite a bit better!

I wasn't counting: System Shock, Thief or Deus Ex. Since they're not typical FPS games. But otherwise.. yes.. I'm serious.

haha thats the reason why i want to play this game. they say its better than Halo. but then again all the pc "elitist" think any fps is better than Halo.

In reply to

Finish The Fight Sept. 25th

Halo 3 Bitches!!!

Beware, Heretic is on the prowl!!!

GriftGFX

Since 7016 Days

Posted by Heretic

haha thats the reason why i want to play this game. they say its better than Halo. but then again all the pc "elitist" think any fps is better than Halo.

It's not that any FPS is better than Halo.. that's just ridiculous. It's more like.. a lot of FPS are better than Halo. Both single player, and multiplayer. That's all.

I think Halo is a great franchise.. 414 games on the beta.. and I still expect to clock in more time in September. I also think the movement speed and gravity are complete tied into their formula for gamepad control. I don't expect any PC game to play as well on 360 as Halo does.. because they weren't designed for it.. and Halo was!

Oh, and I also want to "finish the fight."

I should have gone with the much safer, "one of the best." Oh well! Live and learn.

In reply to

kenshin2418

Since 6991 Days

going to be a busy Fall

In reply to

"you should be honored by my lateness
that i would even show up to this fake sh*t"

szaromir

Since 6772 Days

Posted by GriftGFX

But otherwise.. yes.. I'm serious.

There were far more single player FPSes other than Halo that I think are better than Half-Life. I think I won't convince you anyway, though, so I'll stop at that.

In reply to

"That just happened 'cause that was awesome" - Randy Pitchford, Gearbox

Heretic

Since 6989 Days

Posted by GriftGFX

It's not that any FPS is better than Halo.. that's just ridiculous. It's more like.. a lot of FPS are better than Halo. Both single player, and multiplayer. That's all.

I think Halo is a great franchise.. 414 games on the beta.. and I still expect to clock in more time in September. I also think the movement speed and gravity are complete tied into their formula for gamepad control. I don't expect any PC game to play as well on 360 as Halo does.. because they weren't designed for it.. and Halo was!

Oh, and I also want to "finish the fight."

I should have gone with the much safer, "one of the best." Oh well! Live and learn.

well the pc players that i know ALL think Halo is crap cause its "slow"

i guess i'll just live and let live

In reply to

Finish The Fight Sept. 25th

Halo 3 Bitches!!!

Beware, Heretic is on the prowl!!!

GriftGFX

Since 7016 Days

Posted by Heretic

well the pc players that i know ALL think Halo is crap cause its "slow"

i guess i'll just live and let live

Well now you know me and I never said it was crap :P

Halo is really slow and floaty though.. that's just a fact.

In reply to

Heretic

Since 6989 Days

Posted by GriftGFX

Well now you know me and I never said it was crap :P

Halo is really slow and floaty though.. that's just a fact.

i'll pretend you never said that =p

In reply to

Finish The Fight Sept. 25th

Halo 3 Bitches!!!

Beware, Heretic is on the prowl!!!

szaromir

Since 6772 Days

Posted by Heretic

i'll pretend you never said that =p

But he's right :)

In reply to

"That just happened 'cause that was awesome" - Randy Pitchford, Gearbox

GriftGFX

Since 7016 Days

There are slow PC games too.. they're just not run and gun shooters like Halo. SWAT4 is probably the slowest pace I've ever seen in an FPS. At least the gravity isn't like.. on the moon though ;)

I just tried GRAW2 for PC last night too. Pretty good.. and super slow. That has a sprint button though. So does Half Life 2. Still.. totally not a run and gun game (GRAW).

I wonder if HL2DM will ever make it over to consoles. Seems like they should.. couldn't be too much extra effort involved.

In reply to

roxwell

Since 6964 Days

Thanks Grift!

Pre-ordered :)

In reply to

I've done the kessel run in less then 8 parsecs :p

deftangel

Since 6884 Days

October the 9th...:( I want to play Half Life 2 properly as well as TF2 and Portal but I can't see myself giving it anytime between Halo 3 and GTA:IV , not to mention I'd like to check out, at the very least Battlefield: Bad Company and COD4

It really is very crowded. How games like Blacksite expect to gain any traction I've no idea!

In reply to

szaromir

Since 6772 Days

BF Bad Company is a 2008 game.

In reply to

"That just happened 'cause that was awesome" - Randy Pitchford, Gearbox

Jin187

Since 6760 Days

Again, its suicide to attempt to release this anywhere close to Halo 3, but to go just two weeks after is madness.

Posted by GriftGFX

You're in for a treat. Sequel to the best (single player) FPS ever made, and a damn fine one itself!

Surely you cannot be serious???

HL1 was overatted, it was great but overrated and HL2 was massiveley overrated and that was not that great at all! There is no better FPS single player than Halo 1.

EDIT:

Posted by GriftGFX

It's more like.. a lot of FPS are better than Halo. Both single player, and multiplayer. That's all.

My God, you are serious :s

Halo 1 > HL1 > Halo 2 > HL2

In reply to

GriftGFX

Since 7016 Days

Posted by Jin187

Again, its suicide to attempt to release this anywhere close to Halo 3, but to go just two weeks after is madness

I don't think HL2 will have too much of a problem seeing reasonable sales this holiday season. The game may be two years old, but it holds up extremely well next to some of its straight to console counterparts, and it's the best damn value you'll get on the 360 period.

It's a crowded space, but this game is among the top of the top tier releases. Call of Duty 4 should be fine as well.. now stuff like Blacksite and Hour of Victory.. not so much.

Halo has much tougher competition this time around.. still expect it to be the best selling game this year tho.

Posted by Jin187

Surely you cannot be serious??? HL1 was overatted, it was great but overrated and HL2 was massiveley overrated and that was not that great at all! There is no better FPS single player than Halo 1.

Surely I can be serious. But you're entitled to think.. whatever. I'm so not surprised that everyone here thinks that Halo is the best FPS ever.

In reply to

[quote=Jin187]Again, its suicide to attempt to release this anywhere close to Halo 3, but to go just two weeks after is madness[/quote]

I don't think HL2 will have too much of a problem seeing reasonable sales this holiday season.  The game may be two years old, but it holds up extremely well next to some of its straight to console counterparts, and it's the best damn value you'll get on the 360 period.

It's a crowded space, but this game is among the top of the top tier releases.  Call of Duty 4 should be fine as well.. now stuff like Blacksite and Hour of Victory.. not so much.

Halo has [i]much[/i] tougher competition this time around.. still expect it to be the best selling game this year tho.

[quote=Jin187]Surely you cannot be serious??? HL1 was overatted, it was great but overrated and HL2 was massiveley overrated and that was not that great at all! There is no better FPS single player than Halo 1.[/quote]

Surely I can be serious.  But you're entitled to think.. whatever.  I'm so not surprised that everyone here thinks that Halo is the best FPS ever.

Jin187

Since 6760 Days

Posted by GriftGFX

I don't think HL2 will have too much of a problem seeing reasonable sales this holiday season. The game may be two years old, but it holds up extremely well next to some of its straight to console counterparts, and it's the best damn value you'll get on the 360 period.

It's a crowded space, but this game is among the top of the top tier releases. Call of Duty 4 should be fine as well.. now stuff like Blacksite and Hour of Victory.. not so much.

Halo has much tougher competition this time around.. still expect it to be the best selling game this year tho.

Yes true, but i think theres only 3 games than can compete with halo for sales, and that MGS, FF and GTA anything else really hasnt got a chance in affecting sales of Halo.

Posted by GriftGFX

I'm so not surprised that everyone here thinks that Halo is the best FPS ever.

I think its closer to 7 million :p

In reply to

GriftGFX

Since 7016 Days

I don't think much of anything could have an impact on Halo's sales at this point. It'd be like expecting GTAIV to flop. That's just not going to happen. I don't think Halo is going to kill COD4 or HL2 either though.. I think they should both sell pretty well regardless.

When it comes to straight up gaming value.. it's hard to argue with the orange box.

Posted by Jin187

I think its closer to 7 million :p

Nope. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has bought both Halo games, but is also fully aware of the fact that they're not really all that groundbreaking outside of what they've done for the genre on consoles.

Great games. Great console shooters.

Best FPS? Ya right.

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