Topic: Preorder Orange Box on Steam, play TF2 next monday

[idolminds]

That was the big news, I guess. Preorder is $45, comes with HL2, EP1, EP2, TF2, Portal, and they are even throwing in Peggle Extreme. With the order you get to play the TF2 beta starting on the 17th.

That is so horribly tempting I cant even describe it to you. I with they offered the old Black Box as a preorder. I dont want another copy of HL2 and EP1 to give away...I'd rather save money by not rebuying them in the first place.

[idolminds]

Haha...Peggle Extreme is all Orange Box themed. Check it out.

Now that I think about it, how much cheaper would they make the other bundles? I'm looking at $45 if I order this. What are they going to do, drop $10 off the price from HL1/EP1? Even at $45 that only works out to $15 a game excluding the 2 I'd already own. Thats a hell of a deal. Plus preordering would give me time to download them before the official launch. Plus I could play TF2 early....gah.

*EDIT*

After trying to rationalize it to myself, I think I will wait. All you have to do it look at the untruthful pricing on Steam itself. On the Orange Box page they list individual games prices, but both HL2 and EP1 are $10 more than what they really cost on Steam, and you can buy them together for less than the $30 Valve says HL2 costs (and all of them include HL2:DM, which doesn't seem to be included in Orange Box).

So it makes me wonder what the real individual prices are, and what the cost of the other package deals will be. I've gone this long, I think I can wait an extra month for TF2. Hell, I'll probably find retail boxes for cheaper launch week.

[TheOtherBelmont]

Damn, I might consider getting this since I still haven't played HL2 and I really want to play TF2.

[gpw11]

I think I'll pick up a retail copy of Orange Box.  That is, of couse, unless I can use steam to get Ep. 1, 2 and the other two games for less then the total retail price of Orange box. 

Fake Edit:  No, that's not the case at all.  How the fuck has Steam not folded with pricing schemes like this?  Why the fuck would I pay more for less both in content and physical resources involved in production?  No shit they'll let you play a month early - they have to give you something.

Real Edit: I didn't notice that they lowered the price of the Orange Box for this deal.  That certainly makes more sense, yet I'm still very hesitant.  I've never bought a game off of steam, and I don't think I've ever bought a game without physically owning the disk.  It's not something I really want to start doing either.

[iPPi]

I'm only interested in Portal.

[scottws]

How does everyone not own HL2 already?  I'd be interested in a package that had TF2, HL2:EP1, HL2:EP2, and Portal.  Why do I want to rebuy HL2?  Answer: I don't.

[ren]

What's Orange Box?

[gpw11]

-Half-life
-HL: Episode 1
-HL: Episode 2
-Portal
-TF2

For some stupid fucking reason they aren't releasing Black Box anymore.  That consisted of:

-HL: Episode 2
-Portal
-TF2

That stupid reason isn't actually all that stupid - just a bit shady.  By not releasing Black Box they force customers who already own HL and EP.1 (or just HL proper) to pay out for the same game they already did. Sure, it's at a much lower price, but that's still free money.  Your only other option is to buy through steam.  Again, more money in Valve's pockets.  Good for Valve, bad for some consumers.

[MysterD]

-Half-life
-HL: Episode 1
-HL: Episode 2
-Portal
-TF2

For some stupid fucking reason they aren't releasing Black Box anymore.  That consisted of:

-HL: Episode 2
-Portal
-TF2

Yeah, I would've likely went for the Black Box.

I already got HL2, HL2 Ep One -- WTF would I want the Orange Box for?

That stupid reason isn't actually all that stupid - just a bit shady.  By not releasing Black Box they force customers who already own HL and EP.1 (or just HL proper) to pay out for the same game they already did.

Ick.

Sure, it's at a much lower price, but that's still free money.  Your only other option is to buy through steam.  Again, more money in Valve's pockets.  Good for Valve, bad for some consumers.

Yeah -- looks like they are trying to make those who don't want the Orange Box to order the pieces they need separately from STEAM or get double-dipped on and buy The Orange Box at retailers.

[idolminds]

Supposedly there will be other bundles on Steam, such as the old "Black Box". Valve just hasn't released details on them yet (because they want to sell the more expensive Orange Box first).

[MysterD]

Supposedly there will be other bundles on Steam, such as the old "Black Box". Valve just hasn't released details on them yet (because they want to sell the more expensive Orange Box first).

Looks like they trying to push the STEAM Sales of the game on us who want The Black Box, since it's the only way to get The Black Box (For now...!)

[scottws]

Oh wait so the Orange Box doesn't have HL2?  Maybe I will get it then.  I don't have HL2:EP1.

[gpw11]

No, it does have HL.  I haven't done the math on this, but the value threshold probably works out so that if you don't own EP. 1 it's worth it, but if you do it's not.  Again, like I said I haven't done the math. 

[idolminds]

Math:

Orange Box contains 5 games...plus a bonus minigame thing. This includes:

HL2
EP1
EP2
TF2
Portal
Peggle Extreme (which is a smaller, themed Peggle)

All for $45. Ignoring the Peggle throw in, thats $9 per game. Even if it was just the three new games and you already own HL2 and EP1 it would work out to $15 a game. Still not bad.

I'm hoping we see a "Black Box" go up for $30 that contains the three new titles.

[scottws]

It also looks worth it for someone like me who only has HL2.

HL2 Episode 1 = $9.95
HL2 Episode 2 = $29.95
Team Fortress 2 = $29.95
Portal =  $19.95
Total = $89.80

Orange Box = $44.95

[gpw11]

Well, that's not so bad.  IS the $45 dollar price a new thing, or is it just for the promotion?  Because everywhere else I read it was saying $60 for Orange, $40 for Black.

[idolminds]

Orange Box is $45 for this current promotion. You get $5 off on preorder. After that it will be $50 for the package. $60 is probably for the 360 version. Black Box doesn't exist anymore, at least in retail. Valve has not stated what the Black Box equivalent on Steam will cost...if they even make that offer.

Though I've figured out what Valve is doing with this "TF2 beta" thing. According to the folks at PC Gamer, TF2 is done. Heck, Orange Box is done. Ready to go. On PC. I believe they are being forced to hold back release so the 360 version can release at the same time, and it's not done yet (or going through cert). Also Valve probably can't release the games via Steam before retail is ready. Hands tied.

Or not. Theres probably nothing in various contracts that restricts "beta testing"...even public testing. They can also allow preorders, which is essentially selling the games early. So with a preorder (early sale) you get access to the TF2 "beta" (final TF2 only with fewer maps).

[scottws]

When does the $5 off go away??

I'm debating whether I want this or not.  I never played TF of any sort, and I really am liking ET:QW so I'm not sure if I should even bother trying to get TF2.

[idolminds]

Goes away when the game releases, which is Oct...uh, 1st or 10th. Not sure on the exact release date.

[MysterD]

9.0 from Eurogamer for TF2 (out of 10)

[Pugnate]

Hmmm I am probably going to have to decide between TF2, Unreal 3, and QW:ET.

Will probably end up going for UT3.

[idolminds]

Probably not a bad choice, since you'll most likely see mods recreate the other two in UT3.

[Pugnate]

Yea, I might still go for that Orange Box package, as it is such a nice deal. Then again I own HL2 and Ep1 -- and I really hated the latter.

[MysterD]

I will wait for Orange Box to get cheaper b/c I don't wanna feel like I'm paying for HL2: Ep Zero and Ep One again.

[Xessive]

I never picked up Ep 1, so I guess the Orange Box might be a good deal for me, I just don't wanna feel like I'm paying for HL2 again.

Is there anyway to transfer my current HL2 to another steam account?

I figure if I get the Orange box I'm not gonna need my original HL2 so I'll give it to my brother (I'm trying to get him into it). Otherwise it would be a complete waste of a perfectly good Steam activated HL2.

[idolminds]

Valve will give you a new, separate HL2 activation that you can give to your brother with Orange Box.

[Xessive]

Valve will give you a new, separate HL2 activation that you can give to your brother with Orange Box.

Ah ok, and that won't affect the other content that comes with the Orange box, right?

Well, I was thinking about waiting for the 3rd episode to come out so I can buy the complete pack. I don't think that's gonna happen anytime within the next year, so I might just go ahead and go for the Orange box.

[idolminds]

Right.

[MysterD]

Ah ok, and that won't affect the other content that comes with the Orange box, right?

Well, I was thinking about waiting for the 3rd episode to come out so I can buy the complete pack. I don't think that's gonna happen anytime within the next year, so I might just go ahead and go for the Orange box.

The way Valve's going, we might see Elder Scrolls 5 before Half-Life 3. 

[Xessive]

The way Valve's going, we might see Elder Scrolls 5 before Half-Life 3. 

Haha we'll probably see Elder Scrolls 5 before HL2 Episode 3!

Right now it's not on my priority list. My top games to buy now are (as I've mentioned on a couple of other threads): Bioshock, NWN2 MotB, The Witcher, and Mass Effect (when the PC version comes out).

[MysterD]

Haha we'll probably see Elder Scrolls 5 before HL2 Episode 3!

Right now it's not on my priority list. My top games to buy now are (as I've mentioned on a couple of other threads): Bioshock, NWN2 MotB, The Witcher, and Mass Effect (when the PC version comes out).

I'm defiintely lookin' forward to NWN2: MOTB and especially The Witcher!

Ooooh, I'd really love to see a Mass Effect PC version!!! Given Bioware's console-to-PC-game track record -- SW: KOTOR and Jade Empire -- a port of Mass Effect to the PC is probably likely, eventually.

[Pugnate]

Steam is pissing me off.

[MysterD]

Steam is pissing me off.

You wouldn't be the first pissed off by that shoddy service from Valve.