The Orange Box is a video game compilation created by Valve, which contains Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode One, Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Portal, and Team Fortress 2. It will be released on October 9th, 2007 for the PC, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. The Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 version will be priced about $59.99 USD/$69.99 CAD/£49.99 GBP. The PC version will be priced about $49.99 USD/$59.99 CAD/£34.99GBP. Originally another compilation, to be entitled The Black Box, and containing only the new material (HL2: Episode Two, Portal, TF2) was planned, although it was later cancelled
This is kind of ridiculous. If you want a hard copy of the game, without the long download time guaranteed by using Steam, you have to buy the stuff that, most likely, you already have. The hell is Valve thinking?
This was discussed months ago when they announced it in the Steam/Source thread. The point is that having two versions of the game is confusing for people. The download won't be that long on Steam. You will be able to preload it a few days in advance I'm sure. Don't be such a fucking noob.
They are thinking smart.
Less cost to a digital download than a physical copy. To install HL2 you HAVE to run steam and be connected to the internet so they know everyone who bought the original has those abilities. So, you see, smaller overhead = more monies.
Not really this is very old news if you keep up with Steam/HL:Episode 2 at all.
Also an interesting note. The Orange Box won't actually contain any disks. Just cards with CD Keys on them. You still have to do the " long download time guaranteed by using Steam" but you don't have the super convienent option of preloading. Buying from a store is for chumps these days.
Drool on
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PharezonStruggle is an illusion.Victory is in the Qun.Registered Userregular
I'm not being a noob. I'm sitting here, waiting for Ep 1 to download, and it's taking for-fucking-ever. 90 minutes, and 35%. And since Episode 2 is going to be even bigger, guess how long that shit's going to take.
Also, didn't realize this had already been discussed, as I don't frequent G&T that much, and I just started playing this a few weeks ago.
It took like an hour and half for me to get Titant Quest the other day. That was a couple gigs I thought it went pretty fast. It does take some time, but is 90 minutes really "for-freaking-ever"?
I'm not being a noob. I'm sitting here, waiting for Ep 1 to download, and it's taking for-fucking-ever. 90 minutes, and 35%. And since Episode 2 is going to be even bigger, guess how long that shit's going to take.
Also, didn't realize this had already been discussed, as I don't frequent G&T that much, and I just started playing this a few weeks ago.
Dusdais ashamed of this postSLC, UTRegistered Userregular
edited July 2007
Wiggin, you will be able to pre-load all the new stuff at least a week before it's released. You'll be able to play at 12:01am the day of release, just like everyone was able to play HL2 the minute it was.
I can see this limiting sales somewhat. I'm sure there is a large audience who are using their parent's internet connection but don't have their own credit card. I remember my parents would NEVER let me use their card for "some stupid game" or some such. It's good to be grown up.
Darlan on
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Dusdais ashamed of this postSLC, UTRegistered Userregular
I can see this limiting sales somewhat. I'm sure there is a large audience who are using their parent's internet connection but don't have their own credit card. I remember my parents would NEVER let me use their card for "some stupid game" or some such. It's good to be grown up.
But...these games are all rated M for Mature. Anyone who doesn't have a debit card probably isn't of legal age anyway.
1.) There is no reason to buy the hard copy. All you're doing is buying the rights to it on Steam, with an offline installation. That's it. You can't play without going through Steam. Buy the game online, and burn the files to a CD if you really want. Steam even takes PayPal.
2.) They've said that if you buy the Orange Box and you already have some of the games, you'll be able to give away a copy of each of those games to friends.
I got a physical copy of HL2: E1, and however shitty the packaging may have been, it was at least a physical copy.
I want the OPTION of having a physical copy of the game. I barely trust Steam as it is; if they lose my account, I have nothing to prove I even purchased the expansion in the first place.
I can see this limiting sales somewhat. I'm sure there is a large audience who are using their parent's internet connection but don't have their own credit card. I remember my parents would NEVER let me use their card for "some stupid game" or some such. It's good to be grown up.
But...these games are all rated M for Mature. Anyone who doesn't have a debit card probably isn't of legal age anyway.
That hardly prevents much. Besides, there would be no box to see the M rating on anyways.
Edit: And I bet tons of 17/18 year olds still don't have credit cards, that's a bit young for "free" money for some.
I got a physical copy of HL2: E1, and however shitty the packaging may have been, it was at least a physical copy.
I want the OPTION of having a physical copy of the game. I barely trust Steam as it is; if they lose my account, I have nothing to prove I even purchased the expansion in the first place.
Credit card statements.
agoaj on
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Dusdais ashamed of this postSLC, UTRegistered Userregular
I want the OPTION of having a physical copy of the game. I barely trust Steam as it is; if they lose my account, I have nothing to prove I even purchased the expansion in the first place.
Um, if your account, credit card, whatever email account you used, and their bazillion data redundancy centers all disappeared at once, then yea it could happen.
It took like an hour and half for me to get Titant Quest the other day. That was a couple gigs I thought it went pretty fast. It does take some time, but is 90 minutes really "for-freaking-ever"?
Once again: 90 minutes for a third of it, roughly.
Let's multiply that: 90 * 3 = 270. About 4-5 hours for me to get Episode 1. Now let's expand that to include the fact that 2 is going to be bigger.
Probably just the difference in computers, but goddamn. I'm not looking forward to having to download it through Steam.
Are people really that afraid of digital distribution? I much prefer having an electronic filing cabinet of my media and keys tied under one account, rather than piling all of that crap into my closet like the old days.
Steam has been relatively reliable and its speeds are typically blazing. I've been using it since it was an optional beta, and my only issue has been a lack of communication between a 3rd party's and Steam's support (when RO was released, they really bungled that.)
It took like an hour and half for me to get Titant Quest the other day. That was a couple gigs I thought it went pretty fast. It does take some time, but is 90 minutes really "for-freaking-ever"?
Once again: 90 minutes for a third of it, roughly.
Let's multiply that: 90 * 3 = 270. About 4-5 hours for me to get Episode 1. Now let's expand that to include the fact that 2 is going to be bigger.
Probably just the difference in computers, but goddamn. I'm not looking forward to having to download it through Steam.
Oh man, you might have to keep your computer on all night.
1.) There is no reason to buy the hard copy. All you're doing is buying the rights to it on Steam, with an offline installation. That's it. You can't play without going through Steam. Buy the game online, and burn the files to a CD if you really want. Steam even takes PayPal.
People want physical copies, dude. That's the reason.
Drez on
Switch: SW-7690-2320-9238Steam/PSN/Xbox: Drezdar
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Dusdais ashamed of this postSLC, UTRegistered Userregular
I can see this limiting sales somewhat. I'm sure there is a large audience who are using their parent's internet connection but don't have their own credit card. I remember my parents would NEVER let me use their card for "some stupid game" or some such. It's good to be grown up.
But...these games are all rated M for Mature. Anyone who doesn't have a debit card probably isn't of legal age anyway.
That hardly prevents much. Besides, there would be no box to see the M rating on anyways.
I...what? The ESRB rating is quite clearly stamped on the game's summary page in Steam. If a kid doesn't have a credit/debit card, he likely isn't old enough to legally purcahse the game anyway (that or he's a lazy fuck who doesn't have a bank account). There is nothing that keeps this game being any less accessable online versus off; underage people still have to have their parents buy it.
I can see this limiting sales somewhat. I'm sure there is a large audience who are using their parent's internet connection but don't have their own credit card. I remember my parents would NEVER let me use their card for "some stupid game" or some such. It's good to be grown up.
But...these games are all rated M for Mature. Anyone who doesn't have a debit card probably isn't of legal age anyway.
That hardly prevents much. Besides, there would be no box to see the M rating on anyways.
I...what? The ESRB rating is quite clearly stamped on the game's summary page in Steam. If a kid doesn't have a credit/debit card, he likely isn't old enough to legally purcahse the game anyway (that or he's a lazy fuck who doesn't have a bank account). There is nothing that keeps this game being any less accessable online versus off; underage people still have to have their parents buy it.
Or ask for the credit card with their chocolate milk.
agoaj on
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Dusdais ashamed of this postSLC, UTRegistered Userregular
It took like an hour and half for me to get Titant Quest the other day. That was a couple gigs I thought it went pretty fast. It does take some time, but is 90 minutes really "for-freaking-ever"?
Once again: 90 minutes for a third of it, roughly.
Let's multiply that: 90 * 3 = 270. About 4-5 hours for me to get Episode 1. Now let's expand that to include the fact that 2 is going to be bigger.
Probably just the difference in computers, but goddamn. I'm not looking forward to having to download it through Steam.
Oh man, you might have to keep your computer on all night.
That and he can play the game long before the content is completely finished downloading. Seriously, Wiggin, get over it. You make it sound like getting a game off Steam requires running from bloodthirsty demons, uphill bothways, in the snow.
1.) There is no reason to buy the hard copy. All you're doing is buying the rights to it on Steam, with an offline installation. That's it. You can't play without going through Steam. Buy the game online, and burn the files to a CD if you really want. Steam even takes PayPal.
People want physical copies, dude. That's the reason.
Then make a physical copy. There's no functional difference other than the pretty disc art, and hell Valve doesn't really even do that anymore IIRC.
Also, if you pre-order the game you'll be able to preload it. You'll be playing it faster if you get it online than in the store.
I can't believe that people honestly thing the M rating prevents kids from playing this stuff. I mean...really? Really? What, did your parents prevent you from watching R movies until you were 17?
I prefer not having a physical copy at this point. I'm more likely to lose a game than Steam is to catastrophically fail. Plus, it's better for the environment: no paper/plastic box, no paper manual, no plastic DVD. Digitial Distribution is the "green" option.
It took like an hour and half for me to get Titant Quest the other day. That was a couple gigs I thought it went pretty fast. It does take some time, but is 90 minutes really "for-freaking-ever"?
Once again: 90 minutes for a third of it, roughly.
Let's multiply that: 90 * 3 = 270. About 4-5 hours for me to get Episode 1. Now let's expand that to include the fact that 2 is going to be bigger.
Probably just the difference in computers, but goddamn. I'm not looking forward to having to download it through Steam.
Oh man, you might have to keep your computer on all night.
That and he can play the game long before the content is completely finished downloading. Seriously, Wiggin, get over it. You make it sound like getting a game off Steam requires running from bloodthirsty demons, uphill bothways, in the snow.
Seriously. Do you never torrent anything? Have you never had a thing delivered from Amazon? I remember when I couldn't use Fedex for some game, and it took a month and a half to get to me. Steam is a fucking godsend.
Plus, I can surf for reviews and hopefully get a demo while thinking of a purchase. In EBStop I'm lucky if I get a salesperson to tell me that $50 is a great price for Diablo 1.
I can't believe that people honestly thing the M rating prevents kids from playing this stuff. I mean...really? Really? What, did your parents prevent you from watching R movies until you were 17?
I didn't really say that it did, only that it's not a problem if kids have age-related (lack of a debit/credit card) obstacles in the way. M for Mature should keep kids from obtaining content with that rating without their parent's permission. I honestly don't know why it doesn't, actually. I get carded for everything, and I'm almost 22.
I can't believe that people honestly thing the M rating prevents kids from playing this stuff. I mean...really? Really? What, did your parents prevent you from watching R movies until you were 17?
I think you are missing the point. The point is, that for a kid to buy something with an M rating (or purchase a ticket for an R movie, etc) they need parental permission. So it dosen't matter that the kid dosen't have a credit card cause if the parent is ok with them playing the game, they will have a credit card.
I can't believe that people honestly thing the M rating prevents kids from playing this stuff. I mean...really? Really? What, did your parents prevent you from watching R movies until you were 17?
I didn't really say that it did, only that it's not a problem if kids have age-related (lack of a debit/credit card) obstacles in the way. M for Mature should keep kids from obtaining content with that rating without their parent's permission. I honestly don't know why it doesn't, actually. I get carded for everything, and I'm almost 22.
I guess my main point is that it's far easier for an credit card-less person to get their parent/older friend to get a game at Best Buy than to get them to hand out their credit card number online. I think the lack of a Black Box in stores really will prevent a lot of people from playing it, a separate argument from whether or not they should be.
I want the OPTION of having a physical copy of the game. I barely trust Steam as it is; if they lose my account, I have nothing to prove I even purchased the expansion in the first place.
Um, if your account, credit card, whatever email account you used, and their bazillion data redundancy centers all disappeared at once, then yea it could happen.
My point of having a physical copy still stands. I like collecting games, and having their boxes displayed where my PC is. Collectors like doing two things:
1. Buying games.
2. Showing said games off to other people.
There's no satisfaction for a collector if you buy the game but have no way to display it for other people to see.
Posts
Less cost to a digital download than a physical copy. To install HL2 you HAVE to run steam and be connected to the internet so they know everyone who bought the original has those abilities. So, you see, smaller overhead = more monies.
Not really this is very old news if you keep up with Steam/HL:Episode 2 at all.
Also an interesting note. The Orange Box won't actually contain any disks. Just cards with CD Keys on them. You still have to do the " long download time guaranteed by using Steam" but you don't have the super convienent option of preloading. Buying from a store is for chumps these days.
Months ago
Also, didn't realize this had already been discussed, as I don't frequent G&T that much, and I just started playing this a few weeks ago.
Steam: YOU FACE JARAXXUS| Twitch.tv: CainLoveless
Good job on using the search function.
No disk at all from what I heard.
Uh...what?
sorry, I ment for the 360 version
Steam: YOU FACE JARAXXUS| Twitch.tv: CainLoveless
But...these games are all rated M for Mature. Anyone who doesn't have a debit card probably isn't of legal age anyway.
2.) They've said that if you buy the Orange Box and you already have some of the games, you'll be able to give away a copy of each of those games to friends.
I got a physical copy of HL2: E1, and however shitty the packaging may have been, it was at least a physical copy.
I want the OPTION of having a physical copy of the game. I barely trust Steam as it is; if they lose my account, I have nothing to prove I even purchased the expansion in the first place.
Edit: And I bet tons of 17/18 year olds still don't have credit cards, that's a bit young for "free" money for some.
Credit card statements.
Um, if your account, credit card, whatever email account you used, and their bazillion data redundancy centers all disappeared at once, then yea it could happen.
Once again: 90 minutes for a third of it, roughly.
Let's multiply that: 90 * 3 = 270. About 4-5 hours for me to get Episode 1. Now let's expand that to include the fact that 2 is going to be bigger.
Probably just the difference in computers, but goddamn. I'm not looking forward to having to download it through Steam.
That's gonna be a bitch to get to play on my 360, then.
Steam has been relatively reliable and its speeds are typically blazing. I've been using it since it was an optional beta, and my only issue has been a lack of communication between a 3rd party's and Steam's support (when RO was released, they really bungled that.)
NintendoID: Nailbunny 3DS: 3909-8796-4685
Oh man, you might have to keep your computer on all night.
People want physical copies, dude. That's the reason.
I...what? The ESRB rating is quite clearly stamped on the game's summary page in Steam. If a kid doesn't have a credit/debit card, he likely isn't old enough to legally purcahse the game anyway (that or he's a lazy fuck who doesn't have a bank account). There is nothing that keeps this game being any less accessable online versus off; underage people still have to have their parents buy it.
Or ask for the credit card with their chocolate milk.
That and he can play the game long before the content is completely finished downloading. Seriously, Wiggin, get over it. You make it sound like getting a game off Steam requires running from bloodthirsty demons, uphill bothways, in the snow.
Then make a physical copy. There's no functional difference other than the pretty disc art, and hell Valve doesn't really even do that anymore IIRC.
Also, if you pre-order the game you'll be able to preload it. You'll be playing it faster if you get it online than in the store.
Seriously. Do you never torrent anything? Have you never had a thing delivered from Amazon? I remember when I couldn't use Fedex for some game, and it took a month and a half to get to me. Steam is a fucking godsend.
Plus, I can surf for reviews and hopefully get a demo while thinking of a purchase. In EBStop I'm lucky if I get a salesperson to tell me that $50 is a great price for Diablo 1.
I'd slaughter little cute bunnies to get TF2 and Portal. So there.
I didn't really say that it did, only that it's not a problem if kids have age-related (lack of a debit/credit card) obstacles in the way. M for Mature should keep kids from obtaining content with that rating without their parent's permission. I honestly don't know why it doesn't, actually. I get carded for everything, and I'm almost 22.
I think you are missing the point. The point is, that for a kid to buy something with an M rating (or purchase a ticket for an R movie, etc) they need parental permission. So it dosen't matter that the kid dosen't have a credit card cause if the parent is ok with them playing the game, they will have a credit card.
My point of having a physical copy still stands. I like collecting games, and having their boxes displayed where my PC is. Collectors like doing two things:
1. Buying games.
2. Showing said games off to other people.
There's no satisfaction for a collector if you buy the game but have no way to display it for other people to see.
And the email with all the relevant info they send you with every purchase.
I just deleted Episode 1 and redownloaded it for shits and giggles. 1 megabyte/second.
What I'm trying to say here is that if my broadband connection were my penis, I'd point and laugh at you in the showers.