CKMorpheus

Now that we're less than a month away from this highly anticipated release, I think it's time to start this wonderful thread.


Despite the ugly cover, I've been waiting a long time for this game. Delayed for, what feels like, as long as Half-Life 2 was delayed, I thought this would never come out (i.e. Sin: Episode 2). But October 9th is pretty close and Valve has said they are in beta and bug testing now. In fact, more proof the release is finally upon us is the recent news that when you pre-order the Orange Box on Steam, you will be allowed into the Team Fortress 2 beta. Which starts...

Monday.

Also included in this great pre-order package is a free copy of a new popular indie game called Peggles. It's got great reviews and is known to be highly addictive.

Don't forget when the Orange Box comes out, you'll not only get Half-Life 2: Episode 2, Portal, and TF2. You'll also be getting Half-Life 2, and HL2: Episode 1. If you already have those you can give them both to friends as gifts.

So load up Steam, pre-order that sucker, warm up on TFC, and I'll see you on Monday.

UncleGramps

My PC is way too outdated for any games from the last several years, so I'll be getting the 360 version. Enjoy the TF2 beta and post your impressions here if you get a chance - I know I'd like to read them. TF2 looks great, but Portal looks really cool too, not to mention all the Half-Life 2 stuff.

taffer

On the PC front, will Episode 2 and Portal be available separately? I already have Half-life 2 and Episode 1, so I don't want to pay for them again in the orange box...

Music

They should be available separately on steam (and only on steam).

flashburn

They are, but they are rediculously expensive. $30 for Episode 2, $20 for Portal, and $30 for TF 2.

mhg83

which place or site do you pre-order to get the Peggles game?

CKMorpheus

Load up Steam or head on over to IGN and watch the latest trailer for Team Fortress 2 and get familiar with my best buddy, the Engineer.

taffer

Why $30 for Episode 2? Episode 1 was $20. Portal is just an elaborate puzzle game using a modified gravgun. It shouldn't be more than $10.

So the only way to own a physical copy of Episode 2 is to buy the orange box. I hate digital distribution. I want to own a physical copy of everything. I might as well buy the orange box since the PC version is $50 and Episode 2 and Portal combined are $50...

I hope Valve doesn't screw us over again when Episode 3 comes out and force us to buy another compilation box.

Supermallet

The word from Valve is that Episode 3 will be longer than all of Half-Life 2, so I wouldn't be surprised if they charged full price for it.

CKMorpheus

Valve has mentioned the length of Epi. 2 is a few hours longer.

CKMorpheus

There are 99 achievements for the 360 version of The Orange Box with a total of 1000 gamerscore points.

Here is the breakdown:
http://www.achieve360points.com/game/theorangebox/

Note: Some of these achievements are for Half-Life 2 and Episode 1 .

taffer

I saw that one achievement is crossing the sandpit area without touching the ground and alerting the antlions. Good luck with that.

That area is huge and getting across there without touching the ground is an incredibly monotonous, time consuming, and patience-testing feat. I have played through the game three times, and every single time I get half way across the area before I finally get bored with it and decide to just do a wild dash to the end while avoiding antlions as best as possible.

darkside

The Steam deal is pretty tempting. Everything in the Orange Box plus a bonus puzzle game for $45 and you get to beta test TF2.

Pretty much a done deal that I'm buying it from Steam.

CKMorpheus

Much easier on the PC than on the 360, that's for sure.

There's another cool achievement for beating Episode 1 with one bullet. Rocket launcher, grav gun, grenades are allowed.

darkside

I pre ordered on Steam. Peggles is really good and themed for the games in the Orange Box. It is only 10 levels, but for a freebie it is excellent. May actually buy the full game down the road.

Now I have to give someone a free copy of HL2 and Episode 1 since I already own them.

Shaka2K6

I will buy this for my PS3 Sixaxis is my favorite controler to play this type of FPS on a console, also this is a good value.

Michael Corvin

Really? Wow.

mhg83

Is steam selling both pc and xbox 360 versions? The site doesn't say if it is.

CKMorpheus

Would be impossible for Steam to sell a 360 version.

As for Shaka, how in the world could you play a FPS with Sixaxis...?


Another note... I am pre-ordering the game on Steam this weekend after I get my paycheck. But I am ACTUALLY considering buying it for the 360 as well... I've become an achievement whore as of recently, and those achievements have my trigger finger getting itchy.

Supermallet

I can only imagine he means playing the game with the PS3 controller, not with the motion sensing capabilities of the PS3 controller.

Michael Corvin

Either way you look at it, Sixaxis or Dual Shock, that layout is still a bizarre choice as a favorite controller for FPS games.

darkside

PC only.

boredsilly

Of this, I'm actually looking forward to Episode 2 the least. I still haven't played HL2 or Episode 1 yet, and I don't see either in my near future. I guess it would be ok to just jump in and play Ep 2, but I don't know if my twisted (must start at the beginning!) ways would let me.

But getting some games of TF2 over live should be a blast. I love the look of that game, and here is to hoping I like the feel.

Noonan

Orange Box includes HL2 and HL2:E1 also. You can play through the whole thing.

darkside

Not only that, Half Life 2 is one of the greatest FPS games ever and should be played by gamers. I'm hoping this proper console release introduces HL2 to a much wider audience. The old Xbox version was a decent port, but this version has new HDR and should be awesome on consoles.