For the uninitiated, Valve initially intended to release Half-Life 2 in two different options for the consoles. One was the Black Box that contained HL2: Episode 2, Portal, and Team Fortress 2. The other is the Orange Box that contained the aforementioned plus Half-Life 2 and Episode 1 expansion. Notice our tenses. One was. One is. That's right -- the Black Box is gone. Doug Lombardi, Valve's marketing director confirmed it. "The Black Box has been cancelled. We're going to have one package, The Orange Box, available on the PC (US$49.99) as well as the 360 and PS3 (US$ 59.99)." While we're sad to see a cheaper alternative go down the garbage disposal, it's for the better. Getting the whole package is always a better alternative to getting a partial package. The only ones who seem to get screwed here are the PC owners. If they've already got the original game, they've got to buy it again if they want to get all three new products. Buying them separate might prove more expensive, anyway. Well, at least the console-lovers get everything at once, right?
[Update: Changed the title of the article to better reflect the idea of the post -- indeed, the Black Box was due out only on PC, as it would be silly to not give console owners the actual game. But console owners get a fantastic deal with the Orange Box, no?]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-19-2007 @ 8:52PM
Naaiif said...
Well the PC players can just download the expansions and other stuff of steam, and probably for cheaper so they aren't getting screwed.
Delete the above guys posts please, what an idiot.
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5-19-2007 @ 9:29PM
Next-Gen-Gamer said...
Considering all anyone talks about is Orange, I can't see this being that big of a deal.
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5-19-2007 @ 9:47PM
Isagani said...
If I remember correctly, Black Box was only announced for PC - was never coming out for PS3/X360...
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5-20-2007 @ 5:38AM
Me said...
5 games for $59.99! I'm definatley getting this..
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5-20-2007 @ 8:01AM
VPT said...
"Buying them separate might prove more expensive, anyway. Well, at least the console-lovers get everything at once, right?"
thats what they said about the PS3 too, we all know how that turned out...
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5-20-2007 @ 8:15AM
Hideo Siegel said...
Blak box on teh consouls?! lolz.....
"If I remember correctly, Black Box was only announced for PC - was never coming out for PS3/X360..."
Yes you are right.
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5-20-2007 @ 9:38AM
steve Johnson said...
I game on a pee cee and already own Half Life 2 and Episode 1. Yet I'm writing this on my Mac as my pee cee reboots after TRYING to do something as simple as launch a game. Silly me. I shouldn't ask a pee cee to do such a horrid task.
Soooooo, Orange box for PS3 is a steal, considering that it'll JUST WORK right out of the box, and I won't have to mess with it at all. The PS3 is a steal too, considering a top-end video card for the pee cee will run you about $600 easy.
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5-20-2007 @ 9:24PM
Matt B said...
I"ll have it on the PC.
FPS need a KB and mouse. It's the reason I didn't buy resistance. I tried the demo dozens of times wanting to learn. I still can't get by the 1st set of bad guys. It's sad and I admit it.
Give me a KB and mouse and I'd be exponentially better.
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5-20-2007 @ 11:47PM
steve Johnson said...
Hey Matt B,
I'm right there with ya....there's no subsitute for a good mouse/keyboard for FPS. However this device will change all that for PS3 users:
http://www.playstatic.com/news/359
I've read two reviews on this thing from PC FPS gamers and they both say it works GREAT. And you can get it wired for $60.00 or a Bluetooth model for 10 bucks more. I'm sold!
-SJ
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5-20-2007 @ 11:56PM
Matt B said...
THanks Steve!!! I'm there.
BT of course.
(I have to keep it out of the reach of the kids)
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5-23-2007 @ 9:31AM
Steve said...
Gaaaaaaaaaagh why did I have to be left-handed :-(
Hope these guys come out with a left handed version of the mouse... there's lots of us about you know!!!
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