By John Walker on September 11th, 2007 at 7:56 pm.
Valve have just announced that The Orange Box is available to pre-order on Steam. And there are a few good reasons to do so.
First of all, there’s the rather big announcement that pre-ordering will secure you access to the Team Fortress 2 beta test, which (also just announced) opens on the 17th. A pretty huge incentive there, with this being the most exciting looking multiplayer in forever and ever. A chance to see those pretties a month early in enticing indeed.
For those a bit annoyed at having to buy Half-Life 2 and Episode 1 again when ordering the set, the pricing should quickly put that to rest. To get the whole box (HL2, Ep 1, Ep 2, TF2 and Portal – phew) will cost you a pre-order price of $45 (£22 (£25 with tax)). To buy the three new games individually will cost you $80 (£40). So, um, the whole lot then, maybe? Even better, Valve have said that those still miffed can “gift” their duplicates to friends. Which is nice.
But perhaps there is one more piece of news that will have people pre-ordering in their mad droves. Coming up on page two!
For those buying in advance there is to be a special edition of – you guessed it – Peggle! (What, you didn’t guess?). Called Peggle Extreme, it’s a collaboration between PopCap and Valve to create an Orange Box-themed version of the ball-and-pins simulation. Which means, yes, pre-ordering will get you Half-Life 2: Episode 2, Team Fortress 2, and Portal themed Peggle levels. A degree of madness unsurpassed. (While everyone else at RPS will be jumping on their beds in excitement, I choose to remain disappointed it’s not a special version of the far superior Bookworm Adventures).
There’s more details about the pack here, and specific info on the all new Peggle madness here. The Orange Box is released in the US on the 10th October, and because fuck you Europe, our side of the sea on the 12th.
11/09/2007 at 20:56 Si says:
Right, time to try out this Peggle doohickey I guess.
11/09/2007 at 21:03 Cian says:
I have just pre-purchased this pack. I am very excited, and cannot in fact wait for it to arrive.
These new Peggle levels are going to be EXTREME.
11/09/2007 at 21:03 NightShade says:
I wasn’t going to get the Orange Box but… Peggle…
11/09/2007 at 21:10 Feet says:
Peggle!
11/09/2007 at 21:27 John P says:
Damn tax, its actually 7 dollars more, raising it to the frankly outrageous 25 quid!
Nah okay it’s still great. I’m there!
11/09/2007 at 21:35 Monkfish says:
25 quid – this is deal of the century!*
Can’t… Resist… HL-themed… Peggle…
* WARNING: May be a slight exaggeration.
11/09/2007 at 21:36 ShaunCG says:
Ooh, you beat me to the OUTRAGE, John P.
11/09/2007 at 21:44 Martin Coxall says:
I’ll take Reasons why Gabe Newell is better than you for five hundred.
11/09/2007 at 23:48 Si says:
Ok. So. I tried this peggle thing. What have I been doing with my life?!
12/09/2007 at 00:27 John Walker says:
BOOKWORM ADVENTURES!
12/09/2007 at 00:47 The_B says:
Don’t worry John, I expired my Bookworm Adventures trial before my Peggle one.
Still am yet to buy either, mind but still!
12/09/2007 at 00:59 Richard says:
Bookworm Adventures – fun for one play-through. Bookworm – excellence on toast.
12/09/2007 at 19:27 SwiftRanger says:
“gift”, that only creates a vicious circle, if the others like it they’ll have to buy the whole package again to continue the storyline. Still not the smartest of Valve’s decisions. Assuming everyone can buy online with a CC is just even more silly.
12/09/2007 at 19:57 Tom Edwards says:
They’ll put a pack with just the three new games up before release, and a la carte options are inevitable.
Also, PayPal and some “ClickandBuy” thing are supported.