Hmmm, I thought all along that I''d pre-order through Steam to get HL2 quicker. But now with the announcement that Europe will get the game 3 days after it is released in the USA, coupled with the fact that the UK release is looking like DVD only, I''m reconsidering my position.

CS:S isn''t enough of a carrot for me to bite and pre-order now (UT2k4''s Onslaught is still my multiplayer crack). Guess I''ll see where I''m going closer to HL2''s release.

Hrms, anyone know when DoD: Source will be released? I''m with you CEJ, I just got T:V, so I''m not in any big hurry for a new game. I''ve actually never played CS, so that''ll be interesting, but I''m more interested in trying DoD:Source.

I want a Bronze package that includes DoD:S instead of CS:S. I don''t want to pay an extra $10 for not liking CS and its powerless weapons.

Silver is the color of the moon!

My only personal issue with downloading HL2 through Steam is you can''t trade it in for a new game at a store or swap with a buddy. But then, all thing considered I''m not sure you could with a boxed copy either.

I think I may just pass altogether, I am still undecided.

I have it pre-ordered through my local EB. I could care less about Counterstrike as I suck at it. I''ll prolly pony up for the gold as I like the idea of seeing the original HL with HL2 graphics...

Man, at $60, I don''t think I can swing it. Not for a couple of weeks, and certainly not without forgoing some other purchases. I was hoping they come in under the $50 mark, but no such luck.

Now, I''m really considering abstaining althogether, as much as I wanted the games. If I buy the disks in store, that''s only the ""bronze"" edition, so I''d be out $50, plus have to shell out additional cash for DoD, CS, and the other games. Not cool.

I think I can only justify the purchase if I was playing HL alot now, and it was going to be my primary game over the next year or so. But I can''t say that. I have HL platinum on my HD, and I never even play it, while I play Joint Ops almost every day. I play UT more than Counterstrike (which isn''t saying much).

Looks like the more I think about it, the more I can''t justify it.

The bronze edition gets you CS.. you wouldnt have to shell out additional cash.

Not sure why anyone would be still playing HL a lot anymore?? its many years old.. I''d play it through again simply because it was a great game.. but I''d rather wait for the Source remake.. I dont quite follow your logic here.

Hmm, don''t know why, since you are always the logical one.

I don''t see age of the game as an issue, really, and apparently , alot of other people fell the same way. Still alot of full CS and DoD servers last I checked.

What I''m getting at is upgrading my current HL setup to the new version will set me back $60, which is my ""ouch"" point. $50 is a bit steep as well.

My gaming backlog is pretty deep, so I have to ask myself, with each purchase, am I going to play this game right away, is it going to be my ""primary"" game, or is it going into the pile with the rest?

If it''s just going to go into the pile with the rest of the games, then it better be cheap.

Based on my prior HL experience, I''d say this is a pass. HL remains unfinshed, Blue Shift and Opposing force are installed, but never played, and other than a few CS sorties recently, HL Platinum is just taking up harddrive space.

I''ll be the fanboi nerd and say that I''m excited. $60 does not seem unreasonable for all the games I''ll be getting. I can understand how if you had HL already (as opposed to those, like me, who only have Condition Zero right now) you might be skeptical, but you''re still getting CS:Source, DoD:Source, and Half-Life:Source, all for around $5 more than what you''ll be paying in the store for the boxed version of only HL2 and CS:Source.

Now, if only there was a way for me to go to steampowered, buy the game during work, and have it start installing on my computer at home... c''mon Big Brother, where are you at when we need you?

I''m pretty sure that legally Valve could not sell HL2 for less than what the box version will cost.

You''ll have to wait for their next title for that I''d bet...

My understanding is that yes you can preorder and valve will take your ducats, but there still is no official release date - is this correct? Thats what I can glean from Gamespot at least?

I''m undecided but will likely make a decision by the time I get home. Odds are I''ll pick this up through Steam, if only for the convenience, but only the Bronze package. I''m not sold though as if CS: S is the big draw, I have found my skill level with FPSs plummeting to the point that I''m just ineffectual and frustrated throughout the game, leaving me to quit in disgust. Not sure if I want to get right back on that horse so quickly.

As for remote controling from work to home, unfortunately (for me) we upgraded our firewall at my workplace early this year and it broke my ability go go through VNC or RDP to remote control my machines at home. Even through alternate ports. Putting in place any kind of tunnelling to get around it would not be a good thing to do here, so I''ll have to wait until I get home.

I think I was confused here. For some reason I was thinking you were going to download HL2 but buy it in the store, which you could do, just put your HL2 key into Steam when you get the box home. If you mean start from scratch, then yes realvnc or another remote PC application is in order.

In my best Ed McMahon voice, ""You are correct sir!"" You''ll get CS:S in return for purchasing early but you''ll get HL2 unlocked when the game ships. With VUG and Valve fighting over their contract that could be up to 6 months away.

I see what you''re saying but CD media gets scratched, lost or generally F''d up every-so-often. 60$ is still worth the price of admission considering the lifespan of the first game (is that a good thing or bad thing I guess is the debate there) in my opinion plus I only have to worry about keeping track of my login/password and not media fubars. Another plus is no CD check protection!