Collectors Edition Question

[Cunni]

The Collectors Edition will be a "Special Version" release over Steam.

Ok, this quote from the recent trip to Valve has me wondering if the Collectors Edition won't be sold at retail. I want the box and all the documents etc.

 

[Stigmata]

- Collecters Edition will be available over steam as a "Special Version"

That probably means that there are two Steam versions of HL2: The standard version and the "Special Version" which is the Collector's Edition. I also remember in an interview, someone talking about finishing up the Collector's Edition box for retail.

 

[sHm0zY]

It will be sold at retail. you just can download it off steam if you want too.

 

[oldagerocker]

That means the CE edition must come with some other content, such as HL:S maybe?

 

[Bicka]

Hmm. Maybes theres 5 ways to buy the game now.

singleplayer (retail+steam)
multiplayer (retail+steam)
HL2 - sp+mp (retail+steam)
Collectors edition - bits n bobs+ports (retail)
Special edition - ports (steam)+retail?

 

[Chadda]

Special Edition for me if that's true

 

[AJ Rimmer]

"Get the Half-life 2 Collector's Edition over Steam now, and you'll also get the Source conversion of Half-Life, Opposing Force, Counter-strike and Blue Shift. If you start your download within the next thirty minutes, you'll alsot get a special manual with lots of interesting tidbits about Half-life 2, miniature models of a Headcrab, Gordon and Barney Calhoun, all thanks to the latest technology from VALVe's-subsidiary partner; The Black Mesa Research Facility."


Note: Any live, full-scale Headcrabs sent to you are due to difficulties with our Lambda-reactor, if you should happen to recieve one, please try to contain it and send it to: VALVe Corp. PO BOX 1688

 

[trantjd]

Hmm. Maybes theres 5 ways to buy the game now.

singleplayer (retail+steam)
multiplayer (retail+steam)
HL2 - sp+mp (retail+steam)
Collectors edition - bits n bobs+ports (retail)
Special edition - ports (steam)+retail?

I'm thinking that there are still only 3 versions:

singleplayer
singleplayer + multiplayer
collector's edition (sp + mp + etc)

The new information is just that all three of these versions will be available for purchase in both retail stores and over steam. Owners of the singleplayer version will be able to upgrade to multiplayer via steam, but there is no way to only purchase the multiplayer game.

Do we have any info to the contrary?

EDIT: I wouldn't be surprised if the collector's edition you get over steam is slightly cheaper than the retail CE, but wouldn't come with any of the physical goodies (shirts, head crabs, bloody crowbars, etc) that the retail one may have. OR they could be planning some way to ship those physical goodies to you if you purchase the CE over steam, but that doesn't make much sense...

 

[Bicka]

I'm pretty sure that theres multiplayer only as well as.

Going on how many box art there are, which is 3, because we know that the collectors edition is coming in a metal tin.

 

[Shuzer]

I'm pretty sure that theres multiplayer only as well as.

Going on how many box art there are, which is 3, because we know that the collectors edition is coming in a metal tin.

The three different boxes are the same versions of the game. It's the same thing Blizzard did with WarCraft 3

One box = Night Elf
Another = Orc
Another = Human

All of them were the exact same game. It's just variety. It's much like what magazines often do, with different covers.. a "collect them all!" sort of strategy.


There is no MP only version of the game. Frankly, at this point, I'm doubting there will be a SP only version.

 

[lans]

It will be sold at retail. you just can download it off steam if you want too.

That's weird though...a collectors edition would contain articles such as (example) headrcab hat or keychain...now that's a thing we CAN'T download.

Unless, the collector's edition has no articles, and only behind the scenes + deleted scene features.

 

[GorgeousOrifice]

You know, nothing prevents Valve from using Steam to sell non-software goods, such as plush headcrabs, crowbars, action figures, what have you. You can buy the Special Edition™ and they can say, "Where do you want us to send your toys?" You click the box that says "billing address" or whatever, and they show up at your door in a couple of weeks. No biggie.

 

[AJ Rimmer]

That's weird though...a collectors edition would contain articles such as (example) headrcab hat or keychain...now that's a thing we CAN'T download.

Unless, the collector's edition has no articles, and only behind the scenes + deleted scene features.

Read my post, it makes perfect sense.

 

[FoxDie]

I hope that Gamestop gets the CE in Because I don't want to download it over Steam...Think of everything we'll be missing ;(

 

[gusolson]

"Get the Half-life 2 Collector's Edition over Steam now, and you'll also get the Source conversion of Half-Life, Opposing Force, Counter-strike and Blue Shift. If you start your download within the next thirty minutes, you'll alsot get a special manual with lots of interesting tidbits about Half-life 2, miniature models of a Headcrab, Gordon and Barney Calhoun, all thanks to the latest technology from VALVe's-subsidiary partner; The Black Mesa Research Facility."


Note: Any live, full-scale Headcrabs sent to you are due to difficulties with our Lambda-reactor, if you should happen to recieve one, please try to contain it and send it to: VALVe Corp. PO BOX 1688

LOL :cheers:

 

[Mattigus]

I'm definately gonna buy the collector's edition, instead of downloading the special edition. I'm a big fan of getting stuff (keychains, shirts, or whatever.)

 

[Katana]

feels like game or someone should tell us about all damn different hl2 thats goin to be released.. ive preordered hl2, and i will get pretty angry if thats some damn singelplayer only :|

someone please clear up this damn situation, blah

 

[Biscuit]

If you paid around $50 for it, then it's the single+multi+mods. The only way you'ld get the single only is if you preordered it from a place like Wal-Mart, and I don't think they even do preorders.

 

[Insano]

My parents are buying me HL2 ( for my birthday ), but I don't know if I can pre-order it at the stores here because it seems like they all will look weird at me and say: "Collector's Edition, WTF?".

 

[Gossoon]

Valve has said that they would make the Steam Special Edition equivalant in coolness to the store bought version. This implies that you're gonna get some kind of digital content exclusive to Steam that would make up for not having the physical knickknacks. I'm curious as to what this is and how they think it will stay exclusive. Anything digital will find its way onto the web at some point.

 

[Cunni]

Frome the man himself:


No, it won't be Steam only.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: David [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, July 22, 2004 1:59 AM
To: Gabe Newell
Subject: Collectors Edition Steam Only??


Dear Gabe,

I read on the Promised Land mod website that the HL2 Collectors Edition will be a "Special Version" released over Steam. I have full intentions of buying the Collectors Edition, as I am a HUGE fan of Half Life. But I want to have the box and all the documentation that comes with it. So will the Collectors Edition be available at retail as well?

I'm sure you guys are working really hard right now. Are you getting excited about releasing the game soon?

Thank you,

David (Cunni in halflife2.net forums)

 

[mortiz]

OK, I don't understand the response is it:

No it won't be, Steam only. (as in Steam only)

Or is it

No, it won't be Steam only. (as in not steam only, however the "No" seems like a direct response to the question "So will the Collectors Edition be available at retail as well?")

 

[The Monkey]

Is it the "normal version" that has Gordon/Alyx/G-man on the box?

 

[Asuka]

That probably means that there are two Steam versions of HL2: The standard version and the "Special Version" which is the Collector's Edition. I also remember in an interview, someone talking about finishing up the Collector's Edition box for retail.

Yes, they will have both. The good thing is that the special version will have extra content and not some toy

 

[czrsink]

I must admit, I was a bit wary of getting the special version over Steam. I'd really want my £20 extra worth in a nice tin box, maybe a book, figurine or t-shirt. None of those can be sent via TCP/IP...well, that I'm aware of.

 

[el Chi]

Whilst I like the idea of getting the Collector's Edition I'm really not sure whether I can justify the extra £20-30; that's a lot of money for a keyring and a book. It really had better be something very special indeed to get me extra money - like Rimmer said (albeit in jest), HL:S plus Op4:S, BS:S and CS:S. Any figurines might be quite funky but I'd hide them away a lot so I can still pretend I'm cool

"Is that a toy of that speccy beardy fella in that game I saw you playing? And one of those brown alien things that shot green lightning at you?"
"What? What toys? What game? What're you talking about? No no no, I'm cool. No really, look at my Allstars and my retro chic shirt and my cool shaggy blonde hair... I'm cool... Really" <Passes out>

Seriously though - a toy Vortigaunt would be worth an extra tenner on its own...

 

[Dr. Freeman]

Whilst I like the idea of getting the Collector's Edition I'm really not sure whether I can justify the extra £20-30; that's a lot of money for a keyring and a book. It really had better be something very special indeed to get me extra money - like Rimmer said (albeit in jest), HL:S plus Op4:S, BS:S and CS:S. Any figurines might be quite funky but I'd hide them away a lot so I can still pretend I'm cool

"Is that a toy of that speccy beardy fella in that game I saw you playing? And one of those brown alien things that shot green lightning at you?"
"What? What toys? What game? What're you talking about? No no no, I'm cool. No really, look at my Allstars and my retro chic shirt and my cool shaggy blonde hair... I'm cool... Really" <Passes out>

Seriously though - a toy Vortigaunt would be worth an extra tenner on its own...

im hoping the Collectors Edition has something like "The making of" and/or a "Deleted Scenes/Levels" discs.. i mean im sure others are looking forward to the plush headcrab toy and all.. but these sort of things i mentioned would really sell the CE.

a coupon for discounted price of the Half Life book that is supposed to be available as well would be a neat thing.. but i guess we'll see

 

[dangerousdarrin]

It's things like these that tell you there are going to be two versions. Maybe the collector's editions will get Half-Life: Source and DoD: Source as the regular version will only get CS:S. I'd have to get the collector's edition, which I always planned on, but maybe not now since I am buying Doom 3. Arrg, Doom 3 shouldn't have come out first, then I would've bought the collector's edition and no Doom 3, but now I'll have to settle for the regular version. Also, what box are you gonna buy? I'm going to buy Gordon most likely...

 

[Cyber$nake]

What I'm just confused about is how the Steam CE is supposed to make up for the physical objects w/ more content (perhaps hl:s and all the others), but what if we want EVERYTHING, the tin box with the physical CE stuff, and the content from the Steam CE stuff. Im not going to pay 150$...

Edit: If I do get the regular it will be the G-man...or Gordon box...well then there's Alyx...but...nah....but....jeez I cant even pick a stinkin box!

 

[oldagerocker]

Cyber$nake... do what valve want you to, and buy all three!

 

[marko33]

Preorder now at EB Frosty207! better hurry cuse these will sell like hotcakes
mark

 

[PenaE]

I sure hope it'll come in stores here in Finland.
If it wont come, I have to order it from some other country.

Yeah, that's what I'm going to do!

 

[el Chi]

Preorder now at EB Frosty207! better hurry cuse these will sell like hotcakes
mark

Do you work at EB?