Ok, I just reserved a copy of HL2 at a GameStop nearby....

[Malfunction]

...I also know about the different versions of HL2....any idea which one I'm getting? I'm assuming the standard SP & MP default package, but has anyone else pre-ordered and do they know what you'll be getting? I asked the guy which version I'm getting, and apparently he didn't know what I was talking about, and he told me that they will be getting a DVD and CD-ROM version in, but the DVD will be coming in first, so I'll be getting that. So, I guess he doesn't know about the different versions of HL2 as we know them. Should I go get a refund, or am I in the clear?

 

[Shuzer]

This is exactly why alot of people (ie. me) are waiting to pre-order.. no one has the packaging information yet

If anything, you'll get a choice when you get there, or they'll call you.. or something

 

[Reven]

DVD = Collectors edition, unless they changed there minds ~

 

[Tiddalick]

Well I know I will be getting the Collectors, but that is only because it says it specifically...
I would assume that you would be getting the SP + MP version...I would guess that the SP only version would cost less then current games on the market.
I wonder if Valve will follow through with differences in SP and MP + SP...it seems to me that later there will be a lot of angry people and confused individuals who might want to try MP only to find that they cannot play...
I think they should get rid of the SP only version, its a silly idea

 

[Duracell]

DVD = Collectors edition, unless they changed there minds ~

I don't see why they wouldnt release the "normal" versions in DVD form as well. I hope they do, all that disk swapping puts me off a little ;(

 

[Reven]

Well I know I will be getting the Collectors, but that is only because it says it specifically...
I would assume that you would be getting the SP + MP version...I would guess that the SP only version would cost less then current games on the market.
I wonder if Valve will follow through with differences in SP and MP + SP...it seems to me that later there will be a lot of angry people and confused individuals who might want to try MP only to find that they cannot play...
I think they should get rid of the SP only version, its a silly idea

this is spec but

it should be 10-20$ less and should be clearly marked, and even if they get the wrong version they will only have to pay 10-20$ to get the mp

of course im assuming

 

[wayne white]

you would be surprised at the number of people who will buy the sp only...i dont give a rat ass about mp(a bunch of 13 years old shooting each other and swearing.

 

[Malfunction]

Hmmmm...alright. Next time I'm at the mall I'll try to get a clear answer out of them. Maybe if I just found out the full price of the copy I'll be getting...so if it's lower than $50, it will be the SP version, but if $50, I'm assuming it will be the SP & MP. But no worries, I can always return it.

 

[Tiddalick]

you would be surprised at the number of people who will buy the sp only...i dont give a rat ass about mp(a bunch of 13 years old shooting each other and swearing.

I myself don't play to much Multi, except for the occational LAN here or there...Having Ping times >400 online does not lead to enjoyable gameplay.
Having said that, I would still expect the option for me to play Multi would be there, even if I used it sparingly...
The problem I see is this, Parents or friends buying the game for Johnny who really don't know much about it themselves. Only for Johnny to find its the SP only version! ;(
I guess there are people out there that don't care about Multi, but they might change their minds in the future.
I don't think that removing Multi to save a few bucks is worth it.

 

[Moejoe]

Here's what i'd do in Valve's/Steam's shoes. I'd sell the SP version for the 20 dollars less than the MP version. Then i'd let you purchase and activate the MP version for 20 dollars through steam, seeing how it's going to be fully integrated into HL2 anyway. I mean, it makes perfect sense. You aren't paying any extra than the guy who bought HL2 multiplayer.

I don't see any reason as to why it wouldn't/couldn't work this way.

 

[Dalamari]

Because they lose profit for all the people who don't want MP.....

 

[Lanthanide]

I think that -is- how they are doing it, Moejoe. You can buy SP, and if you want to connect to steam and play multiplayer then you can pay extra.

They might even include like 120 minutes of free MP with the SP version or something, to tempt people into buying an MP license.

 

[RogueShadow]

... no?
There are many method's, None of them include buying a full game. then paying some kind of fee to use certain other features, such as multiplayer.

 

[iamaelephant]

I think they should get rid of the SP only version, its a silly idea

I couldn't agree more.

 

[Dalamari]

No, you DL a cache and as u use each thing you DL more and more

 

[Dr. Freeman]

This is exactly why alot of people (ie. me) are waiting to pre-order.. no one has the packaging information yet

If anything, you'll get a choice when you get there, or they'll call you.. or something

this is what i did:

went to my local gaming store and talked to the salesperson about their pre-order policies and such.

i explained that in the case there is a Collectors Edition of HL2, i would like to have that reserved, and i don't mind depositing an extra $5-10 dollars if thats what it will take..

the salesperson's response:

when we recieve the game, we will let u know and when u come to pick it up, we will offer u the choices available assuming there are different versions/packages. this is our policy for those of our customers who choose to pre-order.

so after that talk with the salesperson (he happened to be one of the managers there) i was satisfied and happy knowing i won't be worrying about versions or packaging or any of that.

so my advice? go to ur local gaming store and talk to the sales pple there... especially if u are worried about pre-orders and such..

yup.. so all i have to do is go in.. pay off the balance remaining and rush home with my copy :E

 

[Gordon'sFreeman]

Well, im getting the HL2 version with the multi colored hippi box and the wikid rocket launcher that shoots out flowers.

Versions of Hl2:
sp
mp
sp + mp
sp and a half
DVD - SP only
DVD2 - SP + MP


its all crap imo, sp only??!
keep it simple stupid

sp+mp (normal)
dvd (collectors edition with the X ray glasses)
there ya go no mess.

 

[FoxDie]

I have my copy reserved at Gamespot, is that where you have yours reserved Dr. Freeman? Just curious, because I would like to know their policy on the Collector's Edition.

 

[Moejoe]

I think the SP version isn't all that stupid. It's not like i would buy it, but what about all those poor folks with 56k or no internet at all? they won't be able to play online. So what's the point of buying a game that is going to be based a lot on the online play if you can't play it with other people?

The lowered price on the SP is the incentive for these folks to run out and purchase it. I'm talking the guys out there who haven't really read into it, but see it has a cool looking box and it's only 30 bucks. I see valve/vivendi making some extra sales this way, and if not that, they aren't really gonna be losing money, now are they?

 

[Tiddalick]

It's not like i would buy it, but what about all those poor folks with 56k or no internet at all?QUOTE]

Things can change, they might get the net, or a faster connection and then be rarring to play!
I just think its 'easier' to just ship with the one, that way no matter what you like or do, all bases are covered.

 

[Maxi]

I dunno which one i'll be getting, but I guess it will be either the standard one or the CE. I hope the place that I PreOrdered at will give me an option to change my pre order from HL2 standard to the CE when it becomes available.

 

[Dr. Freeman]

I have my copy reserved at Gamespot, is that where you have yours reserved Dr. Freeman? Just curious, because I would like to know their policy on the Collector's Edition.

my pre-order is with the local EB

now this is just speculation on my part...so take it with a grain of salt.. i think the number of Collectors Edition copies will be limited compared to the SP+MP version of the game.

maybe someone can email Gabe or Rick about this? they have never answered any of my emails.. bad luck i guess.

anyway.. if u want the Collectors Edition...my advice is that u not wait around.. go talk to the salesperson at ur local gaming store and pre-order a copy :imu:

 

[Dalamari]

I think the SP version isn't all that stupid. It's not like i would buy it, but what about all those poor folks with 56k or no internet at all? they won't be able to play online. So what's the point of buying a game that is going to be based a lot on the online play if you can't play it with other people?

The lowered price on the SP is the incentive for these folks to run out and purchase it. I'm talking the guys out there who haven't really read into it, but see it has a cool looking box and it's only 30 bucks. I see valve/vivendi making some extra sales this way, and if not that, they aren't really gonna be losing money, now are they?

Its stupid because they lose profit by selling just SP or just MP, and if you make them both cost the same whats the point of even release them individually if you could get them both together for the same price.

 

[MindCrafter]

Haha stupid me, i thought it said "Ok, I just received a copy of HL2 at a GameStop nearby....". :rolling:


On topic: I think they should remove the whole SP only "package", the only reason they made the SP only version is because they want people to get confused when buying HL2...?

 

[Rocketman9mm]

This is exactly why alot of people (ie. me) are waiting to pre-order.. no one has the packaging information yet

If anything, you'll get a choice when you get there, or they'll call you.. or something

same here man.

 

[Rupertvdb]

****it i'm gonna get the mp, might as well, it's fun to have a go every so often and i like being able to havethe choice. Plus if a great Mod comes out which revolutionises(sp?) MP (CS anyone?) then i would like to be able to have a go.

 

[Reven]

it doesnt matter if some one gets SP only on mistake they can pay the rest of the price to get MP if they want it

 

[wayne white]

i dont think they will lure anybody to play that stupid vanilla deathmacht .

 

[Ownzed]

I pre-ordered it too at Gamestop back in November. They better give me the SP+MP or I will stab. :sniper:

 

[|Link|]

If you buy the SP and you want to play MP couldnt you turn on steam, enter the cd key and play it, and save about 20$?? Unless the SP version is sold with out a cd key, then people can make copies and give to them friends. But I think VALVe was being smart and made sure all the SP cd keys will not be aloved for MP game play.


.........im getting collectors edition

 

[RoguePsi]

DVD = Collectors edition, unless they changed there minds ~

Wrong. DVD is not exclusive to the Collectors Edition. It will be the main bulk of the retail supply, probably out-numbering the CD versions simply because of how successful DVD games are becoming in relation to CD sales.

 

[Kirkburn]

Interesting thing - will you be able to get the SP version thru steam? Or would VALVe realise that this would be an almost entirely pointless idea as 99.9% of steam buyers will want the MP as well? Also will SP buyer be able to upgrade to add MP and will the SP version have weird steam options?
Lots of weird questions I know, but it would be interesting to see what VALVe does in those cases ... esp. since it is an almost entirely new business model VALVe are toying with here (good luck to them! )

 

[FoxDie]

I went to Gamestop today, where I have my copy reserved, and the guy checked the computer and told me that the Collector's Edition isn't in their database yet. He said I should check back when it gets closer to release, then one of 3 things will happen:

1) I will have a choice of which version I want when it is released.
2) He will change my reservation to Collector's Edition.
3) He said it is possible (but by my guess, highly improbable) that they may switch over all of the reservations from before a certain date to Collectors Edition for free. He was drawing from what the situation is with Halo 2, but the Halo 2 CE, is only about $5 more

 

[Reven]

Wrong. DVD is not exclusive to the Collectors Edition. It will be the main bulk of the retail supply, probably out-numbering the CD versions simply because of how successful DVD games are becoming in relation to CD sales.

thought gabe said other wise.

Also will SP buyer be able to upgrade to add MP

yes

 

[denlife7]

I wouldn't mind betting that only the Collector's Ed will have the DVD. It may be too confusing for consumers having so many options. I hope they do have regular (read 'non-collector's) versions of the DVD, it is the way of the future, HL2 should embrace it.

And Tiddalick, did you consider pre-ordering the CE from a shop in Australia? I have...

 

[RoguePsi]

thought gabe said other wise.

Maybe he did but the fact is that DVD versions of FarCry sold like hotcakes in the UK compared to the CD version. The US might get a predominantly CD version, but I'm sure the UK will get a large DVD stock.

 

[Tiddalick]

I wouldn't mind betting that only the Collector's Ed will have the DVD. It may be too confusing for consumers having so many options. I hope they do have regular (read 'non-collector's) versions of the DVD, it is the way of the future, HL2 should embrace it.

And Tiddalick, did you consider pre-ordering the CE from a shop in Australia? I have...

That would be excellent...
Which shop did you order it from?
I didn't really look to hard when I ordered from EB, just knew it as a reliable source.