More info: Valve reveals Half-Life 2 subscription plans

Dom · Sep 4, 2003, 05:40 PM

Developer Valve has revealed that it plans to offer a $9.99 monthly subscription system to purchasers of Half-Life 2, as well as releasing three separate versions of the game - which has now seemingly slipped to November.

In an email, later confirmed as authentic, posted to forums on Half-Life2.net, and a later follow-up on the forum thread, Valve boss Gabe Newell confirmed that the company intends to offer an optional subscription which will grant members free additional content for Half-Life 2, delivered over the Steam digital distribution system.

This content would include Valve's official modifications such as Counter-Strike 2 and Team Fortress 2, and any other content released officially for the game during its life span - which will also be made available to non-subscribers for an additional fee.

The subscription plan is entirely optional, but according to Newell, "we're pretty sure that the $9.95 guys are going to get the better value, as we've been pretty good over the years at generating a lot of content."

The company is also planning to offer three different SKUs of Half-Life 2 at launch, with a basic version of the game stripped of its multiplayer and mod capabilities being the cheapest, followed by a "standard" edition which includes these capabilities, and a "collector's edition" which will feature what Newell describes as "lots of cool bonus stuff".

Some of these versions will be available for download on Valve's own Steam service, which is sure to be watched with interest by publishers and retailers alike - as it represents the first concerted effort by a developer to bypass the traditional value chain and deal directly with its customers.

However, both gamers and interested industry observers may have to wait longer than expected to see Half-Life 2. Although Vivendi maintains that the release date for the game is "TBC", and Valve issued assurances at ECTS last week that the game would make its ship date at the end of September, UK retail chain GAME this week informed customers who had pre-ordered the game that it has slipped back to November.

It's not clear whether this is based on new information received by GAME which is not being circulated widely by Vivendi, or whether the company is simply responding to earlier rumours that the game had slipped - which were denied categorically by Valve.

_________________________
Source: GameIndustry

dipstick · Sep 4, 2003, 05:53 PM

This is a big letdown. Of all companies I never expected Valve to do this. All that crap you get for $9.99 a month should be free to the HL community. Companies forget what got them were they are today...the loyal customers. Bunch a greedy, money hungry execs running everything today. Makes me sick and sad

MSX · Sep 4, 2003, 06:09 PM

Yeah... ah well... I might end u not buying HL2 now that that kind plan is official. The whole selling of mods is great... if you didn't like the original game and you get a bit of extra content. Plus for people that arent as skilled at the interweb.

Though what if TF2 and CS2 suck? Could very well happen. TF2 has been in dev for a looong time. Everyone remembers Dikatana. CS has been downhill since 1.0... Those 9.95ers are going to feel a little ripped off. I mean $119 a year!? Ha I'd like to see Valve generate one to two games worth of value in a year, every year.

Steam is going to crash for a week everytime a new mod comes out! So now I'm going to "raise awareness" about this retartedness. Its worse than that whole UT20XX crap.

krazy1 · Sep 4, 2003, 06:23 PM

<sigh>........<shakes head>..... I lost some excitement for the release of this one..... why do game makers all ways have to mess with the norm.........$9.99/month.... better have TONS of new content every month.....

BWX · Sep 4, 2003, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Dom
The company is also planning to offer three different SKUs of Half-Life 2 at launch, with a basic version of the game stripped of its multiplayer and mod capabilities being the cheapest, followed by a "standard" edition which includes these capabilities, and a "collector's edition" which will feature what Newell describes as "lots of cool bonus stuff".

This is what is BS-- 3 different SKU's?? WTF? Just sell the damn game and let people mod it like every other game in the world that is moddable.. This is ridiculous. I agree kakarot- VERY sad indeed.

Sep 4, 2003, 05:40 PM	#1
Dom DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 12,940 Rep Power: 0	More info: Valve reveals Half-Life 2 subscription plans Developer Valve has revealed that it plans to offer a $9.99 monthly subscription system to purchasers of Half-Life 2, as well as releasing three separate versions of the game - which has now seemingly slipped to November. In an email, later confirmed as authentic, posted to forums on Half-Life2.net, and a later follow-up on the forum thread, Valve boss Gabe Newell confirmed that the company intends to offer an optional subscription which will grant members free additional content for Half-Life 2, delivered over the Steam digital distribution system. This content would include Valve's official modifications such as Counter-Strike 2 and Team Fortress 2, and any other content released officially for the game during its life span - which will also be made available to non-subscribers for an additional fee. The subscription plan is entirely optional, but according to Newell, "we're pretty sure that the $9.95 guys are going to get the better value, as we've been pretty good over the years at generating a lot of content." The company is also planning to offer three different SKUs of Half-Life 2 at launch, with a basic version of the game stripped of its multiplayer and mod capabilities being the cheapest, followed by a "standard" edition which includes these capabilities, and a "collector's edition" which will feature what Newell describes as "lots of cool bonus stuff". Some of these versions will be available for download on Valve's own Steam service, which is sure to be watched with interest by publishers and retailers alike - as it represents the first concerted effort by a developer to bypass the traditional value chain and deal directly with its customers. However, both gamers and interested industry observers may have to wait longer than expected to see Half-Life 2. Although Vivendi maintains that the release date for the game is "TBC", and Valve issued assurances at ECTS last week that the game would make its ship date at the end of September, UK retail chain GAME this week informed customers who had pre-ordered the game that it has slipped back to November. It's not clear whether this is based on new information received by GAME which is not being circulated widely by Vivendi, or whether the company is simply responding to earlier rumours that the game had slipped - which were denied categorically by Valve. _________________________ Source: GameIndustry

Sep 4, 2003, 06:23 PM	#4
krazy1 Live from the Dungeon Join Date: May 2003 Location: Between the SubWoofers Posts: 1,395 Rep Power: 0	<sigh>........<shakes head>..... I lost some excitement for the release of this one..... why do game makers all ways have to mess with the norm.........$9.99/month.... better have TONS of new content every month..... __________________

Sep 4, 2003, 05:53 PM	#2
dipstick HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: USA Posts: 3,609 Rep Power: 71 System Specs	This is a big letdown. Of all companies I never expected Valve to do this. All that crap you get for $9.99 a month should be free to the HL community. Companies forget what got them were they are today...the loyal customers. Bunch a greedy, money hungry execs running everything today. Makes me sick and sad

Sep 4, 2003, 06:09 PM	#3
MSX Burning the frozen... Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 1,201 Rep Power: 0	Yeah... ah well... I might end u not buying HL2 now that that kind plan is official. The whole selling of mods is great... if you didn't like the original game and you get a bit of extra content. Plus for people that arent as skilled at the interweb. Though what if TF2 and CS2 suck? Could very well happen. TF2 has been in dev for a looong time. Everyone remembers Dikatana. CS has been downhill since 1.0... Those 9.95ers are going to feel a little ripped off. I mean $119 a year!? Ha I'd like to see Valve generate one to two games worth of value in a year, every year. Steam is going to crash for a week everytime a new mod comes out! So now I'm going to "raise awareness" about this retartedness. Its worse than that whole UT20XX crap.