Half-Life 2 bundled with R360?

[Natoma]

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=11406

ATI and its partners have won an exclusive deal to ship the game with every Radeon 9800XT high end R360 card, scheduled to be introduced later this month.

If true, this is a huge HUGE win for ATI. Though if the R360 is supposed to ship on the 30th with HL2, should we be seeing some R360 official "launch" any day now?

 

[jb]

I remember in the past if the software was not ready...then you got a certificate in the box....hope thats not the case (one before the other)

 

[Malo]

If true, this is a huge HUGE win for ATI. Though if the R360 is supposed to ship on the 30th with HL2, should we be seeing some R360 official "launch" any day now?

It's more likely that they will "launch" the R360 on exactly the same day. So no paper launch or pre-launch, but throw the card out the door the same day as the HL2 launch. and if they manage to convince Valve to release their bundled versions before the stand-alone HL2 game, then it's surely going to be a winner for ATI

 

[Joe DeFuria]

I have a feeling that a Half-Life 2 CD will NOT be bundled with the new Radeons...but Half-Life 2 "via Steam" will.

There is lots of motivation on both sides to do this.

Valve wants to push Steam as a new delivery mechanism, and it's just cheaper all around. Consumers of course, being consumers, will be weary of the new distribution mechanism. But who is really going to complain if it comes "for free" with their new hardware? This is a good strategy for Valve to have an initial push for the Steam model.

It also negates the issues with the game being "finished" or not in sync with the hardware. Just supply a login ID and password (with multiple options for purchase type) for STEAM with every Radeon, and whenever Half-Life is ready, the end users have it.

 

[Dave H]

On a related note, Valve has confirmed that they will be shipping several different HL2 SKUs, including a cut-down single-player only version, the standard version, and a deluxe edition with unidentified goodies; all in addition to several tiers of Steam packages. Point being, there's plenty of room for them to offer one of the lower-end models (perhaps single-player only) with the R360, get a bunch of good PR for doing so, and still get full sales from the vast majority of those who would spend $400 on an R360 in the first place.

Seems to make a lot of sense all the way around. Only problem is that a few remaining Nvidiot dead-enders might use this as "proof" that HL2's vastly better R3x0 performance is due to Valve being in ATI's pocket or some such.

 

[Joe DeFuria]

On a related note, Valve has confirmed that they will be shipping several different HL2 SKUs, including a cut-down single-player only version, the standard version, and a deluxe edition with unidentified goodies;

Yup.

Point being, there's plenty of room for them to offer one of the lower-end models (perhaps single-player only) with the R360, get a bunch of good PR for doing so, and still get full sales from the vast majority of those who would spend $400 on an R360 in the first place.

I don't think that would fly. Though I could definitely see something like the "single player only" version being offered for free with ATI cards, with the option to purchase the "upgrade" to one of the higher versions for a nominal cost.

I don't think Valve would try and make people pay the "full price" for the full copy if they bundle a single player version with the Radeon...that would be a major PR blunder...as it could give steam a bad rep as "a way for Valve to rip you off" right from the get-go.

 

[Saem]

Joe I have simillar suspicions. I'm wondering does anyone know if the Radeon 8500 was the only card to have HL, CS and TFC bundled with it -- subsets welcome.

 

[incurable]

http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=11406

ATI and its partners have won an exclusive deal to ship the game with every Radeon 9800XT high end R360 card, scheduled to be introduced later this month.

If true, this is a huge HUGE win for ATI. Though if the R360 is supposed to ship on the 30th with HL2, should we be seeing some R360 official "launch" any day now?

Agreed, that would be a great deal for ATi, but timing is crucial. As a European customer I fully expect to either not see this bundle at all (though Sapphire and the likes probably wouldn't complain if they were offered the option, too) or see it no earlier than November which, given the supposed shipping date for HL2, would be entirely to late for quite a few gamers. I know I wouldn't wait 6-8 weeks after the release of HL2 for a graphics card to arrive bundled with the it.

cu

incurable

PS: < insert rant about 9800XT possibly continuing the legacy of its predecessors by again missing the second DVI-I out here >

 

[Doomtrooper]

Joe I have simillar suspicions. I'm wondering does anyone know if the Radeon 8500 was the only card to have HL, CS and TFC bundled with it -- subsets welcome.

AFAIK yes it was....I still have my 8500 retail box and bundle.

 

[jvd]

Joe I have simillar suspicions. I'm wondering does anyone know if the Radeon 8500 was the only card to have HL, CS and TFC bundled with it -- subsets welcome.

AFAIK yes it was....I still have my 8500 retail box and bundle.

Yea i had half life and counter strike on one cd out of my 8500. Man i think i need to buy another ati card. Lets see since last sept . 9700pro , 9500pro , 9800pro . Dang ati you should send me a r360 for my birthday

 

[cthellis42]

Consumers of course, being consumers, will be weary of the new distribution mechanism.

I'm going to assume you meant "wary," as otherwise how would we be tired of a distribution mechanism we haven't yet seen?

 

[nyt]

Speaking of HL2, http://www.compusmart.ca/ plans availability on 11/20 !? Anyone knows places to preorder with earlier shipping dates?

 

[T2k]

Joe I have simillar suspicions. I'm wondering does anyone know if the Radeon 8500 was the only card to have HL, CS and TFC bundled with it -- subsets welcome.

AFAIK yes it was....I still have my 8500 retail box and bundle.

Same thing here - except the box, I can't see it right now.

 

[T2k]

Speaking of HL2, http://www.compusmart.ca/ plans availability on 11/20 !? Anyone knows places to preorder with earlier shipping dates?

Dunno, I pre-ordered from Gamefixx of CompUSA, it shows the same thing:

Expected Ship Date: Thursday, November 20, 2003

I think it's just a safe way for them...

 

[cthellis42]

Last comments coming out of Valve were still "It'll be tight but we're on for 9/30" though, so far as I know.

This is always so confuzzling... :?

 

[T2k]

Last comments coming out of Valve were still "It'll be tight but we're on for 9/30" though, so far as I know.

This is always so confuzzling... :?

Check this - last question from a Lombardi interview, week ago:

Finally, obviously there's been a lot of talk about, and confusion surrounding, Half-Life 2's release date following statements from Vivendi. Can you confirm now whether you're still on track to hit the September 30 date?

Lombardi: The release date's unchanged.

Source: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/news/news_story.php?id=95556 and http://www.computerandvideogames.com/news/news_story.php?id=95628

 

[cthellis42]

I know, that's who I was quoting! But every retailer and their mother seems to have them for 11/20, so if they were definitely making it out by the end of this month... Shouldn't some of these stores KNOW?

 

[Geeforcer]

Actually, expanding on Joe's idea: Stream release on 9/30, store release weeks later.

 

[Trawler]

Actually, expanding on Joe's idea: Stream release on 9/30, store release weeks later.

Makes sense. That way it gives them an extra week or so extra to finish up. The saving coming from the time spent producing CDs and getting them out to retailers.

 

[WaltC]

I read a blurb somewhere in the last couple of days about Valve implementing Steam as a subscription service delivery vehicle for HL2--and saw one fee of $9 a month mentioned which would "entitle" players to "new content" and so on, after you purchased the game at retail. I also read about the multiple SKU plan for the game in the same story.

IMO, this sucks, if true. Even if they were to provide the full game via the subscription without requiring a copy be purchased first at retail, a mere year of this would come to $108 US. Add in the price of the game and you're looking at ~3x the cost of the game itself. Anyone else heard about this?

Whatever happened to the idea of companies selling millions of games and making their profits up front, and supporting their customers in the interim so that they'll be interested in the next game they market?