Half-Life 2: Episode Two Pre-Loading

October 3, 2007 3:09 PM

Valve has now started the pre-load process for Half-Life 2: Episode Two. Those who pre-purchase the game via Steam, either as part of The Orange Box or all by its lonesome, can now begin downloading game assets in anticipation of its October 10 release.

Episode Two's Orange Box buddy, the brain twisting puzzler Portal, began pre-loading yesterday. The other previously unreleased game in The Orange Box, the colorful team-based shooter Team Fortress 2, has been in open beta for pre-purchasers since September 17.

Along with Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Portal and Team Fortress 2, The Orange Box packs the original Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode One, both of which have been available to Orange Box customers since the package debuted on September 11. Those who already own either of both of the two games can give or sell away their extra copies on October 10 via The Orange Box gift program.

Chris Faylor

Chris Faylor was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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-sk-

 reply
October 3, 2007 3:13 PM

Pre-load party is the most overrated party ever. People going nuts when they can download the game before release. When the download is done they just sit and look at the Steam "Games"-menu while juice (in this case orange juice) is drooling from mouth.

And yes, I'm one of these people.
- ImageOmega
  
   reply
  October 3, 2007 3:16 PM
  
  heh, I'm pre-loading it wondering if I'll pull away from TF2 long enough to even play it.
  - wviperw
    
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    October 3, 2007 3:31 PM
    
    Heh, I've *first* got to put TF2 away long enough to finish Bioshock, then play HL2: EP1, and THEN get to EP2...
    - unreleased
      
       reply
      October 3, 2007 4:27 PM
      
      Bioshock is good, but hl2e1 is insane quality and your first priority.
      - Prophetik
        
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        October 3, 2007 4:36 PM
        
        Totally agreed!
- K1Bond007
  
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  October 3, 2007 3:18 PM
  
  Yeah, but pre-loading is really nice instead of just downloading the entire thing on the day of release. It's exciting to pre-load, but at the same time... not. Actually anytime I notice Steam is downloading something, I get a little excited. :D
  - Plinth Inc.
    
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    October 3, 2007 9:23 PM
    
    Heh, I know what you mean. Any time I see those few dots I get a little rise :P
- pieman
  
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  October 3, 2007 3:46 PM
  
  I like steam this way, instead of just waiting about for an arbitrary release date, we get to actually do something.
  I wasnt amazing excited about ep2 but Im kinda getting into the mood for some more HL2 action now.