C-S: Source Next Week [September 29, 2004, 08:55 am EDT]

Half-Life Fallout has word from Gabe Newell on Steam packages for Half-Life 2, which will be made available for purchase next week, allowing another chance for gamers to pre-purchase the still not-gold game, in spite of recent doubts cast upon its release date (story). Each of the three game bundles does include Counter-Strike: Source, and word is the full final version of the revamped version of the military shooter mod that comprises Half-Life 2 multiplayer play will be made available on Steam at the time the bundles can be purchased. Here's the summary of the various retail and Steam editions of Half-Life 2:

Retail Boxes

• Standard Edition — includes HL2 and CS:Source. Ships on six CDs, in one of three box-art packages (Gordon, Alyx or the G-Man).
• Collector's Edition — includes Half-Life 2, Counter-Strike: Source, Half-Life 1: Source, a Half-Life 2 T-shirt and a Prima book sampler. Ships on a single DVD.

Steam Packages

• Bronze — HL2* and CS:Source.
• Silver — HL2*, Counter-Strike: Source, Half-Life 1: Source*, Day of Defeat: Source*, Valve's back catalog currently available on Steam.
• Gold — HL2*, Counter-Strike: Source, Half-Life 1: Source*, Day of Defeat: Source*, Valve's back catalog currently available on Steam, Complete Strategy Guide from Prima Games, 3 different Half-Life 2 posters, Half-Life 2 hat, Half-Life 2 postcard, Half-Life 2 stickers, Half-Life 2 Soundtrack CD, Chance to win a trip to Valve! (1 trip offered for every 5000 Gold packages purchased).

*To be made available upon product's release.