If you happened to catch the original look for Valve's The Orange Box (which includes Half-Life 2, Episodes 1 and 2, Portal and Team Fortress 2), you'll know it was just a generic Word font on an orange background -- what we have now is much better. TeamXbox says this is the final box featuring Gordon Freeman (who apparently has time to put good product in his hair and keep the goatee trim), the symbol for Portal and Heavy Weapons Guy with Sacha.
In case you missed it, the Black Box is no more, so PC gamers will get The Orange Box at $49.99 instead of the PS3 and Xbox 360 console price of $59.99. The individual components will be offered through Steam as well for PC owners to pick and choose. For console owners, there is a lot of stuff packed into The Orange Box, especially if you've missed out on the saga of Half-Life 2. We're going to also take this opportunity to guess that Episode 3 will be a PSN and XBM download. Unless Valve decides to come out with The Orangier Box, which will have six games and an updated version of the original Half-Life ... it could happen.
Reader Comments (64)
Posted: Jun 30th 2007 10:18PM (Unverified) said
They have to go with this monstrosity because they're not very sure of the ubiquity of HL and TF2. I mean, it's not like they're the Beatles and releasing the White Album.
Posted: Jun 30th 2007 10:18PM (Unverified) said
G-Man is a "Government" agent for the paranormal... Supposedly (G)ordan Free(Man) in the future.
Posted: Jun 30th 2007 10:35PM QuePasa87 said
"50. This sounds like prime real estate for a Photoshop HL2 Orange Box design contest."
I agree. I had that same idea in mind when I suggested my concept for a cover in the first page of comments. :D
I agree. I had that same idea in mind when I suggested my concept for a cover in the first page of comments. :D
Posted: Jun 30th 2007 11:23PM (Unverified) said
If you want an excellent guide to the Half Life Saga here it is: http://members.shaw.ca/halflifestory/index.htm
Posted: Jul 1st 2007 12:07AM aiusepsi said
Valve have some of the best artists in the business, I'm using a concept of the destroyed Citadel as my desktop and it's a stunning piece of art. If they sold a high-res print of it, I'd buy one and put it on my wall. The art direction in all their games is fantastic. The iconography of Portal, the style of TF2.
It makes it ever more perplexing that they couldn't make a better box design.
Oh, and the guy asking about Cry Some More, check out this video: http://steampowered.com/v/index.php?area=game&AppId=960
It makes it ever more perplexing that they couldn't make a better box design.
Oh, and the guy asking about Cry Some More, check out this video: http://steampowered.com/v/index.php?area=game&AppId=960
Posted: Jul 1st 2007 12:09AM (Unverified) said
That boxart looks like arse...that's a pretty piss-poor effort if you ask me.
Posted: Jul 1st 2007 12:43AM Otimus said
I disagree with Valve having high art style. They make good art... occasionally, outside of their games.. AND THEN THROW IT OUT THE WHOLE FUCKING WINDOW... when it comes to the actual games. Depth? Depth!? Fuck that shit! Let's pretend our game is deep and immersive under the silly elitist guise of "ZOMG WE DON'T WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND" aka "We're too lazy to make a story" or rather "We're not talented enough to make a story!"
Half-Life 2 is a bunch of wasted potential.
Half-Life 2 is a bunch of wasted potential.
Posted: Jul 1st 2007 1:57AM SpeeGold said
As ugly as the box art is I never really took the time to find out what "The Orange Box" was. Whenever I heard it come up, I usually just ignored it. I never knew it had all those games in it. It's a good idea for them to list them all on the front like that. Now I'm totally excited for this since I never got to play any of the Half-Life's.
Posted: Jul 1st 2007 4:17AM (Unverified) said
Portal is something approaching the best idea for a video game ever.
Posted: Jul 1st 2007 4:30AM mendo said
Box is ugly, nothing more to say about it.
But am I the only one thinking that Gordon is quickly becoming the "bastard man" (don't remember the name, sorry) you see and follow in each HL? Maybe at the end he'll become the new one and the circle of life will start all over again ;)
But am I the only one thinking that Gordon is quickly becoming the "bastard man" (don't remember the name, sorry) you see and follow in each HL? Maybe at the end he'll become the new one and the circle of life will start all over again ;)
Posted: Jul 1st 2007 5:57AM (Unverified) said
http://kritz.bungiefans.org/orange.PNG
Am i doin' it rite?
I'm sure if I had 'shop I could have made something a little less simplistic, but meh. Might as well fight fire with fire*.
* (Read: MSPaint)
Am i doin' it rite?
I'm sure if I had 'shop I could have made something a little less simplistic, but meh. Might as well fight fire with fire*.
* (Read: MSPaint)
Posted: Jul 1st 2007 12:44PM (Unverified) said
Without counterstrike, im not buying. Its easily the best. Although Rainbow Six: Vegas is a close second to it. I'm talking the original CS, not that source bullshit. Add splitscreen and some nice system link options and id pay $60 alone just for that.
Posted: Jul 2nd 2007 1:26AM (Unverified) said
Box looks like an ad in a newspaper or a billboard. Lame :(
Posted: Jul 2nd 2007 9:34AM UnnDunn said
What I don't get about the Orange Box box-art is it doesn't feature the Half Life "lambda-in-a-circle" logo. That logo is iconic at this stage, and will instantly attract any gamer's attention.
One wonders why they chose to omit it.
One wonders why they chose to omit it.
Featured Stories
Super Joystiq Podcast 004: 38 Studios meltdown, Gravity Rush, Civilization 5: Gods & Kings, Dragon's Dogma
Posted on May 25th 2012 3:30PM



