Valve reveals details of Half-Life 2 bundle options

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While there's still no word on the release date for Half-Life 2, Valve boss Gabe Newell has announced details of the five different packages which will be available to purchase when the game finally arrives - two retail options, and three online options

Those who want to pick up the goods at retail will be able to buy a standard, six-CD version which includes Half-Life 2 and Counter-Strike: Source, while a Collector's Edition box will feature a DVD of the game, CS: Source and Half-Life: Source, a t-shirt and a Prima strategy guide.

Meanwhile, those who want to acquire Half-Life 2 over Valve's controversial Steam digital distribution service will have three options - Gold, Silver and Bronze. The Bronze option is just Half-Life 2 and CS:Source, much like the retail version.

However, both the Silver and Gold versions offer content which won't be available in the retail boxes - potentially making a purchase on the Steam service more attractive to consumers than a retail purchase.

The Silver pack will include Half-Life: Source and Day of Defeat: Source, as well as access to the Valve back catalogue over Steam - including the likes of Half-Life Deathmatch, Ricochet and Deathmatch Classic.

The Gold package, which is the ultimate version of the game, will include all the content from the Silver package along with a Prima strategy guide, three posters, a hat, a postcard, stickers, a soundtrack CD, and entry into a draw to win a trip to the Valve offices in Seattle.

Pre-orders on Steam will be available shortly, and those who do preorder the game there will be given access to CS: Source from next week onwards, which should hopefully give them something to play while waiting for Half-Life 2 to eventually make its way to retail.