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Half-Life decays to $1

Between the five-for-one megacompilation better known as The Orange Box and the $100, 22-game Complete Pack, Valve knows a thing or two about giving gamers a good deal. With the release of the original Half-Life 10 years ago to the day, Valve is once again relying on its proven bargain-hunter strategy by practically giving the hallmark shooter away.

Valve has announced that beginning today, gamers can purchase the original Half-Life through its online distribution service Steam for $0.98. For the record, that's a $9.01 savings over Valve's previous asking price of $9.99. The offer is good until 12:01 p.m. PST on November 21.

A seminal first-person shooter in its own right, Valve's Half-Life won more than 50 Game of the Year awards upon its release in 1998 and spawned a franchise that would go on to sell in excess of 20 million units. The game has also been named one of GameSpot's Greatest Games of All-Time, thanks in large part to the way it told its story, as well as the now-standard use of scripted events. Oh, and a lot of people thought it wasn't a half-bad shooter, either.

142 Comments

  • McTock

    Posted Jun 24, 2009 9:08 am PT

    Anyone who doesn't have a copy of half life alredady can (and I reccomend) set their PC on fire, praying to the video game Gods for forgiveness.

  • um_i_love_games

    Posted May 25, 2009 11:14 am PT

    I got it on that sale =) Definitly glad I got it

  • Dark_Lord777

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 2:29 am PT

    DAMN i missed out on a STEAL!!!!

  • OmegaCookie7

    Posted Nov 25, 2008 3:40 pm PT

    ...I'm too late.

  • dlind70

    Posted Nov 25, 2008 2:41 pm PT

    Got it. BTW, mods like "They Hunger" are still awesome.

  • GeigerdolylWodd

    Posted Nov 25, 2008 4:26 am PT

    I missed out daaarn!

  • ak_justin425

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 7:51 pm PT

    i have almost complete series i need original counter strike and episode 1&2

  • ufopuller

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 7:09 pm PT

    Worth every 98 cents of it

  • Lord_Regnier

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 11:23 am PT

    That's nuts!

  • necronaux

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 11:22 am PT

    If you already didn't have the game, and bought it by the dead line, what a great deal. Even if it's 10 years old. It's still an excellent game.

  • andrat99

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 8:59 am PT

    @matianrobot

    Mars bars cost more here in Canada, 1.25$

  • Gamer4Iife

    Posted Nov 23, 2008 2:02 pm PT

    One dollar for one the greatest shooter of all time ? Dude... awesome.

  • martianrobot

    Posted Nov 22, 2008 4:26 pm PT

    Half-Life is still an excellent game to play, and the graphics aren't all that bad even by todays standards. I replayed it recently, after completing HL2 for the 6th time. Can't believe they are giving it away for the price of a Mars Bar!

    I'm just waiting and waiting and waiting for the Black Mesa remake of HL with the HL2 engine. And then my life will be complete.

  • DeathScape666

    Posted Nov 21, 2008 4:52 pm PT

    I just went ahead and bought it. If it's even 1/10 as good as Half Life 2, it'll be worth all 98 pennies I spent on it.

  • DarthNader26

    Posted Nov 21, 2008 11:57 am PT

    Half Life is more proof that graphics and gameplay have nothing to do with each other. The most beautiful, top of the line game today could never, EVER come close Half Life in terms of fun and immersion.

    Hail to the king, baby.

  • townsenda1

    Posted Nov 21, 2008 9:29 am PT

    Sounds like a good deal to me. Not really all that news worthy but good news none the less.

  • Sins-of-Mosin

    Posted Nov 21, 2008 8:23 am PT

    Must be a slow news day.

  • damaster101

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 10:27 pm PT

    Eating chocolate for a minutes satisfaction or many hours of satisfaction from a game.I think i will choose the hours of satisfaction.

    Excellent mods as well(and still being made).

  • R3DN1N3

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 7:53 pm PT

    What was that? Sorry too busy playing Left4Dead....
    Awww Hunter!!!!!!!!!!!! GET IT OFF ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • KOTD17

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 4:26 pm PT

    Half Life series = ROCKS! nothing else to say on this matter...

  • Carpe_Noctum

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 3:31 pm PT

    I bought 6 copies as gifts for friends who never played it and don't have Steam accounts. It's cool that it sends an email with instructions on how to get it. If they don't want Steam on their comp. it's only a waste of $1. Half Life for everyone!

  • ctg867

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 1:37 pm PT

    Seriously people, go out and buy a pre-paid charge card, put $5 on it, download Steam, hook the card up to Steam, and buy this. $1 for one of the best shooters of all time? You'd be an idiot not to buy it.

    On a side note, now that Valve has put Portal plus the Flash Map Pack on Live Arcade for $15, wouldn't it be smart to start putting the old Half-Life era (GoldSrc engine) games on XBLA? I would easily drop $10 on Half-Life if you threw in some achievements, very minor technical updates, and the Uplink expansion demo as well.

  • Trooperdx3117

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 1:09 pm PT

    Half life could still cost 50 euro and I would still buy it, Half life is by far my favourite game ever. Of course I don't have to pay at all because I got Half life back in 1999 which means since I registered it on Steam I got Half life, Opposing force, Blue shift, Day of defeat, Team fortress classic and Counter strike all for free.

  • ftjx

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 12:17 pm PT

    together with Super Mario 64 this IS the best game ever

  • shadowblade99

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 11:34 am PT

    I should really work on that orange box again. This article reminded me of what great games are on there.

  • raahsnavj

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 10:53 am PT

    I've avoided half-life up to this point simply because I never really had a desire to go back and play the first one. but for $1, I think it is worth the trip. And who knows, I might actually get hooked on it.

  • MythPro1

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 10:48 am PT

    Oops! My bad, I was incorrect . Thankfully I don't have a science degree. Thanks for correcting me.

  • VirtualTofu

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 10:09 am PT

    I don't know.....Soda is pretty tempting......

  • racerx719

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 9:14 am PT

    I

  • moh_sakhaii

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 9:00 am PT

    steam rules. my favorite

  • LimitedVert

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 8:51 am PT

    juicyjones u rock my socks

  • juicyjones

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 8:42 am PT

    If anyone's interested in some little-known Half-Life trivia, here's some: The Original Half-Life was based on the Quake 1 engine, not the Quake 2 engine as many believe, and as PC Gamer totally incorrectly reported in their print edition at the time. Valve rewrote more than 70% of the code in there, adding skeletal animations and the like, and I'm sure everyone already knows that John Carmack was very impressed with the game.

  • Rinnerz

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 8:34 am PT

    As soon as I read this, I ran off to buy my copy. Sadly, my "gaming upbringing" never included decent FPS games, and with this going for a mere $1... there's no reason not to get it. ^_^ Awesome move, Valve *thumbs up*.

    Now if I can get myself to finish it and then go pick up The Orange Box... (Shame on me for not already owning it, I know ).

  • Link1515

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 8:32 am PT

    Like Gangstasan said, Half Life series > any other fps.

  • GANGSTASAN

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 8:05 am PT

    HL > Any other FPS

  • baystatethrashr

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 7:47 am PT

    and i thought the orange box was a good deal

  • Templar_Bladema

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 7:46 am PT

    This is how Bungie should a) Make their games, and b) give gamers good bargains. This makes me want to buy a lot of copies of HL and send them to all my friends, if Steam can get back up.

  • DieselCat18

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 7:37 am PT

    Way to go Valve !.....nice way to say thankyou to your customers and a great way to try and get more people to use STEAM.

  • PsychoBear

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 7:29 am PT

    Best game ever for this price?!?! Bargin!! To the guys who haven't got this game, go get it now and enjoy/ =]

  • aDhAmMe13

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 7:28 am PT

    WOW! talk about a serious deal...

  • da_chub

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 7:15 am PT

    One of the best FPS ever created, no reason not to get.

  • Terdog

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 7:14 am PT

    Rimsa_Laded mabey you should go to meta critic and look at its overall score then if you think its not worth the money. And ask around. Anyone who played the first Half Life very much thought this. Half Life = Instant Classic. Even though the game came out in 1998, it still has a overall higher score than most of the shooters out there.

  • Rimsa_Laded posted Nov 20, 2008 7:07 am PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    Rimsa_Laded

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 7:07 am PT (hide)

    Still not worth the money.

  • chego720

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 6:39 am PT

    If you don't own it, and haven't played it, why WOULDN'T you buy it? It's like the price of a soda, and Half Life is more fun than soda...

  • razgriz_101

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 6:32 am PT

    this is a great deal highly suggest it to anyone who's played 2 but not played one well worth the price stated.

  • The_One77

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 5:51 am PT

    Great deal!!! i just went and bought it.

  • thenephariouson

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 4:57 am PT

    VaLVE are not 'Desperate' they are simply thoughtfull, and unlike most devs, dont ignore the hand that feeds them!

  • Kleeyook

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 4:29 am PT

    i want it! i want it very much!

  • Humorguy_basic posted Nov 20, 2008 4:10 am PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    Humorguy_basic

    Posted Nov 20, 2008 4:10 am PT (hide)

    Valve sure are desperate for any income in this credit-crunch time!

    .... But then who hasn't already played this game? And who wouldn't want the boxed version of a classic like this?!

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