It's been almost a year since The HeadCrab Union on GameSpot closed down. During this time, Vincent, Site Director of the XF family of websites that we've joined has been busy behind the scenes creating and designing our new home as well as all the other XF sites. I know it's been so long, but we're finally close to our launch date, in the beginning of 2009. The forum may not be available until then, or maybe it will, but I just wanted to let everyone know that we're getting very close, so just hold tight.

"Until the forum on the main website is back up, I'll unlock this message board in case anyone wants to talk."

Also, in case you haven't seen my concept of what I wanted the new site to look like, I'll post it below. This is about a year old, and I'll be the first one to admit I don't even know what the real site looks like, since I gave up leadership of The HeadCrab Union, but what I envisioned is below.

Dear fellow HeadCrabbers,

The time has come for The HeadCrab Union to leave GameSpot behind and make a name for ourselves elsewhere. Let me explain what brought about this major change, for those of you who don't know already. The HeadCrab Union was going to leave GameSpot before because of the union system's lack of features, but Greg Kasavin asked me to give GameSpot another chance before I made up my mind. He asked me to create a list of enhancements that GameSpot could incorporate into unions. I created this list, which came to be known as Unions: Version 2. GameSpot has now been leading us on about union improvements for more than a year now. GameSpot recently delayed Unions: Version 2........and to me, that was the final straw.

I've hooked us up with a newly created site call XFGamer. It's completely under construction, but besides that, the reason why I've chosen them to help us is because they offer what they call the division program, which is similar to unions. There will be the main site at XFGamer, and then there will be separate divisions based on game series. The HCU will be one of its divisions. The Age of Empires Union, which is GameSpot Endorsed also made the leap to XFgamer. When the main XFGamer site is completed, all the content from all of its divisions will be displayed on its home page, generating us online traffic. Our forum is complete now, but they are offering to build The HeadCrab Union its own website also. You can find our off-site location at http://www.hcunion.com/, the same address we've been using for a while now.

We will be using the forum only while the HCU's website is under construction, but once it's finished, we'll be able to accomplish more than we were ever able to do on GameSpot's union system. I've separated the forum into different sections, so please look around at everything. The rules at the new forum will be much more lenient than on GameSpot, but please keep in mind that there are rules. The union on GameSpot will be closed up soon. I hope to see you at the new forum. Here is a preview image of the new forum. Just click on it to go there.

- Sentinelrv
- Leader of The HeadCrab Union

Jody Robinson of GameSpot contacted me recently and wanted to get the feedback of The HeadCrab Union's members on the format of the up and coming Team Fortress 2 tournament. To review the format of GameSpot's tournament and post feedback, visit this thread.

The launch of The Orange Box - the unique new multiplatform, multi-game offering from VALVe, creators of Half-Life 2 and Counter-Strike - has been met with incredible critical and commercial success, capturing the top rated position for all PC and 360 games during an explosive North American retail debut.

"By all accounts The Orange Box is exceeding everyone's expectations," said Doug Lombardi, director of marketing at VALVe. "The North American launch continues this week as retailers who experienced temporary outages over the weekend are being replenished each day. Meanwhile, the first retail units are appearing in stores this week across Europe."

With reviews coming in from around the world, Orange has earned the top spot as the highest scoring PC (topping Half-Life and Half-Life 2) and 360 title of all time according to Metacritic.com.

- Highest Scoring PC Title
- Highest Scoring Xbox 360 Title

Available now for the PC and Xbox 360 and coming soon for the Playstation 3, The Orange Box includes Half-Life 2: Episode Two, the second installment in the Half-Life 2 episodic trilogy; Team Fortress 2; and Portal, the game that blends puzzles, first person action, and adventure gaming to produce an experience like no other.

To bring gamers up to date with the Half-Life 2 universe, The Orange Box also includes Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode One.

The Orange Box has a suggested retail price of $49.95 on the PC and $59.95 on the Xbox 360. In the coming weeks, The Orange Box will also be available for the Playstation 3 console systems.

On Friday, October 19 from 3-7 PM PDT (6-10 PMEDT), Xbox LIVE Gold subscribers will have the chance to take on Valve in a friendly game of Team Fortress 2. While playing, gamers can chat with the level designers, programmers, artists, writers, and animators who created Team Fortress 2 and learn helpful play tips and favorite "insider" strategies.

To get the chance to play in the developer showdown, gamers will need an Xbox LIVE Gold Membership. Subscribers need only sign into Xbox LIVE and add the following Gamertags to their friends list:

- gamewithdev1 (Matt W.- Level Designer)
- ValveArtist1 (Matthew S. - Artist)
- ValveAnim (Matthew R. - Animator)
- ValveProg1 (Vitaliy - Programmer)
- ValveProg2 (Adrian - Programmer)
- ValveProg3 (Kerry - Programmer)
- ValveProg4 (Robin - Programmer)
- ValveProg5 (Jim - Programmer)
- ValveLevelDes2 (Dave - Level Designer)
- ValveArtist2 (Nick - Artist)
- ValveLevelDes3 (Scott - Level Designer)
- ValveProg6 (David - Programmer)
- ValveWriter (Chet - Writer)

On October 19 at 3PM PDT (6 PM EDT), gamers can launch Xbox LIVE and invite or be invited by Valve team members to play a round of Team Fortress 2.

NewScientistTech has an article about a robotic Strider, or STriDER as they like to call it. STriDER stands for Self-excited Tripedal Dynamic Experimental Robot. They mention both the tripods in HG Well's War of the Worlds and Half-Life 2's Striders in one of the videos posted along with the article, so you can only assume that this robotic version derived its name from the Striders in Half-Life 2.

"A three-legged robot with an unconventional and graceful walk has been developed by US researchers. Like humans, it exploits gravity to save energy with each step, but it also flips its entire body upside-down with each stride.

To take a step forwards, the robot shifts its weight onto two of its legs, allowing itself to fall forwards away from the third leg. Its body then flips upside-down and the third leg swings up between the other two just in time to catch the ground and return STriDER to a stable tripod stance. To change direction, the robot simply switches its choice of swinging leg."

Lit Fuse Films has come out with the first Team Fortress 2 machinima not created by VALVe. You can watch it by clicking here, or the image below.

"Ignis Solus is latin, and roughly translates to "burn alone". It is a bit of an experiment in improvised machinima, and as far as we can tell, also constitutes the first piece of Team Fortress Two machinima not created by Valve."

IGN has reviewed The Orange Box and given it a 9.5. Each game was scored individually and then combined to create the final score. You can read the review here.

"It's practically guaranteed that if you enjoy video games, you'll find at least one thing to like in this collection, though there's also a very good chance that you'll really enjoy all of it."

The Orange Box has officially been released, so I took the liberty of creating discussion threads for all three games. To access them, just click on the images below to go to that game's thread. You can talk about your thoughtson the game, reviews, or whatever you want. In the Team Fortress 2 thread, you can request to play with other HCU members in-game.

I've also updated all the different sections on The HeadCrab Union, with the exception of "Mods." All the HCU game pages have been updated with all the latest news and videos and the downloads section has been updated. Just letting you know in case you haven't neen checking those sections of the union because they've been outdated. I'll try to keep them updated from now on.

HCU's Half-Life 2: Episode Two Discussion Thread

HCU's Portal Discussion Thread

HCU's Team Fortress 2 Discussion Thread

Have a great time playing the Orange Box, and don't forget to stop in at The HeadCrab Union and talk about the games or find somebody to play online with!

IGN has reviewed The Orange Box and given it a 9.5. Each game wasscored individually and then combined to create the final score. You can read the review here.

"Orange Box is a terrific package and truly more than the sum of its parts. We highly recommend this to anyone who loves games. If you haven't played any Half-Life 2, this is a must buy. If you've played Half-Life 2 and are looking forward to Ep 2 and wouldn't mind checking out the other two games, we say go for it. If you only want Team Fortress 2 and have no interest in the others, you may want to get it individually. Any way you slice it, this is one hell of a deal."

VALVe has released their latest character demo for Team Fortress 2. This time it features the Demoman.

Name: Demoman
Role: Defense
Weapons: Grenade Launcher / Sticky Bombs / Bottle

Bio: A fierce temper, a fascination with all things explosive, and a terrible plan to kill the Loch Ness Monster cost the six year old Demoman his original set of adoptive parents. Later, back at the Crypt Grammar School for Orphans near Ullapool in the Scottish Highlands, the boy's bomb-making skills improved dramatically. His disposition and total number of intact eyeballs, however, did not.

CS-Nation has Previewed Half-Life 2: Episode Two. You can read the preview here.

"Really, what more is there to say? It's Half-Life 2: Episode 2. It has Half-Life in the title so you know it's going to be another great experience. Jaws will drop, revelations will occur, and more questions than answers will be raised. Perhaps, even a few heart strings will be tugged on, you'll just have to wait and see."

CS-Nation has a preview of Portal. You can check it out here.

"The narration is carried throughout the game by a snide and often sarcastic computerized female voice. The design decision to include this level of narration actually came rather late into the creation of the game. It was just too quiet, and the humorous voice was added break up the silence.

Interestingly enough, the developers requisitioned the help of Old Man Murray's Chet Faliszek and Erik Wolpaw to kick up the humor factor a few hundred notches. This is a narrative experience that you do not want to miss."

The 1up show covers all three new games in The Orange Box. Check it out here.

"Finally, Ryan's back to talk about one of his favorite subjects and the best $60 you will spend this year (no hyperbole, no joke), Valve's Orange Box. We've got brand new footage from Team Fortress 2, Half-Life 2: Episode 2, and Portal -- but don't worry, it's pretty spoiler-free for you sensitive-types. Watch with reckless impunity!"

It is finally here: The third and probably final installment in Adam Foster's amazing and spectacular single-player mod experience, Minerva: Metastasis. With some two and a half years in the making, this mod is ready to take its spot as one of the best we have seen yet. Get your downloaders and steam account ready for a wild and exhilarating ride! There is no doubt this mod will deliver.

The mod however, now uses the updated Half-Life 2: Episode One version of the Source engine and as a result, you'll need it to play the game. If you don't have it, I would encourage Mr. Foster's own advice in it being the perfect time to purchase the Orange box, which is a mighty fine deal indeed.

So what are you waiting for? If you found the official website too entirely cryptic, well then here are some easier links:

Official Link to file Download

Link to Gamespot Download

Link to Torrent Download

Besides the original Half-Life's commercial for the Dreamcast, which never actually came out, this is the first TV commercial for one of VALVe's games. The TV ad was for The Orange Box, which was shown off at Digital Life 2007 today. It's not a direct feed, but it's definitely worth watching. You can find it at GameTrailers.com.

CVG has come out with a new interview with the co-founder of VALVe, Gabe Newell. The whole interview can be read here, and you can read some excerpts below.

How effective do you think your episodic approach has been?

Newell: In terms of things like sales and our ability to move the technology forward it's been effective. We've been able to ship a lot more technology to customers faster than we would if we were still waiting to ship another Half-Life 2-scale monolithic project.

I think what we really want to do is have a couple of examples out there - Episode One, and how long it was to play and how long it took to develop, Episode Two, Portal and TF2, and then the third part of the trilogy.

And then sit down with the community and say, 'OK, so what do you want? Do you want us to do more episodes? Do you want us to really tighten down the time frames and look at the scope of what we're doing so that that's possible, for us to go back to the large monolithic projects?'

We just want to sit down with three examples in front of us and talk it over with gamers to find out what they would like us to do next.

I'd also like to spend some time with other people who have been experimenting with this, like the Sam & Max guys to find out what they've worked. And talk with Rob Pardo [lead designer on WoW] because essentially you can think of the things they've [Blizzard] been doing with World of Warcraft as serving episodes in an MMO.

Does Half-Life have an end? Do you guys have an idea of how you're going to wrap up this whole franchise?

Newell: Well, there's specific stories and character arcs or plot lines that we know terminate. We have this bible that covers a lot, and there's a lot of interesting stories to tell.

Portal, for example, is bringing out stuff about Aperture Science way before we had originally thought we'd be telling stories set in the Half-Life universe.

We'd certainly love to be working in other universes because any time you get two Valve people together they come up with five game ideas and thirteen universes that they would like to tell and play them in. So there's a lot of Half-Life left at Valve.

Kikizo has come out with a new interview with the co-founder of VALVe, Gabe Newell. The whole interview can be read here, and you can read some excerpts below.

Kikizo: So Episode 2 is all about learning a bit more, while Episode 3 will be about a resolution to a lot of things. How much is going to be resolved by the end of number three, is it all written already, is the story done?

Gabe: Yeah. The questions are more about how we tell the story than what the plot is, and the exposition is. So we think we're going to resolve a lot. But you know! It's hard to... how do you measure that? I think that people will feel a sense of closure on a bunch of things, as well as saying oh darn it, now there's a bunch of more stuff. That's the challenge with serialising our releases, how to give people a sense that yes things are moving forward, but still having things to find out about. But there should be a good sense that it wraps up a fair number of things.

Kikizo: People keep asking you about a potential Macintosh version, and your stance is that this is a strictly Windows project...?

Gabe: Well, we tried to have a conversation with Apple for several years, and they never seemed to... well, we have this pattern with Apple, where we meet with them, people there go "wow, gaming is incredibly important, we should do something with gaming". And then we'll say, "OK, here are three things you could do to make that better", and then they say OK, and then we never see them again. And then a year later, a new group of people show up, who apparently have no idea that the last group of people were there, and never follow though on anything. So, they seem to think that they want to do gaming, but there's never any follow through on any of the things they say they're going to do. That makes it hard to be excited about doing games for their platforms.

GameSpot has aquired a hands-on preview of Half-Life 2: Episode Two, which comes along with new pictures and three gameplay videos. The preview can be located here.

From Halflife2.net:

"For people who wonder if the PC versions of Episode Two and Portal will have Achievements like Team Fortress 2, I just got a confirmation from Robin Walker that both Episode Two and Portal will have Achievements.

(...Not only will you get notifications when you fulfill an achievement, but you'll also get a notification when you progress significantly towards fulfilling one. And yes, Episode Two & Portal have achievements as well.)

Also reported on csnation.net it seems that Counter-Strike: Source, Day Of Defeat: Source and HL2: Deathmatch will have stats pages so the players can track their stats."

I'm trying to play catchup here after not having dedicated internet at my new house for about three weeks, so I'm going to list all the news that was missed all in this one article.

- Halflife2.net reviews the Fortress Forever mod here.

- Beta 2 of the mod Insurgency will be released sometime in October.

- The Team Fortress 2 beta is now live. Pre-orderThe Orange Box to play it now.

- EuroGamer gives Team Fortress 2 a 9/10 in their review here.

- PC Gamer gives the Orange Box a 94/100.

- These six videos of Team Fortress 2 have been uploaded onto YouTube.
Gravelpit
Dustbowl
2Fort
Granary
Well
Hydro

- Action Trip has posted a preview of Team Fortress 2 here.

- The Steam Community has been officially released to the public.

- The Fortress Forever mod has finally been released. Take your pick between the cartoony Team Fortress 2 and the realistic Fortress Forever. You can download it from GameSpot here.

- VALVe releases the Team Fortress 2 character video for the Engineer.

The Orange Box-featuring Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Team Fortress 2, and Portal, as well as the complete Half-Life 2 experience to date-is now available for pre-purchase via Steam, a leading online platform for the distribution of PC games. Those who pre-purchase the PC edition via Steam before October 10th will save 10% off the $49.95 regular price and get exclusive access to the Team Fortress 2 beta.

The Orange Box, penned by IGN as ".the package which could legitimately be called the deal of the century," features three highly-awaited new games by Valve: Half-Life 2: Episode Two, the second installment in the Half-Life 2 episodic trilogy; Team Fortress 2; and Portal, the game that blends puzzles, first person action, and adventure gaming to produce an experience like no other.

To bring gamers up to date with the Half-Life 2 universe, The Orange Box also includes Half-Life 2, the best-selling and highest-rated action game series of all time, and the episodic debut Half-Life 2: Episode One. Customers who already own these titles will have the ability to conveniently "gift" them to a friend upon official release of The Orange Box.

Starting September 17th, those who pre-purchase The Orange Box via Steam can download and activate the beta release of Team Fortress 2 (TF2). This year's most anticipated online action game, TF2 delivers new game types, a signature art form powered by Valve's next generation animation technology, persistent player statistics, and more.

As a special bonus, those who pre-purchase The Orange Box via Steam will also receive a copy of Peggle Extreme. PopCap and Valve have teamed up to create a special edition of the game cited by MSNBC.com as one of the "Top 5 Most Addicting Games of All Time." This first ever collaboration is themed around content from Half-Life 2: Episode Two, Team Fortress 2 and Portal which will positively result in Extreme Fever!

Available at retail on October 10th in North America and October 12th in the rest of the world, retail copies of The Orange Box will be offered for an estimated price of $49.95 on the PC and $59.95 on the Xbox 360 console systems. The 10% pre-purchase discount also applies to these versions at participating retail outlets.

A great six minute video of Half-Life 2: Episode Two with never before seen footage has been put up by GameTrailers.com. It features Gordon and Alyx's climactic encounter with one of the Combine Advisors, one of the floating slug-like creatures we've seen in both Half-Life 2 and Episode One, but never encountered ourselves. The video features new technologies, such as the lighting improvement and the cinematic physics.