Did ATI make a bad move by bundling HL2?

[EarthwormJim]

It still is a good idea, even with the possible delays. Better to get something with your video card than nothing like they were doing before. And who could complain about it either, IT'S FREAKING FREE!!!!

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: Rollo

As far as ATI/bad move with HL2, it should have been a marketing coup. It's not their fault thieves stole the game and delayed it.

I don't buy that for a second. If the game was near release ready we would've seen it by now. Stuff like that wouldn't remain hidden for long. IMO the game wasn't ready for release and was going to be delayed anyway - the code theft only made it worse. Sucks that it happened but it also gave Valve an excuse to delay it.

Edit: Keep in mind the code theft was just before the "alleged" release date.

 

[robcy]

If they bundle it with any other game, then they run the chance of someone saying "good card, but I already have that game, is there something else?" with the HL2 they totally avoid this. While I would not consider a bundled game a decision maker, it does play trump card on close decisions, especially since its gonna be the game to get when it finnally arrives. Granted they are not currently scoring any browne points with all of the game delays, that has got to suck badly.

 

[Genx87]

Good move by ATI unless there becomes a backlash.

As for HL2 I am wondering if that really is the reason why the game was or is delayed so much. For starters Valve has yet to release the benchmarking tool. I dont think stolen code will make a benchmark tool vulnerable to attacks as it isnt a game. But if the actual game\graphics engine was nowhere near finished then I can see why the benchmarking tool hasnt made it out yet.

 

[Insomniak]

Originally posted by: Johnbear007

Originally posted by: keysplayr2003
Nice to get a HL2 coupon indeed. Unfortunately you cant redeem it until the card the coupon came with becomes obsolete.

not everyone is on a 6 month cycle I won't consider my 9800 pro obsolete in april

No Joke. I don't plan to go up from my GeForce 4 Ti til this summer at the earliest. Maybe not til Nov/Dec '04. We'll see.

 

[clicknext]

Originally posted by: JBT
I think it was a good move with the coupon can't u download all the HL 1 stuff off steam for free now? so its not totaly screeing customers. I don't think any of the cards will be obsolete by then either I have played the beta with my card(9500 Pro) and it ran great I would only imagine that when I buy the retail version in april/may (I hope) it will run even better.

Too bad 99% of gamers already had HL1, and the remaining could have bought a copy for $10 or so.

 

[Jeff7181]

Hell no, it was a GREAT move. Look how many 9600XT's and 9800XT's they sold by doing that. Now when it's finally released, they're to sell a bunch more of their news ones because not even the 9800XT can run it at a satisfactory frame rate for hardcore gamers.

 

[Regs]

*valve wakes up. Sticks a leg on a 3d model. Goes back to bed*

 

[lifeguard1999]

ATI made a great move. They had the benchmarks, and they had the coolest game bundled. It was not ATI's fault for the delay.

 

[g3pro]

it was a good move at the time, but now it is a total blunder.

remember how awesome HL2 looked when it was being previewed at E3? now look at HL2. its uniqueness (graphics, physics, and gameplay) are totally obscured by new games such as FarCry, Doom3, STALKER, etc. HL2 looks like crap now compared to these new games. the only thing going for it now is that it is the sequel to HL1, and HL1 sucked.

 

[ErikS]

or no game at all?

Isn't that what they did? HL2 could be the biggest piece of vaporware since "Lotus for Windows" (see where that led Lotus).

 

[Schadenfroh]

looks like AIB makers think its not a good idea to have it

 

[ronnn]

Think it was a great marketing move. Even found myself watching 9800xt prices. As they say theres one born every minute.