The Orange Box is finally getting launched on the Sony PlayStation 3, and an announcement from Electronic Arts reveals that the date of impact will be on December 11. That means that we'll be able to play as either Gordon Freeman, Heavy Weapons Guy or Chell next week - and what could be more awesome than that? Not a lot, we'll have you know. Not a darn lot.

Check out the rest of the details in the full article.

Electronic Arts has just confirmed that they're planning to launch The Orange Box game compendium (Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode One, Half-Life Episode Two, Team Fortress 2, and Portal) from Valve Corporation by next month in Europe. At least for the PS3.

There's only a few more weeks left before December, so we're sure you guys want to know the exact release date. You can find it over in the full article, along with a few additional details.

In an interview with Davide Speyrer, Half-Life 2: Episode Two project lead, he says that Valve is planning something "pretty ambitious" for Episode Three, addressing the interviewer's statement on the absence of a trailer after Episode 2.

It's been speculated before that Episode 3 will be set in the Arctic. Not much else we can tell you though, but Speyrer's explanation might help you formulate your own speculations. Read more on the interview in the full article.

Today's the day, folks. When the retailers open shop in a few hours, we imagine the first game that'll be getting your attention is the Xbox 360 and PC port of Valve Corporation's Orange Box, which will contain Half-Life 2: Episode Two (PS3, Xbox 360, PC) , Portal, and Team Fortress 2 (PS3, Xbox 360, PC). As a reminder, the PS3 port for The Orange Box is scheduled for a December 12 launch.

For the guys who are just waking up to their morning coffee, we'll be laying down two more HL2: Episode 2 gameplay videos to get your day started off just right. The first video will deal feature combat scenes demonstrating bouts with antlions, headcrab zombies, and your gravity gun. The second will feature more combat, and focuses on how to fight against two particular opponents: hunters and striders. Also look out for Dog's appearance in the flick.

Wondering how you can slay those gargantuan striders? Click on the Full Article link to find out!

It's that time of the week again: time for GameStop to dish out their deal of the week. This week's offerings will expire this coming October 11 so you have a few days to sit on it. Halo 3 is no longer part of the GameStop offers this week but times moves on and new games come in every week.

This week, pre-ordering The Orange Box will save you US$ 5 from the original price (US$ 59.99 for the Xbox 360, US$ 49.99 for the PC and US$ 59.99 for the PS3). The game bundle will be available on October 10 for the 360 and the PC, and on December 12 for the PS3. You can also get 20% trade-in credit when you trade any game for reserving a copy of Super Mario Galaxy.

It doesn't need any help, but The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass sales could be boosted with GameStop offering a free Art Cell of Link upon the purchase of the game and a new DS. US$ 20 have also been knocked off from Major League Baseball 2K7 (US$ 39.99 for the Xbox 360, US$ 29.99 for the PS3) and Stranglehold for the Xbox 360 (US$ 59.99).

Valve just announced that they will be featuring a "surprise single" of Jonathan Coulton - once a computer programmer, now a modern day rock star - in Valve Software's The Orange Box (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3). The songwriter is well-known for his creative lyrics of all things geeky, including math, video games and science fiction.

According to the announcement made via press wire, Valve will feature the song in its original cut, as it was a product of collaboration among co-author Coulton, the Valve design team, and Valve's community of fans. Valve specifically sought the help of Coulton to come up with single for the game's upcoming release.

"I am delighted the Valve design team selected me to help make the surprise single a success. If it's not every geek's dream to be immortalized in a video game, it was mine," said Coulton. The Orange Box will hit stores in October 10 for the Xbox 360 and Windows PC.

 

While attention is fixed at grav-gun intensity towards the Orange Box's upcoming release this October 10, details are beginning to emerge for Half-Life 2's (PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3) probable finale, Episode Three. Keep in mind that this is a possible plot spoiler - move along if you think it might ruin your game.

According to the info snippet posted for PC Gamer's November article, Episode Two's ending will have Gordon and Alyx receiving a video recording from a Dr. Mossman regarding the discovery of the mystery cargo ship, Borealis. The ship supposedly contains technology developed by Aperture Science, a rival of Black Messa, which could prove dangerous if captured by the Combine. The magazine further hints that Episode Three may take place onboard the Borealis, where your job as Gordon is to ensure that the Combine never get their hands on this said technology.

We're not sure of the validity of this data at this point, though you guys may want to keep it in mind when you get your copy of the Orange Box come launch day. We'll let you know if we pick any further information backing up this possibility for Episode Three.

Here are some new screenshots for Valve's coveted compilation of games known as The Orange Box. It contains the titles Half-Life 2: Episode Two (Xbox 360, PS3, PC), Portal (Xbox 360, PS3, PC), and Team Fortress 2 (Xbox 360, PS3, PC). It was earlier reported that the PlayStation 3 version will be a bit delayed while the other two will be meeting their October release date schedule.

Valve Corporation has a lot of surprises for each title. Episode 2, for example, focuses on expansive environments and non-linear gameplay. In this installment, players get to follow Gordon Freeman and the other characters leave City 17 and move to the surrounding wilderness.

Portal, on the other hand, introduces puzzle element in the FPS genre as it allows players to create portals on flat planes for instant travels. Linking two portals on different planes will result to a rather bizarre twist in geometry and gravity. Team Fortress 2, finally, will focus on multiplayer and strategy.

Aside from the above mentioned, The Orange Box compilation will also contain past titles Half-Life 2 and Half-Life 2: Episode One.

   

See the other screenshots after the jump!

It's finally time for the latest GameStop deal of the week ending on September 24. Of course, the hottest deal in town is the release of Bungie's Halo 3, so better get ready for the midnight launch on September 25. If you happen to live near the GameStop Universal CityWalk branch, then you might as well go all out and attend the launch party as well.

As for other games, GameStop also has special deals for Guitar Hero 2 on both the PlayStation 2 and the Xbox 360, giving a US$ 10 discount off the pricetags of both Guitar Hero 2 versions (US$ 69.99 for the PS2 and US$ 79.99 for the Xbox 360).

GameStop is also offering a US$ 5 discount for every reservations of Half-Life 2: The Orange Box. The Orange Box for PC and Xbox 360 will come out on October 9, with the PS3 version coming in two weeks late. Another noteworthy pre-order offer is a free Conan figure for every Conan reservation made through GameStop. Do be quick to reserve it, since Conan is slated to be released ahead of schedule.

Not a bad week for GameStop, eh? Make sure that you check the images above to get all information about GameStop's deal for the current week.

Do check this space often for the next Deal of the Week from GameStop!

Bad news to those who have been waiting for the PlayStation 3 version of Valve Software's The Orange Box. It will be lagging behind the other version of the five-game pack, the ones for the Xbox 360 and the PC.

GameSpot was able to speak with Doug Lombardi, director of marketing at Valve, and got confirmation that the PS3 game compendium (Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2: Episode One, Half-Life Episode Two, Team Fortress 2, and Portal) will be coming a couple of weeks later than the other two versions. The PC and Xbox 360 versions are still snug on their placeholders with an October 9 release.

There was no reason given for the delay, nor was a new release date given for The Orange Box's PS3 debut, though online shops are reportedly listing it for a November 18 release. Stay tuned for more info regarding this.