Half-Life 2 has gone gold!

[Zippyy]

No no no, I didn't mean to imply that the game was finished and the leak was the only reason for the delay, although that was how it sounded. I meant that the leak was actually a leak. I think Valve has earned enough respect that we shouldn't accuse them of "Hacker-ate-myhomework" excuses when they are going to miss a deadline. Sure, they screwed up by sticking to the Sept 30 '03 release date. Sure, they should have been prompt in saying, "Sorry fellas, the game isn't done," but they weren't. Still, I think it's preposterous to accuse them of staging a leak and involving the FBI in a farce just because they didn't finish their game in time.

Oh, and it was a one year delay, not two.

As for the Collector's Edition, it is also available on Steam, under the name Half Life 2 Gold (alongside Bronze and Silver). I do believe the Steam offer comes with more than the in-stores collector's edition. Gold has a hat, a shirt, strategy guide, soundtrack, three posters, City 17 postcard, and a chance to win a trip to valve. Plus, they ship it all to you in the Collector's Edition box, for all you boxers out there. Also, you get a sticker.