Valve have released, to their online store, an official Orange Box soundtrack, upon which you'll find all the hits you've grown to know and love from the year's orangest (and bestest) compendium. Like some of the haunting score to Episode 1, for example. An Episode 2. And Portal, with the catchy electronic score joined by two versions of "Still Alive". If you're less of a Half-Life fan and more of a Team Fortress kind of guy/gal, you're also covered, with its "troop-rallying anthems" also making their way onto the CD. The Orange Box Original Soundtrack is available now, and is selling for $9.95.
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What makes a good video game? Strong visuals are important. Good controls are essential. A well-crafted concept helps too. These days, most games can boast at least two-thirds of that criteria.

So, then what makes a game great? Feeling. Emotion. Surprise. Interaction. Even addiction. It's a magical feeling when a game offers all these elements.

Here are the titles L.A. Times deemed the best experiences of 2007. Admittedly, they didn't play everything (because that would probably be impossible), but of the titles that did cross their paths, these are the ones that resonated most. Their favorites in order:

Best of the Year:
¿ BioShock
¿ Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare
¿ Assassin's Creed
¿ Super Mario Galaxy
¿ The Orange Box

Honorable Mention:
¿ Halo 3
¿ Rock Band
¿ Ace Combat 6: Fires of Liberation
¿ Cooking Mama: Cook Off
¿ Lost Planet

Worst of the Year:
¿ Lair

Dishonorable Mention:
¿ Fusion Frenzy 2
¿ 300: March to Glory
¿ Tenchu Z

[ By Pete Metzger, December 21, 2007 ]
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Dec 20, 2007 If you park on the streets of a major city like San Francisco, you know there's the risk that a starry-eyed young hooligan with the bold dream of stealing your stereo will smash in your window. GamesRadar US editor Tyler Wilde is well aware of this risk - his car has been broken into three times in the past year. What he didn't know is that not just his stereo is at risk. As an avid gamer and an angry citizen, he felt it was time to send a message to the window/ocarina smashing ... » Read More

Kotaku reports:

"In a recent interview with StuffWeLike, Valve's Doug Lombardi confirmed that the wide world of Half-Life won't end after Half-Life 2: Episode 3. There's more on the way: plenty more.

Question: "Are there any current plans after Episode 3 to have a Half Life 3?"
Answer: "We haven't announced anything specific, but Half-Life won't end at Episode Three - hang on to your crowbars!"

"Half-Life 3 or Episode 4? That's fine with me, especially since the sequels haven't stopped Valve from putting out other incredible products with the help of Half-Life technology. If a tried and true franchise allows Valve to experiment with the mechanics you see in Portal or the artistic choices you see in Team Fortress 2, I say bring on the sell-out! I'll be waiting with my Mt. Dew in the ready."
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Who doesn't like shooting things? PS3 had more than its fair share of bullets and explosions. Which games made you more of a man this year?

And the nominees for PS3 Fanboy - Best Shooter of 2007 are:

Call of Duty 4
The Orange Box
Unreal Tournament III
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With Half-Life 2: Episode Three planned to be the grand finale' of the Half-Life 2 story arc, you may be forgiven for wondering what's next in the parade of constant interruptions for the long suffering Gordon Freeman.
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US Games
*Unreal Tournament III
*Blacksite: Area 51
*The Orange Box

EU Games
*The Orange Box
*Oblivion: Game of the Year edition

Asian Games
*Gran Turismo 5: Prologue
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New issue of the free PlayStation 3 magazine includes the new GTA IV video trailer together with an analysis, plus Little Big Planet preview and Turning Point developer interview.
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G4 The Feed - Monday, December 03, 2007:

"Finally, PlayStation 3 gamers will be able to join the PC and 360 ranks and experience the joy and wonder that is The Orange Box.

The Orange Box for PS3 comes out on December 11th, and G4 feels confident in predicting that its release will end the bickering over which console is superior once and for all. Portal is just good enough to herald a new age of cross-console generosity and brotherhood. Hallelujah!

French and German versions will be available in early 2008."
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The Chanticleer's Art & Entertainment editor Toni Merriss picks her ten best games of 2007.
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To say that EA's port of Valve's Orange Box on PS3 suffered a bit from 1Up's damning preview is a serious understatement. Now, either EA has really taken 1Up's complaints to heart or the site was lumbered some very early preview code to toy with because fresh impressions are filtering through the interwebs painting a very different picture of the Orange Box's performance. Kotaku, IGN and GameSpy are three big names that have come out in support of the mega-bundle, stating that in final code, frame rate issues were noticeable but negligible and certainly not bad enough to make much of an impact on the gameplay.

If this proves to be the case in the final retail copy, and there's little reason to suspect it won't, then EA should get something short of a clap on the back, but a least a nod of acknowledgement that it has finally pulled its finger out and overcome its PS3 demons. However, one sentiment still remains ¿ that the Xbox 360 version is superior ¿ and that isn't going to please PS3's hardcore.
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Pspsps.tv writes: "All in all, things are looking pretty grim for the PS3 version. 1UP's recent preview is particularly cutting, revealing some staggering consistency problems in the game's framerate, which apparently is only meant to be running at a pathetic 30fps anyway. The blame for this ¿ possibly unfairly ¿ is going to fall on EA's shoulders. Valve palmed off the PS3 development to an internal EA team at an early stage so that it could concentrate on the more directly compatible 360 version."
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22nd Nov, 2007 Oh PS3, you really must work on this tardiness. Youre a strong student with a lot of brains, and you can produce good work when you put your mind to it, but with this persistent lateness youre not only letting us down, but youre letting yourself down too. We know youve only just joined us and that youve had to take some time to settle in, but youre really going to have to start applying yourself from now on. Nagging teacher-speak aside, just what is it with PS3 release ... » Read More

Electronic Arts has given Eurogamer a release date for the PS3 version of The Orange Box:
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Many PS3 gamers have been anxious for news on the status of The Orange Box for their console, but EA hasn't been too forthcoming. With the Xbox 360 and PC versions doing incredibly well, PS3 gamers have a reason to feel a little left out.

Well, the waiting is almost over. An EA representative has confirmed to VideoGamer.com that the PlayStation 3 version of the Valve compendium will hit European stores in December, although an exact release date is still to be determined.
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Nov 12, 2007 Weighted Companion Cubes from Orange Box puzzler Portal will be coming to the Valve store soon. In addition, the plush Cube (which doesn't talk and won't try to stab you) will go on sale alongside a smaller pair of cubes made for hanging in your car's rear-view mirror. We need these to complete the Valve toy collection on our ... » Read More

EA has just revealed in its latest European release schedule that Half Life 2: The Orange Box on Playstation 3 has been delayed again. The Xbox 360 and PC versions have been in stores since early October, but the Playstation 3 version would release 'a few weeks after that', according to Valve.

In the latest trailers Valve promised that the PS3 version would be in stores in time for the holidays. Apparently Valve ran in to some more trouble with the Playstation 3 as Orange Box on the Playstation 3 is now scheduled for release on January 17, 2008. A specific reason for this delay was not given.
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Yes, The Game Of The Year (GOTY) discussion is already beginning! Spike is hosting its 5th annual Video Game Awards this December in Las Vegas, and this morning the nominees were released on Spike.com. What's in contention for Game of the Year? Orange Box, Halo 3, BioShock, and Mass Effect.
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Metroid Prime 3 is followed by The Legend of Zelda Phantom Hourglass, making it a Nintendo top two on the multiplatform chart.

The top twenty includes six football games. Last week's best seller, Football Manager 2008, sits at No3, while three versions of Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 and two versions of FIFA 08 also chart.

01. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption (Wii)
02. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (DS)
03. Football Manager 2008 (PC)
04. Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (PS3)
05. Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (PS2)
06. Half-Life 2: The Orange Box (PC)
07. Singstar Swedish hits Schlager (PS2)
08. Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 (360)
09. World of Warcraft (PC)
10. World of Warcraft: The Burning Crusade (PC)
11. FIFA 08 (PS2)
12. Counter-Strike 1: Anthology (PC)
13. Half-Life 2: The Orange Box (360)
14. The Sims 2 Bon Voyage (PC)
15. The Witcher (PC)
16. Halo 3 (360)
17. Battlefield 2 (PC)
18. Warcraft III Frozen Throne (PC)
19. FIFA 08 (PS3)
20. World in Conflict (PC)
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According to NPD's projection, video game sales in the U.S. will reach a record-breaking $18 billion in 2007, surpassing the $10 billion box office sales projected by The Hollywood Reporter. Halo 3 grossed over $170 million on its release day, far bigger than any Hollywood film ever has, making it the highest-grossing premiere in entertainment history.

Game Informer editor-in-chief Andy McNamara gives a partial list of blockbuster games for this fall with brief descriptions.
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