Exclusive Half-Life 2 footage soon!

We've just got hold of a shot of the final packaging for Counter-Strike: Condition Zero, and there's something a little interesting to take note of. Splatted up in the top right-hand corner are the following words: "Exclusive Half-Life 2 footage inside!"

Regular readers will be aware that we don't normally cover the release of pack shots, but when there's an association with what promises to be the best first-person shooter of all time, we think for once it's worth it.

As for precisely what the exclusive Half-Life 2 footage coming with Condition Zero will show, we can't tell you. But, rather worryingly, we have heard whispers suggesting that the exclusive HL 2 footage may in fact be the demo movie shown at this year's E3.

Valve Software is, of course, currently cutting the E3 demo movie into parts and releasing it to the public. So we certainly hope these whispers don't become fact.

Assuming for the time being then that the Half-Life 2 footage will be utterly exclusive, you can be rest assured that: a) it will look absolutely mint; and b) it will find its way onto the Internet within hours of the release of the single-player Counter-Strike game.

Still, we get the funny feeling that the powers that be reckon that offering such Half-Life 2-related delights will ship an extra few copies of CS: Condition Zero.

Counter-Strike: Condition Zero has suffered numerous delays, but reliable sources have informed us that the game will be out August/September. If it's the latter month, then it should pre-empt the release of Half-Life 2, expected September 30.

Otherwise the exclusive HL 2 footage would obviously be pointless. Unless it turns out to be the E3 demo movie after all. Perish the thought.

Stuart Bishop