Earlier today Kevin broke out the bad news box — it looks like Microsoft and Valve are still arguing over the price of downloadable content. Where do you stand on the issue?

OK, so I’ve got some potentially good news and I’ve got some potentially bad news for you, what do you want to know first?

The good news? OK!

Valve’s Doug Lombardi was interviewed in OXM UK recently and mentioned the desire to bring some of their older titles like the original Half-Life and Counter-Strike to the 360 as downloads now that Portal is on its way.

“We’ll certainly consider [bringing old games like Counter-Strike to XBLA],” Lombardi told OXM UK. “If you look at what we’ve done on Steam, we try to make all our games available and we’re always reviewing the prices to keep them current. We’d love to do that, but this is our first step at doing that beyond the PC.”

Ready for the bad news? When he was asked about the PC Team Fortress 2 updates coming to the 360 he mentioned that they’re still trying to work out pricing. Now, I don’t think you should read that as “We’re going to charge you for the stuff PC users get free” but we all know how Microsoft is by now.

[OXM UK via Shacknews]

Haven’t had a chance to play Team Fortress 2 yet? Well once you get out of the shame corner, hop on your PC and click here. Why? Because Valve is making the game free this weekend, that’s why. You’ll be able to download and play TF2, along with Gold Rush , it’s latest update featuring new map, mode, item management and medic skills, absolutely free until the end of tomorrow night.

As a 360 TF2′er, I’m going to give this thing a download myself. Depending on how well it runs on my shitastic laptop, I may end up making the switch. After all — waiting for all of this new content to hit the 360 is like waiting for the Book of Revelations to happen.

We’ve featured more than a few Portal stories here since the launch of the game, and even a few Portal wallpapers. And while for the most part the fever has begun to subside, there’s still a little bit of it left. It flares up from time to time, and when it happens you just can’t help sputtering out dialogue or screaming “The Cake is a Lie!” to random strangers.

It’s on a dangerous ledge of becoming to over-quoted on the internets…. it’s like the Napolean Dynamite of video games. But whatever, the desktop is fun so fuck it, right? 1680X1050.

Last year’s fastest selling Christmas item wasn’t Tickle Me Elmo, Cabbage Patch Dolls, or even the oft-maligned Wii. Valve’s plush Companion Cube’s sold out in minutes, and gamers across the world let out a collected yelp. Didn’t Valve learn anything in school? If you’re not going to bring enough for everybody, then don’t bring it!

Luckily Valve heard our collective sigh and has seen fit to rectify the situation. Back in stock (for the time being, anyway) are both the plush Companion Cube and the Companion Cube fuzzy dice. They’ll each set you back $29.95, but free shipping certainly take some of that sting away. If they’re sold out by the time you read this, you can always buy a headcrab hat.

[Valve Store via Kotaku]

[Garry's Blog via Kotaku]

Portal or not, this case mod is pretty damn sweet.

[Engadget]