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Companion Cube plush back in stock at Valve photo

Of course you want a Companion Cube plush, because I don't know anyone who doesn't -- whether you bonded emotionally with Portal or not,  the cube is simply an ubiquitous symbol of gaming in general. I kind of think of it as the commemorative icon of the 2007 year in games. Plus, I can hug it.

The Valve store realized they had a great opportunity to please fans and rake in dollars and jumped to the challenge, creating a 6X6X6 plush cube that sold out faster than you can say "Wii shortage!" The cube was originally $29.95 before it sold out, but now it has reappeared in stock at the Valve store. There's a catch though: The price of the cube is now $100, rather than $29.95. Argh!

Before you start shaking your fist at the sky over the evils of greed and inflation, there is one more detail you should know. Valve did increase the price, but the total proceeds go to the Child's Play Foundation. You aren't really buying the cube as much as you're making a generous donation to Child's Play and getting the cube as a thank you.

This still may piss off gamers who just wanted the cube and don't have the extra greens to donate to Child's Play right now, but despite the price tag, it seems like Valve's hearts are in the right place with this one.

[Via the Valve Store - Thanks Adam] 


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41 comments | showing # 1 to 41

disneyninja's Avatar
disneyninja at 12/18/2007 14:11
plush anything = win

they could still sell it for less and donate it to child's play...how much could it cost to make a plush cube?
Turtule Soup's Avatar
Turtule Soup at 12/18/2007 14:12
I was so pissed for a minute.
Woverine's Avatar
Woverine at 12/18/2007 14:12
just fyi. it was 30$ before not 25.
Mr Wilson's Avatar
Mr Wilson at 12/18/2007 14:12
$100 - DO NOT WANT

$25 _ WOULD HAVE BOUGHT 4

???
Turtule Soup's Avatar
Turtule Soup at 12/18/2007 14:13
srry bout double post. then I saw it was charity
Neonie's Avatar
Neonie at 12/18/2007 14:15
It's not a lie, but it sure is expensive :D
-D-'s Avatar
-D- at 12/18/2007 14:18
I snatched one up this morning. I was going to donate to Child's Play anyways, so this was a little added bonus.
monosylabik's Avatar
monosylabik at 12/18/2007 14:20
as much as i like childs play and the work they do
100 bucks is a lot of money for a plush companion cube.
maybe it would have been cooler if they added something else along with the cube for a hundred and kept the regular price for the cube alone.
Rainbowblack's Avatar
Rainbowblack at 12/18/2007 14:23
I want a companion cube, not a Katamari

way to fail Valve
CannibalCalvin 's Avatar
CannibalCalvin at 12/18/2007 14:26
You see, their first mistake was to make it out of soft polyester and cotton.

It should be made of the dense steele and nickel that we know and love.

The cake may be a lie, but the 50 pound cube you drop on your foot sure as hell should'nt be.
amalgamut00's Avatar
amalgamut00 at 12/18/2007 14:37
That is a pretty big price increase. Guess Valve doesn't want us to buy their games, buy the plush cube only.
vexed alex's Avatar
vexed alex at 12/18/2007 14:43
<3 Valve.
Eschatos's Avatar
Eschatos at 12/18/2007 14:45
Valve is wonderful people. Also, CannibalCalvin, how about we builds some life size real material cubes? We could make infinity bajillion dollars, if my calculations are correct.
Guagloves's Avatar
Guagloves at 12/18/2007 14:48
$100 is way too much for a cube.
TheStripe's Avatar
TheStripe at 12/18/2007 14:50
Pff, screw that; I'm making my own.

Now where did I put that CNC mill?
BenHaskett's Avatar
BenHaskett at 12/18/2007 14:54
i fall into the "don't have $100" camp. i was going to buy one as a christmas present, but i just don't have $100 for a stuffed cube...
Chicken008's Avatar
Chicken008 at 12/18/2007 14:54
Its almost a sphere.
riomccarthy's Avatar
riomccarthy at 12/18/2007 14:54
Yeah.. I'm now more apt to make my own. While I don't think that donating to charity is a BAD thing, I still don't think you should quadruple the price of a plush cube.. You could still donate the money to charity whether it's $25 or not..
iNerd's Avatar
iNerd at 12/18/2007 14:58
Plush cube = fail. Needs more aluminium.
galagabug 's Avatar
galagabug at 12/18/2007 15:13
HUGE SUCCESS!
Cheeburga's Avatar
Cheeburga at 12/18/2007 15:18
qwknbdmshafjohsfjohasfjhwsfjagckohsdfiosdgv jbscklhdsfiohwkzxhcasc


i want it. :D
Technophile's Avatar
Technophile at 12/18/2007 15:32
I think valve is pretty great for doing this. If it's too much then don't buy it. It's like she said, it's not so much that you are buying the cube, but that you are donating to a good cause.

It's a free companion cube with a $100 donation to Child's Play, think of it that way.
Magesx's Avatar
Magesx at 12/18/2007 16:11
It still sucks balls.
balth's Avatar
balth at 12/18/2007 16:36
Whew, you had me scared for a minute with that new pricetag. I thought Valve thought they were Activision for a minute.
Big Z's Avatar
Big Z at 12/18/2007 16:42
I wish I had the money to spend. Like most I really like the work that Child's Play does and the cause they represent, and like most I really like large metal crates with hearts on them, but I just don't have that kind of money.
NobleBear's Avatar
NobleBear at 12/18/2007 17:15
I applaud Valves move, but $100 makes it cost prohibitive for those with rent to pay. Sure its easy enough to say in effect that 'if you cant afford it,don't get one' but such a move a valves part is not merely bringing some harm to their own potential revenue but now is putting some hurt on Child's Play as well. If they went back to $30 and passed the proceeds onto CP, I imagine they'd see more donations than those of the philanthropic rich.
0bshaky's Avatar
0bshaky at 12/18/2007 17:21
Wow, I thought they inflated the price to pay for Gabe Newell's food supply.
DryvBy's Avatar
DryvBy at 12/18/2007 17:23
That is freakin' lame. The plush toy. Not the cause. But then again, I don't agree with giving to charitable organizations (since, ya know, they've been around how long, raised how much, and have progressed how little?).

Disagree all ya want, I'm going upstairs to eat.
poonster's Avatar
poonster at 12/18/2007 17:29
my farts smell like shit and i'm worried
Fading Star's Avatar
Fading Star at 12/18/2007 18:02
Valve rules! I wish that I could buy one of those :D.

@Colette
That cube is not the only thing you could hug....you have that Chocobo plushie right :)?
Grocerspride's Avatar
Grocerspride at 12/18/2007 18:38
This one is still ugly as sin..

I love me some plushies, but I don't think I'll be picking this up.
Wedge's Avatar
Wedge at 12/18/2007 18:39
Out the ass all the time.

But still, the plush is really lame when you see all the awesome fan works people have done. At least they're trying to help push CP to 1 mil. Not THAT CP... oh gawd...
ToxinBlackheart's Avatar
ToxinBlackheart at 12/18/2007 20:12
Agh, $100 is the ultimate plushie cock block.

I want it...but not THAT much.
Farktoid's Avatar
Farktoid at 12/19/2007 00:28
I'd love to get one, but they're going about it the wrong way. Seriously, how much does it cost to make on of those things? 5 bucks?

They're going to get a lot less buyers with that price. If they really want to help Child's Play, put the Cube out for less than 50. Volume would certainly outstep their chosen price.
salmonmoose's Avatar
salmonmoose at 12/19/2007 01:11
I don't think it matters any more. They've sold out at the $100 price tag as well. Kudos to them.

My guess is that they had some put aside from the initial run for promotional purposes or returns, or whatever, and when they saw how popular it was, they put these up as charity items.

They'll probably make more, and sell them again at a reasonable price.
TheStripe's Avatar
TheStripe at 12/19/2007 07:40
I still want an all metal paperweight style companion cube. Either that or the full sized 2'x2' steel box. That would be pretty tight. And heavy. Mostly heavy.
Hitogoroshi's Avatar
Hitogoroshi at 12/19/2007 10:44
Shit I was going to donate to Child's Play anyway. So to me it is like a free Companion Cube. Thanks Valve!!
KyleGamgee's Avatar
KyleGamgee at 12/19/2007 12:39
Ouch.

Do want. We'll see...
ridley80's Avatar
ridley80 at 12/19/2007 17:37
Where's my cake?!
BabyRus's Avatar
BabyRus at 12/22/2007 09:24
Dude! How can you say that Valve's heart is in the right place here by charging $100!! What a fanboy. If EA or Activision was jacking up the price you'd be freaking out. This is a ripoff. If anything, Valve should have reduced the price by finding cheaper labor to build these stupid things in mass quantity.
xenon's Avatar
xenon at 12/26/2007 19:23
Now, if ALL the $100 are going to a charity, you can't call it a rip-off. But still, it's a stupidly high price. Standard (rip-off) price 30$? Make it 40$ charity-included and everyone will be happy. But then again, as brilliant and smart as they are, Valve guys come from Microsoft.
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