We Don't Go To Ravenholm: The Orange Box Is Out Today

[gepeto]

I plan on going back to ravenholm...

Well today the orange box gets released and so far the reviews look great.

Ign 9.5

http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/826/826062p1.html

[segagamer4life]

I am picking this up today at lunch.... looks great, can't wait!!

[GrandAmChandler]

Okay, so someone explain to me why I need Orange box if I already have this for my PC:

http://www.amazon.com/Vivendi-Univer...2021144&sr=8-9

Something about a Team Fortress 2? Someone please school me on Half Life 2 expansions and why everyone thinks this is the best thing since Halo 3?

-GAC-

[segagamer4life]

you don't need it, if you have it already for your PC, but for those who don't play PC's, this is an awesome thing to have with 5 games for the price.

[gepeto]

Okay, so someone explain to me why I need Orange box if I already have this for my PC:

http://www.amazon.com/Vivendi-Univer...2021144&sr=8-9

Something about a Team Fortress 2? Someone please school me on Half Life 2 expansions and why everyone thinks this is the best thing since Halo 3?

-GAC-

Everybody knows FPs are better on console than the PC. Ha Ha HA.

Ign has a good video review. Ign said the episodes are more intense close quarters battle. I really like valve and even though I have the xbox and the pc version I am going to pick it up for the live experiance. When they first announced it I started to get that ninja gaiden fleecing feeling. But after going over the total package it is a good deal and the fact that ea was pissed for them including so much for one price.

[SkiDragon]

Thats a question I am asking myself. I don't know whether to get the PC version or the 360 version. I have already played HL2 on my PC, and I have bought Episode 1 for the PC, although it runs choppy on my computer. Why does HL2 seem to run well and not Episode 1? Either my computer has gotten worse since I played HL2 (a possibility), or Episode 1 requires more resources than HL2. If this is the case then I will probably have to stay away from the PC version. Either way I will be forced to buy two games I have no need to purchase again. I know these games were designed for the PC first and foremost though, which is why I hesitate to buy the 360 version. Halo 3 is taking up all my time anyway...

[gepeto]

Thats a question I am asking myself. I don't know whether to get the PC version or the 360 version. I have already played HL2 on my PC, and I have bought Episode 1 for the PC, although it runs choppy on my computer. Why does HL2 seem to run well and not Episode 1? Either my computer has gotten worse since I played HL2 (a possibility), or Episode 1 requires more resources than HL2. If this is the case then I will probably have to stay away from the PC version. Either way I will be forced to buy two games I have no need to purchase again. I know these games were designed for the PC first and foremost though, which is why I hesitate to buy the 360 version. Halo 3 is taking up all my time anyway...

In the review the guy said that which each episode release the graphics and overall polish was enhanced. episode 1 looks better than hl2 and episode 2 looks better than 1.

[Dreamcast]

Ugh. Don't get the console version of every game! it cost more, Graphics are worse, No mods, Not Using Keyboard and Mouse, Paying for online play, and longer loading times.

Unless you have a crappy computer. Don't get a console version of each game.



And yes I do plan on getting the orange box. maybe tomorrow.

[roushimsx]

Okay, so someone explain to me why I need Orange box if I already have this for my PC:

http://www.amazon.com/Vivendi-Univer...2021144&sr=8-9

Episode 1 takes place immediately after Half Life 2 and expands the character of Alyx in addition to providing some seriously tense moments. Episode 2 takes place right after Episode 1, and while I don't want to spoil anything, it fleshes out the storyline even more while improving the tech even further over what Episode 1 did. The improvements they've made to the Source engine in the last 3 years (evident in the Episodes) is amazing. The two episodes so far add a good 6-8 hours combined to the core Half Life 2 experience (which itself was 9-12 hours), and there's still another episode to go to complete the story arc.

Team Fortress 2 is an awesome class based multiplayer game and I highly recommend you at least give it a shot. I didn't think I'd be so attracted to it (I don't really care for multiplayer games), but it's rekindled the multiplayer love I haven't felt since Team Fortress for Quake.

Portal is just a mindfuck awesome puzzle game. If you've ever played Narbacular Drop, it's that with a highly professional polish. If you've never played Narbacular Drop, go download it and imagine what it'd be like if a major company had hired the team to do a highly polished professional version of it within the Half Life universe...because that's what happened.

You'll be able to give your duplicate Half Life 2 key away to a friend and get them addicted to the franchise, too. It's a shame you didn't preorder to save the $5, but $50 for EP1+EP2+Portal+TF2 is not a bad deal at all. Hell, $50 for EP2+Portal+TF2 isn't bad, and getting the other two games for free is just the icing on the cake.

Seriously, if you enjoyed Half Life 2 in even the slightest, you need to play Episodes 1 and 2.

edit - we do go to Ravenholm and we cut the fuck out of zombies with saw blades and then blow their asses up with exploding barrels....and that's just if there's no car crushing traps or fire traps nearby. Oh Father Grigori, how I love your work.

[JWKobayashi]

I got the 360 version in the mail yesterday and have been playing Portal and TF2. Both are cool, although I'm almost at the end of Portal after about 2 - 3 hours of playtime.

[Edit]
Also, if you get the PC version - get it at Circuit City. They have it advertised for $38 this week.

[heybtbm]

Portal and Half-Life look OK, but nothing spectacular. It's just personal preference in my case...I've never really enjoyed single player FPS's (Bioshock being an exception). FPS's are all about playing against human opponents. AI just isn't as fun IMO.

Even so, Team Fortress 2 looks like fun, but not $59.99 fun if you know what I mean. Seriously though, how short can someones attention span be if you're already sick of Halo 3 multiplayer? I can't imagine playing anything else online for a long time.

[JWKobayashi]

Seriously though, how short can someones attention span be if you're already sick of Halo 3 multiplayer? I can't imagine playing anything else online for a long time.

I hear you on this. I fired up TF2 last night and felt sort of guilty about "leaving" Halo 3 already.

[roushimsx]

I hear you on this. I fired up TF2 last night and felt sort of guilty about "leaving" Halo 3 already.

But then dropping in on a pack of defenders on Gravel Pit as a pyro and scoring a half dozen kills and assists in one sweep of the flame thrower make you forget about any hint of guilt that you might be feeling for leaving another game to play TF2.

I still prefer the Soldier, but god damn if the Pyro ain't a barrel of fun at times.

[esquire]

Okay, so someone explain to me why I need Orange box if I already have this for my PC:

http://www.amazon.com/Vivendi-Univer...2021144&sr=8-9

Something about a Team Fortress 2? Someone please school me on Half Life 2 expansions and why everyone thinks this is the best thing since Halo 3?

-GAC-

I'm in the same boat, and am wondering if they'll make Episode 2 available separately by retail (not Steam download) like they did with Episdoe 2. I could care less for TF2. TF was good back in the day, but the whole TF concept has been passed over by the likes of Battlefield, COD, and Unreal Tournament to name a few. Now if they made a HL2 Multiplayer where you could play as the Combine and control Striders, that might be a different story.

[Stone_Protector_101]

well i am feeling a lil sick now i must leave work to cure the sickness with XBL.

[roushimsx]

I'm in the same boat, and am wondering if they'll make Episode 2 available separately by retail (not Steam download) like they did with Episdoe 2. I could care less for TF2. TF was good back in the day, but the whole TF concept has been passed over by the likes of Battlefield, COD, and Unreal Tournament to name a few. Now if they made a HL2 Multiplayer where you could play as the Combine and control Striders, that might be a different story.

I don't believe they intend to release them separately at retail. They were going to have separate releases, but then nixed them all in favor of the Orange Box to reduce confusion.

You'd be surprised how Team Fortress has evolved to the point of Team Fortress 2. There's only one capture the flag map right now, and it's a greatly improved version of 2fort.

[JWKobayashi]

well i am feeling a lil sick now i must leave work to cure the sickness with XBL.

*Cough cough* Yeah, I'm at work and thinking about "getting sick" too. *Cough*

But then dropping in on a pack of defenders on Gravel Pit as a pyro and scoring a half dozen kills and assists in one sweep of the flame thrower make you forget about any hint of guilt that you might be feeling for leaving another game to play TF2.

I still prefer the Soldier, but god damn if the Pyro ain't a barrel of fun at times.

Both games are just too much fucking awesome at once.

Granted though, I do also like the Pyro. Fun to watch a group of cartoon bastards burn.

[Edit]

If you've never played Narbacular Drop, go download it

I just went and tried this out. Definate precursor to Portal (and also fucking sweet). I hope that Valve makes some more Portal maps available for download.

[gepeto]

Yeah I stopped by three stores today and people were coming in looking for it. Although I was surprised at gamestop only getting 12 of them. Anyway they have this deal get 20 extra for hardware trade ins and I traded in a old non beight gameboy sp and got 40.00 credit.

I was going to get the brighter on one day anyway. My gut tells me this one will do very well base on word of mouth.

[roushimsx]

My gut tells me this one will do very well base on word of mouth.

I hope so. The PC version has sold over 4 million copies, so it's about time that the console owners get in on the fun. Especially now that they're going to have access to a much, much higher quality (and content filled!) version than the Xbox port.

[YoshiM]

Ugh. Don't get the console version of every game!

Why not? Some people prefer playing on console as opposed to PC

it cost more

If you're talking Orange Box, then yes, it's $10 or so cheaper.

Individually? No. Looking at Gamestop's sites:

Half Life 2: $19.99
Episode 1: $19.99

Episode 2 and Team Fortress 2, aside from the Orange Box, are only available on Steam at $29.99 a pop (unless I'm mistaken).

But on the flip side, a console gamer typically doesn't have to worry about driver updates and other issues that PC games can usually get. So for many, ten bones is worth less hassle.

Graphics are worse

Than what? The PC? How many PC users out there have the horsepower in their PCs to play these games at a greater detail with no stutter or slow down? Probably not as many as you think. This is subjective.

No mods

Got a point there, but if a person plays more console stuff than PC stuff, this is a non issue.

Not Using Keyboard and Mouse

Again, subjective. Many Halo players would beg to differ on this.

Paying for online play

For all the stuff you get with Live, about $4 a month is pretty dang cheap. Plus you KNOW everyone is going to be on a pretty level playing field hardware and connection wise. I know PC gamers love to toss this into Xbox gamers faces, but for one less Burger King meal a month, it's worth the money for less hassle.

and longer loading times.

On what kind of machine? Is the game fully installed onto the hard drive? How fast is the DVD/CD drive? If you have an older machine, it might load slower than the 360 version. And how long is long? Ten seconds? Thirty? A minute? And since even PC games have load times, this is a big deal how?

Unless it takes the same amount of time to load the next part of a game as it does to make a sandwich and switch the laundry over, I think if a person's been gaming on a CD/DVD based platform for the last few years a little load time is not worth the bullet point.

Unless you have a crappy computer. Don't get a console version of each game.

Old but not "crappy". It can run F.E.A.R. and Oblivion pretty well. However I'm not a PC gamer and would rather play on a console.