HL2: Orange Box Thread
- Thread starter RobertR1
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If the monitor is running at a higher refresh rate that a TV (which is what I'm using), wouldn't that reduce the visible effects of tearing?
Soup
No, at least not unless you are running your PS3 at 50hz and the game isn't accounting for that but still rendering 30fps, in which case that can result in either constant tearing, or judder, depending on how the conversion is handled. Having a NTSC PS3 I don't have the 50hz option to test, but I highly doubt that is the case.
D
Deleted member 11852
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In AC, my TV is reporting the picture input - over HDMI - as being 1280x720 @ 60hz, which IIRC is what the PS3 outputs, scaling aside, for most games. Mind you I do subscribe to the notion that tearing is less noticeable on a smaller screen but on a 40" TV it's harder to overlook!
Cheers for the info,
DS
Cheers for the info,
DS
Well then, a difference in refresh rate clearly isn't the issue, as 60hz is the most the console ever outputs at, regardless if it hooked up to a monitor or a TV.
Ah, terring will be just as obvious on a 20" screen at 3' as it is on a 40" screen at 6'.
And some things didn´t change at all
I haven't seen any mention of it on the last couple pages, so I figured I may as well mention it:
the Orange Box is on sale at Best Buy for $25. I checked mine after getting off work and they still had a couple copies on the shelf, despite the fact that the website showed no availability. When I got there, they were re-stocking the shelves, so there's a good chance that if you tried and failed earlier in the day, you may still be able to pick up a copy if you try again now.
I played HL2, but haven't played either episode yet, and I used to be addicted to TFC back in the day, so I can't wait to play TF2, and Portal looks like tons of fun. Many hours of great gaming ahead of me. Probably take up my whole weekend and the next couple weeks even.
the Orange Box is on sale at Best Buy for $25. I checked mine after getting off work and they still had a couple copies on the shelf, despite the fact that the website showed no availability. When I got there, they were re-stocking the shelves, so there's a good chance that if you tried and failed earlier in the day, you may still be able to pick up a copy if you try again now.
I played HL2, but haven't played either episode yet, and I used to be addicted to TFC back in the day, so I can't wait to play TF2, and Portal looks like tons of fun. Many hours of great gaming ahead of me. Probably take up my whole weekend and the next couple weeks even.
Ok, here's the thing.
I had assumed that HL2: EP:2 looked pretty much the same as the previous installements.
Turns out.... it actually looks much better. What the FCUK are you guys complaining about? I have only played the first 30 mins or so but this clearly looks better than pretty much *any* next gen console game I have come across. And my basis of comparison has been Gears of War which I have played 1.5 times on my 360.
I'm actually not suprised the PS3 struggles with this now. At least it struggles with one of the best looking games out there!
I had assumed that HL2: EP:2 looked pretty much the same as the previous installements.
Turns out.... it actually looks much better. What the FCUK are you guys complaining about? I have only played the first 30 mins or so but this clearly looks better than pretty much *any* next gen console game I have come across. And my basis of comparison has been Gears of War which I have played 1.5 times on my 360.
I'm actually not suprised the PS3 struggles with this now. At least it struggles with one of the best looking games out there!
Hrmm.. a lot of what looks great about HL2 is its great looking textures. I remember the first time I booted it up on release and being stunned. I agree that part of the game still looks great.
The current gen of machine's comparatively low amounts of RAM may have something to do with the struggle, along with the CPU-push this game has.
The current gen of machine's comparatively low amounts of RAM may have something to do with the struggle, along with the CPU-push this game has.
Yea, if you still live in the past. The textures by todays standad are well.....crap ( Unless you have the fake factory MOD )
360 AND PS3 should rip though this game like it was nothing.
My PC which by todays standards is complete pants rips though Half Life 2 with 16xAF and 4xMSAA at well over 60fps @ 1280x1024. There is no excuse for poor performance with this game at all. Granted Source Engine has been updated for EP2 but that should'nt make that much of a difference.
Its just a lazy ass "lets make some quick cash" port.
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I'm not a big tech-head or anything but it sounds like the problem is a lot more straightforward than whether or not PS3 could handle games that feature saw physics and head crabs. EA basically has to redo the game for PS3, since it was NOT made for PS3 before or anything similar to the PS3.
HL2 uses a modified Havok engine and I think Sony licensed a PS3 port of that for developers to use so maybe some of the work was done for EA?
HL2 uses a modified Havok engine and I think Sony licensed a PS3 port of that for developers to use so maybe some of the work was done for EA?
Have you played EP2? TF2? Both of those games are leaps and bounds beyond what HL2 is/was. I can understand HL2 flying, but EP2 is a different beat, it is not Half Life 2 in terms of graphics.
I have a hard time even considering peoples comments in these recent posts because they clearly don't have a clue what they're talking about.
nintenho, have you even played Half Life 2? Any of the Episodes? By your comments it doesn't sound like it, you're dumbing done what amounts to the second best FPS game of all time. A game that's physics even today blow away 95% of what's being released on the market right now. No other game makes a significant leap over HL2 and its Episodes in terms of physics besides Crysis, though admittedly Crysis blows it away.
By what criteria and what's the best FPS of all time?
I'm not sure HL2 benefited much from it's physics.
Puzzles were poor, simple, and felt forced just for the sake of it.
Actually Timeshift demo has more creative physics puzzles.
Gravity gun was fun, but has been done long before HL2.
It's number two because a game I'm playing right now is going to likely take number one from it. That game happens to be Crysis. In terms of ingame story telling however Half Life 2 wins.
The physics were a key part to HL2, namely because the gravity gun is probably the most gameplay effecting aspect of HL2, and that's continued on in the episodes. I would love to know what games used the gravity gun in the way HL2 did, sure it may have popped up in other games but where is it a key factor? I can't recall any. Physics in HL2 went far past puzzles.
The physics were a key part to HL2, namely because the gravity gun is probably the most gameplay effecting aspect of HL2, and that's continued on in the episodes. I would love to know what games used the gravity gun in the way HL2 did, sure it may have popped up in other games but where is it a key factor? I can't recall any. Physics in HL2 went far past puzzles.
djskribbles
Legend
how is EP2 compared to EP1 or Lost Coast?
HL2 Story telling is very good but originally introduced in HL1.
Generally HL1 is considered to be the better game too. I personally enjoyed HL2 more than the first one because of antlion control, boat chase and gravity gun (only last level).
Among those I only consider antlions innovative (in an FPS) but the whole package was significantly flawed. Even Far Cry was better game which came earlier same year.
None of the HLs can make it to my top 5 FPS list.
You don't need low level collusion detection for gravity gun to be fun.
So no, Havoc Physics didn't bring anything to HL, certainly nothing to brag about.
"Force pull" from Star Wars Jedi Knight series (originally Dark Forces series).
No, none of those games had a level entirely based on force pull. While it was still fun, there was always more fun stuff to do.
In short, gravity gun is not original and it doesn't require Havoc physics, and yes it was much more fun than any similar gameplay elements in other games but that fun has nothing to do with the complexity of the physics.
But in order to come to that last level you have to play the rest of the game, half of which I consider boring.
While you have every right to an opinion, most would disagree with you.
What game? Same implimentation (i.e. interaction with physics-based objects)?
Anyhow, The Orange Box is getting some odd hate. Looking at its individual parts:
Half-Life 2. One of the best SP FPS ever. Great story/storytelling, long by today's standards, great artistry, and excellent voice/facial/gesture package. Contains some gameplay variety and is more of a thinking man's shooter, emphasized by the Physgun. Some may not like the "I am an uber hero" design, the frequent save points and linear progression, some of the different game locals (coast, Ravenholm, puzzles), etc but in general most consumers liked the total package. A lot. And while "dated" Valve did add some new spit and shine to the game (but appear to have failed on 60fps on the consoles and left out dynamic shadows?)
Ep.1&2. Ep1 was short and the weakest of the SP elements, but still a quality (short) SP experience. Ep2 has a number of technical improvements and goes with a slightly more open design at the end of the game. Physics are impressive, facial animation is even better, and the wooded areas look nice.
Half-Life 2, Ep1, Ep2, and Lost Coast, as a single package, is one of the highest quality--and long--single player FPS experience available. For a typical gamer the SP elements of the Half-Life 2 series are going to last 25-30 hours. This isn't filler. It is also nicely packaged into distinct segments so instead of getting bored, you can view each chapter as its own game.
I think it is noteworthy that, outside of the HL2 port to the Xbox (which was late in the dieing platforms life and technically just passable) this is the first oppurtunity for most console gamers to touch Half-Life 2. So while an "old" game it is essentially new to the consoles.
But there is more!
Portal. Just go watch the videos of this mini-game. It only last 3-6 hours for good FPS players, but it is excellent. This is an amazingly designed game that fuses the first person perspective with excellent puzzle elements. And it is humorous. If you don't like Portal you really don't like games. Heck, even the 2D flash Portal knockoff is fun. The concept is so simple and appeals to the "old school" thinking-puzzle style games (both electronic and otherwise).
Team Fortress 2. The bad: TF2 has only 6 maps (11 if you count all the Hydro maps individually). But boy are those maps great. Every class can be found useful in every map. TF2 is big on TEAM. This isn't slayer--far from it. The game design--from classes, to objectives, to map design--funnels gamers toward teamplay. Valve addresses so many issues in FPS MP it isn't even funny. e.g. Medics in most games are boring and/or pointless as you wait behind your front lines healing the few injured who are lucky enough to retreat (which is typically useless with fast spawn timers [you cannot count on smart medics in most games!] that diminish the cost of death as well as squad spawn points). TF2 addresses this as you are an active healer. Just point your healing gun and fire. Teammate healed. Better yet you can follow them right into battle and keep them healthy as a 1-2 combo. Best yet, when you have done enough healing you become the ultimate gamebreaker--Ubercharge. You and your target are now invulnerable for 10 seconds. So the guy on your team who cannot aim a gun? Be a medic and win the game!
Which brings me to another element of the series: stalemates. TF2 offers a lot of ways to avoid stalemates. Is the defence on their last Capture Point and fortified? Build up uber--better yet get 2 or 3 medics charged--and make a brutal assault. Or send in a slew of spies and have them destroy the sentries. The game really tailors toward all sorts of gameplay styles (like any good Class Based FPS should) which have excellent Rock-Paper-Scissors elements that overlap uniquely throughout all the 9 classes. If your aim sucks? Be a medic, or engineer, or heavy. Are you more of a thinking shooter fan? Be a spy (totally unique class), engineer, or demo. Are you a twitchy shooter fan? Be a sniper, scout, or soldier. As the game is objective driven the game really drives you toward working as a team--not just killing. You end up picking your class based on team based needs and how the flow of battle is going. Valve got everything right with the core game. Yeah, more maps and gamemodes (VIP/Escort would be nice) could have been included, but the game itself is deep, very polished, and highly enjoyable.
Valve was also very conscious of the Team/Objective/Class driven gameplay and that, ultimately, the game wasn't about "who is the best" but instead "who helped their team the most". The stats reflect this and are very much focused on personal bests with the important elements of each class. Finally, the game looks awesome. Great art. The amount of effort put into the unique design of the game shines through. This isn't just "good artists making high quality assets" but a very focus driven design created to accent the unique gameplay. TF2 is one of the best MP FPS games ever created.
And now add it all together.
Half-Life 2 + Lost Coast
Episode 1
Episode 2
Portal
Team Fortress 2
I would say The Orange Box is a canidate for GotY, except HL2 already won a lot of those awards in 2004. As a package you get an amazing (and long) Single Player experience in HL2/Ep1&2/Portal and one of the best Multiplayer packages on any platform -- all in one game. The package as a whole as a ton of innovation and quality design.
I believe I already answered that part.
To be clear, I have nothing against Orange Box, actually it's still the best deal this holiday season.
Which brings up the interesting question of sales. Had most of the 360 owners already played HL2 and/or EP1?
Too bad PS3 port sucks, I was willing to buy it although I'm only interested in EP2 and Portal.
I kinda wish they make Portal PSN downloadable as we know it works fine on PS3.
djskribbles
Legend
^same, i was thinking of buying OB on PS3 but now i will probably just buy EP2 for PC.
i don't like how they're charging 30 bucks for EP2 alone. i also don't like that you have to buy it from steam. makes me have to buy it from them and they rarely have any deals. do you guys think 30 bucks for EP2 is worth it? i already have HL2 and EP1 on PC.
i don't like how they're charging 30 bucks for EP2 alone. i also don't like that you have to buy it from steam. makes me have to buy it from them and they rarely have any deals. do you guys think 30 bucks for EP2 is worth it? i already have HL2 and EP1 on PC.
Exclude TF2 and I'll agree with you. TF2 has some very creative ideas in the renderer, it has excellent art execution, but is by no means hard on the hardware. People around here are playing it decently on 6600s and comfortably on 7600GS.