Yes, Episode 1/2/Portal/TF2 are all far, far more taxing than HL2.
They're not THAT much more taxing. To a large extent you can turn the graphics down to about HL2 equivalent and still get a decent framerate (this of course varies depending on what your HL2 experience was originally and what sort of hardware you've got). The Source engine has always been incredibly scalable (It was originally designed for DX7 cards after all).
Well yeah, I'm assuming he doesn't want it to look like complete arse. Even on medium settings, yes, the episodes are that much more taxing than vanilla, non-HDR HL2.
Neither here nor there though, as the macbook will run both fine.
I can almost guarantee I have an crappier system than most of you. My PC has a 2 gig Pentium, 768 MB of RAM, and an nVidia GeForce FX 5200 video card.
Sure, DirectX 10 is out of the question (so long, HDR!) but I can run medium video settings without any problems, and it still looks pretty good.
That is a terrible card, yeah. I used to roll with one. HDR, though, isn't DX10, it's DX9, which the 5200 kind of fakes. You can have bloom, but not HDR, and the water looks like shit.
Man I hated that card.
LaCabra on
0
ShadowfireVermont, in the middle of nowhereRegistered Userregular
edited October 2007
People are talking about KBAM vs. gamepad, but no one's talking desk vs. couch. This is an important debate, and of course, couch wins every time. If you can play your laptop on the couch, more power to you.
Same goes for sound... if you have a good surround system hooked up to your TV, there's no damn reason to play HL2 on your laptop. ;-)
Well let me just clarify and add that I live in residence. :P Couch gaming is really out of the question for the next 6 months.
I guess I'll go for the PC version. I'll finally be able to play Half-Life 2. I've been waiting 2 years to actually play it. Funny story, I the original game 2 years ago from Staples when my parents bought a new PC tower and tried to install the game... only to discover that someone had already used the serial key...
I'm buying Orange Box for 360, for HL2 and the eps and portal. I'll probably buy TF2 on PC. I don't find this arrangement to be too costly given that the value for orange box is already so good.
Go with PC if you can; as mentioned, KBAM is much better than a controller for shooters.
Not only that, but I am willing to bet money that you will be able to find Orange Box PC for $30 on Black Friday.
The only time I would go for a gamepad over M/KB for a shooter is when there is a lot of complex third person melee. But even then, it is not a problem if it is done correctly (like ONI), and you can always use joy2key if you want to use a gamepad.
Well there's no Black Friday in Canada, but I'll definitely be picking up the PC version now. Could anyone push me towards joining the PA TF2 server? I love playing online but if I have to play against one more 12 year old... I swear... I'll... bitch on these forums about it!
Don't let it happen to you! (Thanks for the help :P)
People are talking about KBAM vs. gamepad, but no one's talking desk vs. couch. This is an important debate, and of course, couch wins every time. If you can play your laptop on the couch, more power to you.
Not every time.
I much prefer the desk. I have a nice, comfy computer chair, really nice headphones (with a desktop headphone amp), a good monitor, and a decent keyboard and mouse.
On the other hand, the TV is being used by housemates half the time to watch crap reality TV shows, and my long-distance eyesight is crap, so I have to wear glasses when playing games on the TV. The speakers are no match for my headphones either. The couch loses in terms of convenience, comfort and audio quality.
I can't imagine trying to hit people with demoman grenades with a controller. Or rocket jump quickly and successfully. Or kill a circle-strafing scout as a heavy in short order.
PC version if you can handle it. I keep hearing people who say that can't run it, which is hard to believe as the source engine is well over what, 3 years old now. If you can run HL2, then you can run Orange Box on your PC.
TF2 (and the rest of the Source 2007 games) have some significant improvements to Source, so the minimum requirements have been bumped up a bit. A computer that plays HL2 won't automatically be good enough to play TF2, there's a little margin where the two don't overlap in requirements.
TF2 (and the rest of the Source 2007 games) have some significant improvements to Source, so the minimum requirements have been bumped up a bit. A computer that plays HL2 won't automatically be good enough to play TF2, there's a little margin where the two don't overlap in requirements.
True, but the Source engine is pretty scalable. It still seems like you should be able to play it.
Minus the vid card, my system is over 3 years old now.
AMD 3800+, 2gb ram, 7600gt. Runs TF2 at a damn good frame rate with 4xAA, 4xAF @ 1280x1024.
I think the real question is, which box looks worse. Orange Box PC (orange) or Orange Box 360 (lime green)
I need to take a picture of my orange 360 box
It's not only lime green its also bright "mein eyes!" orange. Kinda reminds me of Surge. Or that Slimer brand Hi-C juicebox crap I used to drink as a kid.
I can't imagine trying to hit people with demoman grenades with a controller. Or rocket jump quickly and successfully. Or kill a circle-strafing scout as a heavy in short order.
I can't imagine doing anything useful in TF2 with a gamepad. Playing scout must be a nightmare.
MistaCreepy on
PS3: MistaCreepy::Steam: MistaCreepy::360: Dead and I don't feel like paying to fix it.
I can't imagine trying to hit people with demoman grenades with a controller. Or rocket jump quickly and successfully. Or kill a circle-strafing scout as a heavy in short order.
I can't imagine doing anything useful in TF2 with a gamepad. Playing scout must be a nightmare.
It's not even remotely difficult. Once when you're well acquainted with the game pad anyway; however, I can see people that are not used to a game pad having trouble with it.
All right, I went and bought it for the PC tonight
I had Portal running with everything at Maximum settings, and I love it!
So how exactly do I join the PA servers on Steam? The Xbox Live experience was improved so much from playing with PA people, so I'd love to play this with you guys too.
I can't imagine trying to hit people with demoman grenades with a controller. Or rocket jump quickly and successfully. Or kill a circle-strafing scout as a heavy in short order.
I can't imagine doing anything useful in TF2 with a gamepad. Playing scout must be a nightmare.
It's not even remotely difficult. Once when you're well acquainted with the game pad anyway; however, I can see people that are not used to a game pad having trouble with it.
Orange Box was the first FPS I played on a console since Goldeneye (I think.)
I used Portal as a training ground for being able to move around and aim quickly and accurately. I mean, I was never very great at the whole FPS thing but I think my skill has transferred pretty quickly over to the controller vs. the keyboard/mouse.
I can't imagine trying to hit people with demoman grenades with a controller. Or rocket jump quickly and successfully. Or kill a circle-strafing scout as a heavy in short order.
I can't imagine doing anything useful in TF2 with a gamepad. Playing scout must be a nightmare.
It's not even remotely difficult. Once when you're well acquainted with the game pad anyway; however, I can see people that are not used to a game pad having trouble with it.
Aside from my demoman example, I'm referring to the hard cap on how fast you can move your aim - down, for a rocket jump (and then to the front again), or left/right for destroying a scout in your comfort zone.
For anyone used to the mouse but also playing on a gamepad, how high is the sensitivity on the console? Comparable to the mouse?
On the couch vs desk debate, I had the win in college. I have yet to get this setup in my house, but I will.
Computer Chair = LazyBoy Recliner.
Computer desk has pullout drawer that can easily be pulled right off and set in lap to make a nice mouse surface that is held in place firmly by your lap and your hand on the keyboard.
Man, that setup was the best gaming setup I ever had.
For me, I less concerned with control schemes (although I can't see how rocket jumping would be quick enough with the controller, nor how sniping would be accurate AND fast enough at the same time) than I would be with custom TF2 and portal maps. I want to relive BADLANDS again in TF2, and portal already has new maps coming out. On the PC you can also already have the portal gun in HL2.
No way would I want to wait until Valve gets around to bundling THEIR favorite maps together and then maybe giving them away in a download and maybe charging for them.
Got a source for that? And is that referring to PC or 360 version? Personally I only look forward to playing new maps made by Valve anyways, because given the art style, most user-made maps will likely stick out like a sore thumb even if they play well. And they better bring back Warpath. I used to play on a TFC server that was nothing but Dustbowl and Warpath and it was glorious.
Posts
Man I hated that card.
Same goes for sound... if you have a good surround system hooked up to your TV, there's no damn reason to play HL2 on your laptop. ;-)
I guess I'll go for the PC version.
I was going to come in for this reason and this reason alone.
The only time I would go for a gamepad over M/KB for a shooter is when there is a lot of complex third person melee. But even then, it is not a problem if it is done correctly (like ONI), and you can always use joy2key if you want to use a gamepad.
Don't let it happen to you! (Thanks for the help :P)
- The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (2017, colorized)
Completely irreverent to outcome of you getting Orange Box in the next month, but I have seen two of your Boxing Days, Canadia. Do not attempt to lie.
Not every time.
I much prefer the desk. I have a nice, comfy computer chair, really nice headphones (with a desktop headphone amp), a good monitor, and a decent keyboard and mouse.
On the other hand, the TV is being used by housemates half the time to watch crap reality TV shows, and my long-distance eyesight is crap, so I have to wear glasses when playing games on the TV. The speakers are no match for my headphones either. The couch loses in terms of convenience, comfort and audio quality.
I... I can't wait that long!
Stop right there.
Get the PC version. It will look much better on your notebook.
If you had a HDTV then I would say it would come down to control preferences.
I would just like to have options!
猿も木から落ちる
I DID manage to find a nice Orange case to stick my 360 version in, though
True, but the Source engine is pretty scalable. It still seems like you should be able to play it.
Minus the vid card, my system is over 3 years old now.
AMD 3800+, 2gb ram, 7600gt. Runs TF2 at a damn good frame rate with 4xAA, 4xAF @ 1280x1024.
I need to take a picture of my orange 360 box
It's not only lime green its also bright "mein eyes!" orange. Kinda reminds me of Surge. Or that Slimer brand Hi-C juicebox crap I used to drink as a kid.
I've quite warmed up to digital distribution in the past few years.
Gamertag: PrimusD | Rock Band DLC | GW:OttW - arrcd | WLD - Thortar
I can't imagine doing anything useful in TF2 with a gamepad. Playing scout must be a nightmare.
It's not even remotely difficult. Once when you're well acquainted with the game pad anyway; however, I can see people that are not used to a game pad having trouble with it.
I had Portal running with everything at Maximum settings, and I love it!
So how exactly do I join the PA servers on Steam? The Xbox Live experience was improved so much from playing with PA people, so I'd love to play this with you guys too.
Hook me up!
maybe not at max settings, but you'll be fiiiiiiine.
Orange Box was the first FPS I played on a console since Goldeneye (I think.)
I used Portal as a training ground for being able to move around and aim quickly and accurately. I mean, I was never very great at the whole FPS thing but I think my skill has transferred pretty quickly over to the controller vs. the keyboard/mouse.
I have a 9700 with a less competent processor, and the only thing I have to turn down besides AA is textures (medium) and no HDR. It is beautiful.
For anyone used to the mouse but also playing on a gamepad, how high is the sensitivity on the console? Comparable to the mouse?
猿も木から落ちる
Computer Chair = LazyBoy Recliner.
Computer desk has pullout drawer that can easily be pulled right off and set in lap to make a nice mouse surface that is held in place firmly by your lap and your hand on the keyboard.
Man, that setup was the best gaming setup I ever had.
For me, I less concerned with control schemes (although I can't see how rocket jumping would be quick enough with the controller, nor how sniping would be accurate AND fast enough at the same time) than I would be with custom TF2 and portal maps. I want to relive BADLANDS again in TF2, and portal already has new maps coming out. On the PC you can also already have the portal gun in HL2.
No way would I want to wait until Valve gets around to bundling THEIR favorite maps together and then maybe giving them away in a download and maybe charging for them.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
MMOG Comic, Quests, and News. www.thebrasse.com
Also, I like to actually get had copies of the games I pay for, burned disks just aren't the same.
PC is undoubtably the superior platform for this game if you have the specs for it, though. Generally, the original platform is.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
MMOG Comic, Quests, and News. www.thebrasse.com
Ah, that is right. I have a hl2 box somewhere locked to an old steam account. Way too much pain in the ass to play a single player game.
Got a source for that? And is that referring to PC or 360 version? Personally I only look forward to playing new maps made by Valve anyways, because given the art style, most user-made maps will likely stick out like a sore thumb even if they play well. And they better bring back Warpath. I used to play on a TFC server that was nothing but Dustbowl and Warpath and it was glorious.
Also, it'd be a shitty move to charge for maps, which is enough of a reason to assume Valve won't do it IMO.