"First" Orange Box 360 demo this Thursday

[Varsity]

Or today, depending on your timezone.

The first public demo for The Orange Box - the unique new multiplatform, multi-game offering from Valve, creators of Half-Life 2 and Counter-Strike - is targeted for release on Xbox 360 tomorrow, November 22.

This first demo for The Orange Box is dedicated to Half-Life 2: Episode Two, the latest installment in the award-winning Half-Life 2 series and one of five games included in The Orange Box.

[H1PO]

Awesome. This may sell me this game.

[karak]

Great game.

[Xerxes]

Does it need it? It's already the craziest packaged value on the 360.

[Chainblast]

A PS3 demo would have been a better idea, you know since 360 owners already have access to the game and PS3 users don't.

[fitbabits]

A PS3 demo would have been a better idea, you know since 360 owners already have access to the game and PS3 users don't.

Take your logic elsewhere - it's not appreciated here!

[Gerbs]

You shouldn't need a demo to convince you to pick up this game. It's pretty much the best deal in gaming since, well.. ever.

[Scaryfaced]

Finally, I can try this "Half Life" and see just what all the hype is about...

[karak]

You shouldn't need a demo to convince you to pick up this game. It's pretty much the best deal in gaming since, well.. ever.

Right but a demo sells to people who Don't know what it is or have played it. Thats who should be getting this. This is for telling friends about who have never played Half Life.

[KingGorilla]

If you do not already know that Half-Life 2 and its episodes are the greatest story telling and single player in a shooter, ever, or how technically great their set pieces are, from just osmosis from other gamers; what fucking rock have you lived under for the last 3 years?

[VictorVonViolence]

I really hope this spurs them to fix the almost-unplayable TF2 online.

Please please let that be the case

[StANTo]

If you do not already know that Half-Life 2 and its episodes are the greatest story telling and single player in a shooter, ever, or how technically great their set pieces are, from just osmosis from other gamers; what fucking rock have you lived under for the last 3 years?

A rock somewhere in Wales if you were to believe my housemate didn't know what the Half-Life gaming series was until he met me.

[karak]

I really hope this spurs them to fix the almost-unplayable TF2 online.

Please please let that be the case

Exactly the more new people, the more downloads, the more interest generated the better. Its a great game but MANY people have no idea what it is. Or think its just a normal shooter...which I guess it is.

[WAZts]

To me this seems a little odd. I don't know if any of these games are what you'd consider "main stream" but hey. I'll take a demo any day of the week.

[Xerxes]

If you do not already know that Half-Life 2 and its episodes are the greatest story telling and single player in a shooter, ever, or how technically great their set pieces are, from just osmosis from other gamers; what fucking rock have you lived under for the last 3 years?
You know what. I think my gaming path changed. After Creed and possibly COD4 SP, I'm going to boot my PS2 Half Life. And it better lead into something I've never seen before in Orange Box. Trust me though it's not cause your word means that much. But I'm tired of hearing a bunch of people say it.:mad:

[KingGorilla]

As a man attempting to choke down his 3rd attempt at beating Half-Life, I do not think anything good can happen Xerxes. As bad as the buggy or air boat can get in Half-Life 2, the jumping puzzles and switches get just horrendous, the synthetic boss encounters are worse.

[bKangy]

You know what. I think my gaming path changed. After Creed and possibly COD4 SP, I'm going to boot my PS2 Half Life. And it better lead into something I've never seen before in Orange Box. Trust me though it's not cause your word means that much. But I'm tired of hearing a bunch of people say it.:mad:

Don't boot it up on PS2, get it on PC. It'll cost you pennies and it's well worth it for seeing it in the intended format. PS2 has autoaim etc :( Unless you're being sarcastic, then fuck off ;)

[KingGorilla]

I am sorry, but Half-Life does not hold up. I am speaking of the gameplay, not the graphics. Yarg. It feels very dated. I can acknowledge what it has contributed, and remember that fondly, but yeesh is it murder to play.

[bKangy]

I am sorry, but Half-Life does not hold up. I am speaking of the gameplay, not the graphics. Yarg. It feels very dated. I can acknowledge what it has contributed, and remember that fondly, but yeesh is it murder to play.

I still think it plays very well. The jumping puzzles aren't that hard but they're probably the only weakish point. The AI isn't too bad for it's age and the level design is still really good. The presentation is arguably still on par with most modern games as well.

[KingGorilla]

The level design is Good? I am not sure how far you have gotten into the game. But there is some horrendous design choices. But I have managed to get to the final part of the Gonchar boss battle, and upon consulting a guide realize that it is supposed to die...but miraculously the flapping weak spot will not yield a death. I have quit at a point much further than where I usually quit, so bully for me, but I will never dis the last third of Far Cry ever again.

[beefyjr]

I actually never finished the original Half-Life. I got to the Xen part, saw all the shitty jumping puzzles and uninstalled it in a fit of rage. It completely ruined what had been until that point an amazing experience.

I really hope they decide to fix TF2. It's total fucking bullshit that it doesn't work.

[Varsity]

I actually never finished the original Half-Life. I got to the Xen part, saw all the shitty jumping puzzles and uninstalled it in a fit of rage. It completely ruined what had been until that point an amazing experience.

Relax. All you missed was standing inside a giant cyborg baby's brain and bashing it with a crowbar.

[KingGorilla]

With TF2, it is hard to say what is wrong with it. There is something funky with Xbox Live that is affecting the online play. It is a problem that many live games have faced since the Beta stage. And it either stems from certain developers not utilizing it properly. Though Valve and Turtle Rock managed to get a stellar Counterstrike port out, or some issue that Microsoft has needed to address. It still amazes me that a broadband only service can only manage 8 player multiplayer in a stable way, consistently. I hope that the guys tied to the consoles get a solid TF2 to play.

[serioustommy]

I think the biggest problem with TF2 is the graphics. It just looks so outdated. I've been playing Crysis and it just doesn't compare... I mean it even runs on my friends ati 9800 that's how old the engine is lol.

[Kryopsis]

I think the biggest problem with TF2 is the graphics. It just looks so outdated. I've been playing Crysis and it just doesn't compare... I mean it even runs on my friends ati 9800 that's how old the engine is lol.
If graphics are your main concern then why are you even playing games? Go watch a movie, it has much better graphics and requires even less input.

I love TF2 but despite the second patch it is still quite laggy on XBL.

[Codicier]

I think the biggest problem with TF2 is the graphics.

Does not compute.

Critical system failure.

[Kelegacy]

The Orange Box is so far my 360 game of the year. Great package. Hopefully people take advantage of this demo.

[Xerxes]

Don't boot it up on PS2, get it on PC. It'll cost you pennies and it's well worth it for seeing it in the intended format. PS2 has autoaim etc :( Unless you're being sarcastic, then fuck off ;)

You fuck off. From what I hear PS2 has the game as good as it's going to get. And that mod everyone is waiting for is a bit for off still from the looks of it. Also, I don't like KB/M much.

[KingGorilla]

Does not compute.

Critical system failure.

To be fair, nothing compares with Cryengine 2. But the updates Valve has made to Source with the lighting and textures are great. It still looks good, not the best, but better then a lot of the things out now, or that have come out recently.

[Codicier]

To be fair, nothing compares with Cryengine 2. But the updates Valve has made to Source with the lighting and textures are great. It still looks good, not the best, but better then a lot of the things out now, or that have come out recently.

My point wasn't that it looked better than Crysis. My point was that his proclamation that "the biggest problem with TF2 is the graphics." is wrong.

The way TF2 looks is not only not a problem, it's one of the game's greatest strengths.

[caenelgren]

I had been really excited about this as I haven't picked up the Orange Box yet (I have too many games I want to finish and have been slacking on); I have to say I was kind've disappointed by this demo though. From a personal point I was confused as to why they started off the demos with Episode 2 (I'm assuming it will be Ep 2, TF2, and Portal all in all?) since I'm thinking the people who haven't bought Orange Box yet likely aren't familiar with Half-Life in the first place. Now don't get me wrong, being introduced to the game with a demo that takes place at the beginning of Half-Life 2 would be just as confusing =) but at least you wouldn't be starting off in what is essentially the third act. I do realize that Half-Life 2 came out on the Xbox (and I think Ep 1? not positive) so some may already be familiar with it; again, just personal opinion.

The demo itself was incredibly short unless I missed some parts. There was about 5 minutes of gameplay, which consisted mainly with walking around? The rest was standing around during scripted sequences. I've played Half-Life 2 and so know what to expect but I'm not sure the average 360'er who doesn't have this yet will. Ah well, still nice to see how it runs on the 360 but just struck me as an odd demo that won't be doing much convincing for the people that haven't picked this up yet. Luckily, I still planned to all along as my PC is ancient and getting this on the 360 is a lot easier to budget for with a baby on the way.