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Orange Box?

S

spyker3292

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Jul 7, 2005
1,026
13
Michigan
Ok I've got one question.. Should I buy Orange Box for the PS3 or just buy Crossover Mac and buy it in steam? Both have their problems and one is more expensive... so what should I do? (BTW my comp is a 2.4ghz Al iMac w/ 2GB ram).

I'd would just go out and buy the PS3 version because it's cheaper but I have heard of problems with that version so I wanted to know what people think of Crossover.

Thanks!
 
I think you'll need to run it in boot camp rather than crossover. I run it in boot camp on my MBP and it runs great. Think about which platform you'd rather play it on. Personally I can't stand FPS with a game pad. Gotta be mouse and keyboard so that pretty much made my decision for me. And the fact the only console I have is a Wii :)

Here in the UK though the PC version of Orange Box is £10 cheaper. Anyway, when you do get it - make sure you do 1 level at a time on Portal. It's far too short and you can only play it for the first time once!
 
Run it in boot camp. You're much better off with the fluid FPS controls a mouse and keyboard provide than the clunky handling of a PS3 dualshock.
 
Also if its anything like the Xbox 360 version you don't get updates nearly as frequently. Plus boot camp is free if you already have Leopard!
 
According to reviews, the PS3 version of the game has some technical issues (long loading times, even when loading saves in the same level and clunky framerates).

I vote for the PC version, there are already 3rd party maps for Portal which increase it's (very short) longevity considerably, not to mention the much better framerate and much speedier loading times plus mouse/keyboard control.

So yeah, I think Bootcamp is the way to go in this case.
 
I am running The Orange Box on a Macbook through CrossOver, and while it runs, I would recommend not taking that route. It really is somewhat of a pain setting up, and there are some direct X compatibility issues with TF2, Portal, and Half Life Episode 2. Also, by the time you buy the game, then buy CrossOver, you'll be out $100 compared to the PS3 or bootcamp options.

If you still decide to go with CrossOver I have written a detailed guide for setting it up with The Orange Box.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/418295/
 
You'll be out more than $100 with Bootcamp as it will cost you a Windows license.
 
After reading a bunch it seems that reviewers might have over exaggerated the problems with the PS3 version. I'll probably just get that one, it would be the easiest way.
 
mongrol said:
You'll be out more than $100 with Bootcamp as it will cost you a Windows license.
Click to expand...
Not if you already own an windows disk like the OP.

The more I play it the more I think that Team Fortress 2 is one of the most fun multiplayer FPS games I've ever played! Great graphics, daft characters, superb levels.. brilliant. I think TF2 and Portal are worth the price of the Orange Box on their own. To get HL2 is a bonus :)
 
crossover is fine. no need for boot camp. There are a few issues with the older ATI cards and leopard, so it's a bit finicky for me, but you should be able to play it fine in crossover. I have it going on my system
 
I'll add another vote for Bootcamp. I was hesitant to go that way at first and considered waiting for the PS3 version, but it couldn't have been easier. Works flawlessly. And you get access to tons of TF2 servers, which I don't think are an option for the PS3.

I don't even play Half-Life. Like someone else said, it's worth it just for Team Fortress 2 and Portal.
 
pulsewidth947 said:
I think you'll need to run it in boot camp rather than crossover. I run it in boot camp on my MBP and it runs great.
Click to expand...
Same here: BootCamp in WinXP on my MBP and HL2 runs very well. But now I wish I had made my BootCamp partition larger -- I can't install Portal until I'm done with HL2! :)
 
Nah delay for as long as you can - you can only play it for the first time once! I made the mistake of playing Portal before HL2:Ep1. I've just finished HL2:Ep1 and I'm not sure that I'll bother with Ep2. I thought Ep1 was frustrating, and weak.
 
Well that's not so good. The worst 2 ways you could pay Orange Box. Boot Camp is the best way to go, especially on new Macs - the performance will be incredible. I gave TF2 a try under Crossover on my C2D iMac. It's just horrible. To go into detail;
Crossover had a 4:3 resolution of 800x600, everything set to low (since DX9 isn't working on it). It ran at around 25-30fps but stuttered every 15 seconds.
Bootcamp is running it at 1440x900, everything set to high (no AA), HDR, Bloom and motion blur enabled and at 30-40fps. No competition.

Plus there are so many new maps, server options, ability to run 32 players per server (don't the console versions max at 16?), better controls, much quicker updates on the PC TF2. And is it even possible to play Portal with a controller?

Have fun with it though. It's the best ruddy DVD (x2) ever.
 
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