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It's bad enough that Valve's The Orange Box is suffering from a joke of a delay on the PlayStation 3, but if 1Up is to be believed, the wait isn't even going to be worth it. Once again, the prospect of severe framerate issues rears its ugly head, which is said render the game "unplayable" at times. Just what is the EA port team playing at? After spending a significant amount of time with a near final version of the PS3 game, it's apparent that this version suffers from a number of technical flaws, which at best merely hinder game play and at worst make the experience downright unplayable. Framerate is a consistent issue throughout the Half-Life series of games included in The Orange Box. One moment you'll be cruising through the game at 30 frames per second and the next you'll be enjoying a slideshow of series protagonist Gordon Freeman cruising down the river. However, Portal suffers from no such technical hiccups and is on its way to being a pitch-perfect port of the spatial reasoning exercise. Due to a server connection issue, we were unable to get any time with Team Fortress 2.
At least Portal's okay, that's the main thing. One can only hope that "near final" isn't completely "final," but I don't know how much more work they're hoping to do with it to fix such glaring issues. Between the ridiculous delay and the shoddy porting effort, by all accounts it seems that Valve's offer of the year has totally shafted the PS3. No surprise, since Valve head Gabe Newell thinks Sony's console is a complete waste of time. If there were any PlayStation 3 owners waiting for this one, I hope they have a good PC, just in case.
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First and bored, not by the article, just in general.
So, everyone, how's the weather?
I'm just waiting for the inevitable rant from Gabe blaming the PS3 for all of this, rather than it being the fault of Valve, EA or even his own poisonous attitude to the platform.
I'm hoping against hope that 1up.com saw some unoptimized debug build but I still have zero confidence until I see reviews given Gabe's pissing-into-his-own-trifle attitude.
Who cares? If you wanted to play it you did it already on PC or X360...
I hate thumbsticks for FPS, if your gonna play orange box, get a fucking pc.
Lol! It's a dangerous game that Valve are playing with the PS3 and the Orange Box. I thought it was a bit suspect when they first announced that EA were handling the port. Then the delay. Now this? Not good for fans of Valve who own a PS3. Not good at all.
Ha, soul3150, I have a keyboard and mouse for FPS. Can't play 'em comfortably without thumbsticks.
S'why I get annoyed by arrogant PC gamers (not you) who advocate Keyboard/Mouse as the ONLY way to play. It really isn't. Some people just don't like that setup.
I saw you say that EA were involved. Surely that's enough of a sign that things aren't as they should be?
We don't go to... wait.. oh, I see what you did there.
Also, this proves that the Cell is so beyond us all that people don't know how to use it. Fact.
EA are supposed to be doing the port. Since the details of this arrangement are not disclosed, it would not surprise me if EA offered to do this on the cheap in exchange for revenues from PS3 titles based off the Source engine. Maybe Gabe really doesn't give a crap about the PS3 because any money made will go to EA. Or maybe he's just being a jerk because the PS3 has the temerity to not to use DirectX and therefore makes porting Source a pain in the butt and expensive. Meanwhile, other software houses such as Epic made sure to make their engines work on OpenGL and DirectX through prudent use of abstraction and are reaping the benefits.
Don't be silly, EA didn't offer to do it on the cheap.
EA just DID it on the cheap.
This is a hard lesson to learn for people who dont know not to expect anything good when EA gets involved.
Well, I recently played through HL2, Ep's 1 and 2 for the first time, and I must say, they are amazing games. Jim you really have to finish these :)
On the port side, that sucks for PS3 users. I wouldn't say this is so much Valves fault as it is EA's. People seem to forget though, EA is porting a whole new engine to the system, one that they didn't write. That must be difficult. I don't think they'd do it on purpose, I just think that the deadline that was set with the release of the PC and 360 versions was unmatchable for EA with the PS3 version.
Macca: I finished them all. On tenterhooks for Episode Three now.
well, glad I got me a new PC then. All I really want is portal though.
Jim: Did it change the way you feel about story telling from a first person perspective? I know it did for me. And yea, I can't friggin wait for Episode 3. Give us the portal gun :D
"S'why I get annoyed by arrogant PC gamers (not you) who advocate Keyboard/Mouse as the ONLY way to play. It really isn't. Some people just don't like that setup."
Proper term: Some people haven't gotten used to that setup.
I used to be like you, you know. Then I converted once I got used to playing Quake.
I like it how everyone cains EA, ok they do alot of things bad, but hey they are one of the biggest if not the biggest in this market so they must be doing something right. Its not EA's fault that the PS3 is a bitch to port too, its Sonys. so if EA cant be arshed then bad luck Sony, you shot youreself in the foot once again!Its like Windows, if you dont like it, dont buy it! simple....now wheres my windows based pc to play my flawless HL2....
I remember reading a Gabe Newell quote not to long ago where he was talking about how much of each console's potential he was using with the Orange Box. He stated pretty confidently 93 or 94% for the 360 utilizing all 3 cores but then said flat out he had no idea how much of the PS3's power he was using as he was making no effort to include the SPU's at all. No, the PS3 Orange Box utilizes only the GPU and Cell so I can understand how there might be some issues. Good thing I own the PC version and shame on Gabe and EA for crappy PS3 porting.
and the same thing happened with assassins creed?
As far as I know EA UK (Harry Fucking Potter) is porting the game, good ole Gabe already told us he hates PS3. Just go get the PC version.
If they tossed in KB/Mouse support it would really help but im sorry to hear such constint bad news of PS3 porting problems. I only use it to play movies =(
Like many others have already mentioned--it's not Valve's Orange Box for the PS3. It's EA's. Other than Valve's bad business decision to allow a publisher that's well-known for "inventing" new games by rehashing old existing ones to handle a port of their #1 franchise, I don't blame Valve themselves.
Skip the PS3 version. Get the PC version. It controls better than the 360 version anyway.
I suppose the good news for those who still need/want the PS3 version is that EA can resolve technical issues with patches. I suppose the bad news for those who still need/want the PS3 version is that EA typically doesn't do patch support for their games for very long after release. If they don't fix it right away, they probably won't fix it.
No matter the quibbles with interfaces or what Gabe Newell thinks, this is a port job, and one orchestrated and paid for by a publisher that's never worked with the original developer before.
Valve programmers made the 360 version. "An internal team at EA" handled the PS3 version. So far, every team outside Valve that has licensed the Source engine has run into fatal or near-fatal issues with it. This report should surprise no one who takes all these things into account.
Hell, Valve is making so much dosh with the PC versions through Steam and such, they might have just signed off to EA for all the profits off the PS3 version.
It's a last gen 3d engine, that was not efficient at all. I knew it would suck, and i wasn't planning on buying it anyway. It's not new. With warhawk, cod4, and unreal i got my first person bases covered more that adequately.
All the ports from the pc have been crap so far. Why is this anything new?
and before people go baggin on the ps3, go play drake's uncharted on a nice hd tv. You'll see why any ps3 nay sayers are wrong. This game is amazing.
I was wondering when good ol' Hex was gonna show up.
Sucks that the PS3 owners are getting the shaft with this. I also don't think it's Gabe's fault. I mean sure, he doesn't like the PS3, but be that as it may, he does like money. Unfortunately, he handed the game off to one of the most ham-handed game studios in the entire world to port, and that's just bad freaking news.
With a little luck they'll get'er all cleaned up before launch and you can finally get your Portal on.
the original half life sucked balls on the ps2, this doesn't surprise me at all. As soon as i heard ea was doing it, i had flashbacks of their shitty madden and tiger woods ports. Why aren't they just using the same technique from portal to make the other games better?
It's ea's fault no doubt, no matter if newell hates the ps3 or not. No company WANTS their game to be a pile of shit. (unless they had an agenda)
I think the ps3 would be good if people cared about it. BUt alot of the big name publishers don't. I wish people would stop giving it the shaft. O well I'm off to play mass effect.
I have a feeling it wont matter because mgs4 and final fantasy 13 will stand the industry on it's head.
Yah it will Hexfix, when MGS4 comes out on 360
OH SNAP
wat the hell i want a good game for the ps3
Hex, stop making Sony fans look stupid. ;o;
And Warhawk is third person, not first. Jeez.
Hexfix: The 360 version of HL2 runs just fine. Oh, and saying that a new system can't handle an old engine is NOT good point.
Nowadays, you can buy a PC that will run Orange Box just fine for less the the price of a PS3.
And if you must play with thumbsticks (can't see why you would want to if you didnt have to), there is a PC version of the Xbox360 controller
......its not very good this PS3, is it?.
Yes, because the 360 is more last gen friendly :) and the processors are set up more like last gen. The ps3 is a pure parallel system, if you only use the ppc part of the cell, stuff will run like a 1.6ghz g4 mac, no joke. So yeah, i bet that is what they did. from the 9 frames a second, i am willing to bet money that is what they did.
as to where the xbox, if you use one ppc in it runs more like a p4 2.4ghz computer, which was my system with a gforce 6800gt when i played half life 2.
So yes.. It's not moot, it is how the systems are exploited. These stupid ports are mostly running the ps3 as a single ppc with no mutlithreaded code at all. MY point is very valid..
Who cares about half life, i've been over that over hyped game for 2 years now, some stupid retread for stuff that should of been free to begin with is not up my ally at all. I think they ruined tem fortress by making it look like a pixar cartoon. portal, looks like a public domain game you should of been able to download for free or maybe 5 bucks.. team fortress was a free download on the quake engine.. what a joke.
i don't care, and not cause it runs bad. even if this game ran at 60 frames on the ps3, i still would not buy it. if i had a 360, i wouldn't buy it, i'm more that over half life.
If mgs4 come to 360 as well, great. I don't care, because i will own both systems by then probably, but i bet it will still look better on the ps3.
Doesn't matter. both systems are great. I'm talking issues with ports. The 360 is great for those pc style games. The ps3 is great if you are more into console style games, like ratchet and clank, drake's uncharted, heavenly sword, etc etc..
Right now, 360 is the king of the first person shooter. and the ps3 is the king of the platformers with adult themes and console style play with great presentation. wii is the king of fluffy kids plat formers and party games..
All of the sytems offer something the others don't. too bad for those who don't have a ton of money.
@hexfix
Thats great that you dont care about Orange Box. If you did I'd bet you'd feel real bad right about now. I bet you don't care about Halo, Gears, Madden, Mario Galaxy, Zelda, Bioshock or any other hit game that isn't PS3 friendly, if it was on the PS3 at all.
That BLOWS! Good thing I'm already done with Orange Box on the 360.
@hexfix
So have you played Mass Effect yet? Have you taken in its awesomeness and realized its one of the greatest rpgs to come out this year? Oh yeah, and its on the 360, "the king of of the first person shooter."
Man, PS3 owners get no love from anyone, it seems.
Gears of war is amazing. And bioshock is too, hell i even like lost planet a little. Mass effect looks neat as well. I HATE HALO. not a fan at all. I prefer doom, quake, and unreal to all first person shooters, and that is why i went with the ps3, unreal. That is the one i care the most about. And once microsoft proves to me, that i can buy a console that will not break down in the middle of my hard core gaming sessions, i will not buy an xbox 360.
I want to play gears so bad. I wont buy pcs anymore. i'm a mac guy now. So i cant wait for a stable 360, and a good price point, and i will play bioshock, gears, and mass effect then for sure..
I still favor the ps3 over all systems. But if i had the money and space, i would have them all.
@Hexfix:
I'm glad you don't like the Orange Box. Because there is little chance of me being on the same server as you on TF2.
as a ps3 owner, articles like this make me cry
@Hexfix:
Half Life 2 sucks period, PS3 owners should be thankful that Crap Life 2 hasn't darkened their console, PS3's library gets enough flack as it is without adding one more turd to the mix.
But everyone should play portal.
@Amp, converted? So you ceased to play console FPS games?
Get it through your skull, some people don't like that damn set-up, I played Quake, Counterstrike, the Original Half Life, Doom 1 through 3, I DONT LIKE PC GAMING.
This will be a huge pisser for ps3 owners. Too bad. Late and shite. The PS3 fails to deliver again, what a disaster this christmas. Hope Unreal Tournament can save some sort of face. My 360 is awash with great titles this year, I dont have the time or money to play them all.
Oh dear...oh dear.
oh, and it's a good thing your 360 is not going to get played a lot, that might cause it to break, then you'll be sol for 3 months..
*cough*cough*
I hate EA, yet I buy their games.
I feel anger over Valve though, for not giving a crap!
Yet I'll get this for the BS3. ( PORTAL )
& I ain't buying no 360, EVA! ( I'ld rather buy a Wii ! )
Thar be fanboys in this here comments
I still would prefer this on a pc rather than a console. And I agree that Half Life 2, while a good game, the orange box is a re-hash of a 2 year old game, with 2 other games thrown in. I know portal and TF2 are great if thats your thing. Its just kind of...meh, I wasn't planning on getting it anyway and if I did it would be for pc.
@ Kyousuke Nanbu
"Half Life 2 sucks period, PS3 owners should be thankful that Crap Life 2 hasn't darkened their console, PS3's library gets enough flack as it is without adding one more turd to the mix."
Did you....were you serious? I'm all for everyone having their own opinion, but not even acknowledging it's amazing story telling and innovative puzzle solving gameplay by calling the entire game crap, is..I don't know. You're fucking stupid, is all I have to say.
@ hexfix
You're trying so hard not to explode into a ball of fanboy hatred. It's actually pretty funny to watch. And I love how you're discounting the Half-Life series as just a last gen title when it's better than any game on the PS3, period.
No way, i think drake's uncharted is the best game i have ever played. and i am not saying that lightly. I really love this game.
Half life 2 was a huge let down for me 2 years ago. i mean it really tanked on me. i loved the first one so much, thought the second one would take yah back into that sci fi place it had at the end of it. instead, it was more like a halloween game, i thought parts of it were ok, but way over hyped, and i played it again recently and still, it wasnt that good.
TO ME any way. I'm not a fan boy. How many times do i have to give props to the wii and the 360 before you guys stop labeling me as a fan boy. the truth is, the people who throw that shit at me are sony bashers.
The cake is not a lie, ever.
"Valve head Gabe Newell thinks Sony's console is a complete waste of time" HAHAHA!! Wait... didn't he have to make a public apology over that quote?
Half Life 2 really doesn't have much against some of the stuff that's been released this year, and even on the PS3. Skate, Warhawk, and TF2 are all easily better than HL2. Not to say that HL2 is bad, but it certainly ain't the greatest.
Silent Radar: I don't seem to recall him making one. It's not like he would have to anyway.
Oops.
LOL. Blu-Ray 3 can't play a game released in 2004. LOL. This is just sad.
Incidentally, I've decided to no longer address hexfix. He has shown himself to be a fucking idiot once again, and I have decided he's beyond reason and beyond help. May God have mercy on his Cell processor.
Framerate issues on an older game on a powerful machine? Not impressed.
I think Gabe has called the PS3 a waste of time on more than one occasion. It's no surprise he farmed it out to EA; probably because he didn't want to waste time on the PS3, in his own words. So hell yeah it's Gabe's fault. I have to commend him for sticking to his guns, though, he'd have been a total hypocrite to have Valve do the PS3 version in-house. IT seems to me that he would rather send the PS3 version to supercorporation EA who has already dumped literally millions into devkits for the PS3 as opposed to dumping Valve's budget on dev platforms and sdk's for a system that he despises.
Jeez, the bad news just keeps on coming.
@sharpless, "can't play a game released in 2004"
Are you retarded?
*snicker* Sony just can't get a break these days.
If I want a Valve game I'll buy it for the PC. They know what they're doing in there. I've never been a fan of games ported from one platform to another, it just doesn't seem the same to me, joystick keyboard or what have you. While I think its a great idea to bring some of Valve's best selling softwares to more consumers, I just prefer to play a game written for the PC on the PC.
@Sharpless
Blu-ray has nothing to do with the frame rates of Half-Life 2 and the main problem with the Source engines seems to be it's lack of multithreading (it only uses 40% of my core 2 quad) and the fact that Valve who knows the Source inside out, giving EA the heavy task of porting the engine to opengl was really stupid. Moving an engine from directx to opengl is a lot harder than it may sometimes seem and if Valve actually cared, the Ps3 version would have the potential to b