According to Video Game Chartz, the Internet's self-proclaimed "Most comprehensive videogame charts in the world," the Xbox 360 version of Valve's The Orange Box has outsold Halo 3 ... last week. By the numbers (or would it be "numberz"?), The Orange Box moved 348,049 units, while Halo 3 was only pushing a paltry 285,860.
This seems like a nice victory for Valve, and they should relish in it. The Orange Box is (without much argument) one of the best values in console gaming. The fact that more Xbox 360 owners purchased The Orange Box last week than Halo 3 should have Valve employees finally partaking in all of that cake Electronic Arts has promised them.
Never mind the fact that Halo 3 came out a few weeks ago, and that it apparently broke entertainment industry records in its first day. Or that Halo 3 has moved some 3,482,376 units to date. The cake is not a lie, damn it.
[Via Voodoo Extreme -- Thanks, Justin]
Contest:
5:24 PM on 10.21.2007
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Also, Cocks.
And Zeroth.
Or, at least, that's why I would. PC gaming is a chore, always requiring the best, most expensive computers in order to play anything. Console gaming is no fuss, no muss. Beyond that, I'm just not very good at PC gaming. Give me a controller, period. I don't want a fucking keyboard or a mouse. It doesn't work for me. Also, achievements.
Of course, I can't afford a 360 right now either, but my point still stands.
As much as some gamers on the site will deride me for saying this, I agree with you wholeheartedly. PC gaming holds little interest for me, with the exception of Starcraft and my longing desire to play System Shock 2 someday.
You know the last games I got for my PC, Tiberium Sun and Half Life (yes that long ago). PC specs shift at the speed of light, so if you aren't rich or into upgrading, theirs little point in trying to catch up for games.
A console offers you an even playing field. No driver conflicts or other BS. Simple yet effectively fun.
Heck, given some peoples haloskills, I doubt you could even tell they were playing most classes with a controller.
The Orange Box is great. Since I picked it up I haven't played much Halo at all (excepting FNF). Anyway, I agree with others, although the PC version can be had for much less money and my computer is more than capable of running it, I'd much rather play a game on my 360.
I bought the Orange Box in store(for $38 bucks!). I was surprised as hell to see a big-ass EA sticker that serves as a security seal.
And the Orange Box plays very well on my old ass PC. I run a Nvidia 7600GT with no problems. The PC net code is airtight and I've had no lag even in high ping games.
I still love my 360 though.
Valve doesn't work for EA. EA works for Valve. Valve is a 100% independent publisher, using EA only for the physical game distribution. Valve definitely has the upper hand in the relationship, and EA doesn't have shit to say back. C'mon, would you believe anything otherwise, considering Valve's average development cycle length? We'd be on HL2: Episode 54 if it was up to EA.
Also, the Orange Box's system requirements for the PC version are ultra-low. Most anybody with a PC got on the last four years or so could play it completely fine unless they got screwed over with some crappy integrated video when they bought their computer, and never got any sort of video card.
The kind of card required to play the Orange Box at minimum would only cost you like $40 though. The system requirements are VERY low.
The cake at the top of that hill isn't a lie.
And I dont think STEAM or retail PC numbers are poor, they must have sold a lot. I bought my copy on STEAM.
Having said so i love the Orange Box, episode 2 was a blast, Portal too, and im having a lot of fun with TF2.
The numbers for PC sales would be in the millions by now.
I understand the Valve/EA relationship. Just roll with the jokes here. Come on.
Regardless of how low the Half Life 2 system requirements are, if you run Half Life 2 at min-spec on a PC, it's still going to look better on the Xbox 360. What's up with people getting up in arms about people buying The Orange Box for the console.
Is it that unreasonable?
SOmeone said that everyone who has a 360 and wants Halo 3 has it. True, but there's also a lot of people who'll be getting themselves a 360 just for Halo 3 this Christmas.
Me and my friend checked the difference because he has HL2 on both PC and Xbox.
Xbox was set at 720p and PC 1280x1024 pretty high settings and we could barely tell any difference.
My other friend plays TF2 on med settings on his 9600pro and TF2 on xbox is a lot prettier.
The concept of playing a first person shooter on a console when there's a perfectly good, not to mention native, version on the PC is preposterous to us PC gamers. ;) Why would anyone in their right mind choose a joystick over mouse, given the choice? :P
Id agree that the ol mouse and keyboard is more acurate, however i bought a 360 with gears of war and after about 6 hours i got the hang of the controls.They work very well and i would say now a few months later im as good as i am with the mouse and keyboard.
Just takes a little time to adjust.
HL2 episode 2 wont work on my pc, episode one barely does, i paid 280 quid for my xbox, id end up paying alot ore for a new pc.
Makes sense to me to buy it for my 360 on my big screen rather than my little 19 incher...
Anyway doesnt matter what you buy it for, it matters that its selling well and this means more half life for us down the line :¬)
Even if Portal is the only thing worth a crap in that collection.
I payed $200 American for my PC, which is about 100 quid in your silly british money. :P That, plus a cheap ass $40 video card from Newegg, and I can play Source games at 30+ FPS at maxed settings and 800x600 resolution. 60+ In Half-Life 2 and most indoor areas.
I wouldnt want to play a game at 800*600 ever again :¬)
i sold halo 3 to get orange box. best descision concerning game trading i ever made.
oh yea, the 360 version is ... personally my favorite. i cant seem to enjoy a mouse as much as a controller.