Half-Life 2 for PC or Xbox?

MeridianFlight

MeridianFlight

New Member
I was debating on whether or not to pick up Half-Life 2 for PC or Xbox. This may seem like lunacy to some of you, but I prefer using a console controller to a mouse and keyboard. Half-Life 2 hits Xbox on November 15th. I'm not sure how well Half-Life 2 will run on my PC (Pentium 4 3.0 GHz 1 GB RAM 128 MB ATI Radeon X300 SE). I've played the demo on my PC, but there were a few framerate issues (I didn't tweak the settings, so I'm guessing they were already optimized based on my computer's specs? Maybe?). If the Xbox version turns out to be solid framerate wise, I was thinking about picking it up. Thoughts? Suggestions? Comments? Objections? I'd appreciate any, thanks.
 
Do you play counter-strike? Cause HL2 for PC comes with counter-strike source.

That system should handle hl2. I played hl2 on a 2.8ghz, 1gb ram, laptop geforce 5700 graphics and did 25fps. My guess is redownload demo, and try again. My estimate is you should pull about 50 fps on medium graphics.

I have a P4 3.0ghz, with 1gb ram, and a geforce 6600gt and pull 80fps on max settings. So somewhere in between there should be your computer.

*edit* 1000 Posts O_o
 
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Your computer should play it fine! I'm going to rent the xbox version, just to see how the graphics look and stuff. I own the PC version already, but dont play it much because it tends to lag on my computer, etc. I prefer using a mouse and keyboard when playing HL2/CS. I played CS for xbox the other day, I hated it.. :(
 
I'll probably rent the Xbox version to check it out -- maybe I can actually get through the game. =P
 
depends on the games, i prefer all FPS on computer.
 
Maybe it's just me, but I spend to much time at a desk using my computer all day. The last thing I want to do when I get home is sit at my computer desk to play games. I'd much rather kick back on the couch and play on the Xbox.

I used to play a lot, and still occasionally play some games on the PC. The PC does have a better potential for games than consoles, but I got tired of having to buy a new videocard or RAM to make the game look as good as it should on my PC. With the console, the game is optimized to look as good as it can and you don't have to worry about upgrading just to make it run at its full potential. Another big reason I prefer console gaming is because you can rent games for consoles, but due to the copyright laws, you can't rent games for the PC.

I also kind of agree with you on the controller vs. keyboard/mouse thing. I do think that the keyboard/mouse combo is superior for controlling FPS games but the Xbox controller does a great job at controlling FPS games; and as I mentioned before, I'd rather sit back with a controller than at a desk with the keyboard/mouse when I'm gaming.
 
Tolkien said:
I used to play a lot, and still occasionally play some games on the PC. The PC does have a better potential for games than consoles, but I got tired of having to buy a new videocard or RAM to make the game look as good as it should on my PC. With the console, the game is optimized to look as good as it can and you don't have to worry about upgrading just to make it run at its full potential. Another big reason I prefer console gaming is because you can rent games for consoles, but due to the copyright laws, you can't rent games for the PC.
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All good points, very true, very true. And in most cases, I'd agree with you. But one of the selling points for Half-Life 2 is the mod community. Knock out the ability to develop, install, and play mods, and you've all but eliminated replay value after you finish the single-player game.

I'm sure HL2 for the XBox will feature some sort of multiplayer, and I'm guessing it'll be pretty cool. They may even decide to include Counter-Strike: Source. Still, I have a tendency to favor the oddball, non-realistic mods (Natural Selection, Science & Industry) over the realism mods (Counter-Strike, Day of Defeat), so the ability to play content created and distributed by mod community developers, for me, is key.
 
Actually, I believe Half-Life 2 for Xbox is strictly single-player. Which on some levels makes sense, because Valve would have to go flat-out to rival the Halo and Rainbow Six Live! communities.

I'm still not sure as to which version. I really don't enjoy playing FPS games with the Mouse/Keyboard. I appreciate the aiming sensitivity, yes, and it's really easy to get frustrated if you pick up a console FPS immediately after playing a PC FPS. It just isn't that comfortable, however, to play games on PC.

On the other hand, I can still drop 40 bucks for the Collector's Edition of Half-Life 2 for PC right now, where as the Xbox version doesn't hit until November 15th (one week before 360 day), and doesn't come with the Source versions of Counter-Strike and Half-Life (greatest PC game ever not featuring "Deus" or "Ex" in its title).
 
I'd like to thank everyone for their input on this, I appreciate it.

However, I won't be picking up Half-Life 2. After downloading the demo and playing parts of "We Don't Go to Ravenholm", I've decided against purchasing the game.

While Half-Life 2 appears to be an excellent game in regards to gameplay mechanics (including awesome physics), aesthetically appealing graphics, and just sheer immersion and atmospshere, I don't believe I should be playing it.

After listening to the those who were under the influence of crabs (crabheads?) scream while they were engulfed in flames, I realized there really wasn't any benefit to be had in playing this game. Yes, it's a form of escapism, but I don't believe it's escapism God wants me to participate in. I see nothing constructive arising out of playing Half-Life 2. I've looked at F.E.A.R. this way, and I believe I'll begin to look at Call of Duty 2 and other games this way as well.

It's kinda' cool, actually. Thanks again for your input everybody.
 
Yeah, the only part of Half Life 2 that I did not like much, was the "We Don't Go to Ravenholm" part. I think I used a godmode cheat to skip past most of it, so i didn't have to play it over and over.
 
Pilgrim said:
Yeah, the only part of Half Life 2 that I did not like much, was the "We Don't Go to Ravenholm" part. I think I used a godmode cheat to skip past most of it, so i didn't have to play it over and over.
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The Ravenholm section was wicked....
 
Pilgrim said:
Yeah, the only part of Half Life 2 that I did not like much, was the "We Don't Go to Ravenholm" part. I think I used a godmode cheat to skip past most of it, so i didn't have to play it over and over.
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Bah, I finished it on my first try! :D And beisdes, that was my favorite part of the game.
 
Yeh, Ravenholm was rather creepy. I could have done without the whole "gray headcrab-spider-thing lunging at the player and making him nearly fall out his chair" bit.

But, again, even if you skip the single-player experience completely, HL2 delivers more bang for your buck (thanks to the mod community) than most games out there right now.

If screaming zombies is not your thing and upgrades are a concern, you might want to pick up Unreal Tournament for $12 at newegg.com. The game may carry an MA rating, but a few toggles can bring it down to a T rating before you ever load up your first match. I play a few games of Onslaught (a UT2004 gametype) each week and never see a pixel of blood. Epic (the company that developed UT2004) also tends to shy away from the pentagrams and other creepy rot that turned so many Christian gamers away from Quake 3.
 
Thanks for the alternative suggestion Tek, but it wasn't the "zombies" I had a problem with. I have Eternal Darkness, RE 0, RE, and RE 4 on GameCube. It wasn't the creepy and unnerving atmosphere of Ravenholm either.

I just don't believe I should be playing games that celebrate or glorify violence anymore, specifically the killing of human beings. I'm not looking to push this on anyone else by mentioning it, in fact, I find it a little weird. Outside of RTS, the FPS genre was my favorite videogame genre.

Thanks again though.
 
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