The Orange Box

[SolidÃ…rmor]

The "Infinite Loop" is awesome!! I've only seen it, but I do want to get Portal and Orange Box.

[Raiden no Kishi]

Quick question: if I get the Orange Box via CD, do I get the pre-EP2 HL2 stuff, like HL2 and EP1? Also, does the CD allow me to run Orange Box games [with the obvious exception of Team Fortress 2] without connecting to Steam? Like I've said, my college's network doesn't like Steam much.

.rai//

[Omega Amen]

Quick question: if I get the Orange Box via CD, do I get the pre-EP2 HL2 stuff, like HL2 and EP1?

The Orange Box contains all the Half-Life 2 content. You get Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2 Episode 1, and Half-Life 2 Episode 2.

Also, does the CD allow me to run Orange Box games [with the obvious exception of Team Fortress 2] without connecting to Steam? Like I've said, my college's network doesn't like Steam much.

While you can play games in Offline Mode (see here for details), you still need to login to your Steam account at least once to register your games.

Here is the Troubleshooting Network Connectivity FAQ from Valve. I am not sure how lenient your Network Administrator is at your school, but here is the information on how to get connected to Steam.

[Raiden no Kishi]

The Orange Box contains all the Half-Life 2 content. You get Half-Life 2, Half-Life 2 Episode 1, and Half-Life 2 Episode 2.

That's what I thought ~ I only saw HL2: EP2, TF2, and Portal listed on the box.

While you can play games in Offline Mode (see here for details), you still need to login to your Steam account at least once to register your games.

Here is the Troubleshooting Network Connectivity FAQ from Valve. I am not sure how lenient your Network Administrator is at your school, but here is the information on how to get connected to Steam.

So I'll need to either find a way to work with this network or use a different network once after purchasing and installing the box of orangeness, but then I can switch to Offline Mode and play without a connection, then?

Sounds good ~ thanks for the help! Hopefully when classes give me a break [or when I go home for Christmas] I can play some TF2 with you guys.

.rai//

[Fish and Chips]

I'm making it a point of policy to download Team Fortress 2 off Steam with my next computer. I've had too many bad experiences with my current one to trust it for any length of time.

[Raiden no Kishi]

Well, everyone, this mind is made up. Next time my friend with a car goes to Wal-Mart, he's going to have to make room for me and an Orange Box. Don't expect me on TF2 until December [Christmas break], though, because time is tight and the college's network is Steamproof.

.rai//

[Mr. SmartyPants]

It has been decided: Spy is officially my class of choice.

[Fish and Chips]

Discussed Orange Box with a friend today. It\'s only $50. I had no idea the the price was so shallow. That\'s surprisingly affordable.

It\'s Novemeber. Finals and make-up work are hazily coming into view. If I survive till December, I\'ll probably pick up the Orange Box, en total, and enjoy myself over inter-term. Half Life 2, Team Fortress 2, Portal, the whole crew.

I am going to hate having to navigate Ravenholm again, though.

[TriezGamer]

Orange Box is still $60 for the 360 everywhere I look. I don't plan to buy it till I find it a bit cheaper.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Orange Box is still $60 for the 360 everywhere I look. I don't plan to buy it till I find it a bit cheaper.

I highly recommend getting the PC version. That way you can A. Join the CAA Steam Community. B. Play with all of us. C. Have a much better online experience with Team Fortress 2. (Less Halo noobs, More Custom Maps, etc)

And Fish, was your computer (the one at home) able to play Half-Life 2? If so, you should be able to run Orange Box just fine.

Use This Site to see if you pass the minimum requirements.

[TriezGamer]

I hate Steam. I will never buy a Steam product for the PC.

I'm only really interested in Portal. I support creative game design, not restrictive DRM systems.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

May I ask why you hate Steam? I have no problems with it.

[Nate]

May I ask why you hate Steam? I have no problems with it.

You need to learn to read posts more fully. :p He already said why he hates Steam.

I support creative game design, not restrictive DRM systems.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

You need to learn to read posts more fully. :p He already said why he hates Steam.

No I saw that. I want to know what Steam has to do with "creative game design" and why he doesn't like how games are distributed as well as what the DRM problems are. Seriously though, is it worth hating that much? I've never had a problem with Steam in my life (Ever since I installed it for Counter-Strike 1.6 when they ditched the WON servers).

It's not perfect, but I find it very handy. (Especially with the new Steam Community)

[TriezGamer]

It's that Steam IS a form of DRM. So I will not support it. Steam has nothing to do with creative design. However, Portal is creative game design.

I'm fully aware that Steam is user-friendly. Steam, purely as a distribution method, is a wonderful idea. It's the DRM aspects that get to me.

DRM, in my opinion, is something that should be eradicated, and while I'm certain that my personal boycott won't change anything, I'm still going to stand for what I believe.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

It's that Steam IS a form of DRM. So I will not support it. Steam has nothing to do with creative design. However, Portal is creative game design.

I'm fully aware that Steam is user-friendly. Steam, purely as a distribution method, is a wonderful idea. It's the DRM aspects that get to me.

DRM, in my opinion, is something that should be eradicated, and while I'm certain that my personal boycott won't change anything, I'm still going to stand for what I believe.

I don't have a full in what Digital Rights Management is in it's relation to Steam. How exactly is Steam a form of DRM? Is it because of Encryption Keys? Inability to share games with other accounts?

The only valid complaint I can think of at the moment is that you require an internet connection to be able to authenticate your game.

[Raiden no Kishi]

And DRM is a hideous technological hellspawn why exactly? Last I checked, creators getting compensated for their work was a good thing. Without it, I do believe your creative game design would be harmed. Artists have to eat too.

.rai//

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I can understand why someone would hate DRM for something like... say the music industry, but I can't really have the same opinion towards video games.

[TriezGamer]

And DRM is a hideous technological hellspawn why exactly? Last I checked, creators getting compensated for their work was a good thing. Without it, I do believe your creative game design would be harmed. Artists have to eat too.

.rai//

DRM is a restriction on the legitimate buyer, not the pirate.

Pirates will (and have) cracked every DRM scheme in short order, so it does nearly nothing to stop piracy (and likely costs more to develop than the actual losses incurred). What DRM does is make it so they can try to sell you the same product in 20 different formats because it's illegal to convert the format yourself (Violation of the DMCA to crack the DRM to copy a song to an MP3 on your HDD, put it on your iPod, etc.). DRM has nothing to do with people getting paid for anything. It has to do with control over what you do after you've already bought the product. I don't support DRM. Period.

I can understand why someone would hate DRM for something like... say the music industry, but I can't really have the same opinion towards video games.

I won't support DRM. It has nothing to do with music or video games.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

But why would someone even really want to convert a game bought off of Steam's distribution service? Steam also never really tried to sell the same product to me more than once...

I'm kind of lost, to be honest.

[Raiden no Kishi]

DRM is a restriction on the legitimate buyer, not the pirate.

Pirates will (and have) cracked every DRM scheme in short order, so it does nearly nothing to stop piracy (and likely costs more to develop than the actual losses incurred). What DRM does is make it so they can try to sell you the same product in 20 different formats because it's illegal to convert the format yourself (Violation of the DMCA to crack the DRM to copy a song to an MP3 on your HDD, put it on your iPod, etc.). DRM has nothing to do with people getting paid for anything. It has to do with control over what you do after you've already bought the product. I don't support DRM. Period.

I won't support DRM. It has nothing to do with music or video games.

Very well, but your arguments fall utterly irrelevant as far as software is concerned. DRM for software makes all the sense in the world. The problem you seem to have is with the DMCA as it applies. If DRM is so impotent, as you claim, why whine about it? I believe the legitimate complaint is with the DCMA's prohibition on circumventing DRM for legitimate reasons. In that case, crusade against that.

As to DRM having nothing to do with people getting paid, I believe simple logic refutes that notion. If there was no monetary impetus, why would businesses bother with it? Contrary to what some believe, businesses don't have it in for people. Businesses don't have time for it. Businesses are organizations formed in order to acquire money. End of line.

.rai//

[TriezGamer]

Very well, but your arguments fall utterly irrelevant as far as software is concerned. DRM for software makes all the sense in the world. The problem you seem to have is with the DMCA as it applies. If DRM is so impotent, as you claim, why whine about it? I believe the legitimate complaint is with the DCMA's prohibition on circumventing DRM for legitimate reasons. In that case, crusade against that.

DRM for software makes no sense at all. As pointed out by MSP, there isn't much reason for it in gaming -- they can't sell it to you on a different format, so it's not accomplishing anything for sales OR piracy. That's likely also why DRM hasn't been a major issue in gaming. Steam does a lot more than just act as a DRM utility, and it's DRM capability is extremely low, so it's DRM development cost was likely a non-issue.

As to DRM having nothing to do with people getting paid, I believe simple logic refutes that notion. If there was no monetary impetus, why would businesses bother with it? Contrary to what some believe, businesses don't have it in for people. Businesses don't have time for it. Businesses are organizations formed in order to acquire money. End of line.

I'm fully aware of how businesses operate. And businesses will do things that they THINK will help sometimes -- and they are capable of being wrong. Look up the rootkit Sony planted in their music CDs, or the controversy surrounding StarForce if you want something relevant to games.

Steam is mostly harmless. I'm aware of that. But I'm not going to allow DRM to even have it's foot in the door.

[Raiden no Kishi]

DRM for software makes no sense at all. As pointed out by MSP, there isn't much reason for it in gaming -- they can't sell it to you on a different format, so it's not accomplishing anything for sales OR piracy. That's likely also why DRM hasn't been a major issue in gaming. Steam does a lot more than just act as a DRM utility, and it's DRM capability is extremely low, so it's DRM development cost was likely a non-issue.

I can see someone wanting to avoid computer software DRM [whether that's a CD key or what-have-you] in order to distribute it for free. At any rate, since it's such a non-issue, why not get Steam and enjoy the creative game design you praise?

I'm fully aware of how businesses operate. And businesses will do things that they THINK will help sometimes -- and they are capable of being wrong. Look up the rootkit Sony planted in their music CDs, or the controversy surrounding StarForce if you want something relevant to games.

Well then, if your stance is that DRM is a well-intentioned mistake, say that. Your previous language makes it sound like the businesses are out to get us all.

Steam is mostly harmless. I'm aware of that. But I'm not going to allow DRM to even have it's foot in the door.

Wow. I would never have expected it to be referred to like it was sin. "Never allow[ing] DRM to even have its foot in the door" ~ OK. It's your world. We must all make our own decisions. I honestly hope you find this crusade fulfilling. As for me, I'm going to go think with portals.

.rai//

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Steam is mostly harmless. I'm aware of that. But I'm not going to allow DRM to even have it's foot in the door.

*Shrug* Suit yourself. Guess we won't be able to play with you. D: Personally I think disliking DRM to the point of even refusing to use Steam is outrageous, but different strokes for different folks.

[Shao Feng-Li]

Your loss man...

[Omega Amen]

*Shrug* Suit yourself. Guess we won't be able to play with you. D: Personally I think disliking DRM to the point of even refusing to use Steam is outrageous, but different strokes for different folks.

Well, he is not being consistent. DRM is in all current gaming consoles as well as their game discs... even downloadable games. And that goes for certain computer operating systems as well. If he does not want DRM within his house, he needs to start expelling those as well.

Some DRM measures are indeed very annoying and downright harmful, but some are practically benign in direct relation to the consumer. Principally? I don't know. That's for theorists and purists to decide.

Regardless, when I purchase The Orange Box via Steam, a significantly larger portion of my money will go directly towards the developer of its games then say I get it via retail (where portions will go to the publisher and the retail chain). Furthermore, they have made it a service with automatic patch updates, occasional bargain sales, "friend passes," and the recent Steam community support.

Originally, when Steam came out, I was against it mainly because I wanted to see an offline alternative to registering games. However, over time, Valve has taken a lot of measures to improve their system to serve their consumers better. Couple that with the ability to have more of my money go to makers of the game I play, and I end up having a hard time really protesting what Valve has done to protect their work.

So, yes, I purchased The Orange Box via Steam download, and I recommend it to those who have the bandwidth to do so.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Well, he is not being consistent. DRM is in all current gaming consoles as well as their game discs... even downloadable games. And that goes for certain computer operating systems as well. If he does not want DRM within his house, he needs to start expelling those as well.

Does that mean he should trash his 360?

So, yes, I purchased The Orange Box via Steam download, and I recommend it to those who have the bandwidth to do so.

I usually do that. (Did so with every game prior to Orange Box) I should have done it with Orange Box, but I didn't. D:

Sorry, Valve. D: My munnies went to EA and/or Best Buy instead of you guys. Forgive me.

[TriezGamer]

I honestly hope you find this crusade fulfilling. As for me, I'm going to go think with portals.

I'm not on a crusade. I merely stand for what I believe, and I don't care what other people do. You guys are the ones who dragged this into a debate.

Guess we won't be able to play with you.

As I mentioned before, the only game I have interest in is Portal. You wouldn't be playing with me anyway, because I have no interest in TF2 at all.

I can see someone wanting to avoid computer software DRM [whether that's a CD key or what-have-you] in order to distribute it for free.

A CD-key is not DRM, it's just an authentication method. It's not the same thing.
Edit: If you're insinuating that my only interest is in piracy, then you're flat out wrong.

Your previous language makes it sound like the businesses are out to get us all.

No, businesses are not out to get us. But they are out to get our money, and I'm not giving money toward the development of the latest and greatest in DRM technology.

Well, he is not being consistent. DRM is in all current gaming consoles as well as their game discs... even downloadable games. And that goes for certain computer operating systems as well. If he does not want DRM within his house, he needs to start expelling those as well.

You have a very loose grasp on what DRM is. DRM is not just a catch-all term for copy-protection schemes. It's a very specific form of copy-protection methodology that involves software outside of the necessary software for the game/music/etc. to function.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Since spy is my favorite class, I felt compelled to record myself playing. Unfortunately I couldn't record myself at the times which I did really good. My current record is 12 kills (10 of those being backstabs) in a single run as well as and 9 destructions in another. Even so, I like to to think that this video is a depiction of a rather fair run.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=UHozSII_Edk

[Omega Amen]

You have a very loose grasp on what DRM is. DRM is not just a catch-all term for copy-protection schemes. It's a very specific form of copy-protection methodology that involves software outside of the necessary software for the game/music/etc. to function.

I think you are too narrow in your definition ("very specific form"), and thus, excluding other practiced forms of DRM. Digital Rights Management is a form of access control placed by the rights owner of the digital intellectual property. It normally requires some type of encryption and authentication scheme, and it is enacted in software and even in conjunction with hardware or some specific aspect of the digital asset itself, and yes, this software/hardware is not technically necessary to use/purchase the digital property.

And such measures are in consoles and in operating systems. They are not just exclusive to whatever makes a good news story or what watchdog groups like to advertise to recruit supporters for their cause.

If you do not like Valve's specific implementation of DRM, that is fine with me. But I am not going to let inaccurate statements go completely unchallenged for those who are reading this thread.

For the sake of this thread, this is the last protest of your definition I am making. If you still disagree, I suggest you do more reading on the subject of DRM, particularly those written by people who are against it in principle and cite examples of what they consider DRM technologies.

Oh yeah, Medics rock.