The Orange Box Thread

[Gist]

Will eventually have to try for the Play Ravenholm With Only The Grav Gun achievement.

I got that yesterday and was kind of surprised by how easy it was. What didn't surprise me at all was how FUN it was.

[DJ HiPPiE]

Note to Engineers: Think of your shotgun like parsley. It is there purely for ornamentation purposes.

No shit.....I've killed more people with the fucking wrench than the shotty.

[Brad Millette]

Don't say shotty. It cheapens all of us.

[DJ HiPPiE]

Don't say shotty. It cheapens all of us.

If any weapon deserved the title it's the engineer shotgun....Shit I do more damage with the scout's scattergun.

[Overlord]

It's not that i'm bored with HL2....I'm just burned out with FPS' in general....Portal hooked me due to being something different.....TF2 hooked me cause Team Fortress was and always will be my favorite FPS.

I'm not saying that Half-Life sucks.....I'm just saying that right now I have so many other things to play.....Shit i'm working so much right now I haven't played Halo3 in almost 2 weeks and I still haven't even finished Bioshock.

Half-Life 2 is the best game I've ever played. I pity you.

[DJ HiPPiE]

Half-Life 2 is the best game I've ever played. I pity you.

Well now with everyone saying just how great it is i'm gonna have to sit down this weekend and give it a shot(that is unless I end up in Orlando for Screamfest).

[Slater]

Okay, another dumb noob question: what's the best way to take out a turret?

Their Engineer set up turret in the door on 2fort, and the fucking thing killed me like eight times. I hit it with rocket launchers. I hit it with grenades. I hit it with the Heavy's chaingun. Nothing. Finally I tried running past it as the spy, but the Engineer was waiting right behind the turret to blast me. What was I doing wrong?

Overall, the game is really fun, but I wish each match didn't take 30 minutes. When I'm playing capture the flag, "first one to three" is fine with me. I don't need three rounds in a row with the same stupid assholes.

[Owen]

Well now with everyone saying just how great it is i'm gonna have to sit down this weekend and give it a shot(that is unless I end up in Orlando for Screamfest).

Also note that it has the highest Metacritic score for any PC game.

[Werbal_Kint]

Okay, another dumb noob question: what's the best way to take out a turret?

Their Engineer set up turret in the door on 2fort, and the fucking thing killed me like eight times. I hit it with rocket launchers. I hit it with grenades. I hit it with the Heavy's chaingun. Nothing. Finally I tried running past it as the spy, but the Engineer was waiting right behind the turret to blast me. What was I doing wrong?

Turrets are extremely powerful. Never take one head-on as ANY class or you will die. I've seen Heavies with Medics attached go down in seconds against a fully upgraded turret.

That said, they are vulnerable to a few methods, which vary given on the stupidity of the Engineer who built it.

If visible from a distance, Soldiers work best. The rocket launcher's range is longer than that of the gun's, so just stay out of range and fire until the turret explodes or you're killed by the turret's defenders. Two or three close hits should destroy it, even if an Engineer is dedicated to repairing it.

In close quarters, only Demomen, Spies or ubered Heavies/Soldiers have a chance at destroying it. Demomen should charge up their sticky grenade weapon, pop out, plant the grenade, and then run back and detonate. It probably won't kill it, but it'll damage it pretty bad and freak out any nearby Engineers.

Ubered offensive classes should focus only on the turret. A big mistake ubered noobs make is targeting people and ignoring constructs. Always destroy constructs before people.

A Spy's success again varies on the intelligence of the Engineer and the ability of the Spy. Of course, unguarded sentries can be sapped no problem, but if the Engineer's around, it's more difficult. A good tactic is to sap the Engie's dispenser and sentry, then hang back. Hopefully, the Engineer will go for the dispenser first, since they often tend to panic and think "No dispenser = No metal." If they go for the dispenser, backstab them. With the sentry still sapped, it won't kill you when you decloak. If he's smart and repairs the sentry first, run away and try again in a little bit.

A lot of people bitch about Sentries being too strong, but if they WEREN'T strong then Engineers would be useless. As with anything in Team Fortress 2, good coordination is key in making progress, and even the thickest field of sentries can be cut through with a good offense.

[Werbal_Kint]

If any weapon deserved the title it's the engineer shotgun....Shit I do more damage with the scout's scattergun.

That's because the Scout's scattergun is one of the most powerful close-range weapons in the game, right up with the flamethrower.

[DJ HiPPiE]

That's because the Scout's scattergun is one of the most powerful close-range weapons in the game, right up with the flamethrower.

Yeah it's solid but I just find it so hard to hit someone with it cause i'm usually moving around too fast....Actually find it easier to just run up and hit them with the bat.

Right now I gotta say i'm loving the pyro most of all with the engineer second....Now if I got the right team clearing the way for me i'll run all day without a problem....Just as long as my teammates stay in the same area that I run my patterns(usually 2 just to keep the other team off guard)....If everyone is in the right position no one will catch me.

[wydren]

Ok, this game will be coming to me shortly. All you 360 Chewers will have another newbie to snack on until I learn the ropes of TF2.

[Y3k-Bug]

Seeing all this discourse on TF2 brings a smile to my face. I can't remember the last time I've cared so much about an online game. Its great.

"Whats the best way to take out a sentry?"

There are multiple ways. Werbal has said soldier works best, although that isn't really true, as an engineer can heal the sentry faster than the damage being dealt it by the rockets.

Pyro/uber combo works wonders as it kills the sentry, the dispenser planted next to it, AND the engineer at once.

As a spy the move I pull is sapping the gun, then just shooting it with my pistol, then cloaking away.

Or a demoman can plant 4 sticky nades and detonate them. Sticky nades work very well, as they have a pretty high damage range, so they don't even need to be that close to the turret to take it out. Again, about 4 does the trick. The demo's 4 shot grenade launcher doesn't work however as it, like the rocket launcher, doesn't deal enough damage to where it will damage the sentry faster than the engineer can heal it.

Oh and Brad, take the time to hit me up on Steam when you get the chance, I only play on one TF2 server, and its populated by really good, teamplay oriented people.

Here's the server IP if you're interested, my in-game name is the same as my name here: 216.246.49.60:27015

[Werbal_Kint]

Ok, this game will be coming to me shortly. All you 360 Chewers will have another newbie to snack on until I learn the ropes of TF2.

LOL ALL THE 360 CHEWARS R NEWBS rofl pc snobbery

[Werbal_Kint]

There are multiple ways. Werbal has said soldier works best, although that isn't really true, as an engineer can heal the sentry faster than the damage being dealt it by the rockets.

Not true. If you reload your launcher to full and manage to get the free time to hit it with all four rockets, it goes down. This is easier said than done, of course, since usually you'll have other people shooting at you, but a sentry gun isn't invincible just because an Engineer spam-repairs it.

I've had plenty of time as an Engineer where I furiously smacked my gun with the wrench until I was blue in the face only to have a volley of rockets or grenades blow it up in my fucking face.

[Rene A. Moncivais]

Okay Half Life 2 is great, but I think I am towards the end of the game and it keeps locking up in the same exact place. This can't possibly be my 360 right? Well I guess I will check Tech Support but I am pretty pissed about it. I took the game back and got a new one too and it does the same thing.

[Y3k-Bug]

Not true. If you reload your launcher to full and manage to get the free time to hit it with all four rockets, it goes down. This is easier said than done, of course, since usually you'll have other people shooting at you, but a sentry gun isn't invincible just because an Engineer spam-repairs it.

I've had plenty of time as an Engineer where I furiously smacked my gun with the wrench until I was blue in the face only to have a volley of rockets or grenades blow it up in my fucking face.

Well now thats interesting, because I've had the opposite experience. I just build the sentry, sit directly behind it, then build a dispenser right behind me. So as I'm whacking the sentry, I'm being fed metal for it instantly. I haven't lost a sentry to 4 straight rockets yet.

Unless the soldier is clever enough to aim for the wall BEHIND me, thus taking out the dispenser with the splash damage, but thats never happened. I've done that to enemy engineers though.

I'm actually heading to the IP I posted a few minutes ago, lets go see who is right ^_^

EDIT: Its password locked for the regulars, msg me in Steam and I'll send you the pass.

[DJ HiPPiE]

Okay Half Life 2 is great, but I think I am towards the end of the game and it keeps locking up in the same exact place. This can't possibly be my 360 right? Well I guess I will check Tech Support but I am pretty pissed about it. I took the game back and got a new one too and it does the same thing.

I've been hearing quite a few people with the 360 version have been having problems with HL2 locking up on them.....Hopefully this will be resolved by the time I get around to playing it.

[Rene A. Moncivais]

I've been hearing quite a few people with the 360 version have been having problems with HL2 locking up on them.....Hopefully this will be resolved by the time I get around to playing it.

I also forgot to mention that I still have not received an update screen when I put the game in. Wasn't there an update on this game?

[DJ HiPPiE]

I also forgot to mention that I still have not received an update screen when I put the game in. Wasn't there an update on this game?

Uh yeah.....I got the update the very first time I put the disc in on saturday night.

[Rene A. Moncivais]

Dammit. I know I am connected to LIVE, there is no way to search for an update is there.

[Spike Marshall]

I'm still trying to work out how Valve managed to fit Half Life 2 + it's two chapters + Portal + Team Fortress 2...all of which are date intensive games...onto one disc.

Up until about an hour ago I was convinced the games would be split across at least two discs.

[mediumdave]

So, Portal is awesome as fuck. And the ending song is great and mighty. I would pay many (some) dollars for extra Portal levels narrated by GLaDOS. Also, best insane A.I. since SHODAN.

[wydren]

LOL ALL THE 360 CHEWARS R NEWBS rofl pc snobbery
NO, U R TEH NOOBS!!11netspeak lolzorsroflcopterchucknorris

Ok, enough of that mindrape. That's why I want to play with the chewers, we'll have none of that.

[Master Shake]

So, Portal is awesome as fuck. And the ending song is great and mighty. I would pay many (some) dollars for extra Portal levels narrated by GLaDOS. Also, best insane A.I. since SHODAN.

If SHODAN and Durandal had a crazy AI baby, it'd be GLaDOS.

[DJ HiPPiE]

So, Portal is awesome as fuck. And the ending song is great and mighty. I would pay many (some) dollars for extra Portal levels narrated by GLaDOS. Also, best insane A.I. since SHODAN.

"AND THEN THERE WILL BE CAKE"

I swear to God I nearly pissed my pants.

[Master Shake]

"AND THEN THERE WILL BE CAKE"

I swear to God I nearly pissed my pants.

"Didn't we have some fun, though? Remember when the platform was sliding into the fire pit and I said 'goodbye', and you were like 'no way'? And then I was all 'we pretended we were going to murder you'. That was great."

Jesus, Portal is a quote factory. I'm considering changing my sig to one of them... but which one?

[LlamaRama]

TF2 is probably going to be responsible for causing me a total academic collapse in the next two or three weeks.

It's a shame that everyone in public servers is unbelievably stupid or I don't think I'd ever play another game.

[matches]

While it's fun, I'm getting a little tired of 2Fort, you can't get away from it.

[Russ Fischer]

"Didn't we have some fun, though? Remember when the platform was sliding into the fire pit and I said 'goodbye', and you were like 'no way'? And then I was all 'we pretended we were going to murder you'. That was great."

Jesus, Portal is a quote factory.

Don't know what you're talking about.

http://chud.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2094857&postcount=112

And for the cheap seats: http://youtube.com/watch?v=_iFtUsJgJtM

[Master Shake]

Don't know what you're talking about.

http://chud.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2094857&postcount=112

And for the cheap seats: http://youtube.com/watch?v=_iFtUsJgJtM

Dammit, that's TWICE I've missed a previous post. I need a fresh quote.

"Please note that we have added a consequence for failure, any contact with the chamber floor will result in an unsatisfactory mark on your official record, followed by death"

[Beageal]

Starting a Portal great quote list will stretch this thread into the teens.

Hey, TF2 players, fill me in on something here: I really don't know shit about the game, but is it a pity that they don't have bots, or does the style of game forbid it?

[Werbal_Kint]

I don't know why there's no bots. I wouldn't mind having bots.

[englebert]

Didn't the original have bots?

[Brad Millette]

Bots are for queers.

[Beageal]

Is there a queer server?

[Brad Millette]

I don't know, but I accidentally found myself playing on a FURRY server during beta.

I was sitting there, thinking that all these guys with "Wolf" in their names were part of some gaming clan or something. Then the horrible realization struck, and my bowels became as mud.

[Beageal]

♥³ here (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/?p=430).

To hold us over until this (http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=173586&site=pcg).

[Russ Fischer]

We're not renaming this the Grey Box thread.

I don't care how attached you are to the Weighted Companion Cube.

[Brad Millette]

They're making plush Companion Cubes, you know.

[Spike Marshall]

♥³ here (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/?p=430).

To hold us over until this (http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=173586&site=pcg).

Argh, CVG are linking to Furry sites! All I wanted was to see the desktop, I didn't need to see that!

[Beageal]

They're making plush Companion Cubes, you know.Then it's not exactly WEIGHTED, is it? Though plush does mean fuckable.

(And holy shit, Millette wasn't joking about the Furry server thing.)

[Brad Millette]

I don't like this thread anymore.

[Timo]

While it's fun, I'm getting a little tired of 2Fort, you can't get away from it.
I'm really tired of 2fort. It's so repetitive. Usually when a server changes the map to 2fort I bail out immediately.

[Gist]

360 TF2 crew, rejoice! Lag fix imminent. Hopefully.

http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3163671

[Rob]

Fantastic. Let's hope this fixes it. Then I can go back to setting fire to all of your asses.

[Overlord]

I finished the first eighteen levels of Portal in a little under an hour. The only real difficulty I've had is accepting that your character will not die from falling hundreds of feet. Other than that ... these puzzles are going to get harder, right?

The one-sided dialogue with the computer is pretty frickin' funny.

[Brad Millette]

She has those feetarangs, Overlord.

[Owen]

I finished the first eighteen levels of Portal in a little under an hour. The only real difficulty I've had is accepting that your character will not die from falling hundreds of feet. Other than that ... these puzzles are going to get harder, right?

The one-sided dialogue with the computer is pretty frickin' funny.

Also, you've still got a little more htan half the game left.

[Overlord]

She has those feetarangs, Overlord.

How could I forget.

Anyone else set up an infinite portal and receive the "fall over 30,000 feet" achievement? It takes about ten minutes.

[DJ HiPPiE]

How could I forget.

Anyone else set up an infinite portal and receive the "fall over 30,000 feet" achievement? It takes about ten minutes.

Oh yeah.....That was some fucked up shit.....I'm sitting there for 10 minutes working that fucking stick to keep him falling.....As soon as the achievement popped I dropped the controler in victory.....Not only did I not stop falling but continued to fall for another minute.

Now if I can just get away from this god forsake job long enough to get past Level 18.

[matches]

I did it on Sunday, and once I began falling through the portals I changed the channel to a football game because it was making me sick. I'm surprised Portal didn't come with an Aperture Science Barf Bag.

[DJ HiPPiE]

I did it on Sunday, and once I began falling through the portals I changed the channel to a football game because it was making me sick. I'm surprised Portal didn't come with an Aperture Science Barf Bag.

I didn't get sick....probably due to all the acid I took back in the 90's

[matches]

I didn't get sick....probably due to all the acid I took back in the 90's

Psh. Hippie.

[Beageal]

I just finished Episode Two. That Strider fight is amazing. Running down those fucking Hunters is about as satisfying as it gets. And then the ending...aw.

[Master Shake]

Also, you've still got a little more htan half the game left.

Not to mention the six Advanced stages which actually force you to think outside the realm of physics.

[Count Floyd]

I just finished Episode Two. That Strider fight is amazing. Running down those fucking Hunters is about as satisfying as it gets. And then the ending...aw.

Seeing the Magnusson Device I was holding suddenly riddled with a dozen flechettes was amusing in a Looney Tunes kind of way, at first. Didn't take long before I wanted to punch the monitor though.

[Owen]

Not to mention the six Advanced stages which actually force you to think outside the realm of physics.

Yeah, those took me longer than the regular game did.

[Beageal]

Not to mention the six Advanced stages which actually force you to think outside the realm of physics.What about the challenges? Complete a level taking less than 20 steps?

[Buff's Gal]

Anyone know if there are multiple endings (and how many) to Portal?

[Owen]

There are not, as far as I can tell. If you let the counter go to zero you just die.

Where would it branch?

[matches]

There seems to only be one thread to Portal, which leads you to a wholly satisfying ending.

[Domingo]

I loved the final part of Portal, I'll call it a "Sequence of battle" where computer chick had me laughing so hard I nearly messed up. She kept going on and on about how she was going to host me a party, but the companion cube couldn't come because I killed him, and my other friends wouldn't come because I had none because of my shit personality, and added just to top it all off how she heard I was adopted.

[Brad Millette]

"I have a recording of you. 'HALLEEEW!' That's what you sound like. You're so dumb."

[Count Floyd]

"When I said 'deadly' neurotoxin, the 'deadly' was in massive sarcasm quotes. I could take a bath in the stuff. Put it on cereal. Rub it right into my eyes. Honestly, it's not deadly at all. To me."

[Brad Millette]

"That thing is probably some kind of raw sewage container. Go ahead and rub your face all over it. Maybe you should marry that thing since you love it so much. Do you want to marry it? WELL I WON'T LET YOU! How does that feel?"

[Martianman]

I think I'm going to pick it up for the PS3 as my first "major" game purchase. I bought Madden 08, but I already know what I'm getting in that. I've played Halo and the like, but I've never gotten really solidly into any of them. Will this essentially take over my life for the next few months?

[Overlord]

I think I'm going to pick it up for the PS3 as my first "major" game purchase. I bought Madden 08, but I already know what I'm getting in that. I've played Halo and the like, but I've never gotten really solidly into any of them. Will this essentially take over my life for the next few months?

It definitely won't take over your life for the "next few months." I can say this with confidence, as today is October 17th, and the game will not be released -- supposedly-- until two months from today (on December 17th).

At least you get the benefit of having 360/PC owners playtest the games, create FAQs, and hype it up before purchase!

[Martianman]

Did they just change that date? I swear the release date I last saw was in November.

[Overlord]

Did they just change that date? I swear the release date I last saw was in November.

I think it was. I was kind of startled to see the December release date, as well.

[Owen]

Yeah, same here.

edit: hmmm, well, IGN has it at Dec. 11.

[Timo]

The Orange Box Behind the Scenes video. (http://www.gametrailers.com/player/26538.html?r=1&type=wmv) I noticed that in the footage of the first video released of TF2 the demoman has dynamite and the spy has a different pistol than in the final game.

[Rich Straceski]

I was considering the PS3 version as well, but I'm nervous by the knowledge that they handed it off to EA for that platform, not to mention that a friend of mine told me that the Valve guys apparently loathe the PS3 hardware. I don't have any sources or links, it's just what he told me, but I'm sure the info is out there somewhere. Has anyone else heard anything about the PS3 development?

I think I'll eventually end up with it for the 360.

[Overlord]

I was considering the PS3 version as well, but I'm nervous by the knowledge that they handed it off to EA for that platform, not to mention that a friend of mine told me that the Valve guys apparently loathe the PS3 hardware. I don't have any sources or links, it's just what he told me, but I'm sure the info is out there somewhere. Has anyone else heard anything about the PS3 development?

I think I'll eventually end up with it for the 360.

The Head honcho over at Steam went off on the PS3 and mocked its architecture. To put that in perspective, he also ranted about the 360 (although not as severely). He's basically a PC guy. I guess they didn't want to be bothered with the port.

I'd be more concerned if this was a cutting edge, brand new game. I don't think Electronic Arts could possibly screw up the port of a three or four year old engine ... could they?

[Russ Fischer]

Portal script: http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/xbox360/file/934384/50477

[Timo]

I spent the last night playing as a spy for the first time and I think that might be the most fun this game has to offer. I love tagging along a group of attacking enemies and then stabbing them in the back one by one.

[mongycore]

I don't remember the AI being so annoying in half-life 2. Almost every time I have a pack of them (ant lions or rebels) following me around they'd get in my damn way when I try to find some cover. At least you get to save/reload if you end up being betrayed by them as they blocked your path while you try to dodge a grenade...

[dontEATnachos]

I was considering the PS3 version as well, but I'm nervous by the knowledge that they handed it off to EA for that platform, not to mention that a friend of mine told me that the Valve guys apparently loathe the PS3 hardware. I don't have any sources or links, it's just what he told me, but I'm sure the info is out there somewhere. Has anyone else heard anything about the PS3 development?


Yeah, as has been said before Valve didn't think there'd be any benefit to internally developing the Orange Box for PS3 (which corresponds with what Gabe Newell said).

Porting was handed off to an EA team in England somewhere. A little over a month ago they were saying that the time differences were causing issues with the PS3 port keeping up with the 360/PC development so they announced it would be delayed by a few weeks (everyone was still saying maybe first/second week of December).

Now the game has randomly slipped to December 17. This is so frustrating. Still, there's enough stuff coming out between now and then that I think I won't have trouble distracting myself with other games until it comes out.

[mongycore]

Fucking sweet hack/mod... (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/18/the-best-thing-youll-see-today-portal-gun-in-half-life-2/#comments)the Portal gun in Half-Life.

Detailed steps for doing this on your own pc's. (http://www.primotechnology.com/2007/10/17/half-life-2-portal/)

[Owen]

I don't remember the AI being so annoying in half-life 2. Almost every time I have a pack of them (ant lions or rebels) following me around they'd get in my damn way when I try to find some cover. At least you get to save/reload if you end up being betrayed by them as they blocked your path while you try to dodge a grenade...
I just shoot em when they get in the way. It doesn't matter because another one takes its place in two seconds when one dies.

But yeah, I've played that game probably a dozen times, and sometimes I'll make it through without having any problem with the friendly NPCs and sometimes they will just be a bitch to deal with.

[Graham]

Fucking sweet hack/mod... (http://www.joystiq.com/2007/10/18/the-best-thing-youll-see-today-portal-gun-in-half-life-2/#comments)the Portal gun in Half-Life.

Detailed steps for doing this on your own pc's. (http://www.primotechnology.com/2007/10/17/half-life-2-portal/)

Sweet...

[Overlord]

Finished Portal last night, loved the hell out of it. I kept dying on the last level trying to see if I wring more taunting from the rampant AI villain.

Are the advanced levels different levels, or just the same levels with minor tweaks to make them more difficult?

[Y3k-Bug]

The latter

[Russ Fischer]

Are the advanced levels different levels, or just the same levels with minor tweaks to make them more difficult?

A set of the same levels (13-18) with seemingly minor tweaks that turn out to push the difficulty maddingly high.

[Overlord]

A set of the same levels (13-18) with seemingly minor tweaks that turn out to push the difficulty maddingly high.

Hopefully we'll see some downloadable content with new levels as the months go by.

[Russ Fischer]

That 'add Portal to HL2' hack looks like so much fun. If only it could be more seamlessly added to the game proper, but I'll take it as is. That will easily hold me for new content until Valve can release some more.

(Which, realistically, is probably going to be a while. This is Valve we're talking about.)

[Spike Marshall]

Wow, Portal's all kind of fun. I've got the insanity of the fall 30,000ft Achievement going on behind me (first thing I did when I gained the ability to place Orange Portals at will).

[Soul Ahn Ice]

Wow, Portal's all kind of fun. I've got the insanity of the fall 30,000ft Achievement going on behind me (first thing I did when I gained the ability to place Orange Portals at will).

So your Halo 3 days are officially over, huh? I'm at the stage with the gun-firing robots, and seeing you playing it on my xbox.com live page makes me wish I was at home playing portal instead of at work. DAMN YOU JOB!

[Rob]

They need to release that fucking patch stat. We need some good games of TF2 now dammit!

[Spike Marshall]

I had to trade in Halo, the game costs about $100 over here and Forza 2 only traded in at $20.

I'm about halfway through Level 18 on Portal and this game is kicking my arse. I managed to get to a room with four sentry guns, a machine spitting out globs of energy in a clockwork fashion and some stationary platforms. I've taken out the drones, and I can figure out that you have to bounce an energy ball into a confined room in the left hand corner, the rub is that the room stays open for about maybe three seconds.

Help would be appreciated, also me and Nate (Midi) should be on TF2 tonight.

Also, setting up the portals so a drone falls out of the blue one and into the orange one ad infinitum is the most hilarious thing ever.

[Overlord]

I had to trade in Halo, the game costs about $100 over here and Forza 2 only traded in at $20.

I'm about halfway through Level 18 on Portal and this game is kicking my arse. I managed to get to a room with four sentry guns, a machine spitting out globs of energy in a clockwork fashion and some stationary platforms. I've taken out the drones, and I can figure out that you have to bounce an energy ball into a confined room in the left hand corner, the rub is that the room stays open for about maybe three seconds.

Help would be appreciated, also me and Nate (Midi) should be on TF2 tonight.

Also, setting up the portals so a drone falls out of the blue one and into the orange one ad infinitum is the most hilarious thing ever.

IIRC, that door is a red herring. You need to build a portal on top of the wall and then put a portal on the lower platform to the right of that main area (I didn't spot that area for a while). Drop down and build up some momentum, and launch across the room to the lower of the two rooms on the opposite side. You hit a button and a section of the wall slides out from the opposite side; create a portal on the upsloped portion of that wall. Head through that portal, then create a new portal on that lower area: fall down through it and you'll launch across to the upper room through the portal you made on the sloped wall section. On the other side, grab a non companion cube and drag it alll the way to the other side of the room.

Launch yourself back to the lower room using the above described strategy. Hit the button, again. Head through portals, grab your box, and go BEHIND the section of wall that extended outwards. You'll see a place to put the box and the door to continue.

[Slater]

Overlord, I think all of that takes place after you activate the energizer in the glass case. At least if you're playing on normal and not advanced.

Set up a portal on the far wall aimed right for the energizer. As soon as the ball comes through the portal, create another set of portals beside the raised switch. You'll have to jump through and hit the switch in midair to open the door before the ball gets there.

[Overlord]

Overlord, I think all of that takes place after you activate the energizer in the glass case. At least if you're playing on normal and not advanced.

Set up a portal on the far wall aimed right for the energizer. As soon as the ball comes through the portal, create another set of portals beside the raised switch. You'll have to jump through and hit the switch in midair to open the door before the ball gets there.

...I don't believe I ever activated that energizer. Did I accidentally go the "advanced" route without even realizing it? I did wonder why that room was an order of magnitude more difficult than everything that came before and after it.

D'oh.

[Slater]

The energizer just activates the moving platform that lets you jump to the lower room with the second door switch. But it's not necessary--you can make it to that same room by portaling from the edge of the furthest platform.

[Overlord]

The energizer just activates the moving platform that lets you jump to the lower room with the second door switch. But it's not necessary--you can make it to that same room by portaling from the edge of the furthest platform.

It took me forever to make that jump. Damn.

[Jacob Singer]

Just downloaded this last night, can't wait to play it this evening.

I think I saw a video online of the very room Overlord is describing, btw. I'll see if I can find the link...

[BillyG]

Picked it up last night on 360, and Portal is really great. I'm on level 19 already, so it's brevity has me sad. Fun playing HL2 again, but I can't wait to try some TF2. Send me a game invite on 360 if you see Tosshi on.

[Russ Fischer]

Did I accidentally go the "advanced" route without even realizing it?

Not possible until you've been through the game once on the regular difficulty.

[Spike Marshall]

Thanks for the help, just about to finish the game I think. I'm in a warehouse and the AI has tried to set me on fire. The last series of jumps on Stage 18 is insane.

[Overlord]

Thanks for the help, just about to finish the game I think. I'm in a warehouse and the AI has tried to set me on fire. The last series of jumps on Stage 18 is insane.

Are those the ones where you just keeping going up, and up, hitting new portals and maintaining momentum the entire time? Very dizzying.

Don't worry. You and the rampant AI will soon be reminiscing about the time she was, like, going to murder you.

[matches]

The end of 18 almost made me want to throw up.

[Spike Marshall]

I swear to christ at one point my character corkscrewed out of the second to last jump.

[Slater]

Episode Two is brilliant, but man, that Grab Some Grub achievement can kiss my fat black ass. I found 332 out of 333 of the little bastards. So. Much. Hate.

[Spike Marshall]

The end boss and subsequent song of Portal are perhaps the greatest and funniest thing since Psychonauts. How a game can make me feel sorry for an inanimate box and an evil AI is beyond me.

[Beageal]

The end boss and subsequent song of Portal are perhaps the greatest and funniest thing since Psychonauts.Same writers. The Old Man Murray (http://oldmanmurray.com/) guys wrote Psychonauts and Portal. They're America's First Family of Video Game Humour. Though not related to one another.

[Spike Marshall]

Team Fortress 2 is fantastic, just had half a dozen fan fuckingtastic matches with Rob/Owen and Nate and I've not encountered any problems yet. The Soldier and Engineer classes are my personal favourites at the moment, and I hate Spies with a passion. It's nice to see that Snipers have been dialed back to almost uselessness as well. The game's just beautiful, stunningly designed, so funny, so balanced and so much fun. It's like a Pixar film on crack.

Only just started Half Life 2, I've only just got the Wrench but it's pretty immense already. I love the design and sense of scale, even though it's all culled from the Dystopian Future rulebook it's still quite impressive to see such depth in a game world design.

[matches]

Bah I wanted to play and now nobody's on. Damn work. Why does it always get in the way of leisure?

[Slater]

Finally finished Half Life 2 and both Episodes. I enjoyed Episode One, but partly because I had heard so many disappointed reactions that I think my expectations were pretty low. It's a fun four hours, but at times it feels more like a really polished fan mod.

But Episode Two...holy shit. Just a series of one jaw dropping moment after the next, all leading up to one of the most badass, nerve-wracking final confrontations I've ever played. Just a phenomenal experience all the way through.

And as far as I'm concerned, this nudges out Bioshock as the new gold standard for interactive storytelling in a shooter. It's so far beyond Halo 3's phony emotion and corny death scenes that it's not even funny.

[DJ HiPPiE]

Well due to the clusterfuck that was the last 10 days I just now got around to finishing Portal.

Most fun i've had with a game in years.....Loved every frustrating minute of level 19....And the song during the end credits is classic.

Gonna start on Half-Life2 next week.

[Y3k-Bug]

Episode Two is brilliant, but man, that Grab Some Grub achievement can kiss my fat black ass. I found 332 out of 333 of the little bastards. So. Much. Hate.

Wait, you're black? Neat.

[LlamaRama]

Finally finished Half Life 2 and both Episodes. I enjoyed Episode One, but partly because I had heard so many disappointed reactions that I think my expectations were pretty low. It's a fun four hours, but at times it feels more like a really polished fan mod.

But Episode Two...holy shit. Just a series of one jaw dropping moment after the next, all leading up to one of the most badass, nerve-wracking final confrontations I've ever played. Just a phenomenal experience all the way through.

And as far as I'm concerned, this nudges out Bioshock as the new gold standard for interactive storytelling in a shooter. It's so far beyond Halo 3's phony emotion and corny death scenes that it's not even funny.
It's weird, because I thought Episode One had better setpiece moments and by Episode Two Valve's storytelling MO was wearing a little thin. The part of Ep1 where you're in complete darkness with the zombies was incredible (and the first time I've been jumpy in Half-Life since the headcrabs in the ventilation shafts of the first game), as were the early reactor scenes. The ending of Ep2 was also spoiled for me before I played, so I guess that hurt as well.

It's purely an academic point though, because either one trumps just about everything else on the market, and with it all coming in one package with HL2 and Portal and TF2, it's honestly kind of unbelievable that any one developer can be so far ahead of the entire video game industry.

[Richard Dickson]

Installing the Steam version as we speak. And since I already own Half-Life 2, it's given me a gift version of the game to give to a friend. Any takers?

[Spike Marshall]

Spies are really starting to irritate me now, largely because I'm playing with people to gung-ho to listen/check their surroundings. I've lost track of how many times I've told a Heavy to turn around because there was a potential spy behind them only for them to not listen and end up getting shived.

I'm also tired of stupid Medics, I tend to play Medic on offence...largely because if I don't I can be certain that we'll end up with a medic who is just idiotic. The needle gun may be fairly powerful, but that doesn't make you Rambo. Heal your HW/Soldiers/Demonmen and stick with your team dammit...and when people ask for healing, HEAL THEM!

[Tieman]

I know most of you aren't playing Half Life 2 right now, but I loved it so much on the PC that I had to play through again on the 360.

I have one big gripe at this point and I'm wondering if anyone else feels the same way: when you get to the point when you have the airboat with the chopper gun mounted on it, does anyone else think controlling the boat and aiming the gun is extremely difficult and annoying? Using the keyboard to drive and the mouse to aim the gun was very intuitive and worked really well. Trying to use the two analog sticks, one to drive and the other to look/aim the gun is really frustrating. I'm in the big battle with the hunter/chopper and it's nearly impossible to target the helicopter properly and avoid driving into walls and other obsticles.

[Owen]

I had no problem with either section. You've probably just gotten too used to the Halo controls.

[Richard Dickson]

Okay, yeah, Portal pretty much rules.

[Spike Marshall]

Lot of fun on TF2 tonight, that Capture game which ended with the 10 minute battle across the bridge was fucking awesome, as was me and Midi just rushing through and getting a ton of control points in the space of seconds on Well.

[Soul Ahn Ice]

Wasn't too sold on TF2 until I played it tonight with some of you guys. I am only good at spies and demomen for some reason.

[Spike Marshall]

It's certainly more fun when you're playing with people you know, who aren't mouthbreathers. It's also good you've found your preferred class, it's fantastic when a class just clicks and you start to hone your skills. I'm getting quite good at using the Scout for rushes essentially, attempting to blindside the enemy and take control points whilst they're busy elsewhere.

That defence game on Tower C was epic in the game before, just watching all the Sentry guns mowdown the enemy whilst I'm revealing spies with random wrench swings was wonderous.

[Nate K]

I have one big gripe at this point and I'm wondering if anyone else feels the same way: when you get to the point when you have the airboat with the chopper gun mounted on it, does anyone else think controlling the boat and aiming the gun is extremely difficult and annoying?

Absolutely. The buggy on Highway 17 doesn't feel right either.

[B_MetalSucks]

O.k. I wasn't sure how much I'd like Team Fortress, but hoooooooly crap is that game fun. I played with a few of you guys a couple of times but the room was extremely laggy. Even then the game was tremendous fun so I can't wait to play with some of you in a more stable room.

Also I finally figured out all of the controls and most of the techniques for most of the classes but I'm still learning maps. Thanks for the invite Spike, without it I might not have tried it for a couple more days.

[Y3k-Bug]

Also, fuck pyros. Just seems to me to be the most unskilled class in the game. And I hate them oh so much.

[Brad Millette]

Sounds like somebody tried to cap Dustbowl as a Scout.

[Rob]

Sorry to Midi, Spike and Medium about tonight. I think my box is on it's last breath. I kept getting graphical glitches and hardlocks. Decided to just turn it off and hope for the best.

[ryoken]

I hate how playing a Medic is esentially being a freakin bullet magnet, since everyone wants to kill you first...if no one has your back, you are pretty much screwed.
Also, being killed by a rocket jumping enemy soldier is absolutly humilliating, dammit.

[Timo]

Two nights ago I was so drunk medic was the only class I was able to play properly. The map was granary and it was in sudden death mode and the enemy team had a medic, a heavy and an engineer left. My team had only me and an engineer and we were holed up in the building in the middle of the map. The heavy and the medic rushed there and killed the engineer. I retreated out of the building and then I thought that since the game was pretty much lost I might as well go out in a blaze of glory. I rushed back into the building and the enemy medic had ran after me so the heavy was alone in the cp capturing it. I ran up to him and just started running laps around and shooting at him. He was using the shotgun but he didn't manage to hit me once. I just got him killed when I ran out of ammo and I jumped down to get more from the ground, I reloaded and started firing behind me as I ran away. I barely managed to kill the engineer who was coming after me when time ran out. And everyone was like "lol, cyberias you're my hero". It was awesome.

[Spike Marshall]

Also, fuck pyros. Just seems to me to be the most unskilled class in the game. And I hate them oh so much.

Ya see, I don't have too many problems with the Pyros. Just keep an eye on your back and use your Scout's double jump (yes he gets a second jump in mid-air) to vault over him if he tries to corner you.

[Spike Marshall]

Man, that last game on 2Fort was Intense. I'm really starting to love the Scout and Demoman now. Just been able to vault across the bridge, onto the enemy battlements and nab the dossier twice in the space of a minute was just bliss and the pitched grenade battle I had with Eric and his Sentry of doom was suitably epic.

Also backstabbing Eric and Nate when they had my team pinned down in their control room was one of my highlights of the first round.

[matches]

That grenade/sentry fight was indeed epic. I was quite upset with myself when I had the drop on you and blew it. But, I did let out a hearty "Yeah!" when my sentry gun killed you after I had died.

[Soul Ahn Ice]

Damn you all, the game was full when I came back online. I have a hankering to do some backstabbing.

[Nate K]

Some good games tonight, I especially enjoyed getting two dominations within about three seconds of each other.

I do need to apologise to B_Metal and Bendrix though, my router crapped out during that match and I couldn't get it working again. I'm sure there will be many more opportunites for you to shoot me though...

[mediumdave]

Holy Shit. Then end of Ep. 2. I thought fighting the Scarab(s) in Halo 3 was pretty neat. This is so superior to that, it's simply unfunny. Halo 3 may be aces in the multi department, but Valve doesn't even need to acknowledge their presence in the single player arena.


People's opinions I forever question on ANYTHING video game related: those who don't like half life 2


People's opinions I forever disregard on ANYTHING video game related: those who think Halo 1/2/3's single player is better than Half Life 2. Sadly, I know some of these people at work.

[mongycore]

Just started episode 2. Seen some cool shit happen already...look forward to seeing cooler shit down the road.

Unless I'm screwed with some scripting bug that won't let me progress. I'm escorting the Vortigant in chapter 2...we made our way to the elevator. We make a stand and destroy tons of enemies waiting for the elevator to arrive - I take it and ride up. I'm waiting for him to come up and cue up the generator. Nothing is happening. He's already finished the fight down below and is doing nothing...

My last save point is just before the tunnel battle with the two humans.
(I'm not impressed man if I have to restart from there).

[mongycore]

did have to restart from a couple of save points back, not as far back as initially feared. Ran through it a second time and the guy showed up when he should have. Man, this game is addicting. Was suppose to do a brief run then sleep...it's like 5 in the morning now.

respect goes to anyone who bothered with the gnome achievement...trying to keep that thing in the car is a god damned bitch. So far I've managed to tuck it under the steering wheel then place a supply box on top of it...don't know if it'll stick for wherever I'm heading.

[Sam28]

Team Fortress 2? Really?

Gave it a bit of a try this weekend. Between my buddy and I (who are both pretty regular Halo 3 matchmaking fodder) we farted around with it for a few hours.

Definately didn't live up to the hype, or my expectations for it. And I really wanted it to be great. But it was just a bunch of guys running around and shooting each other. That's fun, but its like a billion other multiplayer games. I expected to be a novice, and to get my ass handed to me. But there wasn't any of the strategy or nuance that I expected. We played a sort of "territories" gametype where we had to either take over, or defend, various checkpoints. It was just a lot of the same that I see in Halo 3 (run around, shoot each other, and yell a lot), but without the weapon variety or cool vehicles.

Somebody in here set me straight. Are there other game types? Are the experienced gamers playing customs? There has to be more to it than this.

[Brad Millette]

So, you suck and were in a sucky game.

[Brad Millette]

I mean, because it sounds pretty much like you suck.

[Spike Marshall]

Seriously, Team Fortress 2 doesn't even have a deathmatch mode. All of the games are based around capturing key areas or items on the map and mostly require some form of strategy to do so. In fact when you really get into playing Team Fortress 2 some of the classes stop controlling like traditional First Person Shooters. If you know what you're doing with a scout then the game's far more of a platformer than anything else, if you're good with a spy it's a more tense, stealthy game, and an engineer is like a babies first RTS in a lot of ways.

In fact those three classes probably deviate quite a lot from FPSs because they aren't designed to actively kill other characters. Scouts are more checkpoint takers, Spies are there to disable defences, and Engineers are all about setting up portable supply points.

[Trejo]

So Spike, no regrets on trading in Halo for this? I so desperately want to jump balls-deep into TF2 and Portal, but being broke and with all the games coming out this season I want to play, I feel like I should wait until the lag problems are resolved at the very least

[Sam28]

I mean, because it sounds pretty much like you suck.

Yes, because I'm sure you were the Michael Jordan of Team Fortress the first time you ever booted it up. Sorry for disrupting the Team Fortress circle jerk you got going on in here.

So Spike, no regrets on trading in Halo for this? I so desperately want to jump balls-deep into TF2 and Portal, but being broke and with all the games coming out this season I want to play, I feel like I should wait until the lag problems are resolved at the very least

We didn't experience any lag this weekend. That was a nice surprise.

[Brad Millette]

Hey, I'm just saying, the people that seem to complain are the sucky ones.

You know, like you.

[Spike Marshall]

So Spike, no regrets on trading in Halo for this? I so desperately want to jump balls-deep into TF2 and Portal, but being broke and with all the games coming out this season I want to play, I feel like I should wait until the lag problems are resolved at the very least

The game is so much better than Halo 3 it hurts, and the lag problems only occur with 8 vs 8 games, I can host a 6 vs 6 game (which is pretty hectic anyways) with little trouble and no lag.

They're also patching it ASAP, come on, you know you wanna play the game all the cool kids are playing (until Halo 3 gets a mappack).

Also Half Life 2 + Episodes 1 and 2 make up the best 30 hours of gaming ever. *

Speaking of Half Life 2, who is the weird guy with the odd voice who shows up at the beginning and then keeps popping up all over the place. He's been on a TV and I've seen him walk around in an inaccessible room so far.

*Or so I've been told, I'm still on Route Kanal...

[Brad Millette]

He's the G-Man. He's having a wonderful time.

[Soul Ahn Ice]

TF2 is great if you have people you know in it (i.e. the people in this thread), but it's infuriatingly bad when you just try to hop in a game with strangers. Halo 3 is much better for that.

[Spike Marshall]

I take that to mean that he wasn't explained in the original Half Life.

[Spike Marshall]

TF2 is great if you have people you know in it (i.e. the people in this thread), but it's infuriatingly bad when you just try to hop in a game with strangers. Halo 3 is much better for that.

Yeah, it's a blast if you're matched up with at least one guy you know. But playing with strangers you run the roulette of playing with a) Complete and utter idiots who you have to forcibly corral into doing anything b) exasperated players who've had to corral said monkeys too many times and now will scream at everyone to follow his orders c) awesome people.

I've lost count of the amount of times I've spawned on Well as a Scout with a team of 5 Spies. Still at least I can end that map in under a minute.

[Russ Fischer]

I take that to mean that he wasn't explained in the original Half Life.

Not exactly. The end of Half-Life:

After awakening, Gordon's movement is restricted as he is confronted by the G-Man. Both are transported to various locales around Xen, while the G-Man praises Freeman's actions in the border world. The G-Man explains that his "employers", believing that Gordon has "limitless potential", have authorized him to offer Freeman a job. The final teleportation takes the player to the original tram car, which is depicted as flying through space. If the player refuses the job offer, the G-Man teleports him to a location in front of a considerable number of alien enemies, stating, "No regrets, Mr. Freeman," as the screen fades out. If the player accepts, by stepping into a portal, he finds himself floating in nothingness and hears the G-Man's voice one last time: "Wisely done, Mr. Freeman. I will see you up ahead."

[Trejo]

Ah you dirty bastards, I'm out of games I'm willing to trade in right now! Your supposed to be talking me -out- of this until I can afford it!

.. actually, I just beat the Darkness after long-delay.. that one can go.. hmm.. *starts scrounging*

[Spike Marshall]

There's nothing more hilarious than watching an engineer on the enemy team build a sentry gun which can't actually fire due to it's poor positioning. Even more hilarious is being a sniper and watching said Engineer upgrade a Sentry, waiting for him to run off, and destroying it with three charged shots.

[matches]

I hate reading this thread at work because it makes me want to play.

[Werbal_Kint]

Harassing bad Engineers is SO much fun.

I mean, I like being an Engineer, and a good Engineer will make your life a living hell, but when I see an Engy setting up a sentry right on an open battlefield, I just go OH HO HO and spam rockets until dead. On the first Dustbowl map the other night I blew up two Engineers, two sentries, two dispensers and a teleporter in one rush to the first point. The funniest part was when the Engineer pulled out his wrench to start repairing and I promptly exploded his ass.

[matches]

There's nothing more satisfying than being either the Demoman or Soldier and watching your enemies explode.

[Werbal_Kint]

I think the most satisfying thing is being a Pyro and either a.) rushing an enemy point and setting five-plus people on fire, b.) setting a cloaked spy on fire by total accident, c.) setting a spy with the same name as you on fire.

But yes, rocket crits are tremendously satisfying.

[matches]

I actually kind of enjoy when you see the person that you were killed by screen, and they're on fire.

[Rob]

So I'm hoping to be able to hop in a game tonight with you guys. I think my box is working again. So hopefully I can get my ass handed to me by you guys.

[Soul Ahn Ice]

I should be around tonight. Someone send me an invite.

[Spike Marshall]

I was playing a game earlier and we were defending Capture Point B, 4 vs. 4 with like 47 seconds left on the game. I'm playing as a Demoman and notice that somebody is walking towards the Engineer in my line of sight, I'm too far away for my grenades to be properly effective. I tell him to shoot the guy walking towards him with the shotgun, just to make sure. He says "Naw Man, It's Cool". His Sentry and Dispenser suddenly go down, he's scrabbling around like an idiot and then gets backstabbed. When I asked him why he didn't fire he told me he didn't want to waste ammo, WHILST STOOD NEXT TO A DISPENSER.

Seriously, if Engineers don't shoot people who approach them on general principle they're doing their job wrong.

[Rich Straceski]

I used some credit I already had stored up and decided to order this, even though I'm trying to play some games to the end first (still haven't finished Halo 3's single player and Bioshock is calling out to me) but it's such a great value, even at full price. In the end it cost me about $30. Not too bad, but I should have still waited a bit I think. Like I said in another thread, it's like a disease...

[Michael Shaver]

I played TF2 for the first time earlier tonight. It was short but nice. I losr connection to the host and couldn't get back on.

[Spike Marshall]

Okay guys, I promise that next time I come up with a great idea I won't implement it until we have the advantage.

[Trejo]

Allow me to reiterate.

You. Dirty. Bastards.

I couldn't take reading the thread and hearing the cool stuff and not being able to play myself. The EBgames here were all sold out.. I had to go to a frigging Blockbuster, rent the copy in the best condition, trade in Oblivion and the Darkness to build up credit, and now wait a month for the game to sell to my account. But it beats waiting for EB to order in more.

Portal was fun, I made it to the 18th or 19th test sequence (huge room, long drop into acid, gun spinning around shooting energy balls in 3 different directions, umm.. thing i need to hit with the energy ball is behind a door with a short timer, need to use a portal to hit the switch to open the door) with little to no hang-ups, but either my brain was fried or this one is monumentally more difficult because it's been a brick wall to my progress.

I played HL2 when it was new for PC, so I'm not in a huge rush to go back through all of that, though it sounds like Ep2 is going to be a fun time, and I want to go back through HL2 before starting the Ep's.. so I'll get around to that sometime

I'm still house-sitting for my Uncle, so haven't been able to hook up my box to the internet, but I was playing some system-link TF2 matches alone to get a feel for the maps and classes (I did play tons of TF Classic for HL back on the PC), even scored some easy achievements out of it! So hopefully I'll be ready to rock with you dirty bastards online in a couple days.

[Rob]

It was fun playing with you guys last night. I hope I helped more than hindered you guys.

[Soul Ahn Ice]

I apologize for the times I was a spy and wandering around our own base. I'm still getting these maps down and found myself wandering the underground tunnels in circles at times trying to figure out where the fuck I was going.

The sight of five scouts running for the control points was hilarious. Seriously, when I first joined up and was on the other team, that first game my whole team thought that the system glitched b/c you guys got the control point so fucking quickly.

[Richard Dickson]

Portal was fun, I made it to the 18th or 19th test sequence (huge room, long drop into acid, gun spinning around shooting energy balls in 3 different directions, umm.. thing i need to hit with the energy ball is behind a door with a short timer, need to use a portal to hit the switch to open the door) with little to no hang-ups, but either my brain was fried or this one is monumentally more difficult because it's been a brick wall to my progress.
That one took me a while, but, like most of the rooms, once you realize the solution, you hit yourself for overlooking it. I'm running through the bonus levels now and it's still a blast. And it's worth finishing the game just to listen to the end credits.

[Suttytx]

Late to the game in this thread. I plan on playing through HL2 again before hitting Eps. 1 &2...but it's tempting to just jump into those.

And Portal was a great surprise. Any word on future downloadable levels?

[B_MetalSucks]

Most likely will try to play some tonight. Anyone willing to play with me send an invite. TF2 is like crack. :)

[Rob]

I'm down with that. Should be on around 6ish Central time.

[Graham]

Allow me to reiterate.


Portal was fun, I made it to the 18th or 19th test sequence (huge room, long drop into acid, gun spinning around shooting energy balls in 3 different directions, umm.. thing i need to hit with the energy ball is behind a door with a short timer, need to use a portal to hit the switch to open the door) with little to no hang-ups, but either my brain was fried or this one is monumentally more difficult because it's been a brick wall to my progress.



Congratulations!
You're just over half-way through 'Portal'.
All 19 levels of it.

[mongycore]

finished up Episode 2 today. amazing. just glossed over the past 2 pages of this thread...

spoliers in black...

what are the chances of the character you played in Portal being Alyx's mom? They make no mention of her until the near end of the game.

[Spike Marshall]

Jesus Christ, that final Advanced Portal Level is a pain. I'm trying to get all six stages under my belt in one go, which is why I'm not TF2ing. Should be on in about an hour and a half.

I've started looking at the GameFaqs boards for the pure hilarity of lots of people asking for the Spy to be BUFFED in the patch. Seriously every topic about the imminent patch has one solitary person asking for the Spy to be buffed, to which I ask how the fuck do you buff that class. The class is obnoxiously deadly as it is, without the ability to kill people whilst cloaked.

It does sadden me that the Demoman's gonna have his Primary Weapon toned down in the patch though, his six shots on his grenade launcher scaled back to four.

[Alex Riviello]

If you guys are going to be playing in an hour, I'd like to try TF2 with ya. I'm a virgin, so go easy on me.

[B_MetalSucks]

If you guys are going to be playing in an hour, I'd like to try TF2 with ya. I'm a virgin, so go easy on me.
Well, my plans to get on early tonight were sidetracked, I may be on late tonight if any of you night owls wanna have a go look for me around 10:30-ish Central time. Maybe 11.

[Spike Marshall]

Mastered Level 18 and I got my Vanilla Crazy Cake.

I'm not even going to bother with the Challenges, they look hair tearingly oppressive.

Alex, I'll look out for and Invite you to any game I get going.

[Slater]

TF2 kind of sucks on Xbox Live.

I always wind up stuck on a team full of snipers and shotgun engineers and spies, all charging headlong into battle, nobody saying anything at all. And then we promptly get slaughtered by the other team's turrets and Heavy/Medic combos. Then half the people on my team promptly quit.

At least when you're stuck with a team full of dipshits on Halo or CoD, you can have some fun lone wolfing it. Here, a group of lousy teammates tends to suck every ounce of fun out of the game.

[Rob]

So tonight was fucking awesome once we toned down how many people we let in. Great shit rushing with Midi and Spike as scouts. A few of those times matches were over in like 30 secs. And that last game I was in was fucking aces. Fuck you Matches and your goddamn turrets. =)

[matches]

Fuck you Matches and your goddamn turrets. =)

That's what she said.

Har.

[Werbal_Kint]

TF2 kind of sucks on Xbox Live.

I always wind up stuck on a team full of snipers and shotgun engineers and spies, all charging headlong into battle, nobody saying anything at all. And then we promptly get slaughtered by the other team's turrets and Heavy/Medic combos. Then half the people on my team promptly quit.

At least when you're stuck with a team full of dipshits on Halo or CoD, you can have some fun lone wolfing it. Here, a group of lousy teammates tends to suck every ounce of fun out of the game.

It's gotten trickier to find good games on the PC since general release, but I suspect it's easier than Xbox live. I've got a few servers I stick to religiously, and they almost always provide me with fun, balanced games

Probably because TF2's playstyle is better suited to the more multiplayer-seasoned PC crowd. I mean, PC gamers have been dealing with team-based FPSes for well on a decade now. Consoles just got into the scene with, what, Counterstrike for the XBox?

The only time I get annoyed by being on a shitty team is when it happens to me over and over again. If I'm on a team that just gets raped once, I just laugh and hope for the best with the next match. Its repeated horrible games that suck the fun out.

[Spike Marshall]

I just thought I’d compile some of my own thoughts on one of the more overused classes in the game. Please feel free to criticise, question and add to what I’ve written.

The Engineer is a key part of any TF2 team, his ability to create supply points and hold down defensive points makes him a valuable asset. But he’s also something of a misunderstood and misused class. As such hear are some tips and pointers for any aspiring engineer.

• I know you want to get yourself a nice death dealing slice of Sentry Gun set up as soon as possible but heed this advice. You should always create a dispenser first, a Sentry Gun without a dispenser is just a recipe for disaster. The best position for a dispenser is next to the Sentry gun, with a gap inbetween for the Engineer to stand in, so that Repairs can be done without a need for ammunition.

• Always think about where you’re placing your Sentry. People are smart enough now to deal with a Sentry Gun out in the open, and they’ll be prepared for a gun watching Capture Points/The Briefcase. There are very few specific choke points in TF2, in fact 2Fort’s intelligence room is one of the few places which is created solely for the purpose of fortifying a sentry. If you can get a line of sight on your sentry from a distance chances are some Soldier is gonna come and blow it/and the unlucky engineer up. As such you should be setting up in nooks and crannies.

• Never set up a Sentry for the sole purpose of killing lots of people. It’s a defensive weapon and whilst it’s fun to watch your kill count rocket for 30 seconds or so it’s invariably not doing its job if its getting that many kills. A Sentry Gun which kills 15 people in a round is good, a Sentry gun which only kills the Scout who was about to take a capture point is better.

• Be aware of what class you’re dealing with. If a Medic/Scout/Pyro/Engineer are approaching your Sentry gun should take them down with minimum fuss, be warned that the Scout’s Pistol, and the Pyro’s Shotgun can take out an incorrectly placed Sentry with a little patience

• A Heavy will probably destroy a non upgraded Sentry with little fuss, destroy a partially upgraded sentry gun at the cost of his own life, and be destroyed by a fully upgraded gun (as long as the Sentry gun spots him quick enough). However you will most likely be killed if you attempt to repair a Sentry whilst a Heavy is letting rip.

• Soldiers and Demomen will pose an immediate problem, Soldiers can keep out of the range of a Sentry and send enough rockets to damage it badly and most likely kill the engineer trying to repair it. Demomen, with skill, can take out a Sentry from cover quite easily.

• Snipers and Spies when used effectively are a nightmare. Most of your gametime as an Engineer will be spent fighting these two. With Snipers you have to keep your head down, they can’t kill the Sentry as fast as you can repair it, but if they headshot you then they’ll take it down before you respawn.
• Spies will cause untold amounts of chaos. Always be suspicious of people who take an interest in the Sentry. No one in your team should have a need to go near your sentry. If anyone does get ready to wrench them as they are most likely about to hit it with a Sapper.

• A good Engineer should be fluid with his construction, don’t get upset if a Sentry gets destroyed. Just rebuild it, but don’t place it where the last one was. The person who killed it isn’t going to magically forget how he did it last time. The main role of a Sentry gun is to halt an enemy attack, if you can force a team to devote precious seconds to dealing with your gun then you’re doing well. As such you should constantly move your Sentry position for maximum annoyance factor.

• Your Pistol is a good weapon and will serve you far better than the shotgun. If needs be one clip can take down a Heavy, with the right positioning. If you see a Demoman/Soldier coming toward you, try and shoot them with the Pistol. Just to try and stymie the inevitable barrage which is about to hit your Sentry gun.

• Don’t get upset if you have a Spy/Demoman/Sniper teaming up on your Sentry gun. Whilst you’ll lose a bit of equipment and have to rebuild it’s effectively managed the resources of three enemies for 30 seconds to a minute.
• Be aware that Sentry destruction is a massive psychological boost to the other team. Whilst it is easy to rebuild be aware that the destruction of your sentry will galvanise the team into a full on attack.

• Engineers are largely defensive players, however they can be useful on some of the sprawling maps. Like the 3rd Section of Dustbowl. If you can set up a working teleporter which pulls up near the enemy base and next to the dispenser you’ve saved your team a lot of time and given the Heavy far more killing time. Don’t build Sentry guns on attack, they just draw attention to the Teleports/Dispeners which are far more important.

• Never leave your Sentry guns and Dispensers on their own, doing so makes them forfeit to any spies. The team is far better served by you staying put near the capture points and maintaining a Sentry and Dispenser than it is by you running off and planting a teleporter in the enemy base.
• If you must plant a teleporter don’t do it in the middle of the enemy base. Be a little subtle or you’ll just have a teleporter which only serves to bring your team to a toasty death at the hands of a Pyro.

• If you can build a Dispenser/Sentry gun in front of a Spawn Point. Do so, being an evil bastard is part of the job description and if the other team is stupid enough to allow you to do it they deserve the headache they’ll endure for the next few minutes.

Also, Slater/Werbal

I've not experienced any really bad matches yet. Me and B_Metal had a match with some no-Micers at some point but we managed to corral them into a fighting force.

[Gist]

Man, last night was achievement-palooza for this guy, not to mention a pissload of fun. Those scout rushes were hilarious.

[Spike Marshall]

I loved the fact that on the first run through me and Nate met a Pyro and promptly leapt OVER him to the final checkpoint.

Shame they cottoned on so fast, although it did me a chance to Spy myself up and knife some fools. Which is always fun.

My crowning achievement though was headshotting Eric when he was going insane with the Heavy, switching to the Demoman and obliterating 3 Engineers worth of Defences with 6 grenades.

It was about 6am by the time I finished, so I just decided to hit the gym and try and stay awake through the day. Which means not too much TF2 tonight.

[Y3k-Bug]

Sounds like somebody tried to cap Dustbowl as a Scout.

Nah, I'm a demo man exclusively. I find it really easy to kill any other class (including scouts), but pyros tend to not run along paths and zig zag. Plus their flame blocks my vision and I can't make out where they are running so I can't predict their movement to be able to nade them.

Also, give me your info Brad, we need to get our game on.

[Spike Marshall]

Sorry about the games last night Trejo, the game was just being utterly weird and we were playing with utter mouthbreathers.

I love the Orange Box to death, but I don't think there has ever been a more buggy console release.

[Domingo]

List some steam tags in this thread if you want to play.

Steam- Sarnecki

[Trejo]

Sorry about the games last night Trejo, the game was just being utterly weird and we were playing with utter mouthbreathers.

I love the Orange Box to death, but I don't think there has ever been a more buggy console release.

No worries man, I was kind of figuring on the occasional connection problem from what I've been reading. The only crappy part is, getting kicked out of a game after an hour or so of kicking ass doesnt save any progress towards achievements.

The game is buggy as hell, even playing alone, not connected to LIVE just doing system link matches to get a feel for the maps, every few levels the game would freeze up on me after showing the score at the end of a match. Kinda weaksauce.

Once they fix the bugs and stuff I'm sure it'll be a blasty blast, but to be honest.. so far I had way more fun playing Halo3 online, nothing yet has compared to the zombies/rocket race CHUD matches

[Spike Marshall]

Then you haven't take the Bridge on Dustbowl with a Chud Squad. Seriously, that final attack level on Dustbowl is always hair tearingly infuriating and ball breakingly awesome.

[Soul Ahn Ice]

I am getting through Half Life 2, about to hit Nova Prospekt. I wasn't too high on the game at first, but it's slowly pulled me in. I'll agree with anyone up in this thread who said that driving vehicles with the xbox controller is a nightmare. That's really the only complaint I have so far, and getting the antlion pheromone is fucking awesome.

Agreed that every time we play that last dustbowl level, it's the most strategic thinking I've done in a multiplayer game in a long time. Though by the end of it, I think we usually just resort to charging with soldiers trying to take out all the sentry guns.

The best was when Spike built a sentry gun outside of the other team's spawning point. Hilarious.

[Spike Marshall]

Good times, good times. I'm going to be playing in Half an Hour if anyone fancies a game.

I'm about halfway through Ravenholm (just got to the Cemetery) and it's one of the funnest gaming experiences ever. I'm just sticking with a Gravity Gun and it's still just immense, nothing like bouncing a Radiator off of a group of zombies, or picking up a giant knife as it flies through the air and cutting down a half dozen zombies with it.

[Soul Ahn Ice]

Sticking with the gravity gun just for the achievement? You pts whore.

Ravenholm was the level where the game went from being pretty good to great.

[Spike Marshall]

Hey, that level is designed for the Gravity Gun. And yes, I am an Achievement Points Whore. I'm so close to breaking the 10000 point barrier.

[Alex Riviello]

I did it with the gravity gun, it's not too hard. There's plenty of stuff to throw around and kill the zombies with.

Getting through Episode 1 with only firing a single bullet, however....

[Rob]

If anybody is gonna be playing TF2 tonight, send me an invite. I should be on after the Office. Hope to see some of you in game!

[Soul Ahn Ice]

I'll be playing Orange Box in some form or fashion after 30 Rock/Office, so I'd be down to play.

[Spike Marshall]

I did it with the gravity gun, it's not too hard. There's plenty of stuff to throw around and kill the zombies with.

Getting through Episode 1 with only firing a single bullet, however....

Aside from the bit with the lift and the bit with the Priests inexplicably slow Cable Cart of Tension I never had any trouble. I even managed to get the blade off of one of the traps and use that to cut about three dozen of the bastard zombies in half. In fact the only problem was the evil spider headcrabs and their neurotoxins.

[Soul Ahn Ice]

Does anything special happen OTHER than the achievement if you get all the lambda caches?

[Alex Riviello]

A swelling sense of pride and/or shame?

[mediumdave]

Despite playing HL2 twice and Ep1 and 2 once, the Evil Black Headcrabs From Hell still scare the dick out of me. I tend to fire an entire clip from whatever weapon I currently have equipped to make sure they're dead. And the burly zombies with caches of them on their backs is just mean, Valve.

[Spike Marshall]

Forgiveness for my near breakdown as I tried to explain to THAT player how to be an Engineer.

Also, lots of love to the people who enabled me to set up a fully upgraded Sentry Gun in the opposing teams Intelligence Room.

[Xagarath Ankor]

Finally managed to scrape the money together to buy this over steam.

Episode 2 is still downloading, irritatingly (I got HL2 and Ep1 back when each released), but Portal is all kinds of wonderful so far.

[Nate K]

Forgiveness for my near breakdown as I tried to explain to THAT player how to be an Engineer.

I think all of us involved in that game should take a vow to never speak of him again. Ever.

Also, people really need to learn how to defend their control points on Well and Granary, it's just too easy sometimes.

[Richard Dickson]

I found a nice high spot and set up an infinite portal so that I didn't need to do anything but sit back and watch and got the achievement, although I'm not sure how the PC version handles those.

[jay f]

I now have the Orange Box. Should I call a Doctor?

[Rob]

let's a game going tonight dammit....I'd host, but my connection has been weak lately..

[Owen]

Alright, at some point tomorrow, either in the afternoon or late at night after I get back from Birmingham, I am going to play some goddamn TF2. I've only played a couple rounds since that big game two weeks ago, and I'm missing it, and I'm going to make time tomorrow, damn it.

[matches]

I get home from work tonight around 9:30 EST, and I haven't played in four days, so I will be on. Other's should join.

[Soul Ahn Ice]

Most likely will be around, send me an invite.

Sorry Buff, I got on before 30 Rock and played some games with Spike and Midi, never got back on orange box after last night. A chewer game would be nice, so that we wouldn't have retards on our team who insist on playing as engineers yet don't know what a dispenser is.

[Rob]

Yah, we really need to get another Chewer game up and running. 12 people or under. As anytime I play with more than that, it's lag fucking city. I should hopefully be on sometime tonight after I record a few podcasts.

[DJ HiPPiE]

Hell I haven't played in over a week....But now that this god forsaken kidney stone has passed I'll probably be on later....Of course given how loopy I still am from the painkillers I should be easy pickings for everyone.

Most likely will be around, send me an invite.

Sorry Buff, I got on before 30 Rock and played some games with Spike and Midi, never got back on orange box after last night. A chewer game would be nice, so that we wouldn't have retards on our team who insist on playing as engineers yet don't know what a dispenser is.

What a dispenser?


























I'm joking of course

[Owen]

Well, I'm stuck at work instead of in Birmingham, but maybe the timeframe will remain the same, and I'll have time to play tonight. It will depend on whether or not I'm too tired to go out after work.

[matches]

Once several of you were able to receive the update, and I was not, it stopped letting me connect to any of your games. Hopefully it will be available in the morning.

[Nate K]

Once several of you were able to receive the update, and I was not, it stopped letting me connect to any of your games. Hopefully it will be available in the morning.

The same happened to me. At least we got some good games in before that.

[Rob]

So it was sorta fun playing with some of you tonight, it's just a shame that I got stuck with a bunch of mouth breathers on the other teams. Stupid motherfuckers would just build a lvl 1 turret, not upgrade and not build any dispensers. And then bitch because noone was helping them. And I can't tell if the patch helped or not yet. Hopefully it did.

[Owen]

Yeah, those were the guys I was playing with after the update, and boy was that lame. I kept yelling at this one guy to "build a goddamn dispenser" because mine had just gotten destroyed, but instead, he decided to leave his unupgraded sentry and run off into the sunset where I assume he was soon killed.

[Michael Shaver]

I had to hear this British guy bitch because he kept getting killed by Midi Pulse and Daddy 316 and their flamethrowers. He took it out on me, as if I had something to do with it.

Then another British guy joined in that same match and kept making fun of him. He accused us of being fags and told us that we like to suck dead dog dick.

This happened during the game Matches joined in.

Good times.

[Spike Marshall]

Those two games were hilarious, first with my poorly placed Turret which racked up like 7 kills on Gravel Pit then with my mining/sentry gunning the Spawn Point on 2Fort.

[matches]

Yeah, I wish you'd stop doing that because you always kill the other team before they have a chance to be destroyed by my fiendishly placed turrets in our base.

[Soul Ahn Ice]

i got kicked out of the game a bunch of times. I guess i had a bad connection, so I played half life 2 instead and missed out on all the fun.

[Spike Marshall]

Yeah, I wish you'd stop doing that because you always kill the other team before they have a chance to be destroyed by my fiendishly placed turrets in our base.


Okay I'll be a good boy and stop the kill whoring, now that I've got my Hardcore Achievement.

I'm actually kinda upset that the patch has made the Pyro insanely strong at the expense of the Demoman.

[Timo]

Looks like Valve managed to break TF2 with the latest patch. I now get the NULLNAME bug all the time. The game freezes for like 5-10 seconds and when it starts going again everyone's name is NULLNAME. While the game worked I had fun playing as a scout. I managed to single-handedly capture three capture points at Hydro with crazy scout rushes. Lots of fun.

[Soul Ahn Ice]

So what did the patch exactly do?

[B_MetalSucks]

Okay I'll be a good boy and stop the kill whoring, now that I've got my Hardcore Achievement.

I'm actually kinda upset that the patch has made the Pyro insanely strong at the expense of the Demoman.
Those games last night were so awesome. Last game I thought we were toast then all of a sudden we just turned it on. I haven't had any troubles after the patch but I haven't played today so I'm not sure what it's done. Pyro-Medic combo killing a Heavy-Medic combo with Midi was the highlight of the night for me. Great times.

[wydren]

Ok, so Team Fortress 2 is now my favorite online game. Of course, the fact that I had a great team helping me learn probably had a lot to do with that. Thanks for the invite Spike. That game is a blast. Hopefully, you don't think I was too bad. I'd like to think that the only criticism you can give of me is that I was slightly clueless. I'll get better though. The first couple of minutes on each map I pretty much spent running around trying to figure out the layout.

I beat Portal last night as well. That game's ridiculously funny. Thanks to whoever provided a link to the end credits music a couple of pages ago. I love how that game turned so many video game troupes on their heads. Have to get by a series of pistons? Don't bother with timing; portal on one side, portal right next to you, and just skip it. Brilliant.

[Soul Ahn Ice]

I've played TF2 for a bit now, and I still have whole days where I suck horribly, so I wouldn't worry about it. All about contributing to the team.

Sorry about refusing the invites this weekend, guys. I was trying to finish up some other games (finally beat HL2). Should be back in it this week, hopefully the patch made it all better.

[matches]

I'm definitely going to play today. No work or class makes Eric want to kill spies.

[Jacob Singer]

I beat Portal last night as well. That game's ridiculously funny. Thanks to whoever provided a link to the end credits music a couple of pages ago.


I finished it last night as well. I doubt I'm good enough to complete the advanced maps or the challenges, but man, that was a fun ride. And yeah, the end credits song is one of the best original game songs ever.

[Alex Riviello]

Jesus Christ, did anyone even try to get the Garden Gone achievement in Episode 2? You have to carry a garden gnome throughout the entire fucking episode to unlock it.

He's even got a hysterical site up here- http://treygnome.blogspot.com/

[B_MetalSucks]

Jesus Christ, did anyone even try to get the Garden Gone achievement in Episode 2? You have to carry a garden gnome throughout the entire fucking episode to unlock it.

He's even got a hysterical site up here- http://treygnome.blogspot.com/
You can set it down, correct?

Also that reminds me of a question I had about the Ravenholm Gravity Gun only achievement. If you switch to a weapon accidentally but don't actually swing the crowbar or fire, can you still get the achievement? I accidentally bumped my RB button 90% through Ravenholm but did NOT use the crowbar.

[Russ Fischer]

Jesus Christ, did anyone even try to get the Garden Gone achievement in Episode 2?

Tried for a while but it was really hampering my enjoyment of the episode. I'll go back and do that, the grubs and a few others (beat Dog in the race) next weekend.

[Slater]

I started lugging the gnome around, but then I read that there's no real way to safely transport it in the buggy...you basically have to drop it on the floor and hope for the best while you drive rrrrreaaaally slowly. And every time you hit a bump, the gnome falls out and you have to stop and search for it. And I decided I didn't want 30 Achievement points that badly.

[mongycore]

the gnome, for me, stayed almost in place during my run when stashing it underneath an ammo box. it didn't last long though thanks to the asshole choppers that chase you later on...fuckers even shoot it out of your hands when you try place it back in the car.

[Soul Ahn Ice]

Thought I'd throw this up here, it's worth a chuckle:

http://kotaku.com/assets/resources/2007/10/teamfortresscostumes.jpg

those costumes are impressively accurate. Nerdtastic!

from http://kotaku.com/gaming/halloween/team-fortess-2-group-cosplay-kicks-ass-316465.php

[matches]

The Spy is great.

[Spike Marshall]

Yeah, it almost makes me forget how fucking irritating they are in the main game.

[matches]

Everyone ever should play tonight. Get a 12 man CHUD game. Put down Guitar Hero III.

[Spike Marshall]

I'm gonna be on in about three hours (gotta watch my Eureka), but I've not played since Saturday so god knows what my 'mad skillz' will be like.

[Rich Straceski]

I too am now plagued with the Orange Box... but I don't mind at all. I was trying to hold off, but I have some credit to use towards new stuff so what the hey. I've been boxed. Now... to find some of that elusive 'free time'...

[Master Shake]

Wish I could join you guys, but my rental period for Orange Box expired. Gonna have to pony up some money to buy it sometime soon...

[Justin Clark]

Sorry for the abrupt disappearance last night, guys. I couldn't get my mic to work properly (which was okay, since nobody on my team was talking, making it even more impressive we held our base as long as we did in Control Point), lag was making CTF an impossibility, and I lost the connection after the last match.

That said, I could think of worse worse of getting my cherry popped in that game, and I think some random fooling around with the other classes might be in order later.

At least my gamertag wasn't false advertising.

[Nate K]

I didn't realise you were a chewer when we were playing last night Justin. I'll take back the curse I put on you and your minigun...

Thanks to everyone involved in that epic game on 2Fort, that was touch and go for a while.

Oh and thanks to Spike for the new sig.

[Spike Marshall]

This thread got hit HARD, still last nights games were some of the greatest things ever.

[dontEATnachos]

wow, no posts since 10/31? ouch.

[Master Shake]

Holy shit, it got fucked up all the way back to where I was still playing.

Speaking of "still playing", I'm thinking part of my tax refund is going toward owning Orange Box, so you guys might be seeing me in TF2 more often in the near future.

[Justin Clark]

Sorry about dropping out so suddenly last night. Live's still giving me occasional shit, disconnecting me out of the blue and being extremely spotty for a couple of hours about letting me get back on.

On the upside, though, I finally made my way through Episode 1, which was, indeed, just as boring as everyone says.

If the antlion stuff in Episode 2 is any indication, things are about to pick up in a HUGE way, though.

[matches]

I think I'm beginning to become burnt out with TF2. With the exception of one Dustbowl game, I was completely disinterested tonight and last night.

[Spike Marshall]

http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=91348

Valve has leaked details of its bulging content package for Team Fortress 2, which will be stuffed with unlockable weapons and a fresh game mode.

As reported by PC Gamer, you'll have to earn a certain amount of achievements within a class to get the weapons. You'll then be able to select them from a new Loadout menu.

The only example given so far is the new Overhealer for medics. This contraption permanently boosts your target's health at the expense of being rubbish at building Ubercharge.

And that trade-off is similar across the board; these are far from beefed up versions of the standard arsenal, rather tactical options with unique pros and cons.

Elsewhere the fancy new game mode involves escorting a mine cart through various segments of a map. Simply, the more of your team stand next to it the faster it will go. But when a single opponent stands in your path its progress grinds to a halt, so you will have to murder them to get it going again.

Naturally this brings with it all sorts of tactical considerations as you pass over different terrain. Engineers will have to rethink on the move and others will have to, er, do similar things with a bazooka or cosh or minigun or chloroform napkin or whatever you use.

These new bits and pieces are in the early stages of development and no date has been mentioned, although new Badlands and Goldrush maps are expected in just over a month.

We NEED this stuff on the 360, that minecart sounds awesome.

[B_MetalSucks]

I think I'm beginning to become burnt out with TF2. With the exception of one Dustbowl game, I was completely disinterested tonight and last night.


Hey Eric, you should try Call of Duty 4, it's an awesome game AND it sucks a mean dick.*





*Call of Duty 4 won't really suck your dick, but you'll feel like it did. :)

[Phil Connors]

Sorry about dropping out so suddenly last night. Live's still giving me occasional shit, disconnecting me out of the blue and being extremely spotty for a couple of hours about letting me get back on.

On the upside, though, I finally made my way through Episode 1, which was, indeed, just as boring as everyone says.

If the antlion stuff in Episode 2 is any indication, things are about to pick up in a HUGE way, though.

Episode 2 is a slice of pure brilliance. Not a boring moment in it, and some that rival the very best of Half-Life 2. I know this has become the TF2 thread, but I'm stunned at the lack of love for Portal and Episode 2 in here. Two fucking remarkable games - if you haven't played them yet, you really should.

[Overlord]

Another thread that's been gutted.

*sigh*

[wydren]

I agree with Spike in that we need that new stuff for the 360. Of course, I need to beat Mass Effect so that I can get back to the TF2.

[Justin Clark]

I know this has become the TF2 thread, but I'm stunned at the lack of love for Portal and Episode 2 in here.

There was a veritable bukkake party of Episode 2 love before the revamp. There's still lots of Portal love on the first few pages here, but most of it showed its glowing face in the Game of the Year thread that's currently nowhere to be found.

[bendrix]

Now that I am temporarily without home internet service, I've been catching up on Half-Life 2. I never played the first one, and I remember reading in many places that the story in 2 is easy enough to pick up without 1. Well, I've finished HL2 and just now digging into Ep1. Being terrified of spoilers until I complete Ep2, I'm refraining from scouring Wikipedia. But I have one question (perhaps followed by others): who the hell is this G-Man dude? Yeah, I'm assuming he's supposed to be mysterious, given his appearances and disappearances, but could someone briefly sum up for me how he's played into the game so far?

Also, was there a "story thus far" synopsis I missed? Or am I just really stupid? I mean, I knew aliens had invaded, but I had no context for why everyone was treating Gordon Freeman like Jesus Christ on rollerskates when, from what I gather, his experiments caused the invasion (or maybe I'm wrong on this point). I appreciated the immersiveness of it, but it was bewildering to have to make sense of all these allusions to previous events--which may have been why it took me so long to get through the game. It really didn't grab me until Ravenholm. Very glad I stuck it out, though, because it was an amazing gaming experience.