This article describes how to run “The Orange Box” PC version on an Apple Macbook.
Macbook specs:
Processor: 2.2GHz Intel Core Duo
RAM: 2GB 677 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
Graphics: Intel GMA X3100 Chipset with 144MB
Intro:
This article is specifically for the Macbook, but may be compatible with the Macbook Pro. I will explain step by step how to install “The Orange Box” using CrossOver as well as fixing some common problems with getting the games running. Any additional suggestions or productive comments by the readers is welcome.
Items you will need to complete this install:
-CrossOver, an application for running Windows applications on Mac systems
-External USB DVD drive (I will explain why shortly)
-1 paper clip
Installing:
1. Buy the game.
2. Download “CrossOver”. www.codeweavers.com/products/cxmac/
3. After installing CrossOver insert Disk 1 into your external DVD drive and click on Setup.exe
4. Inside the CrossOver popup box that appears choose “Install Unsupported Software”, then “Continue”. Follow the wizard and begin setting up your Steam account and installing the software. I chose to install all five games.
5. During the install everything will be running smoothly (see the below footnote for an exception) until you are prompted to insert Disk 2. If you didn’t heed my advice about the external DVD drive, or don’t have one, you are about to be screwed. The DVD will not eject no matter how hard you wish, force, or cuss it. Instead, by using the external drive, you can cut the drive’s power, use a paperclip to force it open, make the switch, and turn the power back on. Voila!
6. The rest of the installation should go smoothly.
Footnote: My installation actually did crash the initially try. The second time Crossover promoted me to create a new bottle to store the files or use the existing one. I chose the existing bottle despite the software’s recommendations not to.
Running the games:
From inside your Users/your-user-name/Applications/CrossOver/ folder you should have a Steam.app. click it. This is how you will run the games.
The games are very picky about what version of Direct X you use, and you will need to enter some command lines into the launch script for them to run. From under My Games in Steam, select the appropriate game, click the Properties button on the bottom right, then click Set Launch Options. Once the game actually loads, you can play with the in-game video options to find your preferences of quality vs. performance settings.
Half Life 2:
The game runs great! The only exception is during the game you will come across communications terminals that usually show a video of the character who is talking to you. I have noticed problems with this video not playing.
Launch options:
-heapsize 512000 -dxlevel 70 -width 1280 -height 800 -novid
Half Life 2: Episide 1
Seems to run as well as Half Life 2.
Launch options:
-heapsize 512000 -dxlevel 70 -width 1280 -height 800 –novid
Half Life 2: Episode 2
The worst of the bunch. Not only will you need to run the following launch options, after the game loads you will need to go into the video options and change the Shader Detail setting from High to Low. Even with these settings the water in the beginning of the game will not load its texture, and some of the game menus are unreadable.
Launch options:
-heapsize 512000 -dxlevel 90 -width 640 -height 480 –window -novid
Portal
Plays amazingly! Yes, I was surprised to. The only problem is you will need to play it in a window at 640 by 480 for best results. Feel free to try full screen, but it tended to bog down on me in the later levels.
Launch options:
-heapsize 512000 -dxlevel 80 -width 640 -height 480 –window -novid
Team Fortress 2
Is still a work in progress. With the following launch options you will be able to load the game and connect to a server. Unfortunately when the actual game starts none of the textures load. I suspect this is a problem with Direct X compatibility or Shader Detail settings.
Launch options:
-heapsize 512000 -dxlevel 90 -width 640 -height 480 –window –novid
Additional Information:
I have only had time to play Half Life 2 and Portal, so while I have listed bugs in the other games, be warned there are probably more.
I would be happy to capture then post videos of the games running should anyone request this.
Here is a break down of what the launch options mean.
-heapsize (the amount of RAM you are dedicating to the game)
-dxlevel (the Direct X level you are running the game 70=7.0, 80=8.0, 90=9.0)
-width / -height (the resolution you are running the game in)
-window (runs the game in a window instead of full screen)
-novid (skips the intro video when launching the game)
This article was written with the intention of helping the community. Any additional help with discovering better settings would be appreciated, and should be posted below.
Macbook specs:
Processor: 2.2GHz Intel Core Duo
RAM: 2GB 677 MHz DDR2 SDRAM
Graphics: Intel GMA X3100 Chipset with 144MB
Intro:
This article is specifically for the Macbook, but may be compatible with the Macbook Pro. I will explain step by step how to install “The Orange Box” using CrossOver as well as fixing some common problems with getting the games running. Any additional suggestions or productive comments by the readers is welcome.
Items you will need to complete this install:
-CrossOver, an application for running Windows applications on Mac systems
-External USB DVD drive (I will explain why shortly)
-1 paper clip
Installing:
1. Buy the game.
2. Download “CrossOver”. www.codeweavers.com/products/cxmac/
3. After installing CrossOver insert Disk 1 into your external DVD drive and click on Setup.exe
4. Inside the CrossOver popup box that appears choose “Install Unsupported Software”, then “Continue”. Follow the wizard and begin setting up your Steam account and installing the software. I chose to install all five games.
5. During the install everything will be running smoothly (see the below footnote for an exception) until you are prompted to insert Disk 2. If you didn’t heed my advice about the external DVD drive, or don’t have one, you are about to be screwed. The DVD will not eject no matter how hard you wish, force, or cuss it. Instead, by using the external drive, you can cut the drive’s power, use a paperclip to force it open, make the switch, and turn the power back on. Voila!
6. The rest of the installation should go smoothly.
Footnote: My installation actually did crash the initially try. The second time Crossover promoted me to create a new bottle to store the files or use the existing one. I chose the existing bottle despite the software’s recommendations not to.
Running the games:
From inside your Users/your-user-name/Applications/CrossOver/ folder you should have a Steam.app. click it. This is how you will run the games.
The games are very picky about what version of Direct X you use, and you will need to enter some command lines into the launch script for them to run. From under My Games in Steam, select the appropriate game, click the Properties button on the bottom right, then click Set Launch Options. Once the game actually loads, you can play with the in-game video options to find your preferences of quality vs. performance settings.
Half Life 2:
The game runs great! The only exception is during the game you will come across communications terminals that usually show a video of the character who is talking to you. I have noticed problems with this video not playing.
Launch options:
-heapsize 512000 -dxlevel 70 -width 1280 -height 800 -novid
Half Life 2: Episide 1
Seems to run as well as Half Life 2.
Launch options:
-heapsize 512000 -dxlevel 70 -width 1280 -height 800 –novid
Half Life 2: Episode 2
The worst of the bunch. Not only will you need to run the following launch options, after the game loads you will need to go into the video options and change the Shader Detail setting from High to Low. Even with these settings the water in the beginning of the game will not load its texture, and some of the game menus are unreadable.
Launch options:
-heapsize 512000 -dxlevel 90 -width 640 -height 480 –window -novid
Portal
Plays amazingly! Yes, I was surprised to. The only problem is you will need to play it in a window at 640 by 480 for best results. Feel free to try full screen, but it tended to bog down on me in the later levels.
Launch options:
-heapsize 512000 -dxlevel 80 -width 640 -height 480 –window -novid
Team Fortress 2
Is still a work in progress. With the following launch options you will be able to load the game and connect to a server. Unfortunately when the actual game starts none of the textures load. I suspect this is a problem with Direct X compatibility or Shader Detail settings.
Launch options:
-heapsize 512000 -dxlevel 90 -width 640 -height 480 –window –novid
Additional Information:
I have only had time to play Half Life 2 and Portal, so while I have listed bugs in the other games, be warned there are probably more.
I would be happy to capture then post videos of the games running should anyone request this.
Here is a break down of what the launch options mean.
-heapsize (the amount of RAM you are dedicating to the game)
-dxlevel (the Direct X level you are running the game 70=7.0, 80=8.0, 90=9.0)
-width / -height (the resolution you are running the game in)
-window (runs the game in a window instead of full screen)
-novid (skips the intro video when launching the game)
This article was written with the intention of helping the community. Any additional help with discovering better settings would be appreciated, and should be posted below.
