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Valve Launches Public Beta Of Steam

Posted by simoniker on from the clever-company-plus-interesting-product dept.

Thanks to several readers for pointing out that Half-Life developers Valve has launched the public Beta of Steam, their "broadband platform for the delivery and management of digital content." It currently includes free downloads of the new Counter-Strike 1.6, as well as the original Half-Life, Team Fortress Classic, Opposing Force, and more. This audacious move to build a truly popular digital delivery content system by Valve, already through an extensive closed Beta stage, also indicates Steam users should "..stay tuned for a blast of HL2 full-motion goodness."

2 of 45 comments (clear)

  1. COMPLETELY WRONG by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    not only do you NOT need hl, but with it, you can(for now, at least) play halflife without buying it, as well as tfc, and cs. No need for a cd-key either.

    1. Re:COMPLETELY WRONG by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

      You don't need a cd key, but you have to be online to play Half-Life single player. Try to firewall off steam and start a game. "This game is currently unavailable". In other words, Valve can give Half Life away, but they can take it back anytime they want. This is not my idea of free. Steam has been wiped from this computer and will never return.