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Half-Life 2 Preloading from Steam

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the chomping-at-the-bit dept.

Nos. writes "For those of us using Valve Software's Steam platform, we can now begin 'preloading' Half-Life 2. The article explains that this will download an encrypted version of the game that you can unlock when you purchase it. They only say that purchase options will be available soon."

9 of 534 comments (clear)

  1. eh, this could be bad for Valve by rambo_command0 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I wonder how long it will be till hackers find away to spoof half life 2's pre-loading authenticiation and users can play hl2 without actually buying it.

  2. QCrack.exe by jwlidtnet · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Interesting...does anybody here remember the a vaguely-similar route taken with id for the Quake shareware release? An encypted version of that game (and essentially every past Id game) was on the shareware CD, and could be unlocked when purchased. And then along came QCrack.

    Valve's distribution idea is interesting, but I hope for their sake that the security's very strong, requiring all sorts of authorizations and whatnots. If not, Doom III's slightly-premature leaking to the internet might seem like a far more ideal scenario than a Valve-aided distribution of compromised content.

    1. Re:QCrack.exe by Spezzer · · Score: 5, Interesting

      The pre-load most likely does not include core game files like the executable, just the static libraries of models, maps, textures, etc that will not change until the game's release. When the game is 'released,' Steam will probably just download the rest of core game files (which should be a relatively small download), and then will launch the game.

      It seems like the only danger of breaking the encryption is getting access to files that may spoil the plot, but I've heard there's already a file out there that does that.

  3. Re:Thats fine.... by Radish03 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    what on earth is Valve waiting for?

    Fixing bugs as many little bugs as they can, especially in level design I believe. They've said its very close to being complete, it's just being playtested to death at the moment.

  4. Re:Torrent... by Mazem · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Last year Bittorrent's creator Brahm Cohen was hired by Valve to improve Steam's content distribution system.

    Also in terms of overloading servers, slashdot has nothing over the hordes of counter-strike players.

  5. Speaking of which... by solios · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I know this is OT, but this has bugged me for YEARS.

    When the Playstation came out, I creamed my pants at the potential of memory cards- finally, a company could make an RPG.... and release "add-ons" or "expansion packs" that would be new games or side games but which would use your already existing character. Or a sequel to a game that was ACTUALLY a SEQUEL- picking up where you left off... exactly where you left off, levels, equipment, and everything. I figured games like this would be out within a year.

    Boy, was I FUCKING WRONG. Aside from some in-game tricks in games like Metal Gear Solid, memory cards are basically just an itty hard drive that serves as a dumping ground for save data that doesn't overlap or play between games.

    WHERE IS THE INNOVATION IN THAT?

    Shit, if I knew I could move my NWN character into NWN2 (without, you know, creating a new one...), I'd spend a couple of weeks prior to release leveling like a bastard. And if the game's built right, it should be just as challenging at level 20 as it is at level 3. :P (the fact that NWN characters can be ported- gear and all- between NWN expansions is a major bonus. It's things like this that have completely killed console rpgs for me.)

    Woo. Rant complete.

  6. Re:Boo friggin yah! by realdpk · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Plus, there's no guarantee Valve will always offer the game for download. Who knows, they could get "hacked" again and have to pull all the files down for another year (and call it Patch 1 :)

  7. Re:This is a case where it can work by clambake · · Score: 4, Interesting

    What about the "just got lucky" factor? It may take thousands of years to run through all of the available keyspace, but what if the second key that I try just happens to be the right one?

    It might take thousands of years or it might take until tomorrow morning, or anything in between. But I don't see any way to absolutely guarantee that it won't be tomorrow morning; it seems just as likely as "thousands of years".

    In that case, why decrypt it at all? If you just create random strings of digits eventually you are GUARANTEED to hit upon the entire halflife2 game, complete with patches, and including additional, SUPER AWESOME content, such as the level that seamlessly merges the entire DOOM3 game and has a character that looks identical to a naked natilie portman who speaks directly to you, in your own voice, perfectly, and then relives your early childhood in grainy 35mm footage before showing that you were, in fact, abducted by aliens.

    Sure, it MIGHT take a hundred quadrillion billion zillion years, but you MIGHT hit upon it on your second try, right?

  8. Re:Torrent... by Solder+Fumes · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Interesting, though I notice Bram's avoided updating his donate, this is my only job page that pops up randomly when you use the bittorrent client.