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Half-Life 2 Preloading from Steam: Part 2

Posted by CowboyNeal on from the teasing-us dept.

BrainsVolpe writes "For those of us on Steam, we can continue our 'preloading'of Half-Life 2. This time around we'll be downloading 'the majority of the audio of Half-Life 2 in encrypted form.' Does this mean we'll be getting HL2 before September 30th? Only Valve knows for sure... sorta."

83 comments

  1. Ask Slashdot: How to re-start? by richie2000 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I got the prompt to pre-load before, denied it to let the server load subside a bit and now I can't get it to ask me again. Now what?

    --
    Money for nothing, pix for free
    1. Re:Ask Slashdot: How to re-start? by aweraw · · Score: 4, Informative

      You should be able to right click on the Half Life 2 item in your games menu, and select 'pre-loading status'. Then you should be able to resume from there.

      You really should have done it first oportunity you got. Me? I got the story before it went live on slashdot and therefore beat the rush. yay for subscription... but, now you'll have to contend with the hoards of people who rush to open steam after seeing this

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      5468652047616D65
    2. Re:Ask Slashdot: How to re-start? by richie2000 · · Score: 1
      You should be able to right click on the Half Life 2 item in your games menu

      There it was hiding, I was looking in the Browse Games menu. Thanks. It says "just released" too. But they're just teasing. :-/

      You really should have done it first oportunity you got.

      That was like half an hour after the previous Slashdot article. I couldn't even connect to Steam then, much less begin pre-loading.

      --
      Money for nothing, pix for free
    3. Re:Ask Slashdot: How to re-start? by 8tim8 · · Score: 1
      You really should have done it first oportunity you got.

      Not trying to troll or anything, but what's the point in downloading it now if you won't be able to access it until maybe Sept 30? Or is the preload a limited time offer?

    4. Re:Ask Slashdot: How to re-start? by Richard5mith · · Score: 1

      Simple, if you get it now then when 30th Sep (or whatever) comes, you'll just be able to pay for the unlock code and you'll be good to go. No waiting.

      It's just a way for them to spread their downloads so that half a million people don't all try and download it at the same time when the game is released.

      And they're not putting their full bandwidth behind the preload either, opting to give a smaller number of people a faster connection rather than a large number of people a slower connection.

    5. Re:Ask Slashdot: How to re-start? by DarkZero · · Score: 2, Insightful

      You really should have done it first oportunity you got. Me? I got the story before it went live on slashdot and therefore beat the rush. yay for subscription... but, now you'll have to contend with the hoards of people who rush to open steam after seeing this

      This is a Slashdot Games article, not a frontpage Slashdot article. The only people that will see it are the ones that specifically go to games.slashdot.org or the people that have Slashdot Games in their newsbox on the side of Slashdot. Therefore, no rush has been or will be created by this article.

      Just because there are good reasons to subscribe doesn't mean that every reason is a good reason.

    6. Re:Ask Slashdot: How to re-start? by keiferb · · Score: 1

      Odd... it's on the front page for me. I don't have games as a slashbox, nor did I browse to games.slashdot.org.

    7. Re:Ask Slashdot: How to re-start? by tolan-b · · Score: 1

      same here, but i set my preferences to show all sections in the front page.

    8. Re:Ask Slashdot: How to re-start? by jannesha · · Score: 2, Insightful

      ...But you have until at least Sept. 30, so, really, no one has to rush at all. That's the whole point of the 'preload,' right?

    9. Re:Ask Slashdot: How to re-start? by Baikala · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Wich was the default setting back when all this "diferent secctions" madness begun.

      --
      16,777,216 comments ought to be enough for any forum!
    10. Re:Ask Slashdot: How to re-start? by Leffe · · Score: 1

      I found out the URI of the magic page that contained the pre-load button (or was it what the button pointed to?)... too bad I didn't write it down, it looked something like this:

      steam://preload/...

      I'm sure about the steam prefix, less sure about the preload, and sure that there was a number in the end.

  2. It is newsworthy by tod_miller · · Score: 3, Insightful

    It is cool that you can preload unreleased media in encrypted form, I like how they are doing this.

    A bad joke would be that you preloaded thier source code a few months ago, but lets not go there.

    I can't wait for a doom3 demo, let alone a half life 2 demo.

    I am holding my breath for a Duke Nukem Forever (that is so true it isn't even funny)

    --
    #hostfile 0.0.0.0 primidi.com 0.0.0.0 www.primidi.com 0.0.0.0 radio.weblogs.com
    1. Re:It is newsworthy by gkelman · · Score: 0, Redundant

      I can't wait for a doom3 demo, let alone a half life 2 demo.

      Erm. Doom3 is already out, and the demos were about 2 years ago. So go buy it.

    2. Re:It is newsworthy by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

      With "Demo" you mean "leaked alpha build that is in no way representative of the finished game"?

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    3. Re:It is newsworthy by gkelman · · Score: 1

      With "Demo" you mean "leaked alpha build that is in no way representative of the finished game"?

      Yes.

    4. Re:It is newsworthy by karmatic · · Score: 1

      It's actually _not_ encrypted, just fire up gcfscape, and you can extract the files just fine.

    5. Re:It is newsworthy by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I think you got the punctuation wrong. Corrected as:

      "I am holding my breath for a Duke Nukem. Forever"

    6. Re:It is newsworthy by EastCoaster · · Score: 1

      I think it is pretty cool. It is the first of its kind and could pave way for future releases. In the future they could send you a full game with a demo built-in. The demo is unlocked by default but the full game is not. The user could then purchase the game via credit-card or paypal or something. I see a lot of other developers paying close attention to this.

    7. Re:It is newsworthy by Gilesx · · Score: 1

      A bad joke would be that you preloaded thier source code a few months ago, but lets not go there.



      <p>Why is that a bad joke? I thought it was hilarious. Any company with shoddy system security, and therefore contributing yet more boxes to the lack of security epidemic deserves everything they've got coming to them.</p>
      --
      Sunday you're Thinking Different, Monday you're a huge tool, paying too much and waiting to think like everyone else.
    8. Re:It is newsworthy by wideBlueSkies · · Score: 1

      >>I can't wait for a doom3 demo

      No disrespect, but why can't you wait? Just go out and buy the game. I can understand if: A. The full game isn't out yet. B. They are releasing a new level or 2 with the demo.

      But since neither is the case, what's the point?

      Personally, I'm kinda' annoyed that Id no longer releases shareware or Qtest like-stuff. Not a big deal, but I guess I don't understand the lack of motivation to do this stuff anymore.

      wbs.

      --
      Huh?
  3. Re:and the news is? by krymsin01 · · Score: 2, Funny

    No, it'd only be news if you were downloading the mod and you couldn't use it until next year...

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    stuff
  4. Re:and the news is? by El_Muerte_TDS · · Score: 2, Funny

    Ok, so if you can download something but not use it right away it's "news" worthy. He! 3DReleams. You should release a single file for Duke4 every week. (Encrypted ofcourse)

  5. Re:It is newsworthy NOT by imr · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It would be newsworthy if it was the news that describe the new business model of valve with steam, but it has been done a long time ago.
    Or it would be newsworthy if it was the news that talks about the protocol behind steam, or the news that talk about some problem/success related to steam, or the people behind steam, or the community accepting/rejecting steam, or something new about half life2/cs/modding. But none of that.

    It would be almost void of any interrest it it was the news that announce that the preloading of hl2 has started.
    But no, this is the news that say that part2 of the download of people that are preloading hl2 has started.

  6. I'm sorry by krymsin01 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    But I fail to see how this in anyway innovative, interesting, or even remotely cool. A bunch of people pay money to download something they can't use until they pay some more money to the publisher, am I getting this right?

    Rip off...

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    stuff
    1. Re:I'm sorry by blacksway · · Score: 2, Informative

      No, your not right.

      The downloading is free.

      You only have to pay to play the game, once its been released.

    2. Re:I'm sorry by nukem1999 · · Score: 5, Informative

      It costs exactly nothing to preload. When the game is officially released, you pay Valve/VU (I think VU is their publisher anywayws) the same amount of money as you would for a box (blame the publishing contract), only you get it the second it's available instead of worrying about what store will have it when.

    3. Re:I'm sorry by krymsin01 · · Score: 1

      Ah. I just saw the "account holder" text and assumed it was a paid account type thing.

      I'm still not seeing a point, though. Why not just release the game all at once on a private torrent tracker or something instead of what sounds like a convoluted plan at increasing anticipation....

      Oh wait, nevermind.

      --
      stuff
    4. Re:I'm sorry by El_Muerte_TDS · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Well, yeah, but you won't get it on a nice permanent medium (read CD\DVD) and not nice printed manual or box.

      So you pay the same for less, but you get it earlier.

    5. Re:I'm sorry by AllUsernamesAreGone · · Score: 2, Informative

      And probably not even earlier that retail if you know the owner of a small game store who will be getting boxed versions a day or two before the oficial release date.

      If the official release date on steam and retail is the same, retail buyers may even have working copies before steam users... Assuming the boxed version doesn't require steam to authenticate before it'll start, otherwise Valve could hold back the retail buyers until the official date (and simultaneously royally piss off a lot of people.)

    6. Re:I'm sorry by theraccoon · · Score: 1

      You get it the second it's available, assuming the severs can handle the last minute download everyone will be taking part in.

    7. Re:I'm sorry by myc_lykaon · · Score: 1
      Not entirely. You could just wait. Buy the box with the activation code and CD. Plug in the code to Steam and then the preloaded HL2 is activated by the CD key rather than the one bought over Steam. You have HL2 and the CD and the manual.

      All a bit pointless really. I'm getting HL2 but I have a wife, house and work so I'll probably start playing HL2 some weeks after you have finished it.

    8. Re:I'm sorry by big+daddy+kane · · Score: 1

      but doesnt steam use bit-torrent-like(c) technology, which allows users to p2p the files? so after a critical mass has downloaded the rest can grab it off eachother.

  7. Digital transfer is the best way by ricotest · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I really like this (legal) digital form of selling games. The pre-loading makes it as instant as a game box, but Valve can't really go out of stock. Makes it easier for lazy people like me who aren't pre-ordering HL2 from their local game shop.

    1. Re:Digital transfer is the best way by BrookHarty · · Score: 1

      I wish they would pass on the savings for pre-loading over box set.
      Something like 10 bux, because if I'm not going to save money, I'll go buy a jewel case with a Serial key.

    2. Re:Digital transfer is the best way by big+daddy+kane · · Score: 1

      plus with a boxed copy you get the security of having a copy on a real medium, so in the event of data loss you dont have to re-download the entire game.

  8. how well? by scheuri · · Score: 1

    ...I would be happy if they just consider to make a port... thre isnt a port planned, is there?

    1. Re:how well? by osvejda · · Score: 2, Informative

      There was a petition, but was completely ignored by Valve. Dedicated server should be available however.

  9. Re:It is newsworthy NOT by atomicdragon · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I think the current Slashdot quote has some relevance: "Dibble's First Law of Sociology: Some do, some don't."

    Some people have an interest in this stuff, others don't. It is much easier to skip over an article that doesn't interest you than to find ones that do interest you, but are not posted.

    I tend to think that if a topic is really that uninteresting, why bother with spending the time to read or to reply to the posts.

  10. Why all the bashing? by evilNomad · · Score: 2

    Why all you all bashing valve for this?! This has got to be the coolest way to get a game yet, you download it before its released, then pay and tada you got the game, no need to move out into the sunlight only to find the store hadn't gotten a copy yet, no need to install from crappy slow CD's which you have to change 4 times.. How can a geek NOT like this?!

    1. Re:Why all the bashing? by the_raptor · · Score: 1
      Why all you all bashing valve for this?! This has got to be the coolest way to get a game yet, you download it before its released, then pay and tada you got the game, no need to move out into the sunlight only to find the store hadn't gotten a copy yet, no need to install from crappy slow CD's which you have to change 4 times.. How can a geek NOT like this?!

      Oh yeah it must be nice to have a net connection that is faster then a 52x CD-ROM drive. Or maybe you just have a 2x CD-ROM? As I have 256Kb ADSL I think I will just wait for the boxed version ;)
      You are right about the changing CD's crap (expecially when you have to keep putting CD one in for stupid copy protection shit), when the hell are they going to start releasing games on DVD's more often? Every serious gamer has one by now!
      --

      ========
      CINC, 4th Penguin Legion
    2. Re:Why all the bashing? by evilNomad · · Score: 1

      Well duh, of course i dont have a faster internet connection, hence why they allow me to preload...

    3. Re:Why all the bashing? by kannibal_klown · · Score: 1
      Oh yeah it must be nice to have a net connection that is faster then a 52x CD-ROM drive. Or maybe you just have a 2x CD-ROM? As I have 256Kb ADSL I think I will just wait for the boxed version ;)


      But with all of the preloading, when the game is finally "released," you'll only need to download a small portion of the game. So, on release day, instead of driving to the store, waiting in line, waiting for your credit card to go through, driving home. You just drive home, download maybe 100 MB (or less if they preload the binaries) and you're set.

      If you don't have broadband, then Steam is completely useless to you.

      I'm TEMPTED to use steam via my sh!tty-ass DSL connection (it's slow compared to my friends' cable connection), but I think I'll still go with the CD seeing as I reformat every-so-often.

      Part of me would still rather have the physical media, but my CD's tend to get scratched after a while (at least the game CD's, not the install CDs).
    4. Re:Why all the bashing? by ctr2sprt · · Score: 4, Insightful
      Easy enough. I do not trust Steam's "security" well enough to give it any sensitive information. Furthermore, I want a copy on a CD so that, if Steam breaks for whatever reason (which it likes to do), I can still install and play the game I bought.

      I have no objection to preloading per se. Well, it does use up my bandwidth, hard drive space, and CPU power for something which is going to remain useless for at least another month. But my main objections are security concerns and the lack of a CD image.

      Considering that I don't really gain anything from doing this, I'm not going to. I'll just go buy the game when it comes out, or a week later, or whatever. Any excitement I had for HL2 has been wiped out by Steam, the constant delays, and Valve's treatment of its paying customers. I think that's why you see all the bashing: people are pissed because they feel Valve are treating them like shit since they know we'll buy HL2 no matter what they do. It doesn't have anything to do with preloading, but anger will find expression where it will, not necessarily where it makes sense.

    5. Re:Why all the bashing? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The most give to Steam is an email address. Stop moaning and complaining about things you know nothing about. Show some maturity, please.

    6. Re:Why all the bashing? by MMaestro · · Score: 1

      Yes, all you 'give' is an e-mail address. But what about what they 'take'? Considering how much data it sends back and forth (why the hell does it take so long just to connect to a server running a 5+ year old game/mod?) its not very easy to say 'I trust them with a totally new and unusual program system on my computer.'

    7. Re:Why all the bashing? by danila · · Score: 1

      This is an excellent demonstration of why copy protection is bad. I will get Half-Life 2 the day it is released (or a few days after), on CDs or on DVD, in my favourite game store. Of course, it will play without any Internet connection at all, much less Steam account. That user-friendly experience will be provided by pirate groups that will break the copy protection. Meanwhile the legitimate customers will have to put up with Steam and all its glitches. What was the copy-protection supposed to be encouraging, again?

      --
      Future Wiki -- If you don't think about the future, you cannot have one.
    8. Re:Why all the bashing? by thirty2bit · · Score: 1

      I, for one, welcome the preload idea (with a catch), and am tired of waiting for game orders from .COMs to be filled. I've had to wait for four titles from three different sites, between three and 14 days for my PRE-order just to ship. The most egregious was the the 14-day title which needed an EMail from me to prompt it's shipment from a big site starting with A.

      Walmart doesn't always get shipments on a timely basis so I don't rely upon them. The closest EBGames store is 45 miles away.

      The choice is mine. Do I wait for a couple to several days to save money, blow four+ gallons of overpriced gas and spring for higer sales tax in the next counter to satisfy my craving, or pray that Walmart might come through for convenience?

      My only reservation on pre-load titles is that they be delivered in an UN-COPYPROTECTED state. If I reinstall Windon't, I don't want to lose the game!

      I'd meet publishers half-way though. Ship me a CD with the just the copy protected key/crap when I (pre)order, and stream me the game over the net. Then send me an 'unlock' file when the blessed release moment pops.

    9. Re:Why all the bashing? by Vengeance_au · · Score: 1

      Just do what I do - copy the /STEAM directory with all the games you play to a CD/DVD and voila! its all backed up. Bonus is, you copy the files from the CD/DVD to a new machine and its good to go, no downloads required on the target machine, unless there has been updates since your last backup. I find it to be tonnes quicker and easier than the old model of install original CD, patch the base game, install the mods you want, patch them......

  11. Who gets the money? by orion024 · · Score: 1

    Now, the real question from me is: who will get all the money? We know that if one were to buy the reatil box at the store, that much of that money goes to the publisher/middleman. If one pays for the game online, does Valve get a bigger piece of the pie? If so, that's okay with me. I'd much rather have the people who do all the hard development work get more of my money. Sure, it would be nice to make the game cheaper, but if it's going to cost the same I'd rather the money go to the developer.

    Besides, I know a few people who will likely end up buying HL2 just because they can d/l it. They are the type who "wouldn't buy HL2 if they had to go out, but will end up buying it because they can d/l it when they get bored and want something to play" Their words exactly.

    1. Re:Who gets the money? by KDR_11k · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Valve gets more from Steam, that's the reason they made it.
      I'd prefer incentives like a lower price or an earlier release if they wanted to convince me to get the game without any physical stuff and using my own bandwidth (it'd probably take a few days of my bandwidth to get the game...). And there are some people who pay for their traffic, I bet they'd like some more incentives, too.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
    2. Re:Who gets the money? by doodzed · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I am buying it through steam not only because they get more money, but also because I trust steam will be around for a while. So when I am at my parents visiting, I can install steam..... I have all my valve games in a couple of hours. No digging to find reg code, find the cd, find the updates......

      With steam, all I need to have is my login.
      So far valve has done an ok job with steam considering they are the first people to do this.

      --
      It's not the size of your stack that matters, it's how you push and pop
    3. Re:Who gets the money? by ShyGuy91284 · · Score: 1, Informative

      Valve really has no choice but to charge the full retail price for the game over Steam. Their publisher is probably pissed enough over steam, but the fact that it is the same price to download as it is to buy in stores prevents the publisher from completely freaking out due to the losses in sales when you can get it cheaper from Steam.

      --
      In undeveloped countries, the consumer controls the market. In capitalist America, the market controls you.
  12. Next Round by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Valve starts to pre-load the Half-Life 2 Read Me file.

  13. Re:and the news is? by KDR_11k · · Score: 1

    You're assuming there ARE files for DNF.

    --
    Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
  14. Encryption? by Sp00nMan · · Score: 2, Interesting

    While this may be the future of games delivery, I don't quite understand the "protection" involved with this Steam system. I mean, once the entire game is on your system, how long would it take for a pirate group to crack the thing and let you play it without paying? How is this going to be any different that other methods of copy protection?

    1. Re:Encryption? by karmatic · · Score: 5, Interesting

      It's not encrypted (despite what they say), if you fire up GCFScape, you can open and extract all the files.

      The true protection lies in that they aren't preloading Half-Life 2.gcf (the filename is in the ClientRegistry.blob file), which contains the client dlls, nor are they releasing the maps yet.

    2. Re:Encryption? by Miaowara_Tomokato · · Score: 3, Informative

      This was covered fairly well in the discussion of part one of the article - they are not releasing the full product, they are releasing most of it. They are holding back a small chunk (or maybe even a large chunk) of crucial files and presumably a key for after payment has been received.

      If you do successfully hack it... you have a big pile of audio files and textures. Wheeee. Though I imagine some folks will try anyway.

    3. Re:Encryption? by Sp00nMan · · Score: 1

      Well what about when it does go final? Or are you saying you can't download the final pieces till you pay for it? Even then, what stops someone from putting it up on bittorrent or other sites?

    4. Re:Encryption? by PerspexAvenger · · Score: 1

      Is this a different "GCFScape" to the one commonly available?

      Just gave it a shot after closing Steam, and got "Failed to make GCF file to memory" errors..., and no change if I copy the file elsewhere and retry it. :(

    5. Re:Encryption? by moonbender · · Score: 1

      The first preload downloaded two files. One of them, the smaller one by far, I can extract - it actually contains the HL2.exe - the other I can't, getting the same error you got.

      --
      Switch back to Slashdot's D1 system.
    6. Re:Encryption? by karmatic · · Score: 1

      Keep fiddling with it; It worked the first time I tried it, then gave me errors. I went back into steam, screwed around, quit, and it started working again.

  15. Re:It is newsworthy NOT by imr · · Score: 1

    I believe that if an article is higly uninterresting, most of the posts will resolv around the fact that highly uninterresting articles shouldnt appear.
    Surprise, this is happening.

  16. Re:It is newsworthy NOT by That's+Unpossible! · · Score: 1

    It would be newsworthy if it was the news that describe the new business model of valve with steam, but it has been done a long time ago.
    Or it would be newsworthy if it was the news that talks about the protocol behind steam, or the news that talk about some problem/success related to steam, or the people behind steam, or the community accepting/rejecting steam, or something new about half life2/cs/modding.

    What you mean is, it would be newsworthy TO YOU, in those cases.

    To hundreds of thousands of other people that are waiting for this game to be released, it is newsworthy that we are one major step closer.

    --
    Ironically, the word ironically is often used incorrectly.
  17. Re:and the news is? by PainKilleR-CE · · Score: 1

    If they're encrypted, how would anyone know if they were files for DNF or just kiddy porn, RIAA-infringing MP3 files, MPAA-infringing DivX files, and 0-day warez for a private 3DRealms p2p service?

    --
    -PainKilleR-[CE]
  18. Hard copy? by Lisandro · · Score: 1

    This distribution method is quite cool (if it works as expected, we'll see), but does Steam has any way of providing the user some way to burn a hard copy of the game?

    1. Re:Hard copy? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I guess you could backup your steam directory to DVD(s)

    2. Re:Hard copy? by samael · · Score: 1

      Why would you need one?

      --
      My Journal
    3. Re:Hard copy? by Lisandro · · Score: 1

      Well, downloading it's nice, but if Half Life 2 comes out being a couple of gigs it would be good to be able to burn it just in case you have to reinstall or something, instead of downloading it over and over again. Having a hard copy is nice.

      I was just wondering if this is possible with Steam; AC proposed to copy the game folder from Steam but i dunno if that would work that easily.

    4. Re:Hard copy? by phil1984 · · Score: 1

      In the past whenever I've had to re-initialze my hardrive I have just backed up the "SteamApps" Folder in the Steam Directory. Once I've re-installed Windows and downloaded Steam again I have simply replaced the default SteamApps Folder with my backup. Works like a charm

    5. Re:Hard copy? by samael · · Score: 1

      It'd probably be a start. But as the files can be updated anyway, unless you backed it up regularly you'd probably just be better off redownloading it.

      --
      My Journal
  19. No CD Check? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    it's rare for a brand new game to have no cd check. will it verify your key online every time you play? or is it possible to play offline?

  20. Sorry... by Spuffin · · Score: 2, Informative
    Furthermore, I want a copy on a CD so that, if Steam breaks for whatever reason (which it likes to do), I can still install and play the game I bought.
    You can't play any of the games without logging into Steam, even if you have the CD. It should be noted, however, that if you login to steam and THEN go into offline mode, you can play the games you bought while remaining offline. If Steam was just a product distribution channel I wouldn't have a problem with it, but it tries to be everything at once. They tout Steam as being able to keep all of your games up to date yet they could just use it as an updater and not require you to use it in order to play your games. Sorry for the rant, I recently had to install steam in order to play TFC and I'm not too fond of the system.
    1. Re:Sorry... by Vengeance_au · · Score: 2, Informative

      You can't play any of the games without logging into Steam, even if you have the CD.

      That used to be the case, however Steam has been updated and you can now launch into offline mode, and chose if you want to go online or not. Great for lans, playing a home networked game, etc.

    2. Re:Sorry... by Spuffin · · Score: 1
      That used to be the case, however Steam has been updated and you can now launch into offline mode, and chose if you want to go online or not. Great for lans, playing a home networked game, etc.
      It's nice how you left out the very next sentence:

      It should be noted, however, that if you login to steam and THEN go into offline mode, you can play the games you bought while remaining offline.
    3. Re:Sorry... by Vengeance_au · · Score: 1

      You don't need to log on to steam every time you want to play an offline game. You only have to log in once in your entire life to authenticate your HL key. From then on, you can run offline any time you want..... I mean come on, whats the problem? If you don't want to use the technology, you and your offline mates can play the old style using the released mods, and live with it.

      Steampowered website - Exhibit A

  21. Why wait by tod_miller · · Score: 1

    Would you a new single without listening to it first?

    Yeah, I heard all the press on Doom3, if I am to buy it, I want to try it.

    Movie trailers, movie reviews, book reviews, radio playlists, game demos.

    Right up there. Plus, if I get bored of it after playing the demo (play halo demo, mmm, a good bedtime game to play *yawn*) I won't buy it.

    I say demos are the answer to piracy.

    --
    #hostfile 0.0.0.0 primidi.com 0.0.0.0 www.primidi.com 0.0.0.0 radio.weblogs.com
  22. No, you are incorrect by Spuffin · · Score: 1
    Sorry about this delayed response but you are incorrect. If you read the same site you linked it states:
    Then "exit" (do not log out!) from Steam

    If you don't believe me you can try it yourself. Exit and logout from Steam and then disable your internet connection. When you open steam again, it will state the following:
    Unable to connect to the Steam network. Offline mode is unavailable because the 'Exit and logout' option was used when you last exited Steam.
    You will not be able to use Steam until you can connect to the Steam network again.

    This was my original point by stating you MUST go into offline mode when exiting Steam as opposed to exiting and logging out. Again, if you don't believe me I encourage you to try it yourself.