Dear god, I hope more AV clients _don't_ put browser hooks into their apps. Norton completely f's certain sites that aren't on a private "whitelist", injecting javascript whereever it pleases to handle pop-ups/etc.
When the servers were overloaded on the first day, users got a message saying that the servers could not be contacted, but the user could play anyway, and it would try activation later.
In 5 years when Valve is bankrupt, or they abandon steam, or they "upgrade it" to break all your older games so you have to buy the new ones, you won't be able to play the game legally at all.
Your ability to see the future is amazing! Pray tell, why didn't they release a patch to remove the authorization, since they were going under? Or why didn't some person/group release a patch on their own?
Gee golly gosh, when I want to install Windows XP in 5 years, what if Microsoft is bankrupt? OH NOS!
Can someone give me proof of Steam "adware"? I've never had it pop up random ads; only when I first logged in and a new game was released did I get a one-time notification/ad for the new game. It doesn't just randomly do crap on it's own..
Here's a pretty simple solution: don't play the game.
Return it to the store-- or at least try to-- and stop whining.
Everyone else with broadband, a clue, and a decent computer will enjoy the game.
PS-- My friend who installed from the disks did not have to download anything from Steam, just did the authorization, it unlocked, and he was done. Hasn't connected Steam to the net since. Maybe you were downloading all the back catalog of games? Who knows.
Funny. My friend installed from the CDs, created a Steam account, authorized and unlocked the files (took about 20 mins to unlock) and then was off and playing, without downloading a thing.
There have been no "targeted advertisements" in the 2+ years I've been using Steam. When a new game was released, I got a one-time pop-up about it when I first logged in. Big deal.
Do you have proof regarding "knowing what and when you're playing, and for how long"? Also, wouldn't any server admin know that? I guess you hate servers that put up stats on the web, too?
Or how about you use the physical CD to install the game, Steam finds it, loads it into it's cache, and you start to play right away without downloading a thing?
NVIDIA did tell us that honestly their limited time at Valve wasn't solely dictated by Valve. Valve extended an invitation to NVIDIA and things just ended up working out so that NVIDIA only had two (albeit long) days with the final version of the game.
Way to start a spin, Slashdot crew.. Michael Moore would be proud!
Funny, I've been playing CS for the past 2 years without a hitch, and CS:S during the beta and final. Even played CS:CZ without fail. If there's an update, Steam downloads it when I restart the app, and I can get playing again..
- Make a shortcut to Half-Life 2 on your desktop (right click on Half-Life2 in "My Games", and choose "Add Desktop Shortcut") -- when you double click the icon, if Steam is not running, it will automatically start and load up Half-Life2 as quick as possible.
- I've never had that validation dialog, but I purchased it over Steam, not a physical CD.
You can already play HL2 without connecting to the internet. You only need to authorize it over the 'net the first time you install/play it. After that, you're done.
What "steam part" ? How long it takes steam to startup? Or what? On my system, Steam loads on startup in about 15 seconds. Double-clicking on "Half-Life2" starts the game in about 3 seconds.
1) You download/install warezed copy. 2) It reports back to Valve with your IP, system information, yadda yadda as part of the activation process. 3) Valve submits your IP/etc. to the authorities.
This way they help prevent piracy and mitigate fears about how to play if the company goes under.
I love how people bring this up whenever online activation is mentioned-- you don't think a company would release a "non-auth" patch before they went under?
If they didn't, I'm sure some smart young hax0r would figure out a method, anyway..
You can have Half-Life v1.xxx whatever installed, and also have Steam installed. It isn't like Steam uninstalls it..
Also, Steam has an off-line mode, for LAN parties/etc., which allows you to run fully cached (read: downloaded/installed) games without having an internet connection.
Regarding downloading over your cablemodem-- you're sharing it with "20" people, yet bitching about just Steam running slow? Pretty much anything's going to be slow when you're sharing your cablemodem with 20 other people, much less college students.
Hopefully your friend was seeking support here and not on the forums?
The support team for Valve has consistently told people to route support requests through the support link, and many people ignore that, and then get all pissy when their post on the forums goes unviewed/unanswered.
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Dear god, I hope more AV clients _don't_ put browser hooks into their apps. Norton completely f's certain sites that aren't on a private "whitelist", injecting javascript whereever it pleases to handle pop-ups/etc.
The activation was a short time; the 20 minutes was a one-time decrypting/decompressing of the Steam cache files.
When the servers were overloaded on the first day, users got a message saying that the servers could not be contacted, but the user could play anyway, and it would try activation later.
So yeah, your story is bunk.
In 5 years when Valve is bankrupt, or they abandon steam, or they "upgrade it" to break all your older games so you have to buy the new ones, you won't be able to play the game legally at all.
Your ability to see the future is amazing! Pray tell, why didn't they release a patch to remove the authorization, since they were going under? Or why didn't some person/group release a patch on their own?
Gee golly gosh, when I want to install Windows XP in 5 years, what if Microsoft is bankrupt? OH NOS!
Can someone give me proof of Steam "adware"? I've never had it pop up random ads; only when I first logged in and a new game was released did I get a one-time notification/ad for the new game. It doesn't just randomly do crap on it's own..
Here's a pretty simple solution: don't play the game.
Return it to the store-- or at least try to-- and stop whining.
Everyone else with broadband, a clue, and a decent computer will enjoy the game.
PS-- My friend who installed from the disks did not have to download anything from Steam, just did the authorization, it unlocked, and he was done. Hasn't connected Steam to the net since. Maybe you were downloading all the back catalog of games? Who knows.
Funny. My friend installed from the CDs, created a Steam account, authorized and unlocked the files (took about 20 mins to unlock) and then was off and playing, without downloading a thing.
There have been no "targeted advertisements" in the 2+ years I've been using Steam. When a new game was released, I got a one-time pop-up about it when I first logged in. Big deal.
Do you have proof regarding "knowing what and when you're playing, and for how long"? Also, wouldn't any server admin know that? I guess you hate servers that put up stats on the web, too?
Your spyware theory is falling apart..
Or how about you use the physical CD to install the game, Steam finds it, loads it into it's cache, and you start to play right away without downloading a thing?
Half-Life2 on Linux.
I like your Farscape quote, but it's inaccurate, I think:
Zhaan: There is much cruelty in the universe.
John: Yeah. And we seem to have a treasure map to it.
Well, congrats on your not playing HL2, then.. ?
Do you want me to call a whaaambulance for ya?
You don't. Maybe you should have read the HL2 box, which states you need an internet connection to authorize it.
NVIDIA did tell us that honestly their limited time at Valve wasn't solely dictated by Valve. Valve extended an invitation to NVIDIA and things just ended up working out so that NVIDIA only had two (albeit long) days with the final version of the game.
Way to start a spin, Slashdot crew.. Michael Moore would be proud!
How is Steam "spyware"?
Funny, I've been playing CS for the past 2 years without a hitch, and CS:S during the beta and final. Even played CS:CZ without fail. If there's an update, Steam downloads it when I restart the app, and I can get playing again..
- Make a shortcut to Half-Life 2 on your desktop (right click on Half-Life2 in "My Games", and choose "Add Desktop Shortcut") -- when you double click the icon, if Steam is not running, it will automatically start and load up Half-Life2 as quick as possible.
- I've never had that validation dialog, but I purchased it over Steam, not a physical CD.
- You're complaining about 90 seconds?!
You should be able to move your entire \Steam\ directory anywhere you wish. The pathings are relative to the app.. not hard-coded.
You can already play HL2 without connecting to the internet. You only need to authorize it over the 'net the first time you install/play it. After that, you're done.
What "steam part" ? How long it takes steam to startup? Or what? On my system, Steam loads on startup in about 15 seconds. Double-clicking on "Half-Life2" starts the game in about 3 seconds.
Uhm, how could they be in legal trouble?
1) You download/install warezed copy.
2) It reports back to Valve with your IP, system information, yadda yadda as part of the activation process.
3) Valve submits your IP/etc. to the authorities.
They're not "toying" with your computer..
BS. You can still install/play Half-Life without touching Steam or any sort of authentication.
I love how people bring this up whenever online activation is mentioned-- you don't think a company would release a "non-auth" patch before they went under?
If they didn't, I'm sure some smart young hax0r would figure out a method, anyway..
Your post is a bit troll-ish.
You can have Half-Life v1.xxx whatever installed, and also have Steam installed. It isn't like Steam uninstalls it..
Also, Steam has an off-line mode, for LAN parties/etc., which allows you to run fully cached (read: downloaded/installed) games without having an internet connection.
Regarding downloading over your cablemodem-- you're sharing it with "20" people, yet bitching about just Steam running slow? Pretty much anything's going to be slow when you're sharing your cablemodem with 20 other people, much less college students.
Hopefully your friend was seeking support here and not on the forums?
The support team for Valve has consistently told people to route support requests through the support link, and many people ignore that, and then get all pissy when their post on the forums goes unviewed/unanswered.