CONFIRMED (again): Internet needed for RETAIL HL2.
Grumpycrab
I've had a second source confirm from Valve that the Internet (and Steam) is
needed to get the Single Player RETAIL game going. Here's the message (it's
from Valve Support via the Web and so there are no email headers etc.)
QUOTE
Response (JonH) 10/19/2004 01:18 PM
Hello,
"Will it require setting up a STEAM account so that the game can be
authenticated ONLINE at install time? (and then play OFFLINE)"
Exactly, this is how the game will be 'activated'.
UNQUOTE
Most people are happy with this. But many other people are going to have to
be educated on the subject, especially Retail (i.e. the shop assistants who
will have to cope with the "I cannot get the f*cking game to run"
questions.)
I'm trying to get the latest Installation Manual from VU. That should be a
laugh :-)
--
Grumps
PS. Here are the requirements for HL2...
http://www.steampowered.com/Steam/M...x.php?l=english
Paul Catley
news:2tlkmhF...@uni-berlin.de...
> CONFIRMED (again): Internet needed for RETAIL HL2.
> I've had a second source confirm from Valve that the Internet (and Steam) is
> needed to get the Single Player RETAIL game going. Here's the message (it's
> from Valve Support via the Web and so there are no email headers etc.)
I'm not sure why you keep railing about this. AFAIK, they've never claimed any
different. In fact, merely connecting for an initial verification and then
never needing to do so again is an improvement over earlier reports that implied
you'd need to connect every time you played. (I wasn't too happy about that
idea).
--
Paul
Grumpycrab
claimed any
> different. In fact, merely connecting for an initial verification and
then
> never needing to do so again is an improvement over earlier reports that
implied
> you'd need to connect every time you played. (I wasn't too happy about
that
> idea).
Just so people know...that's all. Sorry.
--
Grumps
Iamnotanumber
internet access at all? Not everyone can afford internet access (let alone
broadband).news:2tlms0F...@uni-berlin.de...
Com Buster
Are they going to allow returns for people like that.OR for people with
firewalls.
"Paul Catley" <paul.notrea...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:2tlmfnF...@uni-berlin.de...
JWB
> It's still a bad (right wording?) way of doing it, what if you haven't got
> internet access at all? Not everyone can afford internet access (let alone
> broadband).
If you can't afford dialup internet, I doubt you'll be buying a $50.00+
game you need a fairly modern computer to play. They know they won't
lose any sales because a customer who can't afford dialup wants this game.
Mickey Johnson
to be wasting money on video games.
Prioritys man! prioritys!
--
Mickster
Visit my website and see my arcade!!
http://mickster.freeservers.com
"Iamnotanumber" <inv...@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:4175b8d4$0$48010$ed2e...@ptn-nntp-reader04.plus.net...
Einstine
You are a fucking idiot and you proved it by your idiotic statement.
What they are saying is no game should be limited by needing an internet connect.
BTW, I have hi-speed and 4 boxes and 2 laptops going in my house so I am wired.
But guess what? My bud bought a new house where there ain't shit except a crap
modem connect. And he loves to game solo.
Ever try and validate shit over a crappy modem connect? Guess what. It almost
never works, especially in this age of bloated bandwith software.
TO SUMMARIZE- I seriously doubt Valve has limited sales of their game in any way
and you will find you can install and play it solo just fine without an internet connection.
Bateau
>JWB" <jwb_rem...@excite.com> wrote in message news:2tlsh7F...@uni-berlin.de...
>> Iamnotanumber wrote:
>> > It's still a bad (right wording?) way of doing it, what if you haven't got
>> > internet access at all? Not everyone can afford internet access (let alone
>> > broadband).
>>
>>
>> If you can't afford dialup internet, I doubt you'll be buying a $50.00+
>> game you need a fairly modern computer to play. They know they won't
>> lose any sales because a customer who can't afford dialup wants this game.
>
>You are a fucking idiot and you proved it by your idiotic statement.
>
>What they are saying is no game should be limited by needing an internet connect.
>BTW, I have hi-speed and 4 boxes and 2 laptops going in my house so I am wired.
>
>But guess what? My bud bought a new house where there ain't shit except a crap
>modem connect. And he loves to game solo.
>
>Ever try and validate shit over a crappy modem connect? Guess what. It almost
>never works, especially in this age of bloated bandwith software.
Then you must be doing something wrong which does not surprise me
because you are a big fucking idiot.
Bateau
>So then, what happens when someone who doesn't have internet buys this game.
>Are they going to allow returns for people like that.OR for people with
>firewalls.
So fix the fucking firewall.
i own a yacht
>
> But guess what? My bud bought a new house where there ain't shit except a crap
> modem connect.
your 'bud' should have no problem authenticating at least once, then.
Stygian
Einstine wrote:
> You are a fucking idiot and you proved it by your idiotic statement.
>
> What they are saying is no game should be limited by needing an internet connect.
> BTW, I have hi-speed and 4 boxes and 2 laptops going in my house so I am wired.
>
> But guess what? My bud bought a new house where there ain't shit except a crap
> modem connect. And he loves to game solo.
>
> Ever try and validate shit over a crappy modem connect? Guess what. It almost
> never works, especially in this age of bloated bandwith software.
>
> TO SUMMARIZE- I seriously doubt Valve has limited sales of their game in any way
> and you will find you can install and play it solo just fine without an internet connection.
Your current nick doesnt really suit you !
Peter Lykkegaard
> "Will it require setting up a STEAM account so that the game can be
> authenticated ONLINE at install time? (and then play OFFLINE)"
> Exactly, this is how the game will be 'activated'.
>
Try frazing your question a litle differently next time, please
Let me interpret:
The question was
- do I need a Steam account in order to use HL2 on Steam
The answer
- Exactly, this is how the game will be 'activated' on Steam network
Doesn't say a shit does it?
- Peter
Westman
> Your current nick doesnt really suit you !
>
That's probably why he spelled it wrong.
Walter Mitty
>
> But guess what? My bud bought a new house where there ain't shit except a crap
> modem connect. And he loves to game solo.
>
> Ever try and validate shit over a crappy modem connect? Guess what. It almost
> never works, especially in this age of bloated bandwith software.
>
> TO SUMMARIZE- I seriously doubt Valve has limited sales of their game in any way
> and you will find you can install and play it solo just fine without an internet connection.
>
Are you really suggesting that validation can't be done over a normal
dial up. You're either stupid or a troll.
--
Walter Mitty
-
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=plagiarism
http://www.tinyurl.com
Walter Mitty
> So then, what happens when someone who doesn't have internet buys this game.
> Are they going to allow returns for people like that.OR for people with
> firewalls.
>
Since all people with boradband connections have a SW or HW firewall I
don't really get your point. Could it be that you too don't have a clue
what you're talking about and are merely scaremongering?
Neil Jones
> You're either stupid or a troll.
Einstine <he...@goodbye.net> wrote:
> You are a fucking idiot and you proved it by your idiotic statement.
Bateau <Gam...@work.stomping.aza> wrote:
> Then you must be doing something wrong which does not surprise me
> because you are a big fucking idiot.
Damn, the level of discussion in csipga just blows the mind, don't it?
___
Neil
AKA HighVis
DalienX
As i said in the previous thread.... "IF" the game requires online
authentication to play even the single player mode, im sure it wont
take the gaming community to create a patch to get around this
--
DalienX
Tim Sampson
> It's still a bad (right wording?) way of doing it, what if you haven't got
> internet access at all? Not everyone can afford internet access (let alone
> broadband).
and not everyone who can afford it wants it. I have a work colleague who
has no interest in connecting to the net and AFAIK doesn't even possess
a modem. He does play loads of games though.
Cheers
Tim
Grumpycrab
>
> The question was
> - do I need a Steam account in order to use HL2 on Steam
>
> The answer
> - Exactly, this is how the game will be 'activated' on Steam network
>
> Doesn't say a shit does it?
Bloody hell. Ok, the question SUBJECT (which -OK- I missed out in the
original post) was HL2 RETAIL. So the context is HL2 RETAIL. 100%.
OK.
--
Grumps
Bateau
FUCK YOU NERD.
Neil Jones
<Gam...@work.stomping.aza> wrote:
/me nods and smiles politely.
___
Neil
AKA HighVis
"FUCK YOU NERD" - Bateau, from comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action
turk
news:2tm135F...@uni-berlin.de...
> if you don't have the money for internet access, I think its a very bad
idea
> to be wasting money on video games.
>
> Prioritys man! prioritys!
That's not entirely the point. I have internet on my home computers, but I
also have a computer at work for gaming during slow or downtimes that has no
internet connection due to company policy. Usually, the persons in my work
area will go in on games for that computer. But with this Steam issue,
Half-Life 2 is a non-buy. In fact, for quite a while until I wirelessly
networked them, since I had no desire to play on-line games, my faster
gaming compuer did not have internet connectivity. I did all my internet
surfing and patch dling on my slower computer (and burned what I needed for
my other comp to CDRW), and I doubt I'm the only one who has a setup like
that. So, they are going to lose business on this. Can't they do something
like Out of The Park Baseball did, where you can get a thousands character
code that you can burn to disc to use the game on a computer with no
connectivity?
turk
One Punch Mickey
like with Windows Activation.
--
|
| The early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the
cheese.
|
magnulus
it requires internet activation or an internet connection. Giving in could
set a dangerous trend for software. And also, from the looks of it... Gabe
Newell could stand a little poverty around the wasteline.
Goodbye Gordon Freeman, we hardly knew you.
Walter Mitty
> In article <dohcn09uqra6lq685...@4ax.com>, Bateau
> <Gam...@work.stomping.aza> wrote:
>
>
>>Neil Jones <ne...@designumbrella.com> wrote:
>>
>>>Walter Mitty <mitt...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>>>
>>>>You're either stupid or a troll.
>>>
>>>Einstine <he...@goodbye.net> wrote:
>>>
>>>>You are a fucking idiot and you proved it by your idiotic statement.
>>>
>>>Bateau <Gam...@work.stomping.aza> wrote:
>>>
>>>>Then you must be doing something wrong which does not surprise me
>>>>because you are a big fucking idiot.
>>>
>>>Damn, the level of discussion in csipga just blows the mind, don't it?
>>
>>FUCK YOU NERD.
>
>
> /me nods and smiles politely.
>
The use of the word "fuck" does, unfortunately, appear to be on the
increase. There is a lot of frustration out there from people (myself
obviously included) at how frequently people spout complete rubbish
about products and potentially harm their sales. For this fool to
suggest that validating HL2 over a dial up is not possible is downright
rubbish.
Walter Mitty
Then you don't play. I'm surprised, however, that Valve don't allow a
phoneline registration however (touchtone entry) that spews back an
enabling key.
Walter Mitty
Sometimes I think you've really lost it. Here you are, a regular poster
to usenet decrying the use of online activation. Move with the damn
times man.
How could you even *think* about boycotting this game. It's about as
ineffectual as a nutter burning himself to death in an attempt to stop a
war.
Walter Mitty
And just how do you propose to get this with no internet? Someone going
to post it to you via snail mail?
Yeah, ok, someone can burn it for you.
LOL.
Raymond Martineau
Depends on how the authentication system works.
For example, I tried a few months ago to get Steam working on my computer.
First started off with a slow 56K download to update the steam client - a
bug with the updater caused Steam to quit instantly: "You may only have one
copy of Steam running at a time". Restarting the client either started the
download from scratch, or resumed mid-way.
Hopefully, they fixed that bug.
This is excluding the problem where the modem conks out on you without
knowing. In that case, you have absolutly no way of connecting to the
internet, and thus can't register the product since the developers forgot
to include "over-the-phone" registration.
Robert Barnhardt
>"Einstine" <he...@goodbye.net> wrote:
>>
>>You are a fucking idiot and you proved it by your idiotic statement.
>
>Then you must be doing something wrong which does not surprise me
>because you are a big fucking idiot.
It's the Battle of the Network Stars.
- R.
One Punch Mickey
> Giving in could set a dangerous trend for software.
Yeah, by making it harder to pirate. We only have ourselves to blame.
Andrew
It is much improved by killfiling the people you quoted, along with
Eep.
--
Andrew, contact via interpleb.blogspot.com
Help make Usenet a better place: English is read downwards,
please don't top post. Trim replies to quote only relevant text.
Check groups.google.com before asking an obvious question.
noman
<paul.notrea...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>"Grumpycrab" <Grump...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>news:2tlkmhF...@uni-berlin.de...
>> CONFIRMED (again): Internet needed for RETAIL HL2.
>> I've had a second source confirm from Valve that the Internet (and Steam) is
>> needed to get the Single Player RETAIL game going. Here's the message (it's
>> from Valve Support via the Web and so there are no email headers etc.)
>
>I'm not sure why you keep railing about this. AFAIK, they've never claimed any
>different.
This would be a first for Valve and Steam. Until now, all Valve games
could be played without Steam in their unpatched state. That's how
CS:CZ worked and it was simultaneously released at retail stores and
online through Steam.
--
Noman
Joe62
<magn...@bellsouth.net> wrote:
> I encourage the boycott of Half Life 2. I won't be buying it as long as
>it requires internet activation or an internet connection. Giving in could
>set a dangerous trend for software.
OK, I hereby promise not to buy the game for at least 15 minutes after
it's released. That's the best I can do - I'm only human.
lupi
lupi
"Walter Mitty" <mitt...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:cl5pfr$i5$03$5...@news.t-online.com...
JWB
> JWB" <jwb_rem...@excite.com> wrote in message news:2tlsh7F...@uni-berlin.de...
>
>>Iamnotanumber wrote:
>>
>>>It's still a bad (right wording?) way of doing it, what if you haven't got
>>>internet access at all? Not everyone can afford internet access (let alone
>>>broadband).
>>
>>
>>game you need a fairly modern computer to play. They know they won't
>>lose any sales because a customer who can't afford dialup wants this game.
>
>
> You're a fucking idiot and you proved it by your idiotic statement.
>
> What they are saying is no game should be limited by needing an internet connect.
Who's "they"?? That's not what the post I was replying to said. Reading
comprehension is your friend, dipshit.
Blig Merk
> They should have provided a method to do it over the phone as well,
> like with Windows Activation.
What if the person doesn't have a phone, then how is he supposed to
activate it?
What if the person doesn't have a PC, then how is he supposed to play
the game?
What if the person is blind, then how is he supposed to see the game?
What if the person was only born with half a brain, then how is he
supposed to understand the game?
What if the person doesn't have an asshole, then how is he going to
take a shit?
What if a giant asteroid hits the Earth tomorrow, then how does the
game get played?
What if Gabe Newell gets hungry and eats all the gold CD's the game is
on and eats the Steam server, then how can we get the game?
What if Half Life 2 is banned by the governments of the world as being
too subversive, then what happens if a person gets caught playing it?
What if I never get the answers to these questions, then what will I
do?
Nostromo
18:49:27 GMT, Anno Domini:
That's about how long it will take before the online activation is cracked,
roflmao! >8^D
--
Replace 'spamfree' with ('k__umcgl_' + ascii 123456789) to reply via email.
magnulus
> to usenet decrying the use of online activation. Move with the damn
> times man.
>
It's jus tthe principle. They don't care if 2 years from now, when Gabe
Newell has eaten Valve out of business, if I cannot re-activate HL2 to play.
They simply won't care. I want to be able to take playing an old game for
granted. I can still play the original Half-Life (sans Steam).
This isn't budgetware idie games like Matrixgames or other places are
selling, where I can understand that kind of a business plan. No, Valve is
charging 50 bucks for the privilege of being fvcked over. You would think
if this BS is preventing piracy, they would pass the costs along to
consumers.
> How could you even *think* about boycotting this game. It's about as
> ineffectual as a nutter burning himself to death in an attempt to stop a
> war.
The monk burned himself to protest the policies of the Diem government in
Saigon (using CIA funded goons to persecute Buddhists), not to stop the war.
That's often overlooked.
Schrodinger
news:2tlsh7F...@uni-berlin.de...
> Iamnotanumber wrote:
>> It's still a bad (right wording?) way of doing it, what if you haven't
>> got
>> internet access at all? Not everyone can afford internet access (let
>> alone
>> broadband).
>
>
> If you can't afford dialup internet, I doubt you'll be buying a $50.00+
> game you need a fairly modern computer to play. They know they won't lose
> any sales because a customer who can't afford dialup wants this game.
My brother lives in a house with no phone - in the middle of a remote part
of Ireland. How does he play?
We have 4 PCs and 2 laptops in my house. 3 are networked. What if I want to
install on one of the non networked PCs? Presumably I have to physically
move it within range of a phone line, install a broadband modem or network
connector then validate it. It's a game. The retail copy will be cracked
before release - they always are - and the paying public will be penalised
whilst the pirates get a fully functioning copy that does not need
validation.
JWB
> "JWB" <jwb_rem...@excite.com> wrote in message
> news:2tlsh7F...@uni-berlin.de...
>
>>Iamnotanumber wrote:
>>
>>>It's still a bad (right wording?) way of doing it, what if you haven't
>>>got
>>>internet access at all? Not everyone can afford internet access (let
>>>alone
>>>broadband).
>>
>>
>>If you can't afford dialup internet, I doubt you'll be buying a $50.00+
>>game you need a fairly modern computer to play. They know they won't lose
>>any sales because a customer who can't afford dialup wants this game.
>
>
> My brother lives in a house with no phone - in the middle of a remote part
> of Ireland. How does he play?
He doesn't. It's not Valve's responsibility to make sure each and every
person out there can play the game. They decided they wanted internet
validation... *shrug*. If they feel the sales won't suffer, fine.
Personally, I don't think they will suffer much, if at all.
> We have 4 PCs and 2 laptops in my house. 3 are networked. What if I want to
> install on one of the non networked PCs? Presumably I have to physically
> move it within range of a phone line, install a broadband modem or network
> connector then validate it. It's a game. The retail copy will be cracked
> before release - they always are - and the paying public will be penalised
> whilst the pirates get a fully functioning copy that does not need
> validation.
You can throw up all sorts of "what if" scenerios. The bottom line is,
they make the game the way they want.
Ben Cottrell
Yes, but I think you missed Peter's point..
"Do i need a Steam account in order to use HL2 on steam" is not quite
the same as "do i need a steam account in order to install Half-Life 2
out of the box"
As far as I see, there is no mention yet of whether the game actually
needs to be 'activated' if you buy the retail version.
--
Ben Cottrell AKA Bench
Ben Cottrell
> He doesn't. It's not Valve's responsibility to make sure each and every
> person out there can play the game.
Nope, it's Sierra's :-)
Their problem (And the tech support calls will certainly be Sierra's
problem), if an internet connection is a minimum requirement, is that so
many people have pre-ordered it and none of the retailers are mentioning
that an internet connection is required to authenticate the game.
Also, most retailers will only accept returns for PC games which are
unopened.. the sad fact is that most people do not read boxes,
instructions or anything else until they get home, try to install it and
run into problems :-( since no Single Player game has ever shipped
with an internet connection needed before, it could lead to alot of
rather miffed "offline" gamers who don't realise until too late. (Which
in the US may be a minority, but in the UK it's a much bigger percentage
of people.)
I'm not attempting to stick up for the stupid.. just trying to explain
"the real world"(tm) ;)
Ben Cottrell
> I encourage the boycott of Half Life 2.
Have fun - I'll be too busy playing the game.
JWB
> JWB wrote:
>
>> He doesn't. It's not Valve's responsibility to make sure each and
>> every person out there can play the game.
>
>
> Nope, it's Sierra's :-)
>
> Their problem (And the tech support calls will certainly be Sierra's
> problem), if an internet connection is a minimum requirement, is that so
> many people have pre-ordered it and none of the retailers are mentioning
> that an internet connection is required to authenticate the game.
But let's be honest here - how many of the people who *pre-ordered* a
top-shelf title like HL2 don't have a net connection?
Yes, there will be isolated exceptions, but if the number was even 5%,
I'd be shocked.
>
> Also, most retailers will only accept returns for PC games which are
> unopened.. the sad fact is that most people do not read boxes,
> instructions or anything else until they get home, try to install it and
> run into problems :-( since no Single Player game has ever shipped
> with an internet connection needed before, it could lead to alot of
> rather miffed "offline" gamers who don't realise until too late. (Which
> in the US may be a minority, but in the UK it's a much bigger percentage
> of people.)
>
> I'm not attempting to stick up for the stupid.. just trying to explain
> "the real world"(tm) ;)
I agree - there will be some pissed off people. And that does suck.
The Mighty MF
Didn't you have to authiticate through WON with the first HL when it was
new? It's been a long time since I've played it, so my memory might be
faulty.
Khabs,
Mark
Joe62
<nost...@spamfree.net.au> wrote:
>That's about how long it will take before the online activation is cracked,
>roflmao! >8^D
LOL!
Paul Catley
news:10ndr6p...@corp.supernews.com...
>
> Didn't you have to authiticate through WON with the first HL when it was
> new? It's been a long time since I've played it, so my memory might be
> faulty.
Only to play multiplayer, not single player.
--
Paul
Ben Cottrell
> But let's be honest here - how many of the people who *pre-ordered* a
> top-shelf title like HL2 don't have a net connection?
Are you from the US? in the UK, owning a net connection isn't nearly
as common. so here there are probably quite alot! (I meant preordering
from Game shops)
> Yes, there will be isolated exceptions, but if the number was even 5%,
> I'd be shocked.
I believe the tens of thousands of UK gamers who have played H-L online
is dwarfed by the hundreds of thousands who played it SP-only. Most of
my friends have played HL1 at one point.. but very few of them have got
a net connection at home or even played it online... of those who played
HL1 SP, most of them are interested in HL2 though
It's of course impossible to tell.. but I think it's higher than you
think :-) .. Don't forget that people who post to forums are generally
people who have internet connections ;) Who's around to represent those
who don't? :)
JWB
You are correct - I am posting from the "ugly American" slant that
almost everyone has a net connection. :)
i own a yacht
> On 20 Oct 2004 03:48:08 GMT, i own a yacht <m...@privacy.net> wrote:
>
>>In comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action Einstine <he...@goodbye.net> wrote:
>>>
>>> But guess what? My bud bought a new house where there ain't shit except a crap
>>> modem connect.
>>
>>your 'bud' should have no problem authenticating at least once, then.
>
> Depends on how the authentication system works.
>
> For example, I tried a few months ago to get Steam working on my computer.
> First started off with a slow 56K download to update the steam client - a
> bug with the updater caused Steam to quit instantly: "You may only have one
> copy of Steam running at a time". Restarting the client either started the
> download from scratch, or resumed mid-way.
>
> Hopefully, they fixed that bug.
and this is relevant how? it was a bug. a bug that applies to all
connections. if you're saying it's not very fast for people to use steam
with a dialup modem, my response is: "duh."
> This is excluding the problem where the modem conks out on you without
> knowing. In that case, you have absolutly no way of connecting to the
> internet, and thus can't register the product since the developers forgot
> to include "over-the-phone" registration.
adsl modems and cable modems can 'conk out,' too. and i guess in
response you're going to say, well what happens if your modem 'conks
out' between the time of hl2 purchase and before you're able to
authenticate it via steam? and my response is: "you're being stupid."
and they didn't forget to include "over-the-phone" registration. they
deliberately didn't include it. if you don't like the risks, don't buy
the game. easy.
besides, what would've happened then if your phone 'conked out?' i
really don't understand why some of you people are so against steam. you
sit there inventing all these scenarios and whine that you're not able
to do things exactly as you were able to before. that's the point.
they're trying something new. and it is new. it has kinks. they're being
worked out. jesus, that made me sound like george w. it's hard work!
i own a yacht
> So, they are going to lose business on this.
and obviously they don't give a fuck. i wonder if the people who think
steam is just about making tonnes of money for valve are willing to
share the opinion that it will inherently lose them business?
i own a yacht
>
> How could you even *think* about boycotting this game. It's about as
> ineffectual as a nutter burning himself to death in an attempt to stop a
> war.
it'll be about as effective as all his other 'boycotts' where he started
talking about problems playing the games a week after they came out.
i own a yacht
>
> That's about how long it will take before the online activation is cracked,
> roflmao! >8^D
it'll be cracked before the game is on the shelves. as usual.
i own a yacht
> I encourage the boycott of Half Life 2. I won't be buying it as long as
> it requires internet activation or an internet connection.
here's another one of magnulus's famous boycotts i managed to dig up:
"People, hear me, and hear me well! We must stop breathing air! It's the
only way we can show God we will not put up with his idiotic mandatory
requirements for living! What happens in 100 years time when the earth
is in ruins and our only refuge is on other planets with little to no
atmosphere and no good supply of the oxygen we unfairly crave?? How will
we survive?? We must make a stand, once and for all. Say NO to O2!!
Now.. who's with me?"
Bateau
> I encourage the boycott of Half Life 2. I won't be buying it as long as
>set a dangerous trend for software.
Yes if we keep giving software this much power they will revolt and take
over the earth!
Raymond Martineau
>In comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action Raymond Martineau <bk...@freenet.carleton.ca> wrote:
>> On 20 Oct 2004 03:48:08 GMT, i own a yacht <m...@privacy.net> wrote:
>>
>>>In comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.action Einstine <he...@goodbye.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> But guess what? My bud bought a new house where there ain't shit except a crap
>>>> modem connect.
>>>
>>>your 'bud' should have no problem authenticating at least once, then.
>>
>> Depends on how the authentication system works.
>>
>> For example, I tried a few months ago to get Steam working on my computer.
>> First started off with a slow 56K download to update the steam client - a
>> bug with the updater caused Steam to quit instantly: "You may only have one
>> copy of Steam running at a time". Restarting the client either started the
>> download from scratch, or resumed mid-way.
>>
>> Hopefully, they fixed that bug.
>
>and this is relevant how? it was a bug. a bug that applies to all
>connections. if you're saying it's not very fast for people to use steam
>with a dialup modem, my response is: "duh."
No, I'm saying that the bug amplified the slowness of the connection. This
is different than being slow because of a connection.
Consider the buggy download system to be similar to the Internet 10 years
ago - any interruption in the connection kills your three hour download
that cannot be recovered. The situation changed with the advent of Net
Vampire and GetRight, two of the first programs that were capable of
resuming a connection.
The same applies to internet authentication - the only difference is that a
generic registration system assumes that the internet is infallible.
A common rule about software is that it should never rely on the constant
presence of an external source, whether this be games or office
applications. The applications that break this rule aren't generally that
good anyway.
>> This is excluding the problem where the modem conks out on you without
>> knowing. In that case, you have absolutly no way of connecting to the
>> internet, and thus can't register the product since the developers forgot
>> to include "over-the-phone" registration.
>
>adsl modems and cable modems can 'conk out,' too. and i guess in
>response you're going to say, well what happens if your modem 'conks
>out' between the time of hl2 purchase and before you're able to
>authenticate it via steam? and my response is: "you're being stupid."
When a regular modem conks out, you have absolutely no method of connecting
to the internet - either because you haven't purchased a subscription to
broadband, or you don't have access to broadband in the local area.
This isn't as much of problem with cable modems - if cable goes out, you
have (or should have) a modem backup.
>
>and they didn't forget to include "over-the-phone" registration. they
>deliberately didn't include it. if you don't like the risks, don't buy
>the game. easy.
They don't have to include "over-the-phone". Steam is an internet
application that needs to contact a centralised server anyway in order to
make most out of it. This isn't too much of a problem anyway, since it
still capable of running in offline mode without having to authenticate,
and that it is still possible to legitimately play Half-Life without using
Steam.
>besides, what would've happened then if your phone 'conked out?'
That's why most sane registration systems allow for a limited access
without registration. For example, Forte Agent runs in free mode without
the registration key where the application works, but does not provide
access to the more advanced features.
> i really don't understand why some of you people are so against steam.
Who said anything about hating Steam?
i own a yacht
> On 21 Oct 2004 00:35:05 GMT, i own a yacht <m...@privacy.net> wrote:
>>and this is relevant how? it was a bug. a bug that applies to all
>>connections. if you're saying it's not very fast for people to use steam
>>with a dialup modem, my response is: "duh."
>
> ago - any interruption in the connection kills your three hour download
> that cannot be recovered. The situation changed with the advent of Net
> Vampire and GetRight, two of the first programs that were capable of
> resuming a connection.
we're not talking about recovering three hour downloads. we're talking
about a one-time authentication that will probably include a relatively
small update to the steam client. that's it. and right now, it's not
even clear that that's a requirement.. but for the sake of discussion,
i'll go along with it.
>>adsl modems and cable modems can 'conk out,' too. and i guess in
>>response you're going to say, well what happens if your modem 'conks
>>out' between the time of hl2 purchase and before you're able to
>>authenticate it via steam? and my response is: "you're being stupid."
>
> When a regular modem conks out, you have absolutely no method of connecting
> to the internet - either because you haven't purchased a subscription to
> broadband, or you don't have access to broadband in the local area.
>
> This isn't as much of problem with cable modems - if cable goes out, you
> have (or should have) a modem backup.
i don't have a dialup modem, and i've had broadband in some form or
another for 4 years. i had dialup for 6 years before that. but you're
saying i 'should have' a backup modem? well, people who purchase
half-life 2 'should have' some form of internet connectivity. i mean,
really, these silly scenarios are endless. if half-life 2 does indeed
need at least one time authentication, valve obviously aren't very
worried about the relatively rare occurances that would stop someone
from connecting to steam for 10 seconds after a, at most, 10-15 minute?
client update.
are you expecting singleplayer games to require steam authentication
everytime you play them? you must be, considering how much of a problem
you're making out a dead modem/connection to be.
>>besides, what would've happened then if your phone 'conked out?'
>
> That's why most sane registration systems allow for a limited access
> without registration. For example, Forte Agent runs in free mode without
> the registration key where the application works, but does not provide
> access to the more advanced features.
it's not clear from the quoted response from valve that authentication
is actually mandatory for offline singleplayer games, and they have
stated in the past that it wouldn't be required for offline play. and
right now you can launch steam games in offline mode without a
connection.
>> i really don't understand why some of you people are so against steam.
>
> Who said anything about hating Steam?
not me, i said against. which is obviously the case considering all the
what-if scenarios that are being conjured up. everything can be
descontructed to its base, but at some point you have to stop worrying
about people whose modems can't handle a maximum download of a few
minutes.
One Punch Mickey
>
> Yes if we keep giving software this much power they will revolt and
> take over the earth!
I for one welcome our new disc-shaped overlords.
--
|
| The early bird might get the worm, but the second mouse gets the
cheese.
|
Werner Spahl
> magnulus wrote:
>
> > Giving in could set a dangerous trend for software.
>
> Yeah, by making it harder to pirate. We only have ourselves to blame.
I'm asking it again and again until I get a valid answer: How is Steam
making HL2 harder to pirate? I think we agree that a crack will be out
after 5 min which enables any pirate to play it without authentication.
--
Werner Spahl (sp...@cup.uni-muenchen.de) Freedom for
"The meaning of my life is to make me crazy" Vorlonships
Highlandish
2to851F...@uni-berlin.de
>
> But let's be honest here - how many of the people who *pre-ordered* a
> top-shelf title like HL2 don't have a net connection?
>
> Yes, there will be isolated exceptions, but if the number was even 5%,
> I'd be shocked.
there are those who might have spent their rent/bill money to get the game
and their net connection would have been cut off. as long as they pay their
light bill they should expect to play the game.
--
Take out the _CURSEING to reply to me
I've learned that the people you care most about in life are taken from
you too soon. And all the less important ones just never go away.
McGrandpa
news:2tocjdF...@uni-berlin.de
I've been wondering how long it would take for this point to be made.
It's a pretty obvious one I think. From my side, of all the people I
know who will at least play games, I am the only one that plays online
games (besides Spades or Hearts). And, of all those people that don't
play online games, there are a surprising number of them that ask about
HL2 and a couple of other titles. They're not the least bit interested
in playing online. They've read about HL2 in various game mags. Two
young guys at work would buy HL2 in the store, but say they won't
because they're convinced it's really online only. I tell them it's
not like that, they want proof. So when I get my Collectors Edition, I
am to tell them what it really is :)
I really don't think Valve wants to exclude the people that will never
play online. Like you, I think the single player buyer will be the vast
majority of Valves sales :)
I probably will want to play online, I just don't want to yeild control
to Valve or anyone else :) They don't have the right to re-organize my
system, and I don't agree to it. It seems there are still a number of
questions to be answered. I really don't think they will have accurate
answers until I get the disk in the drive and begin installing, Bench.
There's something 'wrong' with Steam. I am not able to clearly
articulate the exact cause of that impression, other than that it's a
control issue with my system and my own choice. I really do want to
play the SP games of HL2 and HL:Source. The rest is secondary. I've
paid my $79.00 US for it. Really do not mind paying for what I have at
all. Never have. I do mind very much a vendor/developer control issue.
I think that Valve is going to have to be VERY careful that they don't
touch off a "Class Issue" legally. I also think they have their foot ON
that line right now, deliberately. Time will tell.
McG.
McGrandpa
And of those that do, perhaps 1 or 2 out of a thousand may play online
games like this.
McG.
Andrew
<McGran...@NOThotmail.com> wrote:
>I probably will want to play online, I just don't want to yeild control
>to Valve or anyone else :) They don't have the right to re-organize my
>system, and I don't agree to it. It seems there are still a number of
>questions to be answered. I really don't think they will have accurate
>answers until I get the disk in the drive and begin installing, Bench.
>There's something 'wrong' with Steam. I am not able to clearly
>articulate the exact cause of that impression, other than that it's a
>control issue with my system and my own choice. I really do want to
>play the SP games of HL2 and HL:Source. The rest is secondary. I've
>paid my $79.00 US for it. Really do not mind paying for what I have at
>all. Never have. I do mind very much a vendor/developer control issue.
>I think that Valve is going to have to be VERY careful that they don't
>touch off a "Class Issue" legally. I also think they have their foot ON
>that line right now, deliberately. Time will tell.
Are there any specific charges you have against Steam or is all this
FUD based purely on your paranoid intuition?
--
Andrew, contact via interpleb.blogspot.com
Help make Usenet a better place: English is read downwards,
please don't top post. Trim replies to quote only relevant text.
Check groups.google.com before asking an obvious question.
McGrandpa
news:2toehmF...@uni-berlin.de
"Risks" ? Like what?
>
> besides, what would've happened then if your phone 'conked out?' i
> really don't understand why some of you people are so against steam.
Personally, I don't know yet whether I am FOR or AGAINST Steam. I know
I don't like what I've seen of it when it was first available. I am
leery of it because of control issues. I also don't like the complexity
it brings. But that's just me.
McGrandpa
One Punch Mickey
> I think we agree that a crack will be out
> after 5 min which enables any pirate to play it without
> authentication.
They'll have fun getting patches and updates.
Marshall
> On Thu, 21 Oct 2004 10:53:36 GMT, "McGrandpa"
> <McGran...@NOThotmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>>I probably will want to play online, I just don't want to yeild control
>>to Valve or anyone else :) They don't have the right to re-organize my
>>system, and I don't agree to it. It seems there are still a number of
>>questions to be answered. I really don't think they will have accurate
>>answers until I get the disk in the drive and begin in stalling,Bench.
>>There's something 'wrong' with Steam. I am not able to clearly
>>articulate the exact cause of that impression, other than that it's a
>>control issue with my system and my own choice. I really do want to
>>play the SP games of HL2 and HL:Source. The rest is secondary. I've
>>paid my $79.00 US for it. Really do not mind paying for what I have at
>>all. Never have. I do mind very much a vendor/developer control issue.
>>I think that Valve is going to have to be VERY careful that they don't
>>touch off a "Class Issue" legally. I also think they have their foot ON
>>that line right now, deliberately. Time will tell.
>
>
> Are there any specific charges you have against Steam or is all this
> FUD based purely on your paranoid intuition?
It will not be possible to make any specific 'charges', until HL2 is out and
its full range of interaction with the customer via Steam is able to be seen.
Until the cat is completely out of the bag, and we find out for sure just
what Steam does or does not do in relation to our computers and the
games we buy from Valve, then neither you nor anyone else can say whether
the many concerns out there are FUD or fact. But we'll see, soon enough. I'm
leaning towards the side of believing it'll all work out fine, and most if not
all of the major worries will prove unfounded. But I can certainly understand
the other views, as well- Valve's methods of informing their publics on exactly
how Steam is going to work, and exactly how it may affect your computer in
relation to Valve games, have left quite a little room for ambiguity.
-Marshall
Xocyll
of the porn spammer to utter "The Augury is good, the signs say:
>magnulus wrote:
>
>> I encourage the boycott of Half Life 2. I won't be buying it as long as
>> it requires internet activation or an internet connection. Giving in could
>> set a dangerous trend for software. And also, from the looks of it... Gabe
>> Newell could stand a little poverty around the wasteline.
>>
>> Goodbye Gordon Freeman, we hardly knew you.
>>
>
>Sometimes I think you've really lost it. Here you are, a regular poster
>to usenet decrying the use of online activation. Move with the damn
>times man.
What do the two have in common?
He might have no home internet connection at all and only post to usenet
from work or a cybercafe.
Exactly what is required for activation, linking to Valve and providing
what exactly?
>How could you even *think* about boycotting this game.
It's a game, not the second coming.
If it comes with things people don't want, why shouldn't they boycott
it?
The big question is: is it going to require activation AND have to have
the cd in the drive to play?
The other big question is: will the "activation" save somewhere locally
so it can be saved so I don't have to call valve each and every time HL2
gets installed?
I suspect the answer to both those questions will be gamecopyworld and a
crack for anyone that doesn't care about multiplayer.
Xocyll
--
I don't particularly want you to FOAD, myself. You'll be more of
a cautionary example if you'll FO And Get Chronically, Incurably,
Painfully, Progressively, Expensively, Debilitatingly Ill. So
FOAGCIPPEDI. -- Mike Andrews responding to an idiot in asr
Andrew
wrote:
>It will not be possible to make any specific 'charges', until HL2 is out and
>its full range of interaction with the customer via Steam is able to be seen.
>Until the cat is completely out of the bag, and we find out for sure just
>what Steam does or does not do in relation to our computers and the
>games we buy from Valve, then neither you nor anyone else can say whether
>the many concerns out there are FUD or fact.
It is already on my PC, and funnily enough, my PC works exactly the
same as it does before I loaded it. The only justifiable question you
have raised is whether the single player game requires a net
connection at install time, which in itself isn't a Steam issue. What
other "many concerns" are there whose answers aren't blatantly obvious
now?
i own a yacht
> Werner Spahl wrote:
>
>> I think we agree that a crack will be out
>> after 5 min which enables any pirate to play it without
>> authentication.
>
> They'll have fun getting patches and updates.
there was a working, cracked copy of cs:s available the same day it
was officially released. it even allowed online play. a week or so later
valve released a patch that broke it. which was then cracked to make it
work again. considering steam, valve are incredibly slow at putting
patches out there, so people would have no problem playing cracked copies
online. i mean, look at how long it took them to patch the %n bug. and
there are still a couple game-breakers that would take minutes to fix
that they still haven't patched yet. (dust2 playerlimit bug, console
wallhack, etc)
Marshall
> On Thu, 21 Oct 2004 16:18:55 GMT, Marshall <mars...@nospam.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>>It will not be possible to make any specific 'charges', until HL2 is out and
>>its full range of interaction with the customer via Steam is able to be seen.
>>Until the cat is completely out of the bag, and we find out for sure just
>>what Steam does or does not do in relation to our computers and the
>>games we buy from Valve, then neither you nor anyone else can say whether
>>the many concerns out there are FUD or fact.
>
>
> It is already on my PC, and funnily enough, my PC works exactly the
> same as it does before I loaded it. The only justifiable question you
> have raised is whether the single player game requires a net
> connection at install time, which in itself isn't a Steam issue. What
> other "many concerns" are there whose answers aren't blatantly obvious
> now?
Well, I haven't been keeping up with all the 'many' concerns, personally,
but the one you mention there is the primary one in many people's minds,
at this time. I'm sure there are other legitimate concerns that remain
to be answered as well, beyond that one question. But little will be
"blatantly obvious", until HL2 is launched and we finally find out how it's all
really going to work. I'm glad you haven't experienced any problems with
it yet, and hope that everyone else, no matter their level of involvement with
Steam, will also be as lucky.
-Marshall
noman
>considering steam, valve are incredibly slow at putting
>patches out there, so people would have no problem playing cracked copies
>online. i mean, look at how long it took them to patch the %n bug.
Do you have Steam and have you preloaded CounterStrike: Source ? If
yes, right click on CS:Source and select "Update News" or something
similar and see the list of updates that have happened to the game,
since the beta days. You will see a lot of information there.
--
Noman
Walter Mitty
> Are you from the US? in the UK, owning a net connection isn't nearly
> as common. so here there are probably quite alot! (I meant preordering
> from Game shops)
>
Can you back that up please? I know noone who has a modern PC that
doesn't have a net connection.
--
Walter Mitty
-
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=plagiarism
http://www.tinyurl.com
Walter Mitty
Are you a lawyer? You took all those words to basically worm out of the
fact that you are spouting FUD with absolutley no idea what you are
talking about. If you are really "concerned" about these "legitimate
concerns" then why not read the FAQ?
There are TWO issues not clear : 1) Online validation requried for
retail version? and (2) Ability to move game to another account to
simplify reselling (which is itself normally illegal anyway).
Walter Mitty
> The big question is: is it going to require activation AND have to have
> the cd in the drive to play?
Is it really that big of a question? So what if it does? Most games
require the CD.
The majority of gamers who would even consider buying HL2 are hooked
into the web. If not, well tough. In the same way they can't browse the
web, they wont be able to play.... until someone burns a copy of the
crack that is :)
HL2 may not be the seond coming, but I for one am more interested in HL2
than any reappearance of his holiness.
i own a yacht
yes. but i also play it regularly, and know how long some of these very
serious, very trivial to fix bugs hang around for. one of the benefits
of steam is the ability to issue small, quick hotfixes. they don't seem
to be making use of that function however. that may start to happen as
things move along, but so far i'm not very impressed with valve's
ability to release timely fixes.
Paul Catley
news:CpJdd.39680$Z14....@news.indigo.ie...
> >
> > Yes if we keep giving software this much power they will revolt and
> > take over the earth!
>
> I for one welcome our new disc-shaped overlords.
Thank you, Kent :)
--
Paul
"Earth is now ripe for the plucking!"
Walter Mitty
> "One Punch Mickey" <fantanti...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:CpJdd.39680$Z14....@news.indigo.ie...
>
>>>Yes if we keep giving software this much power they will revolt and
>>>take over the earth!
>>
>>I for one welcome our new disc-shaped overlords.
>
>
> Thank you, Kent :)
>
Damn you! I had been racking my brains to place the style :)
The Mighty MF
The only thing that sucks is I'm guessing I'll still have to keep the HL2 CD
in my tray, even *with* all this Steam stuff. If not, then registering
online will balance out with not having to download a NOCD crack.
Khabs,
Mark
noman
<seth...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>The only thing that sucks is I'm guessing I'll still have to keep the HL2 CD
>in my tray, even *with* all this Steam stuff. If not, then registering
>online will balance out with not having to download a NOCD crack.
>
No, you won't have to keep the CD in drive.
--
Noman
Marshall
No.
You took all those words to basically worm out of the
> fact that you are spouting FUD with absolutley no idea what you are
> talking about. If you are really "concerned" about these "legitimate
> concerns" then why not read the FAQ?
Do you read whole threads, or just enough parts to get you worked
up over your own imaginings? I wasn't spreading any FUD, I was
saying that I do understand the legitimate concerns of McGrandpa and
others, which have not been addressed yet. Whether that FAQ to which
you refer addresses everything that they are concerned about, is a matter
for them to speak to, not me. I did say that I doubt there will turn out to
be any serious issues with the game and Steam, when all is said and done
(if you have the brights and ability to read whole threads, you'll hopefully
be able to research this out)... but even that is just a guess, since the
game is *not* out yet. If you want to call that 'spouting FUD', then
that's your problem.
-Marshall
Walter Mitty
It is FUD because you are raising red flags about "possible legitimate
concerns" when the great, great majority have been addressed.
The fact that you even use the term "this FAQ to which you refer"
suggests that you are/were unaware of its existence and hence have not
read it. Therefore, any other views you may or may not express about
Steam, despite being yours, are baseless and valueless.
Ben Cottrell
>> Are you from the US? in the UK, owning a net connection isn't nearly
>> as common. so here there are probably quite alot! (I meant
>> preordering from Game shops)
>>
>
> Can you back that up please?
with what?
> I know noone who has a modern PC that
> doesn't have a net connection.
I do.. lots, actually.
Marshall
> Marshall wrote:
>
>>
>> Do you read whole threads, or just enough parts to get you worked
>> up over your own imaginings? I wasn't spreading any FUD, I was
>> saying that I do understand the legitimate concerns of McGrandpa and
>> others, which have not been addressed yet. Whether that FAQ to which
>> you refer addresses everything that they are concerned about, is a matter
>> for them to speak to, not me. I did say that I doubt there will turn
>> out to
>> be any serious issues with the game and Steam, when all is said and done
>> (if you have the brights and ability to read whole threads, you'll
>> hopefully
>> be able to research this out)... but even that is just a guess, since the
>> game is *not* out yet. If you want to call that 'spouting FUD', then
>> that's your problem.
>> -Marshall
>
>
> It is FUD because you are raising red flags about "possible legitimate
> concerns" when the great, great majority have been addressed.
It is not a matter of 'possible legitimate concerns', there are *definite*
legitimate concerns still in existence regarding HL2 and Steam. How
many that number may be, neither of us know. You claim '2', whether
that is correct or not, neither of us is sure. And until it is actually re-
leased, and we actually *see* whether it's all going to work properly
and in our best interests or not, despite whatever the FAQ may say
now, we're all still equally ignorant about it. *That* is the only fact
we do know for sure. I'm not shouting "the sky is falling", so don't get
your starched panties in a wad- but there are still (more than 1, and yes,
quite probably, more than 2) legitimate concerns about the HL2/Steam
thing in the gaming community, which remain to be sorted out after release
day.
> The fact that you even use the term "this FAQ to which you refer"
> suggests that you are/were unaware of its existence and hence have not
> read it.
I read it a few months back, pretty droll reading. Whether there have been any
changes in it since then, I don't know. I was empathizing with McGrandpa's
concerns, that is all. Speaking of acting like a lawyer, if you want to convert
that into a federal case, feel free to do so on your own, without me.
Therefore, any other views you may or may not express about
> Steam, despite being yours, are baseless and valueless.
Well, as long as we value each other's opinion equally, that's the main
thing. Good day to you too.
-Marshall
Walter Mitty
>
> It is not a matter of 'possible legitimate concerns', there are *definite*
> legitimate concerns still in existence regarding HL2 and Steam. How
> many that number may be, neither of us know. You claim '2', whether
> that is correct or not, neither of us is sure. And until it is actually re-
> leased, and we actually *see* whether it's all going to work properly
> and in our best interests or not, despite whatever the FAQ may say
> now, we're all still equally ignorant about it. *That* is the only fact
> we do know for sure.
Crikey Marshall, you're not a bad lad, but you do have long ways of
saying that you "have no idea and can offer no real opinion".
The FAQ and knowledge base are not vaporware.
You are, of course, aware that Steam is in use now for real games that
run and play well?
Walter Mitty
You surprise me. And are those people chomping at the bit for HL2?
Probably not since they dont have net access and haven't heard of it ... :)
Marshall
True, but not for HL2, yet. Not for a brand-new, retail over-the-counter game.
That seems to be the one the concerns are over.
-Marshall
Walter Mitty
>
>
> True, but not for HL2, yet. Not for a brand-new, retail over-the-counter
> game.
> That seems to be the one the concerns are over.
> -Marshall
Go on, voice a concern without using the "seems" :)
Of course there are some "concerns". People always have concerns. People
also like to act the luddite and refuse to embrace advances. Most
concerns have been repeatedly answered by the likes of Andrew, noman,
myself to a degree and last, but certainly not least, Valves existing
knowledge base. Most (not all) of these concerns are simple FUD with no
basis of truth whatsoever. Heck, some people (Magnulus, John Lewis) are
actually "boycotting" HL2 because of issues they "have concerns" over
that have no grounding whatsoever: Like Valve will give a flying f****.
Andrew
wrote:
>It is not a matter of 'possible legitimate concerns', there are *definite*
>legitimate concerns still in existence regarding HL2 and Steam.
WHAT CONCERNS?
Stop bleating on with your mantra and ask a bloody question! People
(including myself) are using Steam on a daily basis, what do you need
to know?
Andrew
>I have a laptop which can run lots of games, but I can use it also on
>places where there is no net connection available. It is silly to
>expect that all gaming PCs will have a net connection available.
Valve probably don't expect them all to, but the vast majority will
be, and the potential gains in (hopefully) preventing piracy will have
a much greater value than losing a few sales to people without a net
connection.
Walter Mitty
> On Thu, 21 Oct 2004 21:36:58 GMT, Marshall <mars...@nospam.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>>It is not a matter of 'possible legitimate concerns', there are *definite*
>>legitimate concerns still in existence regarding HL2 and Steam.
>
>
> WHAT CONCERNS?
>
> Stop bleating on with your mantra and ask a bloody question! People
> (including myself) are using Steam on a daily basis, what do you need
> to know?
Watch it. Redted will accuse you of being abusive. While we might not
always see eye to eye, I'm firmly in your camp on this one. The
anti-steam bullshit is at an all time uninformed high.
Chadwick
box. I'm quite happy to enter the code off the back of the CD case and
also leave the disk in the tray while I play.
If I want to play on-line, then I guess I'll have to submit some kind
of registration, but that's fine - for online play.
If I uninstall HL2 at some point - or replace my hard drive - and then
want to reinstall, I expect to be able to do that exactly as though
the game was new.
If I have to register it online when I install it, will I have to
de-register it online when I uninstall it? If not, surely when I
reinstall the registration system will detect that it has been
registered once already and will block it, and I'll have a souvenir
coaster with a user guide.
That is why I think Valve would be daft to insist on on-line
registration for single-player use. It adds an unnecessary
complication.
Andrew
wrote:
>If I have to register it online when I install it, will I have to
>de-register it online when I uninstall it? If not, surely when I
>reinstall the registration system will detect that it has been
>registered once already and will block it, and I'll have a souvenir
>coaster with a user guide.
You only register it once by creating a Steam account with the CD key.
For subsequent re-installs you just have to log on to that Steam
account, the CD key won't be needed again.
Walter Mitty
>
> If I have to register it online when I install it, will I have to
> de-register it online when I uninstall it? If not, surely when I
> reinstall the registration system will detect that it has been
> registered once already and will block it, and I'll have a souvenir
> coaster with a user guide.
The registration is associated with your Steam Account.
Your Steam account is protected by unique user id and an encrypted password.
If you log on with that account, you'll have access to your game.
Now, the question that you raise is valid : surely Steam makes it easier
to pirate? Log on on different machine, recache, play. Log off. Go back
to home machine. Game copied without need to even installed from CD :
not much difference from current copying techniques but without need for
physical medium.
Marshall
> Marshall wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> True, but not for HL2, yet. Not for a brand-new, retail
>> over-the-counter game.
>> That seems to be the one the concerns are over.
>> -Marshall
>
>
> Go on, voice a concern without using the "seems" :)
I'm concerned that you are nitpicking asshole. Hey, you're right! This is
fun :-)
> Of course there are some "concerns". People always have concerns. People
> also like to act the luddite and refuse to embrace advances. Most
> concerns have been repeatedly answered by the likes of Andrew, noman,
> myself to a degree and last, but certainly not least, Valves existing
> knowledge base. Most (not all) of these concerns are simple FUD with no
> basis of truth whatsoever. Heck, some people (Magnulus, John Lewis) are
> actually "boycotting" HL2 because of issues they "have concerns" over
> that have no grounding whatsoever: Like Valve will give a flying f****.
::shrug:: You're the one who's making an unnecessarily big deal over the
whole thing. I already said I doubted that any of the existing concerns
would amount to all that much, after the game is released. But again,
we shall see. Until then, it is just your opinion vs. that of others.
-Marshall
Marshall
> On Thu, 21 Oct 2004 21:36:58 GMT, Marshall <mars...@nospam.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>>It is not a matter of 'possible legitimate concerns', there are *definite*
>>legitimate concerns still in existence regarding HL2 and Steam.
>
>
> WHAT CONCERNS?
>
> Stop bleating on with your mantra and ask a bloody question! People
> (including myself) are using Steam on a daily basis, what do you need
> to know?
You have installed HL2 *retail*, bought off-the-shelf, and then registered it,
and are playing it now? Right, that's what I thought. Move along...
-Marshall