Half-Life 2 pre-loading begins
08-27-04, 12:07 AM
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Half-Life 2 pre-loading begins
http://www.steampowered.com/index.ph...57175699147600
I've been pretty skeptical up to this point, but now I'm thinking Half-Life 2 might actually make it's September 30th release date. Fingers crossed.
Half-Life 2 pre-loading begins to Steam account holders today. Over the coming days, those who have selected the pre-loading option will have encrypted Half-Life 2 files delivered to their PC. No purchase is required to pre-load HL2, but is required to activate the game. Purchase options will be released soon. Then, the moment the game is made available, those who have pre-loaded and purchased Half-Life 2 via Steam will be authenticated and ready to start playing. For more information, please visit www.steampowered.com.
08-27-04, 01:31 AM
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As far as I know Valve hasn't actually given another release date since missing the September 30th deadline last year. Doug Lombardi mentioned awhile back that they were planning to send a release candidate to Vivendi sometime in mid-August but I'm not sure if they actually did or not.
08-27-04, 03:30 AM
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During E3, they were really pimping out a September release date.
Who has been playing CS:Source? I find it fun to play with the rag doll physics, but it's pretty much the same ol' counter strike. Should jump on the pre-loading considering I have the ati serial # attached to my steam.
Who has been playing CS:Source? I find it fun to play with the rag doll physics, but it's pretty much the same ol' counter strike. Should jump on the pre-loading considering I have the ati serial # attached to my steam.
08-27-04, 06:34 AM
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Originally posted by Trigger
I'd like to play CS source... how do I get to it?
I'd like to play CS source... how do I get to it?
http://www.steampowered.com/?area=cafe_directory
08-27-04, 08:09 AM
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Originally posted by Brain Stew
It's supposed to be cheaper and give you (somewhat) instant gratification.
It's supposed to be cheaper and give you (somewhat) instant gratification.
08-27-04, 08:47 AM
#9
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Originally posted by Groucho
But isn't there a monthly fee with Steam? So, overall it's not going to be cheaper unless you are already a subscriber, no?
But isn't there a monthly fee with Steam? So, overall it's not going to be cheaper unless you are already a subscriber, no?
08-27-04, 08:51 AM
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There's no fee associated with Steam that I know of outside of that you can buy games off of it. If you're a cyber cafe I believe you have to pay a charge for Steam use, maybe that's where you're confusing things.
My best guess at the reason you'd want to do this is they could push out the rest as soon as the game went gold, giving you who knows how long to play the game before people get the box copy and possibly for less than retail price. That's just guessing though, it'll be interesting to see what they do.
My best guess at the reason you'd want to do this is they could push out the rest as soon as the game went gold, giving you who knows how long to play the game before people get the box copy and possibly for less than retail price. That's just guessing though, it'll be interesting to see what they do.
08-27-04, 08:59 AM
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I guess I'll have to do some homework.
I played on Steam when it was in Beta. What a nightmare! When it worked, it was fun...but that was rare. I understand it's better now, which is good. But at the time, they were saying that when Steam went live there would be a monthly fee. Or perhaps I'm just losing my mind.
I played on Steam when it was in Beta. What a nightmare! When it worked, it was fun...but that was rare. I understand it's better now, which is good. But at the time, they were saying that when Steam went live there would be a monthly fee. Or perhaps I'm just losing my mind.
08-27-04, 10:03 AM
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08-27-04, 10:03 AM
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Steam has gotten a lot better since beta. I haven't played much since the beta and then I jumped on and had no problem. their is no charge for steam and you need to go through steam in order to play online now a days anyways (using your cd key)
08-27-04, 10:10 AM
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I thought I read somewhere that it was actually going to be full retail price through steam, so 49.95. You're more likely to get it cheaper at a store.
08-27-04, 03:09 PM
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If you're planning on buying HL2 -- over Steam or otherwise -- there really isn't a reason not to pre-load it. (Other than not wanting to d/l a little over a gig of data.) Even if you buy a boxed copy it still installs to your Steam folder, so you'll be able to use the pre-loaded content to make your install quicker.
As far as what you're downloading with the pre-load: I believe it's textures, sounds, etc. ... stuff that won't change between now and when HL2 goes gold.
As far as what you're downloading with the pre-load: I believe it's textures, sounds, etc. ... stuff that won't change between now and when HL2 goes gold.
Last edited by No Use For A Name; 08-27-04 at 03:12 PM.
08-27-04, 09:50 PM
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You can download the CS source if you have one of those nifty hallife 2 coupons from the ATI cards. You supposedly (from what i read) put in your serial in the steam program somewhere and it unlocks the CS source on your harddrive.
08-29-04, 01:18 AM
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Install would be no more than 10 minutes, so WTF with all the pre-loading excitement?! I don't get it
The moment it goes gold I'm pretty sure they send you the remaining info over steam if you pre-loaded it and you get to play it the day it goes gold. Atleast that's what I figure one advantage to it will be.
I have the free ATI coupons so I just pre-loaded it regardless. I own about 8 versions of HL so I know I'll be buying a disc version down the line anyways. Good thing to have handy though and if I can play it the moment it's done then even better.
