[DEFINITIVE] Half-Life 2 Thread

[Blues]

heh heh, i still have my coupon for a free HL2 from when i got my radeon 9800xt

[Djmutik1013]

Yeah and are you going to get the steam version or the package, better hurry up

[l77Il7H]

so when is valve going to unlock hl2 on steam? still the same date? i can wait, but it would be nice to be able to play it right now.

[Xer34]

That sucks that even if the street date is broken, no one can play it, that is unless teh pri4t3s get to it I s'pose. I cant wait until this game comes out.. Im dropping out of college for this.. it better be good. :laugh:

[OctoPussy]

Checking *Nova every few seconds :p

[firen]

you think this will surpass HALO 2 sales?? maybe?

[Nexus-]

you think this will surpass HALO 2 sales??  maybe?

584907277[/snapback]

of course it will and thats figuring in that there was no free halo 2 deals like ati had the hl2 deal

[jerry]

you think this will surpass HALO 2 sales??  maybe?

584907277[/snapback]

No. Because:

1. PC games are pirated more than Console games.

2. Valve or VU are not Microsoft to invest huge amounts of $$$ to drive the hype like Halo2.

3. HL2 fans are not as emotional as Halo2 fans to buy more than one copy. (in most cases)

[dreamthief]

Checking *Nova every few seconds :p

584907273[/snapback]

you suck. :angry:

ON TOPIC

Is that really a problem? I mean the retail copies being in the hands of public? Don't Valve have some sort of mechanism to separate retail version to Steam versions? Activate steam versions earlier and later for retail copies. Retail copies can't play the game even though they installed it if valve doesn't get them activated.

If what i said is accurate, what's all the fuss bout street date broken?

[Nexus-]

you suck.  :angry:

ON TOPIC

Is that really a problem? I mean the retail copies being in the hands of public? Don't Valve have some sort of mechanism to separate retail version to Steam versions? Activate steam versions earlier and later for retail copies. Retail copies can't play the game even though they installed it if valve doesn't get them activated.

If what i said is accurate, what's all the fuss bout street date broken?

584907482[/snapback]

actually the steam and retail versions are exactly the same. all the cds do is install steam then copy the encrypted gcf files over. the same gcf files wich you would get from steam in a preload. so they then end up at the same point as anyone else. they then input their cd key and it says have fun and wait just like it does to folks who ordered thru steam. i doubt valve can even distinguish retail and steam ordered copies.

[ElectricDemon]

I think that if anything, Valve and/or VU should've made the retail packages available early anyway, since the game cannot be decrypted and played until the 16th, it wouldnt hurt to start getting early sales on the retail packages.

Also, it would serve as good pre-launch advertising, seeing the boxes in local games retaillers would generate loads of hype.

All they would have had to do was include a note telling customers that they need to unlock their copies before they can play.

After all, it's not the customer's fault if they are unable to get broadband, and pre-load in time for the launch date.

In fact, many people with broadband would've gone for the retail packages too instead of buying over steam if they dont have access to a credit card, and/or they want a hard-copy and dont wish to use cd-r or dvd-r discs

[dreamthief]

actually the steam and retail versions are exactly the same. all the cds do is install steam then copy the encrypted gcf files over. the same gcf files wich you would get from steam in a preload. so they then end up at the same point as anyone else. they then input their cd key and it says have fun and wait just like it does to folks who ordered thru steam. i doubt valve can even distinguish retail and steam ordered copies.

584907493[/snapback]

then that's too bad. They should have done something to distinguish the retail and steam cd keys.

I think that if anything, Valve and/or VU should've made the retail packages available early anyway, since the game cannot be decrypted and played until the 16th, it wouldnt hurt to start getting early sales on the retail packages.

Also, it would serve as good pre-launch advertising, seeing the boxes in local games retaillers would generate loads of hype.

All they would have had to do was include a note telling customers that they need to unlock their copies before they can play.

After all, it's not the customer's fault if they are unable to get broadband, and pre-load in time for the launch date.

In fact, many people with broadband would've gone for the retail packages too instead of buying over steam if they dont have access to a credit card, and/or they want a hard-copy and dont wish to use cd-r or dvd-r discs

584907869[/snapback]

i think the main selling point of Steam is getting to play the game on 16th November itself. Considered an exclusive pass to play the game before retail copies. If not, i don't see why you would want to pay the same amount for steam and retail copy.

[Kupo-Cheer]

http://www.gamespot.com/news/2004/11/11/news_6113002.html

Dunno if this has been posted anywhere already since I just got up. This is gamespot's take on it. Kinda cool how Valve have done things this way though. It doesn't matter who gets the game early since they wont be able to play it anyway, like we all knew earlier, lol. But gamespot also suggests a workaround for the authentication process may come about soon using the SDK...

[DoNuTs]

Didn't they say, if a store broke the street date they would release the game ....

[Chode]

Didn't they say, if a store broke the street date they would release the game ....

584908157[/snapback]

Yeah, and we all believe what Valve promises us:rolleyes:: (*cough* September 30 * cough*)

I'm positive that they aren't going to fulfill this promise.

[dukelion]

does anybody know if UK stores have started getting their copies in? cos if so i can ring up my mum now and tell her to get it.

edit: rang her up and she said they get their stock in on thursday so they might have it, if so i told her to get it, uk dvd-rom version. :D

Edited November 12, 2004 by dukelion

[lnmnky]

Didn't they say, if a store broke the street date they would release the game ....

584908157[/snapback]

Yeah, but have we seen a real customer go into a shop and buy one yet?

Those pictures, if real, could just be from a staff stolen copy.

+ The best-buy-eye-brow-guy doesn't prove that the copies are for sale also.

[Varsity]

Half.Life.II-RELOADED any minute now then i guess :/

584905138[/snapback]

The disks are encrypted like the pre-load.

incorrect, the hacked version of CS:S uses a steam emulator, can do the same thing with HL2, since it uses the same engine/calls

584905183[/snapback]

It's not an emulator: it IS Steam, just cracked along a (deliberate?) line of weakness. It connects to Valve's servers, thus their ability to shut it off when and where they like. Except they haven't - and there must be a reason... :laugh:

Didn't they say, if a store broke the street date they would release the game ....

If 'they' is the guy on Shacknews, then yes. :p Edited November 12, 2004 by Varsity

[lnmnky]

The disks are encrypted like the pre-load.

It's not an emulator: it IS Steam, just cracked along a (deliberate?) line of weakness. It connects to Valve's servers, thus their ability to shut it off when and where they like. Except they haven't - and there must be a reason... :laugh:

584908595[/snapback]

Alot of people are going to be unhappy. Valve will seek vengence.

[Varsity]

Here we go. Confirmation that Steve Gibson added the bit about it unlocking early on Shaknews. I should really have put more effort into dispelling this rumour earlier...

[bush]

is there not a DVD version because why have 6 Cd's when you could have 1 DVD?????

Almost everyone has a DVD-Rom/DVD-RW would it save them money because they only need 1 Disc or give the option for a DVD Version or the 6 Cd version????

584905126[/snapback]

i don't :pinch:

[nX07]

I called 15 EB Game locations and they all knew about the suposive street date broken, and 12 of them already have there shipments in; however they are not budging on the broken street date sales.

So I think its still going to be the 16th for many many many of us except a very few, which dosn't bother me at all really.. whats 3 or so more days. Big Deal.

[CCDART]

A lot of people thought this one was real too...Lol, I just like planting the seed of doubt in your heads.  Plus, why would he be showing 5 cds and not 6?

584905621[/snapback]

Woohoo, nice FAKE screen. "RP" = Rating Pending, the Rating of the REAL HL2 is Mature. PhotoTehShopped.

[Laughing-Man]

Woohoo, nice FAKE screen. "RP" = Rating Pending, the Rating of the REAL HL2 is Mature. PhotoTehShopped.

584909139[/snapback]

The picture was probably made before the rating was determined. I do not think someone would spend that much time on a picture like that to make a stupid mistake.

[Frost_311]

That screenshot above is old as hell but yes the Retail Release Date was broken by serveral stores around the USA. And yes people have the actual game, so far though they can't play it because it must be activated first. I think Steam is a great thing, people complain about having CDs in your drive to play games, I hate it too, I have a 160GB hard drive for a reason... if I want to stick the game in every time I play I'll play on my PS2 or X-Box. So Steam allows us to never have to worry about the CD at all. No CD needed for any Valve games, and its nice to be able to go over to a friends house and play Half-Life 2 there even if he doesn't have it yet. Anyone who complains about getting their Username AND password stolen is just an idiot, you either have a virus or actually willingly gave someone your username and password for some reason... Steam is the way to go, I've reformated my computer probably 3 times since I've been using the public release of Steam and all I have to do is type in my user/password and all my games appear and can be downloaded... very nice stuff, now they just have to get "Friends" to work right!