Half-Life 2 MINUS Steam - Is it possible?
- Thread starter Tute
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MNuTz said:
Because what on earth was wrong with the old method? You pop a disk in, install the game, click the icon and play the game. If you want to update, then do it. If you don't, then you don't have to.
Simple. Easy. Effective.
Would you like it if all the games on the shelves forced you to install Gamespy?
Tombo said:
It doesn't stop piracy at all, it just inconveniences the legitimate players.
And i'd rather carry the discs around than have to download a fair few hundred megs every time anyway (in fact i'd assume HL2 >1GB).
I can see it's uses if you want to play online. But I just want to play some HL2 single player.
It doesn't stop it completely but it does stop a portion of it, it certainly stops people playing online with illegitimate copies.Tute said:
A few hundred megs is only about half an hour if your connection isn't necessarily good.Tute said:
Then play it, no one is stopping you but yourself.Tute said:But I just want to play some HL2 single player.
Tute said:
Yeah, whats wrong with using the old method? hell, lets all go back to floppy disks for our games, hell, lets go back to tapes when it took 12 minutes to load.
Things move forward, accept it or dont, just dont whinge about it.
HL2 needs steam to play, dont like steam then dont play HL2. Its simple.
Tute said:
No, I wouldn't. I don't mind using Steam though, because it has useful features. I wish all my games used Steam. Would me I wouldn't need to worry about keeping discs and there would be a universal friends list. An easy game updater and an online payment system for games instead of waiting for delivery. Plus all the other new features Valve are up to this year.
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Tute said:
There is nothing simple and easy about updating and patching even the newest of games. It is usually a royal PITA and requires finding the correct version, the correct language and sometimes even the correct operating system. Not to mention when you have to download a 600mb complete patch because the devs were too lazy to make a Patch 2.2-2.3.
I think steam is fantastic. Fast DL speeds, reduces online hackers somewhat and also means that i don't have to stick a stupid damn DVD in every time i want to play a game. One that i maybe haven't touched for 5 years and don't have the CD with me anymore (as with the original HL).
There are some things that annoy me about it:
- Why oh why do i have to change the graphics setting for each new mod i install?? why can't it use a global profile by default that takes my setting from what i used in HL2?!?
- Old games are generally over priced. Steam was supposed to bring prices down for the consumer whilst giving more back to the developers.
- Why can't i use Switch/Maestro/Solo to purchase from the store? It is a global product, yet the most popular debit cards in Europe are not accepted.
That said, i have never had problems playing offline. It is certainly not something to get so worked up about when you clearly have a working net connection. It seems like you are finding an excuse to moan about Steam and Valve. Not being able to play offline is a legitimate problem but it is not one that can't be fixed and is most likely a problem with your own installation, not Steam itself.
I certainly think that it should be a case of a one time activation online, then freedom to play online/offline without ever connecting to the server if you wish. Still, it is a minor niggle that is by no means a reason to hate the program so much.
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Kemik said:
Yup. I hope they start adding tonnes of new features. Turn it in to a live alternative. Start supporting more game engines in multiplayer (if they don't already... i've only got Source multiplayer games on there) for the universal freinds list, chat and so forth.
The UI could probably do with some tweaking.
I love the whole idea of steam guest passes. The ability to send a 2/3 day pass to my friends is a great idea. It means i can play them for a while without them buying the game and they can see what it is like. It is tonnes better than a demo as you get all the functionality.
The whole free weekend thing is fantastic too. Just a shame they always seem to come when i am busy with studying and such like.
weringo said:
yep, of course it has, because i remember when i was just a wee lad, no higher than my dads knee when i used to boot the computer up and log on to an app, that app would then allow me to buy, download and keep my games updated automatically. They where the good ole days!
This thread isnt about steams good points and bad points, if any really wants to chat about that there is already a thread on it.
This thread is about someone who wants to bypass steam, which, as it happens is mentioned as being required in the minimum spec and is HL2's security feature. Now, if he didnt like steam for whatever reason then he shouldnt of purchased HL2 and then come on here asking people for advice on breaking the law. Which im also sure is against the forum rules.
I'm pretty sure it isn't. Piracy is against the law. Circumventing a useless (to me) piece of software isn't. It breaks the ToS of HL2 yes. But i'm not asking for a lecture on morality either. I'd have posted this in GD if I did.
You guys asked for my reasons for not wanting to use Steam, and despite the fact it would derail the thread, I gave them.
You guys asked for my reasons for not wanting to use Steam, and despite the fact it would derail the thread, I gave them.
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I remember when I was a wee lad, I was able to buy Half Life in a big orange box, and I was able to install Half Life and play it, without screwing around.MNuTz said:yep, of course it has, because i remember when i was just a wee lad, no higher than my dads knee when i used to boot the computer up and log on to an app, that app would then allow me to buy, download and keep my games updated automatically. They where the good ole days!
Whats the deal with the Steam bashing? Isn't it good that a platform is provided for your game of which automatic updates are downloaded and installed, even long after you have purchased your game? Personally I think Steam is a great program. It seams slightly strange to criticise a program which eraicates bugs and errors in your game for you, making it a more pleasureable experience.
MNuTz said:
But it hasn't moved forward. Waiting ages for updates to be downloaded and files decrypted is like the days of tapes when things took ages to load. Whereas with a non steam game, I can install in <5mins, double click shortcut and play instantly with no updates required.