Half-Life 2

[ross_aveling 0]

I'm surprised no ones posted anything yet. Been playing it here for 5 hours straight.

 

To put it simply..... stunning!

[Malaris 0]

Yes, yes it is. CS:Source alone is enough to keep me going for a few milennia

[DosFreak 2]

Waiting for the activation crack. Until then I'll be buying and playing Bloodlines.

[DosFreak 2]

Well, so much for Steam. Good work Valve.

 

Activation has been cracked.

http://www.izonews.com/release.php3?releaseid=93951

 

Here's a thread on Ars with problems: http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/ubb.x?a=tpc&s=50009562&f=39309975&m=643001857631

 

Disclaimer: Mostly only people with problems will post, blah blah blah.

 

Here's a poll: http://episteme.arstechnica.com/eve/ubb....owpollresults=Y

 

There should be 0 problems with authentication, but looks like Valve's servers are overloaded....the theory is that they have the bandwidth but their servers cannot take the load. Brilliant move for release day....hopefully these problems continue and we can expect a patch for single-player no auth very very soon. I doubt it tho....they've already sold the game in retail boxes requiring authentication and their whole Steam system needs to prove that it can work....but this whole fiasco shows that it doesn't work as well as they hoped.

 

 

Now my only dilemma is if I buy the game and use the crack, I'll still be supporting Steam since the money I bought the game with with go into Valve's statistics for steam usage....or will they just use Steam logon authentication. Wish I knew if they use retail statistics, steam statistics or a combination of both?

 

I have no problem with online distribution of games but requiring activation for single-player when Valve themselves stated that you would be able to play the single-player without activation (and then reversed their decision) is just wrong. That kind of backpedaling is just so....WRONG!

 

 

 

For those of you who are playing HL2 single-player can you post exactly the hoops you had to go through to play?

[ross_aveling 0]

Originally posted by dosfreak:

Quote:

There should be 0 problems with authentication, but looks like Valve's servers are overloaded....

Yep, it took me about 45 minutes to get HL2 & CS:S activated. Once done though I haven't had a problem with Steam since, *crosses fingers*.

 

I purchased the UK retail DVD edition thinking it would come with Half-Life Source but apparently not! The only way I can see to get it is to purchase either the Silver or Gold packages directly from Steam, but seeing as I have already got HL2 I'm not doing that. Anyone know if they will release it for free; they can't really charge for it can they?

 

[Malaris 0]

Give it a few months and Half-Life: Source and Day of Defeat: Source will hit the shelves no doubt.

 

They are probably doing the same with those as they did with Blue Shift and Opposing Forces.

[DosFreak 2]

Looks like if you buy the retail ver you'll have to have the CD in the drive AND authenticate with Valve. Brilliant.

 

From my web surfing and talking with friends it seems that almost everyone is willing to sell their souls for Steam. Good going guys. Thanks.

 

Looks like the activation crack so far involves actually downloading the full game (4+GB) with it included....unsure if an actual cracked executable will show up any time soon. (Doubtful what with steam involved)

 

Went to BB today and saw the CD ver of Half-Life 2 sitting there (5 CD's!!!)....plenty of copies too. Took a peek at the requirements and "Internet Connection Required" is listed on the box. (Doesn't say what for tho. ). Still no Bloodlines .....I did pick up Buffy Season 7 tho (and I didn't even have to authenticate it!!!) so I'm happy.

 

 

For those with no Steam problems and no souls I'm happy for ya! Your probably playing the best FPS ever created so enjoy it until Valve no longer exists.

[ross_aveling 0]

Originally posted by dosfreak:

Quote:

Looks like if you buy the retail ver you'll have to have the CD in the drive AND authenticate with Valve. Brilliant.

Yeah, a complete pain in the arse. Lets hope they eventually release a patch removing the CD/DVD check, a la UT2004.

 

Quote:

From my web surfing and talking with friends it seems that almost everyone is willing to sell their souls for Steam. Good going guys. Thanks.

Hey, when you've got no choice, what are you going to do???

 

Quote:

Looks like the activation crack so far involves actually downloading the full game (4+GB) with it included....unsure if an actual cracked executable will show up any time soon. (Doubtful what with steam involved)

I hope they release the single .exe soon. I have no qualms applying the crack, I've paid my 27 pounds, Valve have my money.

 

Quote:

Went to BB today and saw the CD ver of Half-Life 2 sitting there (5 CD's!!!)....plenty of copies too. Took a peek at the requirements and "Internet Connection Required" is listed on the box. (Doesn't say what for tho. ). Still no Bloodlines .....I did pick up Buffy Season 7 tho (and I didn't even have to authenticate it!!!) so I'm happy.

Valve should have made it clear before the launch exactly how (and why) the system works as it does. I'm sure that there are thousands of people who have purchased the game and can't use it; not everyone has broadband do they? Christ, even Microsoft [with WPA] wasn't this arrogant!

 

Quote:

Your probably playing the best FPS ever created so enjoy it until Valve no longer exists.

Yes we are and yes we will .

[Edited by ross_aveling on 2004-11-18 05:02:24]