How to install Half Life 2 Without Steam?

[Abhoth]

I bought through Steam also and no problems thus far... on my way to Nova Prospect. Only problem I've had is with some memory error of some sort... backed off on my overclock just a touch and haven't seen it since.

I'm sure some have had problems with Steam, but I'd like to know how many have caused those problems themselves. Either way it seems that Steam is here to stay and will probably be adopted by others in the industry in some way, shape or form.

 

[elkinm]

Still cannot register and the more I read about the less I want to. I am looking for hacks to disable remove registration but nothing close yet.

Sucks, I bought the retail because I was afraid of loosing the Steam downloads. I feel stupid now. The steam download works without a CD and can be burned and transferred to any PC. The retail is nothing more then a CDs of the Steam downloads plus extra hassle plus risk of not registering the game plus requires the CD in the drive to play and so on.

By any chance, did anyone try and see if valve may be willing to trade the retail key for a steam version (at no cost obviously) given the lack of advantages and added hassle of the retail package.

 

[Andres3605]

you can sell ur copy if u havent register it, and then get an ATI voucher from ebay for like 30 us

 

[FPSguy]

Originally posted by: shurato
If you want to see why people dislike steam, go to their own website steampowered.com.
What I'm more pissed off about is the fact they had a whole extra year and they couldn't even get a passable multiplayer going in the game. Yeah I know there are some mods coming out which will let you do it but I kind of feel like it should of been in there natively from the start. It does come with CS:Source but I dislike counterstrike...I do not want to play this old ass game with spiffier new graphics.

Back on topic, lots of people have had problems with Steam.

Native multiplayer is available in the update they released today.

Also, there are patches that will convert the retail version to the steam version so that you don't have to use a CD.

 

[elkinm]

Originally posted by: FPSguy

Originally posted by: shurato
If you want to see why people dislike steam, go to their own website steampowered.com.
What I'm more pissed off about is the fact they had a whole extra year and they couldn't even get a passable multiplayer going in the game. Yeah I know there are some mods coming out which will let you do it but I kind of feel like it should of been in there natively from the start. It does come with CS:Source but I dislike counterstrike...I do not want to play this old ass game with spiffier new graphics.

Back on topic, lots of people have had problems with Steam.

Native multiplayer is available in the update they released today.

Also, there are patches that will convert the retail version to the steam version so that you don't have to use a CD.

What does the native multiplayer mean. Does that mean that multiplayer is possible without a server, maybe on a local network.

And can you tell me how I can find the patch to convert to the Steam version? Do I have to register successfully for it to work.

 

[alm4rr]

and is it (more importantly) an official patch?

 

[rustyjeep]

Originally posted by: alm4rr
and is it (more importantly) an official patch?

I'm with you here. I paid for the retail pack, and would like to play without the cd in, but am nervous to do anything that may get my cd banned.

I was able to play my copy of half life on my friend's computer by backing up my half life 2 install to a dvd (using the steam backup thing), then going to my friend's computer and installing half life 2. I then ran the restore, and restored from my backup. when firing up the game, you still have to sign into steam.

The end result is that I wasn't really able to show my friend the game (ran out of time), but did show him an hour and a half of the install process.

 

[elkinm]

Were can I find this patch or any other patches. Do they download automatically or can I do it manually and do I need to activate the game first.