Lightning STRIKES TWICE! Half-Life 2 is out!

[SilentRunning]

Originally posted by: Briareos

http://steampowered.com/index.php?area=news&id=344

Looks like vivendi is playing silly buggers. Sucks for those who bought it early from BB.

Well at least Valve has made the status perfectly clear. So finally the forums can quiet down a little.

 

[Zebo]

Originally posted by: Lonyo
You have to activate all versions through Steam, retail or no, even if you just want to play HL2 single player.
So no one can play until Valve starts letting Steam unlock games, they have the ultimate control over when we can play.
(You can play CS: Source already though, but nothing else, eg: HL2, DoD: Source etc).

what if you have no net connection?

 

[elbosco]

VUG responds to allegations that HL2 has been released!

http://web.uvic.ca/~mwquinn/hl.jpg

 

[Slogun]

Originally posted by: elbosco
VUG responds to allegations that HL2 has been released!

http://web.uvic.ca/~mwquinn/hl.jpg

That's hysterical!

 

[DannyLove]

Originally posted by: elbosco
VUG responds to allegations that HL2 has been released!

http://web.uvic.ca/~mwquinn/hl.jpg

lol

 

[Schadenfroh]

f you have purchased a copy of Half-Life 2, we are sorry you are still waiting to play. This is not Valve's choice. Vivendi is insisting that the game has not yet been released, and has threatened that Valve would be in violation of its contract if we activate the Half-Life 2 Steam authentication servers at this time.

Thanks for your patience and we will update you when we have more news to share.

 

[jm0ris0n]

Remember that valve is the one incharge of steam and encrypting the game content that requires an internet connection.

Blame valve, not vivendi 😛

 

[JBT]

Originally posted by: jm0ris0n
Remember that valve is the one incharge of steam and encrypting the game content that requires an internet connection.

Blame valve, not vivendi 😛

Not exactly. vivendi would sue Vavle's ass off if they were to release it with out thier say.

 

[elbosco]

It was rumored that Valve wanted to release HL2 through steam right after gold, but was unable to due to its contract w/ VUG. Now that retail stores have broken the street date, games purchased at B&M stores cannot be played because they haven't been authenticated through steam.

Kinda ironic.

 

[jm0ris0n]

We need some more HL2 Hot Deals !

 

[Glavinsolo]

I don't see the big deal here. Best Buy or whoever could have sold it back 2 months ago or whenever steam started to preload. It's like buying an advance ticket... You don't get in and see it until the date on the ticket. Buying it early is the same thing as preloading it. So who cares. They could have been just boxes on the shelf that said "FREE" on them and "TAKE ONE" but when customer X gets home his computer pops up saying "purchase now online to be ready for the 16th!"

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: Zebo

Originally posted by: Lonyo
You have to activate all versions through Steam, retail or no, even if you just want to play HL2 single player.
So no one can play until Valve starts letting Steam unlock games, they have the ultimate control over when we can play.
(You can play CS: Source already though, but nothing else, eg: HL2, DoD: Source etc).

what if you have no net connection?

What if you have no video card? Or a Pentium II? Well, then you should have read the system requirements on the box, because an Internet Connection is required.

 

[Czar]

even if you buy it in stores you still have to activate the game through steam and that doesnt happen untill the 16th

 

[XBoxLPU]

Originally posted by: jm0ris0n
Remember that valve is the one incharge of steam and encrypting the game content that requires an internet connection.

Blame valve, not vivendi 😛

God damn everyone here is a bunch of idiots

The game's release date is the 16th

Blame BestBuy if anyone

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: jm0ris0n
Remember that valve is the one incharge of steam and encrypting the game content that requires an internet connection.

Blame valve, not vivendi 😛

Half-Life 2 is one of the most anticipated games ever and Valve has a *ton* of time and money invested in it. Can you blame them for protecting their work? I sure don't.

I picked up the Silver version via Steam last week. We've waited over a year since the Sept '03 release date. I think we can wait another 2 days. 🙂

 

[daniel1113]

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: Zebo

Originally posted by: Lonyo
You have to activate all versions through Steam, retail or no, even if you just want to play HL2 single player.
So no one can play until Valve starts letting Steam unlock games, they have the ultimate control over when we can play.
(You can play CS: Source already though, but nothing else, eg: HL2, DoD: Source etc).

what if you have no net connection?

What if you have no video card? Or a Pentium II? Well, then you should have read the system requirements on the box, because an Internet Connection is required.

Werd.

 

[arcas]

The thing that kills me about steam-based authentication for single-player games is that now you're dependent upon the parent company not going bankrupt. If Vivendi were to go bankrupt 2 years from now and turn off the authentication servers, you're screwed. Will these authentication servers still be around 5-10 years from now? Just like I sometimes watch old movies, sometimes I go back and play old games. For instance, I still occasionally play Myst, Riven and Doom that I occasionally fire up.

But let's not be so extreme. Let's say something happens in Vivendi's network center that simply knocks them offline for a few days (say a construction crew cuts a fiber cable outside the building). You're screwed. Nevermind the fact that you paid for the game; you still can't play. You can forget about playing single-player HL2 anywhere where network connectivity might not exist (in an airport, on an airplane or bus, etc). Hell, once on a two-vehicle trip from Kentucky to North Carolina, we set up a WAN between vehicles and played games. I realize HL2 is single-player but in the broader sense, this sort of setup won't work with games that require some sort of authentication with a company server.

I have no problem with online games requiring a network connection since that's the point of the game. I'm more dubious of games that require a network connection only so that you can obtain permission to play it.

 

[daniel1113]

Originally posted by: arcas
The thing that kills me about steam-based authentication for single-player games is that now you're dependent upon the parent company not going bankrupt. If Vivendi were to go bankrupt 2 years from now and turn off the authentication servers, you're screwed. Will these authentication servers still be around 5-10 years from now? Just like I sometimes watch old movies, sometimes I go back and play old games. For instance, I still occasionally play Myst, Riven and Doom that I occasionally fire up.

But let's not be so extreme. Let's say something happens in Vivendi's network center that simply knocks them offline for a few days (say a construction crew cuts a fiber cable outside the building). You're screwed. Nevermind the fact that you paid for the game; you still can't play. You can forget about playing single-player HL2 anywhere where network connectivity might not exist (in an airport, on an airplane or bus, etc). Hell, once on a two-vehicle trip from Kentucky to North Carolina, we set up a WAN between vehicles and played games. I realize HL2 is single-player but in the broader sense, this sort of setup won't work with games that require some sort of authentication with a company server.

I have no problem with online games requiring a network connection since that's the point of the game. I'm more dubious of games that require a network connection only so that you can obtain permission to play it.

Don't worry. There will be a crack for the game in no time, so if Vivendi goes out of business and doesn't provide some sort of update to eliminate the authentication, software pirates will.

Also, the chances of something happening to Vivendi's network center is pretty small. Not only that, but I'm sure they have backup systems spread across the country (or world, even). They will never be down for days at a time. But, even if they are, who cares? It's a freaking game. You can wait 36 hours to play.

 

[RSMemphis]

Well, I think once authenticated, you do not need the network connection.
However, if you reinstall it, yes, that would be a problem.

Edit: Also, Valve, not Vivendi, powers Steam. If Vivendi goes out of business, nothing happens. If Valve does... 🙁

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: daniel1113

Originally posted by: arcas
The thing that kills me about steam-based authentication for single-player games is that now you're dependent upon the parent company not going bankrupt. If Vivendi were to go bankrupt 2 years from now and turn off the authentication servers, you're screwed. Will these authentication servers still be around 5-10 years from now? Just like I sometimes watch old movies, sometimes I go back and play old games. For instance, I still occasionally play Myst, Riven and Doom that I occasionally fire up.

But let's not be so extreme. Let's say something happens in Vivendi's network center that simply knocks them offline for a few days (say a construction crew cuts a fiber cable outside the building). You're screwed. Nevermind the fact that you paid for the game; you still can't play. You can forget about playing single-player HL2 anywhere where network connectivity might not exist (in an airport, on an airplane or bus, etc). Hell, once on a two-vehicle trip from Kentucky to North Carolina, we set up a WAN between vehicles and played games. I realize HL2 is single-player but in the broader sense, this sort of setup won't work with games that require some sort of authentication with a company server.

I have no problem with online games requiring a network connection since that's the point of the game. I'm more dubious of games that require a network connection only so that you can obtain permission to play it.

Don't worry. There will be a crack for the game in no time, so if Vivendi goes out of business and doesn't provide some sort of update to eliminate the authentication, software pirates will.

Also, the chances of something happening to Vivendi's network center is pretty small. Not only that, but I'm sure they have backup systems spread across the country (or world, even). They will never be down for days at a time. But, even if they are, who cares? It's a freaking game. You can wait 36 hours to play.

You think Vivendi is going to go out of business if they don't unlock the game early? Are you an idiot? They've already SOLD copies of the game. They have their money.

 

[Nebor]

Originally posted by: arcas
The thing that kills me about steam-based authentication for single-player games is that now you're dependent upon the parent company not going bankrupt. If Vivendi were to go bankrupt 2 years from now and turn off the authentication servers, you're screwed. Will these authentication servers still be around 5-10 years from now? Just like I sometimes watch old movies, sometimes I go back and play old games. For instance, I still occasionally play Myst, Riven and Doom that I occasionally fire up.

But let's not be so extreme. Let's say something happens in Vivendi's network center that simply knocks them offline for a few days (say a construction crew cuts a fiber cable outside the building). You're screwed. Nevermind the fact that you paid for the game; you still can't play. You can forget about playing single-player HL2 anywhere where network connectivity might not exist (in an airport, on an airplane or bus, etc). Hell, once on a two-vehicle trip from Kentucky to North Carolina, we set up a WAN between vehicles and played games. I realize HL2 is single-player but in the broader sense, this sort of setup won't work with games that require some sort of authentication with a company server.

I have no problem with online games requiring a network connection since that's the point of the game. I'm more dubious of games that require a network connection only so that you can obtain permission to play it.

WAN on a roadtrip... That's sooo cool, and sooo AT.

 

[daniel1113]

Originally posted by: Nebor

Originally posted by: daniel1113

Originally posted by: arcas
The thing that kills me about steam-based authentication for single-player games is that now you're dependent upon the parent company not going bankrupt. If Vivendi were to go bankrupt 2 years from now and turn off the authentication servers, you're screwed. Will these authentication servers still be around 5-10 years from now? Just like I sometimes watch old movies, sometimes I go back and play old games. For instance, I still occasionally play Myst, Riven and Doom that I occasionally fire up.

But let's not be so extreme. Let's say something happens in Vivendi's network center that simply knocks them offline for a few days (say a construction crew cuts a fiber cable outside the building). You're screwed. Nevermind the fact that you paid for the game; you still can't play. You can forget about playing single-player HL2 anywhere where network connectivity might not exist (in an airport, on an airplane or bus, etc). Hell, once on a two-vehicle trip from Kentucky to North Carolina, we set up a WAN between vehicles and played games. I realize HL2 is single-player but in the broader sense, this sort of setup won't work with games that require some sort of authentication with a company server.

I have no problem with online games requiring a network connection since that's the point of the game. I'm more dubious of games that require a network connection only so that you can obtain permission to play it.

Don't worry. There will be a crack for the game in no time, so if Vivendi goes out of business and doesn't provide some sort of update to eliminate the authentication, software pirates will.

Also, the chances of something happening to Vivendi's network center is pretty small. Not only that, but I'm sure they have backup systems spread across the country (or world, even). They will never be down for days at a time. But, even if they are, who cares? It's a freaking game. You can wait 36 hours to play.

You think Vivendi is going to go out of business if they don't unlock the game early? Are you an idiot? They've already SOLD copies of the game. They have their money.

Why don't you read all the replys before you make another idiotic post.

We are talking about many years in the FUTURE.

 

[arcas]

Originally posted by: Nebor

WAN on a roadtrip... That's sooo cool, and sooo AT.

Hehe. In addition to games, the setup included streaming MP3s over the WAN and a web interface so passengers in both vehicles could queue up music selections to be streamed.

 

[arcas]

Originally posted by: daniel1113

We are talking about many years in the FUTURE.

Right. The problem here is you're dependent upon another entity remaining viable indefinitely. Quick example: look at the people who jumped on the DiVX bandwagon and were screwed when Circuit City decided to pull the plug on the service.

All it takes is for a company to buy Vivindi and/or Valve and decide that there no longer a financial incentive to maintain the Steam servers.

 

[daniel1113]

Originally posted by: arcas
Right. The problem here is you're dependent upon another entity remaining viable indefinitely. Quick example: look at the people who jumped on the DiVX bandwagon and were screwed when Circuit City decided to pull the plug on the service.

All it takes is for a company to buy Vivindi and/or Valve and decide that there no longer a financial incentive to maintain the Steam servers.

No, it doesn't... because, unlike DiVX, we don't need any specific hardware. Software pirates will find a way around any road block that may occur now and in the future.