Can somebody please explain precaching?

[jonnyapps]

does the 'precaching' system they're talking about with cs:s mean that the game will be loaded on our pc as soon as it becomes playable?

If so then will HL2 use the same system meaning that on release day i won't have to impatiently wait for hours staring at my download before getting what i've been waiting for for so long?

 

[MAx]

Right. Prechaching will start days before the game is released, so that it will already be on your machine when the game is released.

 

[jonnyapps]

i hope this doesn't increase the vulnerability of a pre-release date leak/hack

 

[PvtRyan]

i hope this doesn't increase the vulnerability of a pre-release date leak/hack

Nah. To this point, it never happened with Codename Gordon or Condition Zero. Lets hope it won't.

 

[Dead-Inside]

Doesn't really make a big difference.

 

[Epsi]

The preloads are encrypted. They're decrypted on launch day.

 

[jonnyapps]

The preloads are encrypted. They're decrypted on launch day.

any idea how long that takes? it's not a long procedure is it

 

[Burn]

Haveing cs:s "downloaded" (Even if it only a weird steam file) sitting on your comp, but unable to be used... kinda would annoy me ><

 

[king John I]

more than having to download the whole thing on release day?

Personally i'm buying a retail half-life purly so that i have a hard copy of the game and a lovely box

 

[Epsi]

Dunno how long the decryption would take, but not that long I'd guess. Depends on the speed of your CPU.

 

[Varsity]

Haveing cs:s "downloaded" (Even if it only a weird steam file) sitting on your comp, but unable to be used... kinda would annoy me ><

More than having to download it all in one huge rush at the same time as everyone else and only being able to play two days late?

 

[jonnyapps]

do we have any idea how large the download is going to be? Do you think they might offer differing versions for people with a slower connection?

I've jost got myself a 1mb connection so fingers crossed i'll be alright and it'll be precached well in advance...now if i could only find that damned ati voucher

 

[Para]

Do you think they might offer differing versions for people with a slower connection?

Umm, even that you would have a 256kbit ADSL instead of that spankin' 1Mbit conn would you like to receive actually less content for the same prize than others?

Didn't think so either.

 

[jonnyapps]

yeah i would if i had a slow connection like cable - i'd really like to get playing asap so perhaps dl a smaller version (lower texture detail like ut2k4 demo) and then play to my hearts content. In the background i'd probably leave steam dl'ing the rest of the higher res textures for later use. :thumbs: