Retail and Pre-loader

[Stormy]

Just a random question i just thought of, not sure if any one will have an answer.

Well as we all know HL-2 is going to be pre-loaded via steam, will this mean that if i buy the game i wont have to install it and that i will only have to put in my CD key?

And will HL2 be playable with out steam (not that im not going to have steam or any thing) I think it will just feel weird opening up a single player game in steam, i dunnno why :angel:

 

[thehunter1320]

if you get it to preload... yes stormy, you should
EDIT: and get to the hell blaze forums NOW!!!!

 

[Roland Deschain]

If you have to run steam, then there will be a crack soon to mend that, plus no point in taking up computer recourses by running Steam and HL2 at the same time (I don't mind CS and steam, since CS can run on almost anything).

 

[joepjens]

(Gabe Newell @ Aug 10 2004, 05:20 PM)
8/17 HL-2 pre-load starts (textures, audio and other stuff that doesn't change).


This means that not everything is preloaded, so not everthing is on youre HD. So you can't just enter youre key and play.

 

[Rexz]

It means that on that particular date all that can be downloaded are textures and audio. You'll be able to preload the entire thing before the game is in the shops.

 

[Stormy]

I dont mean now, what im saying is, if i have downloaded all/most of the game before i buy it will i have to install it off the CD's or will i just need to enter my CD key and play.

 

[Mr Neutron]

This is a good question. It's not clear yet whether you'll have to purchase HL2 over steam to start preloading it. Or the converse, 'can a retail install use a Steam-purchase key?'.

 

[B.Calhoun]

It means that on that particular date all that can be downloaded are textures and audio. You'll be able to preload the entire thing before the game is in the shops.

Read what joe posted right above you.....


When i read the news my head almost exploded....

 

[redrain85]

HL2 preload starting on 8/17? Holy crap, is this for real? No BS?

I mean, okay I know, it's just textures, sounds, etc. But if they're going to start preloading that stuff in a week, then the code can't be too far behind. Or else why would they bother preloading HL2 already?

 

[darkmauler]

well it would be the same thing if you bought it and put your cd key in to steam because it is a half life 2 cd key. So to my knowlege you can put your cd key in when you download it off of steam becuase its the same thing as buying it off steam.

 

[Dr. Freeman]

I dont mean now, what im saying is, if i have downloaded all/most of the game before i buy it will i have to install it off the CD's or will i just need to enter my CD key and play.

u will probably need to use the CD to validate the pre-load on Steam.

 

[DvS]

I dont mean now, what im saying is, if i have downloaded all/most of the game before i buy it will i have to install it off the CD's or will i just need to enter my CD key and play.

You will need to install it first.

u will probably need to use the CD to validate the pre-load on Steam.

No, anyone can preload the game as far as I know, you just won't be able to do anything with it until you get a cd-key.

 

[mortiz]

In order to start pre-loading of HL2 you'll probably have to purchase the game through STEAM, meaning the CD-Key will be sent to the e-mail address HL2 was pre-ordered through. Once you have your CD key you will then have to register it.

If you buy the HL2 CD as well (you'd have to purchase the game twice) then you'll be able to register the CD-Key you get with that boxed version through STEAM as oppose to registering the CD-Key e-mailed to you, but it seems rather pointless.

 

[Pitbul]

WRONG is the above post. you can use any legit CD-Key and anyone with or without a CD key can preload HL2. guess how ATI Voucher holders can pre-load it, they already got there CD-Key.

 

[DvS]

Again, No.. I find it highly likely that anyone can preload the game if one so wishes without entering a key.. it was the case with CS:CZ, why not HL2? Nobody managed to crack the gcf file into a usable compilation.

 

[Pitbul]

but CZ owners didn't have an ATI Voucher. HL2 will be set up diffrently, unless VALVe has a system where when you go to pre-load HL2 it gives you 2 options, to either purchase over the internet or enter your ATI Voucher coupon, then when you enter your CD-Key you are then able to pre-load it.

 

[mortiz]

WRONG is the above post. you can use any legit CD-Key and anyone with or without a CD key can preload HL2. guess how ATI Voucher holders can pre-load it, they already got there CD-Key.

In the ATi Voucher deal yes you can, because you can simply register the CD-Key that you get from redeeming the voucher and STEAM will allow you to pre-load it.

However, for the people without the ATi Voucher deal they won't have a CD-Key pre-release meaning they won't be able to register HL-2, meaning they won't be able to pre-load. Additionaly if HL-2 is purchased through STEAM, you will probably only receive the CD-Key which you'll be able to input/register and download/pre-load HL2, which is perhaps where I went a bit wrong in my post.

So no, not everyone will be able to pre-load HL2, it will be done exactly the same as CS:CZ is. If you go click on CS:CZ under "Just released." in STEAM you will see a "Register a product I already own" it's there you put in the CD-Key you get from purchasing over STEAM (getting an e-mail with the CD-Key) or buying the CD. Once you've registered the CD-Key STEAM will let you download the game.

 

[DvS]

In the ATi Voucher deal yes you can, because you can simply register the CD-Key that you get from redeeming the voucher and STEAM will allow you to pre-load it.

However, for the people without the ATi Voucher deal they won't have a CD-Key pre-release meaning they won't be able to register HL-2, meaning they won't be able to pre-load. Additionaly if HL-2 is purchased through STEAM, you will probably only receive the CD-Key which you'll be able to input and download/pre-load HL2, which is perhaps where I went a bit wrong in my post.

So no, not everyone will be able to pre-load HL2.

Point me in the general direction to where valve confirmed this. But since you seem to be pulling this out of your ass, I'll go over this again.

Just because you can't register HL2, doesn't mean you can't preload it, think of it this way:

Valve wants more people to buy HL2, some people will be too lazy to pick up a hard copy, and as an incentive, they preload the files onto potential customer's computers so that it's more likely that they'll buy it.

What does valve stand to lose: Nothing... so really, do present me with any reasoning to counter this argument.

I'll shut up as soon as you give me any proof of what you said.

 

[mortiz]

Point me in the general direction to where valve confirmed this. But since you seem to be pulling this out of your ass, I'll go over this again.

Just because you can't register HL2, doesn't mean you can't preload it, think of it this way:

Valve wants more people to buy HL2, some people will be too lazy to pick up a hard copy, and as an incentive, they preload the files onto potential customer's computers so that it's more likely that they'll buy it.

What does valve stand to lose: Nothing... so really, do present me with any reasoning to counter this argument.

I'll shut up as soon as you give me any proof of what you said.

Read the rest of my post please, I made an edit.

It also makes sense, VALVe want people to purchase over STEAM because it means more money for them, so why wouldn't VALVe make people pay if they want to pre-load HL2? Also, if you're buying the boxed version in order to play, what's the point in pre-loading HL2?

 

[Stormy]

I thought it pre-loaded automactily, i think CZ automactily pre-loaded.

 

[DvS]

Read the rest of my post please, I made an edit.

It also makes sense, VALVe want people to purchase over STEAM because it means more money for them, so why wouldn't VALVe make people pay if they want to pre-load HL2? Also, if you're buying the boxed version in order to play, what's the point in pre-loading HL2?

If people get to preload the damn game before it gets released, it means less time they need to spend before they can play, and ofcourse, if you're going to preload it, you're going to have to pay by steam if you want to use it, Valve wins.

If people had to buy HL2 via steam before preloading, they would need to wait until it's released, buy it, and then download it... instead of preloading, then buying and installing.

"Also, if you're buying the boxed version in order to play, what's the point in pre-loading HL2?"

I never mentioned that.

"It also makes sense, VALVe want people to purchase over STEAM because it means more money for them, so why wouldn't VALVe make people pay if they want to pre-load HL2?"

They are going to have to pay via steam anyway, so why make them wait until it's released to preload.. it DOES NOT make sense.

Bottom line is: Nobody downloads a gigabyte and a half and then don't use it, using it means buying it.. buying it via steam.. again, valve wins.

-------------
To address your edit:
"So no, not everyone will be able to pre-load HL2, it will be done exactly the same as CS:CZ is. If you go click on CS:CZ under "Just released." in STEAM you will see a "Register a product I already own" it's there you put in the CD-Key you get from purchasing over STEAM (getting an e-mail with the CD-Key) or buying the CD. Once you've registered the CD-Key STEAM will let you download the game."

That's because CZ is out now, it preloaded before it was released, genius. It wouldn't serve a purpose to preload it now.

 

[DvS]

Sorry to double post, but my email to gabe was answered...
http://easy.go.is/dvs1/gabemail.jpg

 

[Dr. Freeman]

You will need to install it first.



No, anyone can preload the game as far as I know, you just won't be able to do anything with it until you get a cd-key.

duh :dork:
thats what i meant by "validation via CD"

 

[sup2069]

It means that on that particular date all that can be downloaded are textures and audio. You'll be able to preload the entire thing before the game is in the shops.

I remember this in another game. A game I used to play called Everquest used to do that with expansions. Before they done that pre-download method, on launch days take: 400,000 eager subscribers + 1 patch server = One nasty connectivity issue :cheese:

Nice thinking Valve!