Steam vs. Retail

[arcy]

So, is there ANY reason to buy the (bronze) steam version over the standard retail version now?

They both have hl2 and CS:S. Same price. Both basically available at the same time, we now know. Cept with retail you get a box and some cds.

Is there any other difference? Sorry, I just keep thinking I must be missing something.

 

[Ansur]

Nothing missed to my opinion.

 

[Chris D]

Yep

Personally I'd rather play Half-Life 2 at 8am on Tuesday morning rather than leaving my house at 8.30am to go into town, to purchase it at 9am to get home for 9.30am to install it and not play it until 9.45am.

The Silver version works out a lot better value for money too.

 

[arcy]

does not owning retail box/cds bother you guys?

i mean... if you ever go live in the woods or something, at least you can sell the retail copy ebay and make some money. Not so for the steam version....

 

[Frutkola]

Aaaaaaand why would you sell it? I aint planning on selling HALF-LIFE 2

 

[arcy]

i dunno... sometimes after you haven't played a single player game for a couple of years and can get $30 for it, you do it. Or I do anyway. Otherwise they sit around and never get played again cause the next big technology comes out, and the old stuff looks crappy.

 

[PvtRyan]

Yes, if you have to pay 60 euro (like 75 dollars) for retail here, Doom 3 set the example and now others start following it.
Besides, you got to play CS:S for a month now, plus the SDK.

The box is just an ugly plastic DVD case, no need to buy it for that.

 

[Varsity]

does not owning retail box/cds bother you guys?

i mean... if you ever go live in the woods or something, at least you can sell the retail copy ebay and make some money. Not so for the steam version....

Once you type in your key, it gets permamently bound to your account just like if you buy via Steam. Once you've done that your box becomes a pretty picture and a bunch of pre-burnt cache files.

 

[arcy]

Once you type in your key, it gets permamently bound to your account just like if you buy via Steam. Once you've done that your box becomes a pretty picture and a bunch of pre-burnt cache files.

really? you 100% sure on that?

 

[dkelly]

Yep

Personally I'd rather play Half-Life 2 at 8am on Tuesday morning rather than leaving my house at 8.30am to go into town, to purchase it at 9am to get home for 9.30am to install it and not play it until 9.45am.

The Silver version works out a lot better value for money too.

Agreed. Also, you can play CS:S right now if you buy through steam.

 

[Gossoon]

Also, I've been wondering this: can you sell your key and account just as you would the discs if you wanted to get rid of it? I can't see why not, but I haven't heard a definite word on it.

 

[jaguar_987]

Only reason im buying retail is because im only on 56k, otherwise I would jump on the bandwagon and buy on steam.

 

[oldagerocker]

Yep

Personally I'd rather play Half-Life 2 at 8am on Tuesday morning rather than leaving my house at 8.30am to go into town, to purchase it at 9am to get home for 9.30am to install it and not play it until 9.45am.

The Silver version works out a lot better value for money too.

Im ordering it to come through the post, which could be 11:00.. cry for my people, feel the pain.

 

[alehm]

Buying Steam makes Valve more money so they can put out HL3 faster.

 

[Varsity]

really? you 100% sure on that?

Yep. All retail is is encrypted cache files burnt to a CD/DVD with a Steam installer, quick start guide and CD Key.

 

[Alig]

Yep

Personally I'd rather play Half-Life 2 at 8am on Tuesday morning rather than leaving my house at 8.30am to go into town, to purchase it at 9am to get home for 9.30am to install it and not play it until 9.45am.

The Silver version works out a lot better value for money too.

I've been thinking about this and it seems odd because i can't remember the last time a game was released in UK not on a friday...

Will HL2 be different?

 

[Varsity]

The retailers will lose money if it isn't.

 

[f|uke]

really? you 100% sure on that?

Yes. You will not be able to resell the disc. It will be worthless. You could, however, sell your steam account (which you could do either way).

Alehm already hit on the #1 reason to buy through Steam: VALVe gets more money.
This means a better Half-Life 3!

 

[Expansion Pack]

Well the retail version here in the UK is far cheaper than the Steam bought version.....
HMV...£26.99
Game..£29.99
Plus a lot of smaller gaming stores who will be selling it will no doubt have good pricing too....