Newbie asks: Could somebody tell me about Steam?

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Steve - 20 Jun 2006 19:30 GMT

I don't keep up with games too much. I got a new computer and so I
bought HL2 game of the year edition. I had a lot of fun with the first HL. I
didn't get anything in the box except a bunch of CD's, no documentation. So,
is Steam something you have to pay for? I looked at the agreement and I
didn't like the sound of opening accounts and billing. Is there a way to
just play HL2 when I have some spare time without having to get online?

Thanks

Steve

Reply to this Message

lp - 20 Jun 2006 20:23 GMT

Well, Steam is free... Just go to http://www.steampowered.com/ . All you
need to do is download Steam and create a account.

> I don't keep up with games too much. I got a new computer and so I
> bought HL2 game of the year edition. I had a lot of fun with the first HL.
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
>
> Steve

Reply to this Message

Shawk - 20 Jun 2006 21:03 GMT

> I don't keep up with games too much. I got a new computer and so I
> bought HL2 game of the year edition. I had a lot of fun with the first HL.
> I didn't get anything in the box except a bunch of CD's, no documentation.
> So, is Steam something you have to pay for? I looked at the agreement and
> I didn't like the sound of opening accounts and billing. Is there a way to
> just play HL2 when I have some spare time without having to get online?

Advice comin soon but at the mo Englands playin, its half time and there's a
few regulars we're hoping to poke fun at....

Only jokin Lyset/Anders.. ;)

Reply to this Message

Pete B - 20 Jun 2006 22:06 GMT

> I don't keep up with games too much. I got a new computer and so I
> bought HL2 game of the year edition. I had a lot of fun with the first HL. I
> didn't get anything in the box except a bunch of CD's, no documentation. So,
> is Steam something you have to pay for? I looked at the agreement and I
> didn't like the sound of opening accounts and billing. Is there a way to
> just play HL2 when I have some spare time without having to get online?

Steam is a sort of combined download manager (only for their programs),
messenger and copy protection thing (some call it spyware).

As is written on the box you must have an internet connection to play
HL2, because it needs to phone home - In theory you should be able to
play offline once the program has been allowed online to verify (and
updated) your install - In practice it seems to work 50% of the time,
the other it refuses to start unless it can phone home, for me at least.

HalfLife2 may very well be worth it, its excellently made - not sure
about other crap they try to sell you via steam, of course you can
always refuse to buy anything :)

Reply to this Message

Steve - 20 Jun 2006 22:18 GMT

>> I don't keep up with games too much. I got a new computer and so I
>> bought HL2 game of the year edition. I had a lot of fun with the first
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> about other crap they try to sell you via steam, of course you can
> always refuse to buy anything :)

Well, I guess I can deal with that. It does not say I "must have an
Internet connection"on the box. I bought it at Walmart. The box is just big
enough to hold the CD's.

I only have a dial-up connection. Do you think that the sloww connection
will affect game play?

Steve

Reply to this Message

Shawk - 20 Jun 2006 22:43 GMT

>> HalfLife2 may very well be worth it, its excellently made - not sure
>> about other crap they try to sell you via steam, of course you can
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> I only have a dial-up connection. Do you think that the sloww connection
> will affect game play?

Dial-up? Will not affect gameplay in the slightest but installation is
going to be a nightmare. After installation you 'have' to update the game.
The patches 'must' be downloaded. There is 18months worth. Are you on some
form of internet package where you can stay connected? If so you'll need to
run it overnight. Failing that do you have a friend with Broadband? There
is a way for them to get all the updates for you.

I think Steam is great but I have BB. If I had dial-up the mandatory
patches would be a real put off.

Reply to this Message

Paul Catley - 20 Jun 2006 22:58 GMT

> I think Steam is great but I have BB. If I had dial-up the mandatory patches
> would be a real put off.

It was. At least I did it before there were patches, but I had to do it twice
as the first time it gave me a royally screwed-up game.

Would the initial unlock now include mandatory downloads of CS Source and HL2DM,
as well as all pure HL2 patches?

--
Paul

Reply to this Message

Paul Catley - 20 Jun 2006 22:52 GMT

> Well, I guess I can deal with that. It does not say I "must have an Internet
> connection"on the box. I bought it at Walmart. The box is just big enough to
> hold the CD's.

Check the small print, though it was never very clear, at least not on the UK
edition. The Game of the Year edition made it somewhat clearer.

> I only have a dial-up connection. Do you think that the sloww connection will
> affect game play?

It won't affect gameplay, as the single-player game is played offline, but
unfortunately it will seriously affect the validation/unlocking of the game when
you initially install it. Don't start unless you have a lot of time available
that evening. You must be online for the installation. I was on a dial-up when
I first installed it, and I had to do it over two consecutive nights.
Fortunately it remembers where you got up to last time. You will be asked to
create an "account", but no more money need change hands as long as you have a
valid "CD key" code number. This should have been supplied with the game (in
fact, it is essentially what you paid for, as everything else can be
downloaded).

Once you have installed and validated the game, you can launch Steam without
being online (Steam must be launched before you launch HL2). It will then offer
you a "Start offline" option. Occasionally, however, you may find that it
insists you go online. This can be a pain, as it may well download further
updates, sometimes quite sizeable, before it lets you play. Once it has "seen"
that there are updates available, it will insist that you download them before
you can play ever again. Therefore, play offline whenever you can! During
updates, select the "don't update" option for any game on Steam that you have no
intention of ever playing, otherwise you'll be there forever.

HL2 as a game is probably worth the PITA delivery system... just.

--
Paul

Reply to this Message