Tell that to me and Schrodinger when we actually needed the offline
mode and did everything by the book, yet the offline mode failed.
Happened to me twice, even though Steam itself claimed the game (HL2)
is "ready for offline playing". It just would not work.

So the answer to the questoin "Can you play HL2 offline?" is not
"Yes", but more like "Depends" or "Maybe".

See, some of us are actually talking from experience, not from our
a.ses like you are, mitty. Some of us have actually needed the offline
mode from time to time.

The claim "You can't play Steam offline" was fabricated by you, no one
else. Don't use it as an example, stupid.

That wasnt part of the question. Can you play HL2 offline? Answer :
yes. With the obvious and well publicised caveat that it needs to be
validated first like any game. There are many games you cant play
without a valid cd key - onine or offline - at installation.

But not as much as you do for harping on about the same negative things
about HL2 all the time despite the fact we already know its a story
driven sequel with linear, corridoors and scripting.

I dont "promote" Steam. I support it. Dont like it? Dont use it, but
stop telling blatant untruths. I dont like RPGs particularly but I dont
keep slamming you for bothering to fix that bug fest Vampires.

But even facts can have vital details missing like with Walters example:
"Steam allows offline play but only after one time ONLINE validation".

P.S.: It's great how Walter and others always happen to end up with
statements promoting Steam. Do you get 1$ for each mentioning ;)?

Only comment I'd make is that opinions 'are' normally valid (they may be
misguided but they are valid to the proponent).  While I might not agree
and might try to debate and change someone's opinion I wouldn't dismiss
it.

IMHO Walters example on the Steam comment above is a statement of fact
and not an opinion.  Facts are either right or wrong (a concept whose
truth can be proven).  In those cases I'd want to see some back up or I
would just dismiss it.

Just remember that everybody is entitled to an opinion but that doesn't
mean that every opinion is of equal value and NGs make that loud and clear.

And the key to then listening to them any further is to infer from their
answer whether their stance is a direct result of reality or merely just
a rant on their part. It is funny how many people rush to damn a product
with no dirst hand experience. Its definitely a usenet thing.One of my
favorites was a certain poster declaring that the screenies for Q4
looked "sh.t". When questioned, he just said that they "were" sh.t and
then opined that the engine could clearly not do open areas. Anyone who
has played Q4 knows can respond to this. And how he opined this from 4
static screenies at low resolution is anyones guess : one can safely
assume a hidden agenda of either (a) larging it up or (b) trying to get
someone product to fail for some godknows what reason in order to
further their own purposes (ofte just to appear knowledgable).

Believe it or not, so have I. Rarely. It is also not wrong to have
strong opinions based on your own experiences and not to find anything
particularly stirring enough to shift your from that viewpoint.

Actually I find thats not really true : often people are 100% right. And
100% wrong. Not always, of course. But often enough to mean its not a rarity.

I agree, mostly. Someone who says "Steam does not allow you to run games
offline" is wrong. Simply.

Again agreed. If its crap you'll hear soon enough :-;

FWIW and hopefully not appearing to aim for a "love in" so frequently
started by my old "mate Nostromo", I like your style of constantly
getting back to the point when other posters get rude or try to move the
goalposts when you try to elicit a relevant response from them. Keep up
the good work Rumpole!

Trick is to ask questions.  Why does someone believe a certain thing?

I ask often and if someone has good, valid reasons for their views then
they'll sometimes influence me.  I have even changed my opinion on a
couple of things.

Always listen to those saying things you might not immediately agree
with too (even if they're arguing with the folk you normally believe),
it's always good to get a balanced view.  Often no-one is 100% right and
it's normally a mix.

Remember that even if you are vehemently opposed to someone's opinion on
something, their opinion is still valid (unless it's pcgames obviously).

Remember that the World is not US-centric - no matter how they draw
their maps :)  There are regulars in csipga for example from the US,
Canada, Australia, UK, Germany, Portugal and many more.  If someone
complains about the blood being green in their game but you know it's
red in yours don't bother arguing - it probably 'is' green in their Country

Finally, never be afraid to state your own opinion.  I liked your local
tavern idea.

I am curious on the main Usenet PC groups whose opinions do you enjoy
respect the most.  Yes I have cross posted because the question relates to
several groups but I have never understood the whole crossposting thing
anyway.   I kinda admire Brad Worrel,  Knight 37, Walter Mitty and a few
others I am sure I will ember if people contribute to this thread.  I really
probably am more influenced  by game buying decisions from Usenet than any
other source.  Usually it's not anyone post but if I see long timers who I
have learned over the years have similar tastes it greatly influences me.
Even though it pisses some of I also don't mind the occasional OP poster
when interesting things are going on in the world.   I still look at Usenet
as like a local tavern where all sorts of opinions float through.  Some just
drunken conversation and some quite stimulating.  Unfortunately I am a shut
in so as stupid as it is  and sounds certain people on Usenet really
influence me because I can never go out and meet new people.  Thanks to the
good folks!