HL2 Anyone got it? First impressions?
polycounter lvl 18
Amazingly enough even here in Denmark Half Life 2 is comming out on time (ok years late but on the first official release date we had here). In fact it is even early, There is a copy in the post to me right now that should arrive in the morning, yupee 
and it isnt even supposed to be released here till the 16th
This is the first time that a game has arrived retail (in my memory) that it hasnt been possible to download the pirate retail version well in advance, how come, esp concidering the problems along the way?
So I am guessing it is readily available in the states, c'mon so who has it and whats it like? And wasnt the US release date the 11th anyway? How is the activation, annoying or not? Or is everyone just too busy playing?
tpe
and it isnt even supposed to be released here till the 16thThis is the first time that a game has arrived retail (in my memory) that it hasnt been possible to download the pirate retail version well in advance, how come, esp concidering the problems along the way?
So I am guessing it is readily available in the states, c'mon so who has it and whats it like? And wasnt the US release date the 11th anyway? How is the activation, annoying or not? Or is everyone just too busy playing?
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Replies
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Hope your recovered fine T.P.E.
it's alright! i played the multiplayer on xbox live for a few hours at my friends place. not bad. i dont think it holds up to some of the best online pc shooters.. worth the hype? i'd say no, but still, it's good fun.
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Are you talking about Half Life or Halo? I didn't think Half Life 2 was coming out on Xbox, escpecially not this early.
it's alright! i played the multiplayer on xbox live for a few hours at my friends place. not bad. i dont think it holds up to some of the best online pc shooters.. worth the hype? i'd say no, but still, it's good fun.
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eh, the thread is about half life 2, not halo 2.
no worries though, i always get them confused aswell.
I like that those that got the game early when they weren't supposed to still can't play.
Show's how little interest I really have for Half-Life 2
internet connection, phwah!
And although I've never really used it, I'm a fan of the Stream system/idea.
thnom: English next time, please? o_O
Adam: The point is that they require you to connect to the internet to use a piece of software that has zero use or need for the internet. The potential for abuse is there (information harvesting, switching to a pay-to-play model, etc) as is the probability that Valve will some time shut down the server (because they go out of business or get bought out a few years later) and HL 2 becomes unusable. Also, some people have temporarily no internet, say because they just moved or are on a vacation.
if you made a mod that garners enough attention as to be promoted on steam, you're getting free, direct exposure to millions of homes in america and worldwide. shouldn't we as artists and developers be supportive of a concept like this? all the mods that never quite got the attention they deserved, episodic content, you name it--delivered straight to you. and this is a problem how?
I think they will be getting a lot of calls to tech support complaining about this. There are pelnty of people out there with high end computers who are not connected to the internet for one reason or another.
Gauss, you make a good argument - for a multiplayer game. I for one am buying a single player gamer. Sure we could argue this for CS Source. But that for those who bought that portion. I didn't. Couldn't afford too, and I never liked CS all that much.
Yes. You only need to connect once, then you can switch Steam to an offline mode.
i understand that there are still computers that are not hooked up to the internet that might well be used to play HL2, but i stand firm by the CDROM/ 3 1/2 inch disk drive parallel. or the hardware accelerated graphics vs. software graphics. 10 years ago, yeah, it would have been a ludicrous to require an internet connection for a single player game, but almost everyone who buys HL2 can swing a net connection, even for just a little bit.
and even single player games these days are constantly supplanted by/require an internet access for some amount of time. think about it this way--most of the single player FPS games out in the last few years have not absolutely required net access...
...or have they? most of them are playable ootb, but virtually all of them require or at least work much better supplanted by patches now and again, which means internet access. people are panicking about something that really isn't all that different from what we've been having to do with FPS games for years! we will have game patches for the foreseeable future, and most of HL2's target demographic is already on the internet. in addition to initial digital content delivery (the game), wouldn't you much rather have a system like steam in place for patches, instead of always hunting down the latest patch from, oh, fileplanet or whatever?
yes, i admit there are a few people that are going to absolutely be left behind by the online requirement, but exceedingly few. and certainly far less left behind than the inevitable change in system requirements or any other such technological change in computer gaming. is requiring the net connection any less alienating to gamers than coming out with a shit-blistering hot new graphics engine that needs a top of the line system to run in full glory, or what?
the positives and the future viability of this concept so far outstrip the problems that i can't see why some people are so resistant to change. something to think about i guess.
edit: and eepberries, i know the quick reply feature is handy, but please try and consider things before blurting out some one line knee-jerk opinion about things, ok?
With e.g. Doom 3 I can download the patches from any server I like and theoretically never connect to any server within the control of iD Software. With HL2 I have to tell Valve my email address and my IP even though it's not required to make the software itself work. Could I unregister my copy to sell it (EU law forbids Valve to tell me I can't do that)?
The only thing I'm glad about is that since it cannot be installed on more than one system and you cannot set up a LAN with one copy we'll never be able to play CSS here. I hope CSS STAYS that way, LAN parties must not be polluted by that game.
just wait until you have to provide finger print id, a retinal scan, and present 3 froms of id to install games
Make wonder people hack their stupid asses.. I hate shit like this..
internet connection, phwah!
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Apparantly, making much sence isn't your kind of thing either, or am i wrong there?
Anyway, i think it's a pretty good system, but i DO wonder how people without an internet connection would do it, allthough i'm fairly certain Valve has found a solution for that, because they've never been one to fuck customers over, in my experience.
Also, with what happened to them, doesn't it seem logical they'd be a bit careful?
Edit: you CAN reinstall it, the information is kept in your steam account, and you only need to login to that to be able to play the game on a different pc.
At least, this is the way it is with every other steam game
Valve's strategy with Steam is fucking stupid.
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I believe using a system of distributing content without the need of a publisher is brilliant, and could be a major benefit for small studios looking to move upward without the interference and limitations placed by publishers and corporate executives. If I were a developer, I would want to release my content to as many people as possible and receive every bit of money earned from its sales, instead of a small percentage. Maybe Steam isn't the best option, but it's a step in the right direction. But that's just me rambling like an idiot.
Hopefully I can find a coder good enough to pull it off (if it's even possible).
More details as and when I see fit to release them...
I've got a brilliant idea for a HL2 mod, totally original, and NO it doesn't involve realistic army weapons and sneaking around in kevlar vests shouting "n00b" at everyone.
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Ditto. I'm very excited that Valve is releasing so many great FUNCTIONAL tools for the mod community, along with EXP and the XSI price drop. No longer will I have to repeatedly respond to mod team members asking "why haven't you downloaded a copy of Max?" I have a sweet game concept from a FarCry mod that died after recruiting me. HL2 may be the perfect engine for me to bring it back myself.
If the above sounds paranoid then check this out-
http://news.com.com/Is+Microsoft+using+Halo+2+to+thwart+Xbox+hackers/2100-1043_3-5449160.html
Hey! this thread was suposed to be about HL2 first impressions. Has anyone played it yet?
Isn't this whole thread about WHY people cannot play it yet?
and for the people still hung up on either valve security or big brother paranoia, read the gamespot 'final hours' article. has an overview of the development but also tells the story of the code leak and the infamous september 30th release date.
http://www.gamespot.com/features/6112889/?q=1&tag=gs_hp_topslot_click
and have some sympathy. they're just guys trying to make the best games they can, and they know what kind of expectations HL2 has. they're not perfect and they're certainly not scary monsters out to get your secret information on your computer and take away your freedom.
they're not perfect and they're certainly not scary monsters out to get your secret information on your computer and take away your freedom.
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Preach it, Gauss! Right on!
Or maybe they'll start pushing TCPA much more...
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Mop: No. It requires a connection to the steam master server, period.
Also, some people have temporarily no internet, say because they just moved or are on a vacation.
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This is a real problem for me because my home connection is still in the cave man days. Hopefully when I move it will improve. You know some people do game, very few, but some do without the internet.
FRESH!
It's installing now, although I think I won't be able to activate it until 8am (midnight PST). Well, I'll have 30 minutes of playing time before I have to go into University... I'll probably end up skipping the class...
Yes, I have played it! For 30 minutes before I had to come to this (dreadful boring) Flash class.
It's great fun so far.
Graphics are very nice, the characters are almost photo-real while still being fairly stylised, the models and textures are excellent, lighting is pretty good (although the shadows always cast in the same direction from characters, even indoors).
The facial expressions are great, the script and voice acting lends a lot to the atmosphere.
I was feeling paranoid 5 minutes into the game, it's very immersive.
Can't wait to get home and play more!
THEY'RE WAITING FOR ME, GORDON... IN THE TEST CHAMBER!
also answering topic question:
played for 3 hours, and though i'm stopping for the night (morning, it's nearly 6:00 am here) and my computer needs a defrag (remember that, kids!) it's pretty damn awesome. the the suspension of disbelief is there, the characters are very very emotive. i've really enjoyed myself so far and will be diving right back into it first thing tomorrow.