#123. Yes I've tried Steam. Guess what? I hate it!

It disabled the sound on my HL install. How would you like that? I uninstalled, deleted, etc HL and reinstalled, and the sound won't come back. Yes I tried -wavonly. Yes, I tried to uninstall Steam (I get a fat error and it won't uninstall, I deleted the steam folder anyway).

People have valid reasons for disliking "Steam" and people like you who are quite high on Steam are just plain lucky.

Thank you.

wow i hope they don't start a trend by selling the multiplayer portion of the game as an extra

The single player-only version will probably be cheaper than a regular PC game. It actually makes a lot of sense to sell a single player-only version because what a lot of hardcore gamers don't realize is that 90% of people who buy an FPS buy it for the single player component only. Look at the sales of games like JK2 or ST:EF2 versus the number of players/servers online. Then look at the sales of The Sims, which has no multiplayer component.

edit: screwed up my italics thing
This comment was edited on Sep 8, 12:18.

wow i hope they don't start a trend by selling the multiplayer portion of the game as an extra

Love,

Dan
xoxo

"Life is such a sweet insanity, the more you learn the less you know." ---Hogan

Too many people here don't seem to have any clue what's going on with Steam, so I plan to try and enlighten you. I'm sorry if someone else already explained it properly, because I got too frustrated at people not understanding to read all the posts.

Steam is a free service from Valve. You can download it and us the instant messaging service (Friends) or play some simple games like checkers. If you already own any version of Half-Life 1 or Counter-Strike retail, you can input that cd-key to have access to Half-Life and all mods through Steam.

The WON cd key servers will be shut down and no longer allow old versions of Half-Life or Counter-Strike to be played online. You do not have to upgrade if you only wish to play single player or LANs with other people who also want to use the old version, just like previous upgrades.

Because the WONID system is being shut down, when you put your HL/CS cd key into Steam, it will generate a new SteamID to replace the WONID. This has the adverse side effect of removing all the previous WONID-based bans, which should make server admins very busy for a few weeks while the grief players run around getting themselves banned again.

The initial HL patch that integrates Steam will have a converter to convert your content (pak files, maps, models, etc.) into the "cache" system it uses. In the future, when you format or wish to install HL on a new computer, you will have the option of either installing from the CD and then upgrading in the traditional manner, or simply downloading the Steam client and getting all of the content on-demand as you connect to servers. The upside of this is that, for example, if you never play HL single player anymore, you don't have to have the single player content on your computer, thus saving disk space. The same applies to TFC, DMC, and that stupid tron-like game.

An interesting aspect of Steam, is that your cd key becomes your proof of ownership, and is attached to your login permanently. This means that you should never get "cd key in use" from someone stealing your cd key, because Steam won't allow them to associate their login with a cd key that is already associated with a login. Also, you can install Steam on any computer in the world and have access to your right to play Half-Life simply by using your personal login.

Now for some speculation on Half-Life 2:
Valve has stated that in the store there will be 3 versions available: single player only, single + multi, and some sort of collectors edition. I assume that if you buy the single player component, it will still be Steam integrated for single player patches, and that you will also be able to "upgrade" to the multiplayer version by paying a small fee through Steam.

They have also stated that Half-Life 2 will be availabe through Steam in addition to the store, for a lower price, but without the box, cd, and manual, obviously. I think you will be able to buy either single or multi + single through Steam, with single being cheaper, and still having the option to upgrade to multi.

Now, about the "pay for play" thing. I'm fairly certain that this is an OPTIONAL way to buy future games. For example: You alredy own HL1, and want to try Condition Zero and HL2, so you pay $9.95 and you can play both all you want for one month, but at the end of that month you can no longer play CZ or HL2, but you can still play HL1 because you bought that game. Also, if during that month Team Fortress 2 is released, you would be able to play it during that month. For people who only want to play HL2 or CZ single player once, this can be a much cheaper method if they can finish it within that month.

Now I'm not sure how it will work if you don't have an internet connection or wish to play on a closed LAN. Valve haven't made it very clear. I assume there will be some way to download the entire cache for games you have bought (as opposed to have access to through the subscription program) to play them offline or on a LAN. If someone on the LAN doesn't have an item in their cache it probably defaults to downloading it from the server the old fashioned way (as opposed to trying to connect to a content provider). I'm sure this will all be made clear by the time the patch is out.

Basic info: Steam is a combination programs and services, which are also integrated into the game. It includes a server browser, instant messaging service, content delivery service, and front end for launching the games and managing which games you own. The IM client, called Friends works within HL (and i assume future games) and with the server browser enabling you to find and talk to your friends in other servers or outside the game. The content delivery service is what downloads things to your client, and enables you to buy a game online and download it through steam to play it, without ever having a cd.

This comment was edited on Sep 8, 12:01.

nin, that sounds more like the lord's son jesus christ than steam

Love,

Dan
xoxo

"Life is such a sweet insanity, the more you learn the less you know." ---Hogan

if you seriously think its just an autoupdater you've kind of missed the point.

Or maybe it's just an autoupdater/download client that Valve apps use.

One or the other...


Supporter of the "A happy fredster is a muted fredster" fanclub.

http://www.hybrid-group.com/
This comment was edited on Sep 8, 11:11.

This is going to seem dumb to most of you but what is steam?Is it some kind of download thingy?

<learning opens such a large can of worms the thread collapses>

Do you want to know what it is? Steam is everywhere. It is all around us, even now in this very room. You can see it when you look out your window or when you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work, when you go to church, when you pay your taxes. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth.



Supporter of the "A happy fredster is a muted fredster" fanclub.

http://www.hybrid-group.com/

This is going to seem dumb to most of you but what is steam?Is it some kind of download thingy?

for those who say steam is slowing their rig down...one word for you:

RAM

if your still running it with 128mb of pc/100 then its time to visit Pricewatch

----------------------------------------------------------------------
PAH!

[b]*sighs* bad news for me, considering Steam runs like total ass on my computer. [/b]

steam beta ran like ass on your computer.

I really doubt the final steam will take 200mb memory just to start. Also - they've already said that although the beta [i]required[/i] broadband, the final version doesnt.. which makes the specs that some guy mentioned invalid.

Lets shut up moaning about how much steam is going to suck until we try it on wednesday - they might suprise us. Lets hope they do.

That's a dumb thing to say.

Love,

Dan
xoxo

"Life is such a sweet insanity, the more you learn the less you know." ---Hogan

I can't understand all these people bitching about Steam.
Have they even tried it?!

That and they don't bother educating themselves about the Software and Operating Systems they use. One of the downsides of the simplicity of Windows, nobody thinks. Instead they tend to bitch religiously as soon as they have a reason to. Once they do it starts spreading and even people who haven't used it start to hate it. Power of influence.

*sighs* bad news for me, considering Steam runs like total ass on my computer. Makes my system run at 100% activity, whether it's "running" or not. In all 5 cases of installing it, I had to uninstall it, for my system to go back to normal.

yay, thanks valve *first time I've actually been angry at valve*

Should mention that I have a 1.7ghz CPU, and Geforce 4, with 512mb of DDR ram.

This comment was edited on Sep 8, 02:07.

I can't understand all these people bitching about Steam.
Have they even tried it?!
Steam is so integrated with HL now they're practically one in the same for me. I love Steam so far, and only wish they came out with it 5 years ago. I never launch Valve games from my start menu anymore. Steam all theway for me.
I get the feeling that all the Steam haters are the same type of people that post "I hate M$" messages in web forums using IE and WinXP Pro.

It's a "patching/auto-updating/download/server browser" software. Please tell me why it needs a 1.0Ghz system with 256MB of RAM. We all know all this HD space is needed since Steam download stuff while your not looking and that internet connection because your fucked if you're on 56k. But why would it need a 1.0Ghz CPU with so much RAM. Since the only thing you were able to use it for in the beta was playing a 5 years old game.

They recommend a fast fast system such as that because Steam creates a "cache" for the games and suc that you download. The caches are single-file archives which tend to become rather large. If you've ever compressed/decompressed large zip/rar/ace archives then you'll understand why they recommend something better than a 200MHz Compaq with 32MB of RAM.

In any case, you can get a processer which is faster than that, a mobo to support it, and 256MB of RAM for around ~$100-150.

Granted, those on 56k connections are screwed...but hey, it's time to upgrade, people.

Tell that to the broadband providers who are still charging upwards of $60 a month. Then there are problems with unavailability which is more common than you would believe.

Hey RazorWynd don't forget to roll a 3D6 to see if your mom will take you and your friends to the mall.
=D

~Halo

Why cant freddy be influenced by video games, and go see if he can rocket jump? Life would be soo much nicer

"Plaque is a figment of the liberal media and the dental industry to scare you into buying useless appliances and paste. Now I’ve read the arguments on both side, and I haven’t found any evidence yet to support the need to brush your teeth. Ever."