Steam vs Retail

{White_Knight} · 11-18-2004, 02:03 AM

Ive just read Game Spy's review of HL2 in which they stated that it took 15 hours to preload HL2 from Steam and 40 mins to unlock it when they could connect. (I assume they were using a 512kb DSL connection)

It will take me 30mins to walk to the shop 10mins in said shop to purchase and 30mins to get back, making a grand total of 1hr 10 mins.

Hmm Steam's content delivery system or Retail its a tough choice....

Is it also the case that you have to activate the retail copy via steam to be able play??

KamisoriX · 11-18-2004, 03:01 AM

that's the joke, regardless of what version you get you still need steam to activate

andy_wh2000 · 11-18-2004, 03:26 AM

I just bought the game from the store. Got the Collector's Edition. Comes with HL2, CS: Source, and HL: Source. I haven't ever played the first HL so the deal was good for me. And I don't have to worry about the download time. Especially since I have a cruddy 80K dsl.

pr0cs · 11-18-2004, 03:32 AM

I think if you didn't take advantage of the ability to preload the game using steam 2-3 months ago then it would make sense to just go to the store to buy it. Call me crazy but I like having the box and other crap that comes with owning software.

That being said I got HL2 off steam. I preloaded the game eons ago and on the day it was released I installed and started playing within minutes. All the whiney morons who bitch about steam and such were not prepared and should have done some reasearch. Anyone who spends any amount of time on the internet knew that Steam was going to be pure hell the day of release. It's their own fault they didn't take some measures and prepare for release day if they wanted to play on release day.
For whatever reason Valve is infatuated with Steam so it's not going to go away, either deal with it best you can (by preparing) or suck it down and bear it.

KamisoriX · 11-18-2004, 03:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pr0cs@Nov 18 2004, 04:32 AM
I think if you didn't take advantage of the ability to preload the game using steam 2-3 months ago then it would make sense to just go to the store to buy it. Call me crazy but I like having the box and other crap that comes with owning software.

That being said I got HL2 off steam. I preloaded the game eons ago and on the day it was released I installed and started playing within minutes. All the whiney morons who bitch about steam and such were not prepared and should have done some reasearch. Anyone who spends any amount of time on the internet knew that Steam was going to be pure hell the day of release. It's their own fault they didn't take some measures and prepare for release day if they wanted to play on release day.
For whatever reason Valve is infatuated with Steam so it's not going to go away, either deal with it best you can (by preparing) or suck it down and bear it.

but what about the idea of just buying a game, install it and play...without steam and the hassle of be in the midddle of a choke.

pr0cs · 11-18-2004, 03:54 AM

Quote:

but what about the idea of just buying a game, install it and play...without steam and the hassle of be in the midddle of a choke.

yeah that would be the best but unfortunately if you want to play Half life 2 legitimately you can't do that so unless you want to deal with the headaches of opening day then it would have been best to prepare for it.

{White_Knight} · 11-18-2004, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by KamisoriX+Nov 18 2004, 03:35 AM-->
QUOTE (KamisoriX @ Nov 18 2004, 03:35 AM)

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11-18-2004, 04:13 AM #8 (permalink)

KamisoriX

is a certified SPAM DEMON.

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Ubi.com is a nice tool. You don't have to have it but you can and it's basicly the same. only here you got a good friendlist and download for their games.
and it's as flawed as STEAm only without the ID hijacking.

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11-18-2004, 04:22 AM #9 (permalink)

{White_Knight}

is on the 2nd circle: Lust

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Location: United Kingdom

Posts: 136

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Quote:

Originally posted by KamisoriX@Nov 18 2004, 04:13 AM
Ubi.com is a nice tool. You don't have to have it but you can and it's basicly the same. only here you got a good friendlist and download for their games.
and it's as flawed as STEAm only without the ID hijacking.

X-Fire is another on-line gaming utility thats apparently quite good? Personally I regard on-line players as competitors in a game. The concept of having a virtual ' friend ' that you continally attempt to kill either by using a sharp implement such as a sword or ballistic weapon I find contradicts the very fundamental principles of friendship.

I noticed you used the phrase ' nice tool ' in your post. As an Englishman we have various conortations associated with such a phrase and I find that to be disturbing

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11-18-2004, 04:26 AM #10 (permalink)

pr0cs

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Quote:

I am sure in the future more games will be made available through such systems

Yep, i'm confident that other software like STEAM will be created as well. Sadly though I think in the end games on the PC are a dying breed. I would be willing to bet money that in the not too distant future video games on the PC will be extremely rare.
Add in the cost to develop a AAA title (upwards of 40 million for Half Life 2)
Add the amount the game sells (if it sells poorly)
Add in the amount that the game will be pirated (Half Life 2 was warezed by the kiddies within hours of being unlocked on STEAM)

If Half Life 2 was developed for the PS2 for example I am confident that Valve would probably make 2x the amount of money, probably more.
I'm not saying the PS2 isn't pirated but compare games pirated for PS2 versus the PC there is no comparison, the console game titles typically outsell PC titles, I would be willing to bet on the order of 3:1 for similar titles.

Enjoy your PC gaming now, because in time you can probably kiss fun PC gaming goodbye.

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