copying hl2 pre-load file

[moondynejoe]

hi,
My friend is having trouble getting a spot on the preload servers and i am wondering if there is any reason why i can not/should not copy my preload file and let him put that in his steam folder.
I assume that the file is generic and not individualized for every downloader, so it wouldnt be dodgey in any way......would it? besides it would save valve a lot of bandwidth.

thanks in advance,

ps. sorry if this has been asked before.

 

[Epsi]

Yup, you can do it no problem.

 

[Adrien C]

How about passing the hall game ?

 

[marko33]

Bzzt wrong!! it's illegal to distribute files even the cache.. :sniper:

 

[marko33]

Bzzt wrong!! it's illegal to distribute files even the cache.. :sniper:

No.

Re-distribution of files from your Steam cache is illegal and a violation of the Steam Subscriber Agreement. As with other illegal activity, any Steam Subscribers participating in the distribution of files from their Steam cache or any other Valve content not permitted for re-distribution may have their accounts terminated. In accordance with the Steam Subscriber Agreement, Valve provides a limited license to re-distribute copies of the Steam Installer. For more information, please read the Steam Subscriber Agreement. The Steam Installer can be found at http://www.steampowered.com/index.php?area=getsteamnow.
as stated in the license agreement

modified on June 3, 2004, 10:12

 

[hasan]

you are not re-distributing the cache. Because:
1-Your friend is elligeble for the cache
2-steam is unable to deliver the cache for him.

you are not redistributing anything ..

In the end .. who cares? you are not making/ditributing warez or cracks.

 

[marko33]

Very well!! it's cleared up.....
Mark
:thumbs:

 

[Mr. Redundant]

yep I did it for my 2 comps

 

[Chadda]

If you have doubts email valve. And welcome to the boards!!!

 

[InFeRnO]

If anyone thinks this is "illegal" then you have no idea of what the term means. This is the same idea as a lan center, that rather than downloading the cache files on each computer, the file is just copied/moved via lan. I would hope that is not illegal because that's what Valve was encouraging the cc's to do.

[Edit]
Also, to note: Even if this action angers the 'gods' at valve, there is no way they can tell you did it, so there's no evidence and therefore you're in the clear no matter what you do.

 

[poseyjmac]

there is no way they can tell you did it, so there's no evidence and therefore you're in the clear no matter what you do.

thats a great life lesson, thanks!

 

[cadaveca]

No.

Re-distribution of files from your Steam cache is illegal and a violation of the Steam Subscriber Agreement. As with other illegal activity, any Steam Subscribers participating in the distribution of files from their Steam cache or any other Valve content not permitted for re-distribution may have their accounts terminated. In accordance with the Steam Subscriber Agreement, Valve provides a limited license to re-distribute copies of the Steam Installer. For more information, please read the Steam Subscriber Agreement. The Steam Installer can be found at http://www.steampowered.com/index.php?area=getsteamnow.
as stated in the license agreement

modified on June 3, 2004, 10:12

Although this is the current case , there are plans for content transfering between linked pc's that both have STEAM. Say dude #1 has a full copy, predownloaded to his machine. He goes to dude #2's house(who does not have the game yet), links up, and they want to play together. Neither has a cd, but both have cd keys... Dude #2 can have dude #1 transfer the files over to the STEAM folder of Dude #2.
If you think i am full of hot air, read the releases, and watch the live interviews...IT HAS BENN SAID OFFICALLY THAT THIS WOULD BE POSSIBLE, WHEN ASKED HOW SOMEONE WITHOUT AN BROADBAND INTERNET CONNECTION CAN GET UPDATES, AS STEAM REQUIRES BORADBAND.

 

[staddydaddy]

Bzzt wrong!! it's illegal to distribute files even the cache.

BZZT111! youre a noob with 22 posts! Don't talk untill you have something in your brain!

 

[cadaveca]

if you want to ge real technical, all people who tried to decompile the code for this "second test"....
(taken directly from the STEAM Subscriber Agreement)

D. Restrictions.
You may not, in whole or in part, copy, photocopy, reproduce, translate, reverse engineer, derive source code, modify, disassemble, decompile, create derivative works based on, or remove any proprietary notices or labels from the Steam Software or any software accessed via Steam without the prior consent, in writing, of Valve.

 

[hasan]

BZZT111! youre a noob with 22 posts! Don't talk untill you have something in your brain!

You have 636 posts but apparently he has more brains than you do.

EDIT :

if you want to ge real technical, all people who tried to decompile the code for this "second test"....
(taken directly from the STEAM Subscriber Agreement)

D. Restrictions.
You may not, in whole or in part, copy, photocopy, reproduce, translate, reverse engineer, derive source code, modify, disassemble, decompile, create derivative works based on, or remove any proprietary notices or labels from the Steam Software or any software accessed via Steam without the prior consent, in writing, of Valve.

yeah, these strict rules are just to cap in any holes which crackers may use to get away with cracking, like "I just redistributed files that people can download for free", or "I just decompiled a file on my machine"

 

[cadaveca]

BZZT111! youre a noob with 22 posts! Don't talk untill you have something in your brain!

umm...no...
what will happen, is like you can get a redistribuatle copy with the CS files, you will be able to do the same with HL2.
Maybe you should check offical sources before jumping the gun.

 

[cadaveca]

yeah, these strict rules are just to cap in any holes which crackers may use to get away with cracking, like "I just redistributed files that people can download for free", or "I just decompiled a file on my machine"

unless there is prior written consent, you cannot even really touch the files. I'd like to see someone produce n offical documant saying they had permission to open the gcf files....
bet now they'll delay the game a while longer so they can lock 'em up.

Gabe has already offically said that the game is 2GB, so anyone who got excited from the game going gold is nutzo...fact of the matter is, alot of that stuff may get used by CS:S...and it's also offixially been said that there will be 4 preloads.

IMHO, these tests are just trials for the anti-hacking measures they have taken.
remember that we were told the game was done last year.
alot of the re-writes, IMHO, are because of the release of Dx9, the new generation of vid cards, and PS 3.0. Think about it..gabe says he plays with a 9800pro 128mb...you'd think he'd have the fastest system out there, seeing how it would be a write off for him.

 

[poseyjmac]

...and it's also offixially been said that there will be 4 preloads.

they gave a number? i thought they said there would be 'a number' of preloads in the coming couple weeks.

 

[cadaveca]

they gave a number? i thought they said there would be 'a number' of preloads in the coming couple weeks.

i'm pretty sure i read 4. i read stuff on game making and editing, not playing.

IMHO, as there will be 4 "tests" as well.

"Steam" is the power for the "Source Engine". each phase tests the security of Steam, and they convoluted "layers"

IMHO

 

[hasan]

erm, you can't test the security of your network with a hidden string in a jpg file inside a gcf :/ the tests are just for raising the level of the hype about the game; a little something to tease the fans.

I've never read anything about "4" preloads, niether a 2GB HL@.

I remember Gabe said HL2 uncompressed is over 3GB.

and Steam is not the power behind the Source .. not even anything close to that. No way!

EDIT:
and the first test had nothing to do with steam.

 

[cadaveca]

erm, you can't test the security of your network with a hidden string in a jpg file inside a gcf :/ the tests are just for raising the level of the hype about the game; a little something to tease the fans.

I've never read anything about "4" preloads, niether a 2GB HL@.

I remember Gabe said HL2 uncompressed is over 3GB.

and Steam is not the power behind the Source .. not even anything close to that. No way!

EDIT:
and the first test had nothing to do with steam.

long before the going gold fiasco, "gabe" in april or march, said that the game would be 2gb via steam.

if you read the listings of questions asked of gabe here @ this site, he SAYS THAT STEAM IS INCLUDED WITH RETAIL VERSIONS AS WELL AS THE DOWNLOADED.. THAT STEAM WAS YOUR ONLINE LiSCENCE HOLDER..AND THAT YOUR PROFILE COULD BE RETRIEVED FROM WHEREVER YOU WERE... AS LONG AS YOU HAVE AN INTERNET CONNECTION.
to me, this means that steam is the .exe...

 

[cadaveca]

and the first test had nothing to do with steam.

if you check the whiteboards, the artist of "test two" barnacle pic is mentioned...to me this means that steam WAS part of the first test....
think about it tho...how do you ensure that noonce can pirate your game? make it so they have to disable STEAM in order to access the files (which had to be done to open the gcf's?no?)...

test one was to lead the pathway into test 2, IMHO...
why else would the second BE INSIDE THE PRELOAD?
part of your steam subcriber agreement is to not decomplie the files, and this was done...in effect, hacking the preload, and only doable once steam was deactivated....hmmmmmmm..

 

[hasan]

To me, you are bringing two unrelated things, then saying "to me, they seem related".
The first test was all about the white-board. How can it be a test for steam's security?
Steam is required to play all valve's new games, you don't have to CAP IT, BECAUSE I KNOW THAT!!! However, steam is not "the power for the Source Engine", it's the online autheication method and downlaod/update/patch platform and GUI base.