Four basic questions:please assist

[SunHawk]

After the recent situation, and with all the rumours and counterarguments running around, I have registered here to ask some basic questions and get the right answers.

I hope that you will please simply answer these so I have facts, not suppositions.

1. HalfLife 2 singleplay.

Will I need or be required to verify with STEAM every time before playing OFFLINE in SINGLEPLAY?.(as in if I buy the CD from a shop or online store). If not how do you register the game and with whom?

(Bear in mind in my case I am interested PRIMARILY in singleplayer. I rarely (if ever ) play in multiplayer, after a lot of bruising experiences with cheats. I saw a post a while back asking if someone buys HL1 to play "six year old singleplay".The answer is YES they do.

2. The game will be sold in stores, not just online via STEAM?

3.Will Valve this time have better support overseas, especially in places like Australia? We buy games too, ya know

4. Lastly: If I do want to play online against friends using one of us as a server, will this require us to use steam for "mandatory patches"? What kind of ALTERNATE multiplay will be supported?

I realise some of these questions may have been asked before, but this is to ensure that I either buy or don't buy this game, and as a past Valve / Sierra supporter, I'd appreciate answers to the above.

Thank you for your help in advance.

SunHawk.

 

[KagePrototype]

1. Valve are implementing an offline mode for Steam in time for Half-Life 2's release, so no, online verification ins't needed if you bought the box in a shop (although you'll still need to have a CD Key to play it). only multiplayer wil need online verification.

2. Yup

3. Valve are planning a worldwide release for the retail boxed version of HL2, on the same day as Steam will have it avilable for purchase.

4. The WON servers will be shut down as soon as Steam is deemed sufficently bugless by Valve, so yes, you'll need to be connected to Steam to play online.

Hope that helps

 

[Axyon]

Originally posted by SunHawk
After the recent situation, and with all the rumours and counterarguments running around, I have registered here to ask some basic questions and get the right answers.

I hope that you will please simply answer these so I have facts, not suppositions.

1.HalfLife 2 singleplay.

Will I need or be required to verify with STEAM before playing OFFLINE in SINGLEPLAY.(as in if I buy the CD from a shop or online store). I rarely or ever play in multiplayer, after a lot of bruising experiences with cheats.

2. The game will be sold in stores, not just online via STEAM?

3.Will Valve this time have better support overseas, especially in places like Australia? We buy games too, ya know

4. Lastly: If I do want to play online against friends using one of us as a server, will this require us to use steam for "mandatory patches"?

I realise some of these questions may have been asked before, but this is to ensure that I either buy or don't buy this game, and as a past Valve / Sierra supporter, I'd appreciate answers to the above.

Thank you for your help in advance.

SunHawk.

1. If you buy the game in a store, you will not be required to authenticate with Steam first. A single-player only version of the game will also be available in stores, so that might be the best option for you.

2. Yes, it'll be sold in stores in three versions - Single Player + Multiplayer, Single Player only and a Collector's Edition.

3. Do you mean like helplines and such? Or shipping dates... if the latter, you'll probably be getting the game slightly after America and Europe does.

4. I recall it being said that Steam will be mandatory for a while after the game's release, but from then on, third party browsers will be usable, which probably means patches will be available elsewhere. As for the alternate multiplay question, nothing has been said about the multiplayer modes yet.

 

[Mr. Redundant]

1. No
however once you go online (say to play multiplayer) you will be required to be connected via steam, even to play single player. (HOWEVER: this is a temporary validation process, Gabe has stated that it will only last a couple weeks, you can then play offline whenever you want)

simply do not play multiplayer till you finish HL2 single player, no worries

2. The game will be available both in stores and online, there are numerous purchase methods that Valve are going to introduce including

A. buying the game in store (like normal, this version includes both single player and multiplayer)

B. Buying the single player version seperate (cheaper, but you cant use mods either)

C. Purchase online via steam

D. Steam subscription: you pay a monthly fee and you get ALL valve games free to play with (obviously you have to be connected to steam to play them, and there is a monthly fee, its speculated at around $10/ month right now.

3. Yessir, Valve are aiming at a worldwide release. (we get it when you do)
(let me clarify.. the worldwide release will be done through steam.. so its technically available.. but I think as Abom said, its only going to be on store shelves a lil after here in the USA, but thats normal)

4.Yes Patches are mandatory if you wish to play the game online, since it will be using steam. :
Connecting to steam will updated your copy of Hl2, (and anything else valve) that you tell it to keep up to date, patches for games that you want to play online however, will automatically update.

Welcome to the forums, sorry my reply took so long
hope that helps

edit: (damnit, I knew I shoulda posted then edited, so I got first post! ah well)

 

[SunHawk]

Valve are implementing an offline mode for Steam in time for Half-Life 2's release, so no, online verification isn't needed if you bought the box in a shop (although you'll still need to have a CD Key to play it). only multiplayer wil need online verification.

This is excellent news, and you will appreciate my bluntness. There are a lot of rumours flying around, and if I buy a game I need to know what "catches "there may be. I am, like many others, on a budget, and my play time is limited. Any game that is laced with issues or hard to install gets thrown into a box for trade or sale. And if asked, my comments are not kind.

A CDKey is SOP, that's expected anyway. As long as I am not required to go online for a game that I buy from a store just to install it, no problem.

simply do not play multiplayer till you finish HL2 single player, no worries

Understood. Thank you.

. The WON servers will be shut down as soon as Steam is deemed sufficently bugless by Valve, so yes, you'll need to be connected to Steam to play online.

Noted. I am somewhat disappointed by that, as I did play against friends (who don't cheat ) server to server.

2. Yes, it'll be sold in stores in three versions - Single Player + Multiplayer, Single Player only and a Collector's Edition

That's a great help, thank you.

MrRedundant thank you for the welcome, it's appreciated.

 

[solace]

Whats wrong with steam, anyways?

 

[Dr. Freeman]

Originally posted by solace
Whats wrong with steam, anyways?

nothing is wrong with Steam.. it was quite buggy before.. but i've had it for over a month now and no problems.. its also working for most of my friends as well..

in time it will be better than WON.. pple just need patience.

btw, welcome to the forum SunHawk