Half-Life 2 Retail on Steam?

[spaz1]

Is this possible: I preload HL2 and then get HL2 from a shop and then just insert the serial in or does the preload need purchasing to work?

 

[anti-elf]

purchasing to work

wait i forgot sry im stupid

 

[spaz1]

?? Didn't completely understand what u ment...

 

[Sheps]

You can preload and then register the CD key from a retail package when you get it, yes. Preloading is NOT exclusive to Steam purchasers.

 

[spaz1]

THX Sheps!

 

[Kirkburn]

To anyone else planning on doing the same - it's an excellent idea as you won't have to wait for Steam to download updates to the retail version
spaz1 : great avatar! Spazz rules!

 

[oasismark]

Ok just to confirm, I was going to get HL2 from steam last night but discovered as i have no VISA card, i cannot but it from steam.

So, if i start pre-load now from steam, when i go out and buy a hard copy of HL2 from a shop, i can just enter the cd key into my steam account and start playing HL2. and i will not have to install hl2 from the purchased disc.

And steam will keep my hl2 updated with the newest updates?

 

[urbanx]

Ok just to confirm, I was going to get HL2 from steam last night but discovered as i have no VISA card, i cannot but it from steam.

So, if i start pre-load now from steam, when i go out and buy a hard copy of HL2 from a shop, i can just enter the cd key into my steam account and start playing HL2. and i will not have to install hl2 from the purchased disc.

And steam will keep my hl2 updated with the newest updates?

absolutely

 

[oasismark]

absolutely

Superb!

I started to think that steam was a bad idea because of always logging into steam to play a game even when offline, but i do like the way it will keep the games updated without us looking out for patches and installing them ourselfs.

Will start my pre-load when i get home then!

 

[spaz1]

4 days, 11 hours, 30 minutes, 13 seconds!!

 

[spaz1]

And Kirkburn say no more... Im blushing.... ^_^

 

[jacen]

Is this possible: I preload HL2 and then get HL2 from a shop and then just insert the serial in or does the preload need purchasing to work?

despite its possible, i dont get y u want to preload.

everything u preload will be on cds/dvds, so u are just dling what u are buying. u wont save any time, since u only can unlock when u have the key, and u only have the key when u have the discs ... wtf?

 

[oldagerocker]

the preload will be the most up to date content i suppose... the dvd's and cd's would be a month old now since gold, and they've updated css since then anyway...i dont know.

 

[oasismark]

Well you are right i cannot actually do anything till i have the store copy in my possesion.

I would have bought through steam, but i have no visa card! So i have no other option than to buy retail, so i guess it's because pre-installing will keep HL2 and CS up to date right from the minute i enter my cdkey.

No patches to install AFTER installing my retail copy.

And it will save those precious 5 mins of install time.

 

[Eateroffear]

What if you used an activation key on Steam (ATI Voucher) and then installed a retail version of HL2 and CS S? Would it still work?

 

[jacen]

the preload will be the most up to date content i suppose...

i dont think hl2 will get a patch the first 3-4 weeks after release.
there were no cs:s update since gold, wasnt there?
so the only updates were steam updates that u can dl reguardless if u have any game purchased or not.

i still dont get it.

 

[oasismark]

I pre-installed hl2 last night anyway. So it's ready to go whenever.
I could be playing counter strike source now if i had a credit card. Is there no way around this problem.

No VISA card, pre-buy???

 

[Kirkburn]

Steam supports more than just VISA cards now ... check the steam news page.

 

[spaz1]

The reason why I preload and also buy the game is that I don't have a DVD rom... Don't know if HL2 is coming on 6 CDs or just on DVD in Finland but most of all I want a retail version. I could get DVD rom with 30€ but im too lazy So now I have HL2 already on my PC thanks to preload and just need my fine CD-KEY!! :bounce:

 

[Kirkburn]

Good idea! Genius, in fact
I seem to remember it was a DVD release for all of Europe, but don't quote me on that.

don't quote me on that.