is hl2 available through steam once it goes gold?

[mashed]

or do we have to wait for it to reach stores?
sorry if this has been asked before

 

[CrazyHarij]

Yes, yes it is.

 

[KagePrototype]

Yes, yes it is.

No, it will be unlocked on the release date.

Please, please search for yourself next time.

 

[Homer]

I thought this was still uncertain?

 

[KagePrototype]

I thought this was still uncertain?

Seeing Vivendi doesn't want Steam to get the upper hand in terms of sales (which could cause Vivendi to lose a lot of money), you will not be able to buy it on Steam until it is released in stores. This is why there will be a worldwide release date, so Vivendi doesn't lose sales to Steam in certain parts of the world (just look at what happened to Doom 3, millions of dollars were lost when it was pirated over the internet weeks before it was released outside the US). And if Vivendi are not doing this, and it is as you say still uncertain, then they're not being a very good business. But I've repeated this loads of times in other threads asking the exact same question, and since no one has spoken against it, I can only assume I am still right.

 

[poseyjmac]

the sucky thing about doom3 getting pirated was it was a boxed copy that wasn't supposed to be sold yet. no one had access to buy it legally, so thousands of pirates downloaded it then and there.

now if vivendi let valve release it on steam first, BEFORE the boxes went out, its guaranteed that it would take a while before a pirated copy could be released. meanwhile its available on steam, many pirates would crack and buy it. and a lot of potential lost sales could be gained. i think this is a worthy sacrifice for vivendi, theyd still be getting otherwise lost profits.

 

[Dougy]

So who just deleted my post?

jesus christ be man and at least PM me after doing it.

It wasnt even a flame at all or off topic.

 

[SidewinderX]

So who just deleted my post?

jesus christ be man and at least PM me after doing it.

It wasnt even a flame at all or off topic.

Chris_D did. And yes it was. It was a complete waste of a post. You're comment added absolutley nothing positive or helpful to the discussion.



mashed: as others have said, it will be released on Steam and in stores simutaniously. So, no, you won't be able to get it off steam sooner than the stores.

now if vivendi let valve release it on steam first, BEFORE the boxes went out, its guaranteed that it would take a while before a pirated copy could be released. meanwhile its available on steam, many pirates would crack and buy it.

No, that's not true. You're putting way too much faith in Steam, and you're underestimating the crackers. I think it took all of 2 days or something before CS:S was initially cracked. Yes vavle fixed it, but HL2 is mainly a single-player experience (as is), so Valve updating steam won't stop them.

meanwhile its available on steam, many pirates would crack and buy it.

But the number of people who buy it to crack it are far, far fewer than the number of people who would download the cracked version. Say 100 pirates buy it to crack it, more than 1000 people would download the cracked version. That doesn't balence out in any way.

 

[SMT]

No, that's not true. You're putting way too much faith in Steam, and you're underestimating the crackers. I think it took all of 2 days or something before CS:S was initially cracked. Yes vavle fixed it, but HL2 is mainly a single-player experience (as is), so Valve updating steam won't stop them.

It's mainly a single-player experience, but it requires connection and authentication to Steam before you're even allowed to play offline. So, actually, yeah, chances are it would put a roadblock (annoying at worst and significant at best) in the way of piracy. We'll have to wait and see.

 

[poseyjmac]

No, that's not true. You're putting way too much faith in Steam, and you're underestimating the crackers. I think it took all of 2 days or something before CS:S was initially cracked. Yes vavle fixed it, but HL2 is mainly a single-player experience (as is), so Valve updating steam won't stop them.

no actually it has nothing to do with faith in steam. i know it will be cracked. the point is, all the files will be encrypted until hl2 is unlocked. THEN the cracking process would begin. but at the same time, the game is available to buy, so many pirates would still buy the game then. if you know the 0day community, you know that this number is quite substantial. and if you know the hl2 community, you know they are dying to play hl2.

But the number of people who buy it to crack it are far, far fewer than the number of people who would download the cracked version. Say 100 pirates buy it to crack it, more than 1000 people would download the cracked version. That doesn't balence out in any way.

i dont understand.i wasn't talking about people buying it to crack it. im saying if a boxed copy is leaked before the game gets activated on steam, there is going to be much more piracy going on, then if it was activated on steam first, due to the fact that there woudln't be an option to buy it in the first instance. so not only are you looking at piracy because of normal 0day pirates, but hl2 fans who simply don't want to wait, have no option to buy, and download the game.

the point is, there would be less people pirating the game, and more money going to valve and vivendi with this method. valve and vivendi could use steam to their advantage because only they can unencrypt those files and do what most developers cant, have the game for sale before a pirated version is available.

 

[Homer]

All I see here is "just so" posts. give a supporting link, for the love of god.

Does anyone actually have a statement from valve or vivendi stating that the game will not be on steam before its in stores?

 

[DrEvil]

It's mainly a single-player experience, but it requires connection and authentication to Steam before you're even allowed to play offline.

Are you sure about this? Where did you get this info from? I am curious if someone at Valve said this or if it is speculation.

 

[KagePrototype]

All I see here is "just so" posts. give a supporting link, for the love of god.

Does anyone actually have a statement from valve or vivendi stating that the game will not be on steam before its in stores?

In the "info from Valve" thread. I'l be damned if I'm gonna trawl through the whole thing for one quote though.

 

[Homer]

then you will be damned, or nobody is going to believe you. if you want to resolve the question and end the thread poste the quote or link.

 

[KagePrototype]

then you will be damned, or nobody is going to believe you. if you want to resolve the question and end the thread poste the quote or link.

Well, I'm not going to bother trawling through that thread for one quote any day, but if you search the HL2 discussion forums for "worldwide", you'll see pretty much everyone agrees that it will be a worldwide release. So I must have got it from somewhere.

 

[Demon Wraith]

the sucky thing about doom3 getting pirated was it was a boxed copy that wasn't supposed to be sold yet. no one had access to buy it legally, so thousands of pirates downloaded it then and there.

now if vivendi let valve release it on steam first, BEFORE the boxes went out, its guaranteed that it would take a while before a pirated copy could be released. meanwhile its available on steam, many pirates would crack and buy it. and a lot of potential lost sales could be gained. i think this is a worthy sacrifice for vivendi, theyd still be getting otherwise lost profits.

Vivendi won't be getting any profits from the STEAM release. They have no involvement with it. Therefore Vivendi would be getting 0 profit for that which is sold via STEAM.

 

[ytinupmi]

It's mainly a single-player experience, but it requires connection and authentication to Steam before you're even allowed to play offline. So, actually, yeah, chances are it would put a roadblock (annoying at worst and significant at best) in the way of piracy. We'll have to wait and see.

what about CS:CZ? heh, they didn't have a problem pirating that.

 

[thehunter1320]

what about CS:CZ? heh, they didn't have a problem pirating that.

i'm sure they've fixed alot of things since CS:CZ... steam was still a baby when that came out

 

[iamaelephant]

posey, your theory is flawed, because you are saying that alot of people would only pirate the game because they dont have the option to buy it, right? Well, yeah, Steam gives them the option to buy it, meaning that it would, in fact, be impossible for a leaked version to be out before the real thing, but there's still no profit in there for VU, because they will all be Steam sales. Sorry if this doesn't make alot of sence, I'm in a hurry to get back to work.

 

[oldagerocker]

Couldnt VU sue Valve if they release on steam pre-release date, lost earnings or something, monopolisation or some sort of contractual clause?

 

[Ahnteis]

Couldnt VU sue Valve if they release on steam pre-release date, lost earnings or something, monopolisation or some sort of contractual clause?

6 characters because quotes don't count even when they're the whole point.

 

[poseyjmac]

Vivendi won't be getting any profits from the STEAM release. They have no involvement with it. Therefore Vivendi would be getting 0 profit for that which is sold via STEAM.

ok, i didn't know vivendi made absolutely nothing from a steam sale. where is proof of this?

anyway if thats true, i simply have to adjust this method, so that valve gives vivendi a cut, and then it would work.

 

[Demon Wraith]

ok, i didn't know vivendi made absolutely nothing from a steam sale. where is proof of this?

anyway if thats true, i simply have to adjust this method, so that valve gives vivendi a cut, and then it would work.

Why would they do that? Simply to say "**** you" to everyone who doesn't have a broadband connection?

 

[DvS]

It's mainly a single-player experience, but it requires connection and authentication to Steam before you're even allowed to play offline. So, actually, yeah, chances are it would put a roadblock (annoying at worst and significant at best) in the way of piracy. We'll have to wait and see.

Valve have never said that you will need an internet connection to play HL2 SP, even just at first to authenticate.. many customers still don't have access to the internet.

I even think they confirmed this at one point, but I'm not 100% sure.

 

[poseyjmac]

Why would they do that? Simply to say "**** you" to everyone who doesn't have a broadband connection?

did you read my previous post in its entirety? its for that initial wave of pirates and impatient gamers. did you remember seeing the seeds in the doom3 bittorrents when it was released? thousands and thousands of people downloaded it.

all this method would do is cut down on a considerable amount of piracy in the first wave. if theoretically valve and vivendi both got a cut, it would be a win win, money that both of them would not have had.

 

[Demon Wraith]

did you read my previous post in its entirety? its for that initial wave of pirates and impatient gamers. did you remember seeing the seeds in the doom3 bittorrents when it was released? thousands and thousands of people downloaded it.

all this method would do is cut down on a considerable amount of piracy in the first wave. if theoretically valve and vivendi both got a cut, it would be a win win, money that both of them would not have had.

I see it, but I disagree. Pirates don't pirate to get things early. Pirates pirate in order to pirate and get things for free. Anyone who claims otherwise is lying to you and likely themself.

 

[poseyjmac]

I see it, but I disagree. Pirates don't pirate to get things early. Pirates pirate in order to pirate and get things for free. Anyone who claims otherwise is lying to you and likely themself.

actually both at times.

do you remember the thread started about a poll whether or not you would download hl2 if it was available? many many if not most said they would. for a game life halflife there are thousands of gamers that want the game right when it comes out.

and the proof that is in the pudding would be watching the seeds on the bittorrents on the FIRST DAY doom3 was released on the warez scene. it was in the 5 digit figures for multiple torrents. you can still disagree with that solid proof, but you'll be wrong.

 

[Demon Wraith]

actually both at times.

do you remember the thread started about a poll whether or not you would download hl2 if it was available? many many if not most said they would. for a game life halflife there are thousands of gamers that want the game right when it comes out.

and the proof that is in the pudding would be watching the seeds on the bittorrents on the FIRST DAY doom3 was released on the warez scene. it was in the 5 digit figures for multiple torrents. you can still disagree with that solid proof, but you'll be wrong.

That doesn't mean anything, you have nothing to compare it to. Your stipulation is that it would have affected sales in a partiular way or quantity, but you have no evidence to back it up.

In order to genuinely make such a statement you would need to compare the sales of the same game without it being pirated vs. the sales of the same game had it been pirated. Since only one of those scenarios has happened you only have one half of the equation.

 

[Ragnarokk]

Some people pirate things to get it early, some do it because it's easier than getting it at the store, and of course most do it because it's free. I know I've pirated a few games because I could download it before I could buy it.

 

[poseyjmac]

That doesn't mean anything, you have nothing to compare it to. Your stipulation is that it would have affected sales in a partiular way or quantity, but you have no evidence to back it up.

In order to genuinely make such a statement you would need to compare the sales of the same game without it being pirated vs. the sales of the same game had it been pirated. Since only one of those scenarios has happened you only have one half of the equation.

do you think there would be less piracy if it was available on steam to purchase before a pirated copy was released?

 

[Asus]

Link

HomeLAN - How does Sierra feel about CS: Condition Zero being distributed via Steam in addition to a standard retail product?

Gabe Newell - You would have to ask them. We've been pretty clear with Sierra about our interest in the opportunities for better customer solutions and more efficient distribution via broadband over the last few years. I am sure they are pretty curious to see how customers react, and would prefer that most customers buy it through traditional retail channels since that's where they make their money.

Link
And I thought this one was interesting. Link
Took me but a couple of minutes to find those posts.

I wouldn't think Vivendi gets any profits from Steam's distribution because it is strait from Valve. Though Valve needs a publisher for printing media, Discs and boxes etc for Retail instore sales. Steam is similar to a music artist going on tour, their record label doesn't get any of that money.

 

[Demon Wraith]

do you think there would be less piracy if it was available on steam to purchase before a pirated copy was released?

I do not think there'd be any significant less piracy. People who are going to buy the game will BUY THE GAME, even if they pirate it first. The people who pirate and don't buy the game are the people who aren't going to pay money for it. Time schedules won't change that.

 

[Ahnteis]

I do not think there'd be any significant less piracy. People who are going to buy the game will BUY THE GAME, even if they pirate it first. The people who pirate and don't buy the game are the people who aren't going to pay money for it. Time schedules won't change that.

You're missing the people who can't GET it from a store because it's not available in their area/country. That's what he's getting at. If they simply CANNOT buy it, they may download it rather then waiting. With steam, it's easily available worldwide.

 

[Demon Wraith]

You're missing the people who can't GET it from a store because it's not available in their area/country. That's what he's getting at. If they simply CANNOT buy it, they may download it rather then waiting. With steam, it's easily available worldwide.

You want me to believe that an area with broadband internet does not have gamestores? And that an area that does not have gamestores, the residents give a crap about Half-life 2?

Also, how am I missing that? Where in the world am I saying that it shouldn't be purchasable via STEAM?

 

[iamaelephant]

I'm the only one of my mates who has a broadband connection, and we're all looking forward to HL2. Think outside your own country for once, you ignorant fool.

 

[Ahnteis]

You want me to believe that an area with broadband internet does not have gamestores? And that an area that does not have gamestores, the residents give a crap about Half-life 2?

Also, how am I missing that? Where in the world am I saying that it shouldn't be purchasable via STEAM?

You should try moving out of the US sometime -- or at least listening to people from other countries. They often (not always) get games weeks or even months after we do.

EDIT: "People who are going to buy the game will BUY THE GAME, even if they pirate it first."

I guess I should have mentioned this too. It's not always true. People are lazy and they may never get around to buying it if they already have a downloaded copy.

 

[poseyjmac]

I do not think there'd be any significant less piracy. People who are going to buy the game will BUY THE GAME, even if they pirate it first. The people who pirate and don't buy the game are the people who aren't going to pay money for it. Time schedules won't change that.

people who are going to buy the game will buy the game yes, but you are forgetting the people who will only buy the game if its available and if they don't find a warezed copy first. i, myself, prove this fact. because in the past i have warezed games and not bought them later because they were primarily SP games and i didn't think it was worth it to buy.

many of my friends also prove you wrong, they download a game because of ease and availability, and they don't buy it later. the general state of mind is, why pay for it, if you have it already? its just natural for people to think this way. you don't have to acknoweldge it, but there are many that this is true for. its a very common state of mind.

this can especially be true for halflife2 if it only includes CS:S as the multiplayer component. people will pirate hl2, and buy CS:S or other future mods separately, or a steam subscription.

 

[Demon Wraith]

people who are going to buy the game will buy the game yes, but you are forgetting the people who will only buy the game if its available and if they don't find a warezed copy first. i, myself, prove this fact. because in the past i have warezed games and not bought them later because they were primarily SP games and i didn't think it was worth it to buy.

many of my friends also prove you wrong, they download a game because of ease and availability, and they don't buy it later. the general state of mind is, why pay for it, if you have it already? its just natural for people to think this way. you don't have to acknoweldge it, but there are many that this is true for. its a very common state of mind.

this can especially be true for halflife2 if it only includes CS:S as the multiplayer component. people will pirate hl2, and buy CS:S or other future mods separately, or a steam subscription.

A 1 to 2 day wait for a crack isn't suddenly going to make people who don't want to spend money for it spend money.

 

[Demon Wraith]

You should try moving out of the US sometime -- or at least listening to people from other countries. They often (not always) get games weeks or even months after we do.

And this relates how?

I do know this, but I really think you need to go back and read a few posts. You're completely off the train.

 

[poseyjmac]

A 1 to 2 day wait for a crack isn't suddenly going to make people who don't want to spend money for it spend money.

im not talking about people who don't want to spend money on a game. im talking about people that want hl2. some would be willing to pay, but if they can get the pirated version first, they will go with that.