No more "offline" mode???

[kalle78]

Hey guys, I would like to know if somebody else has this kind of problem and if somebody has found a solution...

I bought HL2 two weeks ago. I updated everything through STEAM and I was correctly able to play the game in the "OFFLINE" mode (I've got a dialup connection...).
But, since I had a small graphic problem, I used the validation tool from STEAM. Then... NOW I CANNOT FALL IN THE OFFLINE MODE ANY MORE!!!

If my dial connection is on I can correctly log-in and play.
If my dial connection is off, a window appears, saying that the game is not yet ready to be played offline...

Notice that:
- in the game properties window the offline mode is "READY" and the game is 100% updated
- I tryed to delete the .blob and the DoD.gcf files and to repeat the update but nothing changes
- in the log-in window the box to save the password is checked
- in the Settings window the box to avoid the saving of personal information on the PC is NOT checked
- if the dial-up connection is on and I disconnect it, STEAM doesn't fall in the OFFLINE mode

Any idea?
I've noticed that many people here around have a large experience about STEAM and HL2. Can anybody help me?

 

[Oyaji291]

I don't have a lot of experience with Steam (and what experience I do have, I'm not exactly becoming a big FAN of the service either...) But as I've posted in a previous forum, I have found a sollution that pretty much works so far.

Basically what I do (remember, I have dialup as well, so I feel your pain) is simply login into steam online as normal. Then I go and boot the game as normal. And since I can't stay online WHILE playing the game, I simply use the ctrl+tab function to switch out of the game and (WITHOUT CLOSING STEAM) I simply press the disconnect button on my connection icon in the corner. Or, if this doesn't work, I simply pull the cord from the back of the computer to log me offline.

Remember though, that this DOES have risks. If your computer freezes easily, it MIGHT screw up your game, so I recomend doing this while in the initial load screen (that is, the first menu, ie load game, new game, options, etc) so as not to screw up any gameplay. I can't guarantee this will always work, but it has worked for me so far.

I just REALLY hope that Valve doesn't get a whiff of this, only because I'd like for this trick to work all the time. I mean, come on, we've paid $50+ for this game (I actually just bought a Radeon 9800 Pro just for the occasion, so that's $250 right there... oh, and the card is farking incredible. [just a little OT there]) and we want to be able to actually PLAY what we paid for! I mean, okay, I understand the validation and the theft was a big problem, but don't make it harder for the people who actually BUY their games! (I'm not against all software piracy, but I DO understand the reasons for them taking these actions, and I'm behind it... about 75%) I bought this game, did the steam validation, now I wanna farking PLAY it. Is that too much to ask for?

Anyway, ranting aside, lemme know if this works for you.

 

[DEATH eVADER]

Hey guys, I would like to know if somebody else has this kind of problem and if somebody has found a solution...

I bought HL2 two weeks ago. I updated everything through STEAM and I was correctly able to play the game in the "OFFLINE" mode (I've got a dialup connection...).
But, since I had a small graphic problem, I used the validation tool from STEAM. Then... NOW I CANNOT FALL IN THE OFFLINE MODE ANY MORE!!!

If my dial connection is on I can correctly log-in and play.
If my dial connection is off, a window appears, saying that the game is not yet ready to be played offline...

Notice that:
- in the game properties window the offline mode is "READY" and the game is 100% updated
- I tryed to delete the .blob and the DoD.gcf files and to repeat the update but nothing changes
- in the log-in window the box to save the password is checked
- in the Settings window the box to avoid the saving of personal information on the PC is NOT checked
- if the dial-up connection is on and I disconnect it, STEAM doesn't fall in the OFFLINE mode

Any idea?
I've noticed that many people here around have a large experience about STEAM and HL2. Can anybody help me?

I don't know what is going on?

I have the same problem ;( , but I'm pretty sure it was when I had to reformat my harddrive and re-install HL2 after I had problems with corrupt software (A few months ago), it is a Bastard when I'm not at University because it means I cannot play it, unless I plead with my dad to get a wireless LAN connection to his study computer

 

[kalle78]

After the connection I can exit the game by pressing ALT+TAB and then re-enter the game and play (sometimes the game freezes).
I can also EXIT the game by the "EXIT" command in the HL2 menu... and I can restart the game and play....
But when I shut off my PC I have to re-connect because the OFFLINE mode doesn't work....

BEFORE THE STEAM VALIDATION EVERITHING WORKED! Damn!
I hope to find a way to play without connecting each time or leaving my PC always on.
On the game box is written that THE CONNECTION IS NEEDED ONLY FOR THE INSTALLATION! :angry:

 

[kalle78]

An update: STEAM answered my question telling me to reinstall the game or the whole system :O

...

 

[$kelet0r]

After months of bliss the offline mode refuses to play ball again
suxxor

 

[DEATH eVADER]

As a matter of fact, does Valve even know about the offline glitch, or did they do that on purpose, I'll contact Gabe and hopefully get an answer

 

[xiphrex]

As a matter of fact, does Valve even know about the offline glitch, or did they do that on purpose, I'll contact Gabe and hopefully get an answer

While your at it could you mention that the CSS netcode needs fixing, people are getting these sound looping crashes, turning off the 3dsky is a cheat, they broke the css scoreboard in the last update (names are incorrect or missing) and that you sometimes hear ghosts reloading their weapons?

Also mention that can they update the source engine with the one line of code needed to enable vsync tripple buffering?

Thanks!

 

[Fuse Kazuki]

I think it is. Sven Viking had made it to where you could have the donour weapons in a LAN server or in offline mode. I made an offline server, took out an uzi and it wasnt golden. So I email him back and he said that it wont work until the next version, which is, 3.5. I'll have the donour weapons anyways, cause I donated like two weeks ago.

 

[Oyaji291]

While your at it could you mention that the CSS netcode needs fixing, people are getting these sound looping crashes!

I'm getting a LOT of problems with this. In fact, sometimes it happens randomly, and other times (mostly) it happens because I save the game after a certain amount of times. (It crashed when it AUTO-Saved!) So when it crashes like this, I have to restart the whole system. This is becoming a major annoyance, and I'm almost considering taking the game back to the store and demanding a damn refund. Which I do NOT want to do!