Offline Mode

[cod56]

I purchased HL2 yesterday. Went home, installed, connected to the internet (56k modem) waited a long time then got to play.

During the steam CD Key check it mentioned that the servers were to busy to autenticate my CD Key. It would still let me play HL2 (phew) but it was unregistered (I really did buy it).

I want to play in offline mode for obvious reasons (56K connection, running up a hugh phone bill). It would appear that without the complete registration it will not allow offline play.

Anyone got any bright ideas, I have had a look on steampowered.com support and could not see anything.

Any ideas greatly appreciated.

 

[Marijn]

try auth again. you need auth be be able to play offline

 

[Meteor_of_War]

Read here:

http://steampowered.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/steampowered.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=213&p

If a game says "100%" but "Not Ready" for offline play, it may be because the purchase process for that game (cd-key or cc purchase transaction) has not yet completed. You need to wait for that to complete before playing offline.

I'm new to Steam but i think that if you stay connected, it will eventually finish the purchase process when the servers are less busy and you'll be able to play offline.

 

[Maxi]

The steam servers are VERY buys right now, since everyone is trying to register or download HL2 via steam, it's quite understandable really, this being the most anticipated game like ever.

 

[Dook]

I think you have to pull up the Steam play game screen (little green box in the lower right corner) and click on your game (the one under your login name). Then it will begin downloading it, 40mb.

I'm on 56k and haven't finished downloading it either. Drives me absolutely crazy. The game came with 5 discs, a ridiculous account and authorization process and now I have to wait another 5 hours downloading the game online???

You should just be able to load the game from the discs and play. With 56k I'm not going to play online anyway.

 

[Dreamhacker]

It's the ones making pirate copies fault that we have to activate the game, it's not like it's Valve's fault, as they don't wanna have ppl illegally copy their games. So it's not that redicelous.
But if u wanna play offline, just start the game, then disconnect the internet connection, and u should be able to play. Just a suggestion, don't know if it works.

EDIT: To play offline, u have to set Steam to remember ur password, then exit, not logout. Then offline mode is enabled.
Surly u have to activate the game first, if my first method don't work

 

[cod56]

Read here:

http://steampowered.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/steampowered.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=213&p



I'm new to Steam but i think that if you stay connected, it will eventually finish the purchase process when the servers are less busy and you'll be able to play offline.

Thanks, I connected last night, steam said my authorization for HL2 was complete. And offline mode works.

 

[lordtogo]

Well, it's not like soembody won't find a way to get around all the security. Infact, i've already seen several places with offline modes, as for a no-cd, i expect one will pop up in the next couple days, if not already. I don't even see why they bother with the online authentication, cause people can jsut authenticate it, then never go on steap again to play hl2, and just give the account info to their friends or whatever, and they can do the same. if i ever make a game company, i absolutely refuse to have any of this crappy security. IT DOES NOTHING to stop anyone who actually pirates games.

 

[jim416]

"I think you have to pull up the Steam play game screen (little green box in the lower right corner) and click on your game (the one under your login name). Then it will begin downloading it, 40mb.

I'm on 56k and haven't finished downloading it either. Drives me absolutely crazy. The game came with 5 discs, a ridiculous account and authorization process and now I have to wait another 5 hours downloading the game online????"

IS THIS RIGHT? After they authenticate it's another 30 some MB to download?