Steam, cannot download and play at the same time

[DEATH eVADER]

Going back a few years, I was sure that one of the selling points of Steam was that you could play one game whilst you were downloading another (or updating another). However I'm noticing that this isn't possible on the Steam platform.

You can play another game and download software as long as they are not both on the Steam Client. Does anybody else notice this, or was I just dreaming.

 

[Beerdude26]

Yeah, it's possible. Isn't it anymore?

 

[The Brick]

You can play while it's loading upcoming content, not when it's updating existing content.

 

[Narvi]

Hmmm? Yes you can. I've done it myself. CSS was updating while I was playing HL2.

 

[The Brick]

I meant the same game. You can play halflife2 while it's still downloading from steam, but you cannot play halflife when it's updating content (like source engine update).

 

[giant384]

engine update and level content are different. you need the engine update in order to play the game at all.

 

[DEATH eVADER]

I just found out the problem, painfully slow download rate (10kbp/s)

The problem was my IP, it seems to have been sorted out now, and a fibre optic cable was to blame apparently. dl rate is now around 250kbp/s

 

[Narvi]

I meant the same game. You can play halflife2 while it's still downloading from steam, but you cannot play halflife when it's updating content (like source engine update).

I was responding to the OP, which was clear in referring to 2 different games.

 

[Iron Kat]

It took me ages to download and install HL2, about 24 hours, in fact(!) but then I found out it wouldn't work on my computer after all!

 

[Xendance]

I have a simalar problem. When its downloading, I want to play it. It says its updating and that takes a few hours. By the time them few hours are up, the game is 100%.