Valve addresses piracy problem - Half-Life 2 requires online activation
PC game security stepped up
Having already been stung by piracy problems, Valve is taking measures to protect Half-Life 2 from further thefts. Taking the lead from Microsoft’s online XP activation, players will need to register each copy before they can enjoy the action. Valve’s Doug Lombardi issued the following statement:
"All versions require an Internet connection upon installation. This is for authentication/anti-piracy purposes. Once this has been completed, the owner of either the retail or the Steam version can play Half-Life 2 single player in offline mode."
It does seem like a sensible move; although it’s sure to upset the three people in the world who own PCs powerful enough to run HL2, but without internet access. After such a calamitous build-up to release, Valve certainly doesn’t deserve any more misfortune; so with any luck, this precaution ought to shake off a few of those pesky demons.
The long-awaited FPS is still on course to ship at some point during mid-November. We’re certainly looking forward to finally getting our mitts on it.
"All versions require an Internet connection upon installation. This is for authentication/anti-piracy purposes. Once this has been completed, the owner of either the retail or the Steam version can play Half-Life 2 single player in offline mode."
It does seem like a sensible move; although it’s sure to upset the three people in the world who own PCs powerful enough to run HL2, but without internet access. After such a calamitous build-up to release, Valve certainly doesn’t deserve any more misfortune; so with any luck, this precaution ought to shake off a few of those pesky demons.
The long-awaited FPS is still on course to ship at some point during mid-November. We’re certainly looking forward to finally getting our mitts on it.
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Comments
config 26 Oct 2004 13:30
1/6
I sincerely hope Valve/VU offer a phone registration system.
As strange as it may seem, there will be quite a few people (more than twelve) who want to play HL2 but don't have/want Internet connectivity.
As strange as it may seem, there will be quite a few people (more than twelve) who want to play HL2 but don't have/want Internet connectivity.
Joji 26 Oct 2004 13:30
2/6
Makes perfect sense but will bite their sales in the arse if folk aren't online. If there is some means of registering by post that would also help, when you multiply that by worldwide sales Valve could end up with a lot of mail.
It should still be a good deterent from now, but it might be too late already, the game is online to download. This sort of thing should have been used from the beginning.
It should still be a good deterent from now, but it might be too late already, the game is online to download. This sort of thing should have been used from the beginning.
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YenRug 26 Oct 2004 13:41
3/6
To be honest, I'd give it a week before there's a crack to disable the online enabling requirement.
Brown Force 26 Oct 2004 15:12
4/6
I think its a good idea. Though perhaps it would be better to provide a phone registration first (as everyone has a phone) and then Internet registeration as a secondary option. Ether way won't bother me...my computer should be powerful enough and I have the internet. Woo Hoo!
config 26 Oct 2004 15:17
5/6
YenRug wrote:
To be honest, I'd give it a week before there's a crack to disable the online enabling requirement.
But, like Windows XP, you won't be able to download any upgrade or patches. Prolly not a huge concern for the kinds of people that steal games.
Having said that, ISTR that Valve were pretty good with free upgrades for the original Half-Life, with hi-res texture packs being released and the like.
Mike 13 Jun 2007 03:57
6/6
so i bought hl2 at a flea market, but it was still in it's packaging. Nothing wrong with it, I took it home and learned i needed internet ok. I waited 5 MONTHS to get a decent system to run it on and it turns out someone generated my cd key. So i can't do anything about it. So, can someone generate me a cd key since i don't know how to use the software?plz?