SPOnG’s most-anticipated PC title for the summer is Gordon Freeman's latest jaunt, Half-Life 2: Episode 1 – the latest instalment in the ongoing epic that is HL2.
Steam has conveniently send us a quick reminder that the latest episode is now available for download.
Hang on a sec, mind. Before you all go running off to upgrade your graphics cards and baulk at the ridiculous price of the latest gaming PCs, the game will not actually be unlockable (i.e., playable) until June 1. But if you begin pre-loading now, you’ll spend 10% less in the long-run. Or something.
Gah! This is like Valve showing its children an amazing present in a beautiful box, but then telling us all that we can't actually play with it yet. It is, of course, a stunning marketing trick and SPOnG has fallen for it hook, line, crabs and sinker.
Basically, if you have time and you are a PC Gamer, you may as well download this now, to save yourself a few quid. There is of course no question that you are going to want to play it.
If you prefer to buy your games for more money from shops instead of the Internet, then SPOnG would genuinely like to know why. Tell us in the forums below.
If you haven’t played Half Life 2, then go out and buy it immediately. If you don’t have a PC which is capable of running the game then go out and buy one immediately. If you don’t have enough money and are holding back to spend your hard-earned on a 360, a Wii or a PS3 later in the year, then...well, don’t worry too much about it. Or get a better-paid job.
Steam has conveniently send us a quick reminder that the latest episode is now available for download.
Hang on a sec, mind. Before you all go running off to upgrade your graphics cards and baulk at the ridiculous price of the latest gaming PCs, the game will not actually be unlockable (i.e., playable) until June 1. But if you begin pre-loading now, you’ll spend 10% less in the long-run. Or something.
Gah! This is like Valve showing its children an amazing present in a beautiful box, but then telling us all that we can't actually play with it yet. It is, of course, a stunning marketing trick and SPOnG has fallen for it hook, line, crabs and sinker.
Basically, if you have time and you are a PC Gamer, you may as well download this now, to save yourself a few quid. There is of course no question that you are going to want to play it.
If you prefer to buy your games for more money from shops instead of the Internet, then SPOnG would genuinely like to know why. Tell us in the forums below.
If you haven’t played Half Life 2, then go out and buy it immediately. If you don’t have a PC which is capable of running the game then go out and buy one immediately. If you don’t have enough money and are holding back to spend your hard-earned on a 360, a Wii or a PS3 later in the year, then...well, don’t worry too much about it. Or get a better-paid job.
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Comments
charming_fox 2 May 2006 14:54
1/7
"If you prefer to buy your games for more money from shops instead of the Internet, then SPOnG would genuinely like to know why. Tell us in the forums below."
1) The price difference is negligable yet buying from the shops gets you a shiny disk and case.
2) Steam is a vile, intrusive steaming lump of grey muck that does whatever it feels like.
3) I get to support a small, local games shop AND the developer.
4) My internet connection isn't tied up for 3 days solid.
5) If i ever need to reinstall (it is a PC game after all) it takes 10 minutes not 3 days worth of downloading.
6) 10% off is a litle insulting.
Reasons for being quite bitter about Steam?
I bought Half-Life 2 from the shops, waited for the shop to open on day one, when Day of Defeat was released they wanted me to pay again even though the Half-Life 2 Downloaders got it for free... and $20 for Rag-Doll Kung-Fu?? Get with it Valve.
That being said people are obviously using it, but i still remember getting home from work to play HL2 and having to wait almost 5 hours for it to 'validate' the install over steam. What a farce that was.
1) The price difference is negligable yet buying from the shops gets you a shiny disk and case.
2) Steam is a vile, intrusive steaming lump of grey muck that does whatever it feels like.
3) I get to support a small, local games shop AND the developer.
4) My internet connection isn't tied up for 3 days solid.
5) If i ever need to reinstall (it is a PC game after all) it takes 10 minutes not 3 days worth of downloading.
6) 10% off is a litle insulting.
Reasons for being quite bitter about Steam?
I bought Half-Life 2 from the shops, waited for the shop to open on day one, when Day of Defeat was released they wanted me to pay again even though the Half-Life 2 Downloaders got it for free... and $20 for Rag-Doll Kung-Fu?? Get with it Valve.
That being said people are obviously using it, but i still remember getting home from work to play HL2 and having to wait almost 5 hours for it to 'validate' the install over steam. What a farce that was.
Bitterman 3 May 2006 12:05
2/7
Steam is a vile, intrusive steaming lump of grey muck that does whatever it feels like.
I think you'll find that's BROWN muck.
Due to Steam, it took longer to install Half Life 2 than I spend even PLAYING most games.
It then several times prevented from playing HL2 - you know, the game I had PAID MONEY FOR - even in single player mode, because it could not connect to Steam. I did not WANT to connect to Steam, just wanted to play the bloody game and it wouldn't let me.
Since then, and before I could finish HL2, my hard drive died. After installing a new one and attempting to reinstall HL2, I'm now told I can't install it as it's registered to a different user (presumably the "user" on the dead hard drive that it's now completely impossible to access).
Steam is preventing me from playing HL2 even though I PAID FOR IT.
Steam is an insult. Steam is the gaming equivalent of anal rape. Steam is pure evil.
That's why I don't want to download my games via Steam, thankyou very much.
I think you'll find that's BROWN muck.
Due to Steam, it took longer to install Half Life 2 than I spend even PLAYING most games.
It then several times prevented from playing HL2 - you know, the game I had PAID MONEY FOR - even in single player mode, because it could not connect to Steam. I did not WANT to connect to Steam, just wanted to play the bloody game and it wouldn't let me.
Since then, and before I could finish HL2, my hard drive died. After installing a new one and attempting to reinstall HL2, I'm now told I can't install it as it's registered to a different user (presumably the "user" on the dead hard drive that it's now completely impossible to access).
Steam is preventing me from playing HL2 even though I PAID FOR IT.
Steam is an insult. Steam is the gaming equivalent of anal rape. Steam is pure evil.
That's why I don't want to download my games via Steam, thankyou very much.
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config 3 May 2006 13:45
3/7
charming_fox wrote:
"If you prefer to buy your games for more money from shops instead of the Internet, then SPOnG would genuinely like to know why. Tell us in the forums below."
1) The price difference is negligable yet buying from the shops gets you a shiny disk and case.
[...]
6) 10% off is a litle insulting.
[...]
Reasons for being quite bitter about Steam?
I bought Half-Life 2 from the shops, waited for the shop to open on day one, when Day of Defeat was released they wanted me to pay again even though the Half-Life 2 Downloaders got it for free... and $20 for Rag-Doll Kung-Fu?? Get with it Valve.
1) The price difference is negligable yet buying from the shops gets you a shiny disk and case.
[...]
6) 10% off is a litle insulting.
[...]
Reasons for being quite bitter about Steam?
I bought Half-Life 2 from the shops, waited for the shop to open on day one, when Day of Defeat was released they wanted me to pay again even though the Half-Life 2 Downloaders got it for free... and $20 for Rag-Doll Kung-Fu?? Get with it Valve.
You say the price difference is negligable and yet complain about having to pay for the "free" stuff you get when you buy the game over Steam. The price difference can't be so negligable now, can it?
I do kinda agree, having got HL2 as a Christmas gift on disk (downloads not being particularly suited to the gift giving process), but I wouldn't complain on price given the "value adds" you get for the download.
That being said people are obviously using it, but i still remember getting home from work to play HL2 and having to wait almost 5 hours for it to 'validate' the install over steam. What a farce that was.
Never had any problems validating, but I was a late-comer, waiting for Chrimble and all.
Going back to your other points...
2) Steam is a vile, intrusive steaming lump of grey muck that does whatever it feels like.
Aside from the start-up splash and its recent lack of ability to connect (not that I've needed to), I rarely notice it's there - and my firewall stops Steam from doing anything untoward behind the scenes.
3) I get to support a small, local games shop AND the developer.
Fair enough - but I'd rather see the developer get the
larger slice of the pie.
4) My internet connection isn't tied up for 3 days solid.
5) If i ever need to reinstall (it is a PC game after all) it takes 10 minutes not 3 days worth of downloading.
5) If i ever need to reinstall (it is a PC game after all) it takes 10 minutes not 3 days worth of downloading.
Both very valid points. But with increasing broadband speeds and the maturing of the downloadable content technology, I don't see either of these being a long- or even mid-term reason to avoid downloads.
charming_fox 3 May 2006 14:35
4/7
config wrote:
You say the price difference is negligable and yet complain about having to pay for the "free" stuff you get when you buy the game over Steam. The price difference can't be so negligable now, can it?
I do kinda agree, having got HL2 as a Christmas gift on disk (downloads not being particularly suited to the gift giving process), but I wouldn't complain on price given the "value adds" you get for the download.
Never had any problems validating, but I was a late-comer, waiting for Chrimble and all.
Both very valid points. But with increasing broadband speeds and the maturing of the downloadable content technology, I don't see either of these being a long- or even mid-term reason to avoid downloads.
Perhaps if we were told about the differences when HL2 was first released I would've (possibly, at a push) downloaded it so I could play DOD:Source, but seeing and this wasn't even mentioned until a week before DOD's release I do feel it was somewhat cheeky and frustrating.
Anyone who got HL2 on the first week (and I'm assuming anyone prechaching Ep1 will find out too) knows how bad it was, I was one of the lucky ones at 4 or 5 hours validating.
Are you sure steam isn't doing things you aren't aware of? What about precaching crap like Rag-Doll KungFu without your prior consent and taking up HD space? How about telling you about fantastic offers every five seconds? If I wanted to look at ads all day I'd get Sky TV.
For me, it boils down to the same reaosns I don't buy music from iTunes Store. I buy a CD which I can do whatever the hell I like with, whenever and I know as long as i don't let it near any slimy toddlers it will always be there for me.
If you're into Downloadable content that's fine, but when I buy a game I want to play it, not tell it where I live, how much I earn, my mother's maiden name and how big my John Thomas is.
EDIT: And what about when all the developers start doing it? Am I gonna have to put up with a splash screen from Steam, one from Ubisoft, 3 from EA, on from Microsoft etc. and as many system tray icons to boot?
thane_jaw 3 May 2006 17:15
5/7
charming_fox wrote:
Perhaps if we were told about the differences when HL2 was first released I would've (possibly, at a push) downloaded it so I could play DOD:Source, but seeing and this wasn't even mentioned until a week before DOD's release I do feel it was somewhat cheeky and frustrating.
From what I recall they always had the bronze, silver, gold and platinum packages from the beginning- specifically telling you which games you opted in and out of. Having said that i did feel burnt that I didn't get DOD for free when I worked out what my retail package entitled me for.
charming_fox wrote:
Anyone who got HL2 on the first week (and I'm assuming anyone prechaching Ep1 will find out too) knows how bad it was, I was one of the lucky ones at 4 or 5 hours validating.
Are you sure steam isn't doing things you aren't aware of? What about precaching crap like Rag-Doll KungFu without your prior consent and taking up HD space? How about telling you about fantastic offers every five seconds? If I wanted to look at ads all day I'd get Sky TV.
For me, it boils down to the same reaosns I don't buy music from iTunes Store. I buy a CD which I can do whatever the hell I like with, whenever and I know as long as i don't let it near any slimy toddlers it will always be there for me.
If you're into Downloadable content that's fine, but when I buy a game I want to play it, not tell it where I live, how much I earn, my mother's maiden name and how big my John Thomas is.
EDIT: And what about when all the developers start doing it? Am I gonna have to put up with a splash screen from Steam, one from Ubisoft, 3 from EA, on from Microsoft etc. and as many system tray icons to boot?
Are you sure steam isn't doing things you aren't aware of? What about precaching crap like Rag-Doll KungFu without your prior consent and taking up HD space? How about telling you about fantastic offers every five seconds? If I wanted to look at ads all day I'd get Sky TV.
For me, it boils down to the same reaosns I don't buy music from iTunes Store. I buy a CD which I can do whatever the hell I like with, whenever and I know as long as i don't let it near any slimy toddlers it will always be there for me.
If you're into Downloadable content that's fine, but when I buy a game I want to play it, not tell it where I live, how much I earn, my mother's maiden name and how big my John Thomas is.
EDIT: And what about when all the developers start doing it? Am I gonna have to put up with a splash screen from Steam, one from Ubisoft, 3 from EA, on from Microsoft etc. and as many system tray icons to boot?
True say about the different digital distribution networks - I for one wouldn't touch ea's with a bargepole (not for any valid reason, I just like s**tting on EA's online services). Steam has also wracked up the advertising, which is scary. I support them in principle, bringing indie s**t like darwinia to the masses - but they seem to be bombing with the new stuff they bring out. I think a lot of people really got burnt by rag doll kung fu (which was in development since like 4 years ago right?) and are less willing to trust valve again as a result (add to that issues which successive patches have brought - valid or not). I know I'm sceptical about sin episodes.
I think a better incentive to steam downloaders would be unlocking a precached game it a day in advance (or even as soon as its ready) freeing up the next day for retail purchases to validate, but I'm gonna be hesistant before i download anything aside from hl2 again.
Jay 3 May 2006 23:30
6/7
thane_jaw wrote:
charming_fox wrote:
I think a better incentive to steam downloaders would be unlocking a precached game it a day in advance (or even as soon as its ready) freeing up the next day for retail purchases to validate, but I'm gonna be hesistant before i download anything aside from hl2 again.
To me, that is the best idea I've heard. I pre-loaded HL2 the second it was possibe and have never really had any qualms with Steam, to be honest - validating the game took about half an hour, which was a bit annoying but still gave me a quick blast before work :). I've got Ep1 pre-loading as we speak, but if I wasn't a Steam user, the prospect of being able to play it a few days before retail would definitelt win me over.
config 4 May 2006 08:33
7/7
"..." indeed.
HL2 was rolled out over several preload phases, as is Ep 1.
The issue seems (or at least, seemed) to be the strain on the servers, even with the preloading. It's almost certainly due to a massive underestimation of the demand for HL2 via Steam, rather than a failure in the Steam concept. Valve should be able to solve the problem by throwing hardware at the Steam server cluster, a la Google.
HL2 was rolled out over several preload phases, as is Ep 1.
The issue seems (or at least, seemed) to be the strain on the servers, even with the preloading. It's almost certainly due to a massive underestimation of the demand for HL2 via Steam, rather than a failure in the Steam concept. Valve should be able to solve the problem by throwing hardware at the Steam server cluster, a la Google.