Half Life 2 Preloading has started!

Thoran · 09-02-2004, 03:14 PM

Ever since seeing the prerelease info (especially teaser video's) on the two games I've thought of Doom3 as a warmup for the REAL THING... HL2. Now the time is indeed counting down. If you use their steam client (www.steampowered.com) you can tell it to preload an encrypted copy of the game to your system... then the minute the game is released you can pay up online and get an unlock code.

The game appears to preload in stages... it's a 3.5 gig game by all reports, I got the first gig in the first preload release... I expect maybe we'll get a gig a week or something.

CAN'T... WAIT...

Jaradu · 09-02-2004, 03:37 PM

Oooh, thanks for the notice, Thoran! [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

I'm downloading it right now, 1.3%

Any idea how much it's going to cost to unlock?

Assassin · 09-02-2004, 09:02 PM

... It sounds like the equivalent of cd-keys, but you get to download the key, instead of buying the key and the game. I shudder to think of how much money they're going to lose.

I mean, how can they stop people from using the same key over and over? EV:N tried to use the 'auto-update using the internet everytime you play the game to see if the key is already in use', but then people simply unplugged their internet connection before playing. And then there are going to be people who will try and crack it. And if enough people try, it will eventually be cracked.

Of course, every download could have an identification code that will only correspond with a certain key. But is it feasible?

Well, in any case, I think that I'll wait until reviews come out before getting this game. Thanks, Thoran! [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]

[ 09-02-2004, 09:04 PM: Message edited by: Assassin ]

Hivetyrant · 09-03-2004, 08:52 AM

Maybe you will have to regester your key online for it to work, anyway, thanks for the info Thoran.

Thoran · 09-03-2004, 11:17 AM

No problem guys, I'm a LOT more excited about this game than I was about Doom3.

I expect it will be more difficult to hack compared to CD released games... and the reason is that by downloading you give them options they don't have otherwise. One thing they could easily do is add a unique identifier to the download... you let someone else use your version and YOU get shut down. I don't know about you guys but I doubt there'll be too many people willing to pay 50 bucks for a game then let someone else have a copy and get you locked out of online play and updates.

Another thing that could be done is they could generate a unique key based on your particular hardware configuration... you send that key to them along with 50 bucks and they send you back an unlock code for that particular machine. I expect they'll come up with something along those lines since they won't be able to use the stupid tired "Insert CD #1" scheme.

Of course there'll always be ways around any copy protection scheme for those who are determined... but they can probably make it a big enough PITA to keep the pirating rates to the same level as CD based distribution. Besides... it appears that between steam and the game they've got some cool online capabilities that will significantly reduce the coolness of the game for the freeloaders. I might actually play online a bit if they can actually curb cheaters to the point where every game isn't full of idiots using aimbots, wall hacks and other bullcrap.

09-02-2004, 09:02 PM	#3
Assassin Symbol of Cyric Join Date: March 23, 2003 Location: Canada Age: 37 Posts: 1,134	... It sounds like the equivalent of cd-keys, but you get to download the key, instead of buying the key and the game. I shudder to think of how much money they're going to lose. I mean, how can they stop people from using the same key over and over? EV:N tried to use the 'auto-update using the internet everytime you play the game to see if the key is already in use', but then people simply unplugged their internet connection before playing. And then there are going to be people who will try and crack it. And if enough people try, it will eventually be cracked. Of course, every download could have an identification code that will only correspond with a certain key. But is it feasible? Well, in any case, I think that I'll wait until reviews come out before getting this game. Thanks, Thoran! [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] [ 09-02-2004, 09:04 PM: Message edited by: Assassin ] __________________ In The Terminator, Sarah Connor is told a speech by John Connor\'s father that John has given in the future. When John is born, Sarah tells John this speech, and John grows up to tell it in the future. So who wrote the speech?!

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09-02-2004, 03:14 PM	#1
Thoran Galvatron Join Date: January 10, 2002 Location: Upstate NY Age: 57 Posts: 2,109	Ever since seeing the prerelease info (especially teaser video's) on the two games I've thought of Doom3 as a warmup for the REAL THING... HL2. Now the time is indeed counting down. If you use their steam client (www.steampowered.com) you can tell it to preload an encrypted copy of the game to your system... then the minute the game is released you can pay up online and get an unlock code. The game appears to preload in stages... it's a 3.5 gig game by all reports, I got the first gig in the first preload release... I expect maybe we'll get a gig a week or something. CAN'T... WAIT...

09-02-2004, 03:37 PM	#2
Jaradu Silver Dragon Join Date: July 29, 2003 Location: Shrewsbury, England Age: 35 Posts: 1,635	Oooh, thanks for the notice, Thoran! [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] I'm downloading it right now, 1.3% Any idea how much it's going to cost to unlock?

09-03-2004, 08:52 AM	#4
Hivetyrant Jack Burton Join Date: August 24, 2002 Location: Aussie now in the US of A! Age: 38 Posts: 5,403	Maybe you will have to regester your key online for it to work, anyway, thanks for the info Thoran.

09-03-2004, 11:17 AM	#5
Thoran Galvatron Join Date: January 10, 2002 Location: Upstate NY Age: 57 Posts: 2,109	No problem guys, I'm a LOT more excited about this game than I was about Doom3. I expect it will be more difficult to hack compared to CD released games... and the reason is that by downloading you give them options they don't have otherwise. One thing they could easily do is add a unique identifier to the download... you let someone else use your version and YOU get shut down. I don't know about you guys but I doubt there'll be too many people willing to pay 50 bucks for a game then let someone else have a copy and get you locked out of online play and updates. Another thing that could be done is they could generate a unique key based on your particular hardware configuration... you send that key to them along with 50 bucks and they send you back an unlock code for that particular machine. I expect they'll come up with something along those lines since they won't be able to use the stupid tired "Insert CD #1" scheme. Of course there'll always be ways around any copy protection scheme for those who are determined... but they can probably make it a big enough PITA to keep the pirating rates to the same level as CD based distribution. Besides... it appears that between steam and the game they've got some cool online capabilities that will significantly reduce the coolness of the game for the freeloaders. I might actually play online a bit if they can actually curb cheaters to the point where every game isn't full of idiots using aimbots, wall hacks and other bullcrap.

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