'Official' Half-Life 2 Thread. Do Not Create New Threads (NO SPOILERS)

[MamiyaOtaru]

Originally Posted by sole_fish

The recent poster here must be on the Sierra/Valve payroll.

Please don't be lame. That is the gayest ad hominem I've ever seen.

I hate the activation. Because of the activation, I wouldn't buy it even if I ran windows. I am also pretty pissed that it is windows only, but I understand that it is their decision, as is the activation.

The activation sucks, but I still think it is stupid to whine about it as though it was some form of discrimination against poor people. Maybe you didn't read the post I responded to.. Requiring an internet connection is no more discrimination against poor people than requiring a 3d graphics card and good computer.

Go ahead and say how much it sucks and I'll agree. But when someone starts talking about how it's "spitting in poor peoples' face" I call bull****. There's already plenty of things making it hard for poor people to get the game, starting with the 60-120 dollar price tag.

Claiming that activation discriminates against poor people is just stupid. It distracts people from the real reasons that activation sucks and makes one sound like a hysterical tin foil hat wearing nincompoop.

Oh yeah, Valve paid me to write that. haha you are so clever.

[Grumpy]

@ManiyaOtaro
Its all about choices I guess and your choice is to obviously use Linux? So what are you actually saying? You wont use windows or you cant afford to use windows? You seem to be whining more than 'dalver'!

And for those that cant find the 'hl2.exe' it obviously only installs after the game has been activated online! As I have more than one system in the house (Geez those poorer people arent gonna like that ) I have been doin some testing and the other machine doesnt have the hl2.exe as it hasnt been activated on that machine.
And just to rub some more salt into those poorer wounds I also have another system used to check my CD2DVD conversions on!

[dalver]

Yeah, yeah.

"Spit in poor peoples eye" is an exaggerrated-phrase used by me to spark a reaction, which I got. So don't do as I do and get hung up on that one thing, there are more points in there, to be considered than that.

Nevertheless, I choose to view this internet verification, as discrimination because it is presumed by steam/valve that anyone without an internet-connection is a thief, otherwise they would have used a system allowing even those without one to play.

As to the high system spec argument I will respond that in order for a computer to function it needs certain components. A graphics card is among those things. True that a computer can run with a 2MB graphic-card, but it still needs it. Internet on the other hand, is an optional device. Many use it from school or work and so they don't have it at home. And as I've heard many of the ports used by steam/valve for verification, or whatever, are closed on many such networks... and as I've further understood every computer with an installed copy of the game needs to have a connection to steam/valve to be "decoded". And - most - people play games at home.

Requiring a good/fast/expensive computer, to make the game-engine work is one thing. Requiring an internet connection to certify that you are not a thief is another.

Don't bring up SW Galaxies as it is a MMORPG, meant to be played online - at all times.

[Brainman2k]

Originally Posted by dalver

Yeah, yeah.
Don't bring up SW Galaxies as it is a MMORPG, meant to be played online - at all times.

whereas hl2 doens't even come with a multiplayer-part....

[Grumpy]

whereas hl2 doens't even come with a multiplayer-part

Why does it say on the box "Game Experience May Change During Online Play"?

[evilclone]

The activation process is very hit or miss as its the first game to try such as thing, I mean to decrypt files online based on your Key which could take anything between 15 minutes to over an hours is a nightmare, plus you need to download and create an account with steam. Its like hello. Its a computer game!

A single player game should be just that and if online feature is available then you use your internet connection.

If you think about it games companies ship the decryption key with the game which allows you to install it on your machine. Here they are taking it away and moving it online. We've all seen key generators based on the cryption algorithm, once this algorithm has been identified and files that are encrypted have been exposed all it needs is someone to write a program that instead of using your web connection to decrypt your files it will do it locally based on your key, or someone elses.

In the hacking world of no-cd cracks and patches stuff like this will only bring out the hardcore code breakers to prove yet again nothing is safe.

[Brainman2k]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

Why does it say on the box "Game Experience May Change During Online Play"?

you're referring to cs:s? no offense, but that excuse of a game is not a worthy mp-part for hl2. in fact it has nothing to do with hl2, except for the source-engine. i assume thats why they put that sticker on.

[Grumpy]

you're referring to cs:s

Your possibly right there! A closer look at the box and the game experience may change bit is just underneath the ad for CS! So yes I also assume now that its for CS. Its a bit misleading if you ask me! Had me thinkin it was for hl2!
Oh and definately No Offensive taken. Thanks for puttin me straight on the matter.

[dernettemann1983]

How can i make of the dvd 2 5 cd's. Have anyone a no cd crack.

[MamiyaOtaru]

Originally Posted by dalver

Yeah, yeah.

"Spit in poor peoples eye" is an exaggerrated-phrase used by me to spark a reaction, which I got. So don't do as I do and get hung up on that one thing, there are more points in there, to be considered than that.

Haha ok you exaggerated a bit and I don't like exaggeration, but it looks like we actually agree about activation sucking Works for me.

Originally Posted by grumpy

Its all about choices I guess and your choice is to obviously use Linux? So what are you actually saying? You wont use windows or you cant afford to use windows? You seem to be whining more than 'dalver'!

Yawn. If I can afford hardware good enough to run Half Life, I think I could afford Windows. In fact, I had both 98 and XP on here before I deleted them. I just choose not to use them. This means I can't play Half Life 2, but I'm not screaming about it. Life goes on. I only mentioned it to make the point that I wasn't whining about it, even though I am prevented from playing just like someone who has no net access. THe point, in simple terms is this: I am moving on, people without net access can too.

But this just in: Transgaming's Cedega will support Half life 2 on Linux, so looks like I can play after all. Probably still won't, 'cause activation sucks (why do you think I don't use windows anymore?)

Bottom line: activation is dumb. But it is not discriminating against poor people, and since dalver said he was just exaggerating to get a response anyway, I don't think I disagree with anyone here. I just think it's possible to point out the drawbacks to activation without breathless hyperbole.

Originally Posted by sole_fish

That is called DISCUSSION. Not one sided drivel from a Nazi-conspirator. This is a FORUM for DISCUSSION about topics of interest. IF YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED, THEN GO AWAY. We are interested here. Find a place where your input is a topic of discussion.

Apparently people are only allowed to discuss things if they agree with you? After you rant about how this is a place for discussion you tell me not to discuss? You probably don't even realize how hypocritical that is. But please, stick by the weak claim that Valve is paying me off. And try to draw politics into it as well. Violate Godwin's Law while you're at it.. And do it while all the while you try to shut someone up, cause this is a place for DISCUSSION don't you know!

How clear can I make it that I am not buying Half Life 2 because of the activation, which I find ridiculous and unnecessary? As far as I can tell, you are pissed at me because I am not denouncing it with the same frothy mouthed rabidness that you are. I hate it, but not because it discriminates against poor people. Oh fark, I don't hate it as much as you do, I must be silenced! Fark, even dalver said he was just exaggerating about the discrimination. "'Spit in poor peoples eye' is an exaggerrated-phrase used by me to spark a reaction, which I got." Going to try to shut him up too now?

Since you appear to be dense: my point was not that activation is good, it was that it is not discrimination. If you're going to say activation sucks, use real reasons. Here are some of them:
1) it annoys the tard out of people who pay for it legally
2) it doesn't inconvenience people who download it illegally at all.
3) it is therefore a waste of money, moeny which could be spent on other parts of development
4) pissing off people who buy it legally will likely cause more of them to get it illegally, thereby defeating the purpose

So .. wow. One guy accuses me of not being able to afford Windows, the next accuses me of being a republican elitist. And for what? I didn't disagree with dalver's point (activation=bad) I disagreed with how he made it. For that I am accused of being poor, or rich, or something bad. Good grief.

[JoyBoy]

Bout time some proper discussion took place in the PC Forum

Anyways, concerning the Steam cracks you people are trying to use. Dont that just apply to the Steam version of the game? Good luck trying to get them to work with the retail.

[dalver]

I'm not whining because I can't play HlafLife2. I'm not buying or, er, "pirating" it for the same reason I have yet to see anything more than the teasers for any of the new star wars movies. And I own ALL versions and releases of the old ones.

What did upset me was the rabid commercialism that Valve shows and their assumption that everyone without internet is a thief. It is a bit of a stretch to come to this conclusion but it is nevertheless how I see it.
The 4 numbered points mentioned by Otaru, go without saying, for everyone I presume.


Another point that seems to have got overlooked, from my original post was this:

What an internet-online-account-copy-protection means to me is that the pirates and hackers and crack programs will need to change direction and also become better and more specialised, meaning the internet security will drastically drop. As it is now hackers are hacking cd-s and copy-protection-specific programs not online databases, at least not to crack a mere game for a no-cd crack - which will need to be done in order to crack this sort of “future” protection.

[sole_fish]

Originally Posted by MamiyaOtaru

Please don't be lame. That is the gayest ad hominem I've ever seen.

I hate the activation. Because of the activation, I wouldn't buy it even if I ran windows. I am also pretty pissed that it is windows only, but I understand that it is their decision, as is the activation.

The activation sucks, but I still think it is stupid to whine about it as though it was some form of discrimination against poor people. Maybe you didn't read the post I responded to.. Requiring an internet connection is no more discrimination against poor people than requiring a 3d graphics card and good computer.

Go ahead and say how much it sucks and I'll agree. But when someone starts talking about how it's "spitting in poor peoples' face" I call bull****. There's already plenty of things making it hard for poor people to get the game, starting with the 60-120 dollar price tag.

Claiming that activation discriminates against poor people is just stupid. It distracts people from the real reasons that activation sucks and makes one sound like a hysterical tin foil hat wearing nincompoop.

Oh yeah, Valve paid me to write that. haha you are so clever.

As for your last statement, i agree. It was clever of me to determine that you must be a Sierra/Valve flunky. Even if you're not paid to work for them, you are doing it fine for free. Keep supporting this crap and you may as well be a political voicebox for business. Oooohhhh, your tin-foil hat comment places you in a republican catagory too! That explains the arrogance and elitest attitude. Hey, screw the incompetence of the Softwear developers and publishers. Wait a minute.... wasn't there a day when softwear developers would actually give you a part of their game for FREE??!!?? Tell me it isn't so! How could they afford to give us that with 'piracy' no 'internet connections' no 'copying safeguards' AND the finished product was far less expensive than games are these days?!?!? I know they stopped doing that. The greed of the Gaming industry is coming to a head. And, people like you, who will not discriminate a particular point, are going to be the catalyst for this. Your point all along is, 'There are so many other things wrong, how dare you pick only one thing to talk about!' Ridiculous. That is called DISCUSSION. Not one sided drivel from a Nazi-conspirator. This is a FORUM for DISCUSSION about topics of interest. IF YOU ARE NOT INTERESTED, THEN GO AWAY. We are interested here. Find a place where your input is a topic of discussion. We have shown we are not interested in your views. Goodbye.

[ente]

hm, when i backup the complete steam folder i dont need to decode a second time the files after a crash ?

[dalver]

Now, now, be nice. And remember - discussion.