[pyro-manic]

OK, this has probably been mentioned before, but it's got me seriously pissed off, so here goes:

I got paid today, so I went out and bought HL2.

Steam has got me completely confused. I want to play it on MY computer (not connected to the net), so I have to copy over the Steam files to get it to work in "offline mode". However, I can't activate the CD key without having the game installed, which is not possible on this comp (no DVD drive, tiny HDD). So how the hell can I get Steam to activate it? I'm not about to haul my comp down 2 flights of stairs, unplug the bastard from a huge and complicated sound rig (read: tangled jungle of cables;)), set it up for my connection, and then drag it back again once I'm done.

There is a "help" post on the steam site here , but I found it almost unintelligible, and not helpful at all.

Has anyone found a way to do this, and if so then how? I'd  be very grateful for any advice, as I'm quite considerably hacked off with the whole thing at the moment....

Cheers,

pyro

[Styxx]

Hah, owned. Serves you right for giving money to those bastards.

[karajorma]

From what I've heard you can install steam on the other PC without halflife, validate your key and then use it on an offline PC.

Buggered if I know how though.

[pyro-manic]

Nah, you have to have the game installed to validate the key...


Cheers for the constructive response Styxx....

[SadisticSid]

From what I gather the article tells you to make sure it works in offline mode on a computer with the net connection, then copy everything (probably excluding the SteamApps folder) in Program Files\Steam to a CD and unpack it on your target PC. That or you have to start juggling hard drives. Or maybe petition a god who's in a good mood.

[ZylonBane]

Steam is to PC gaming what Divx was to DVDs.

(the original Divx, not the codec)

[Styxx]

Originally posted by pyro-manic
Cheers for the constructive response Styxx....

Want a better one?

Put everything back into the box, take it back to the store, get your money back, buy something from a company that's not trying to screw you over.

[pyro-manic]

The thing is, I'm perfectly happy to pay the £30-odd for the game. It's meant to be bloody good and I want to play it. I'm just peeved at the way this thing works. I mean, even if they did a Windows-style thing where you ring 'em up with the cd key, then they give you an activation code you can type in, I'd have no problem with it. It's just that Steam is at best annoying, and at worst buggy and restrictive...

[Cyker]

I'm glad you got it working - All the trouble I had with it hacked me off so bad I actually took it back and got a refund.

I don't think I would have enjoyed it anyway - All the troubles I had ruined the game for me. The absolute kicking-me-in-the-sack-while-I'm-down last straw was when my mate warez'd a copy and got it working, three days after I bought it, and I still hadn't got the ****ing thing to authenticate!

It's a real pity too - I really wanted to play that game and credit Valve for their hard work, but if I can't even play the damned thing I don't give a crap how good it is. If this is the kind of direction they're going I can't see them gettin' any of my money any time soon.

[Steel]

Steam reminds me of cdilla and Mechwarrior4 add-on packs (IS and Clan mech paks).  A LOT of folks, me included, were quite ticked at having a process running in the background in order to run our game.

Steam takes it to another level.  I was considering getting this game for my GF (I have no interest since it is only single player) but will now not do so...no matter how good the game is.  Giving them money just perpertuates this crap - one can not even play (without huge effort) if you do not have an internet connection (which my GF does not have at her house).

Sorry I am not of any help pyro...  I agree with Styxx here.

[an0n]

Just e-mail them and say "I've bought your stupid game, I can't activate it, so I'm hereby cancelling my Steam account and will be playing a pirated copy of the game from now on. In short: Go **** yourselves."

[Slasher]

In another display of questionable judgment, Valve released a patch last night that added multiplayer to HL2 while breaking it and every other Steam application at the same time for many people.  Just when I thought they couldn't piss anymore people off with Steam, they did it again.

[an0n]

Steam is a bigger piece of **** than GS-Arcade and Kali combined.

[Vertigo1]

Originally posted by an0n
Steam is a bigger piece of **** than GS-Arcade and Kali combined.

Hey, I have no issues with Kali at all.  Just because they charge a one-time $20 doesn't mean it sucks.

[Krackers87]

I long for the good old days of WON

[an0n]

Go sit in the corner.

[Vertigo1]

Originally posted by an0n
Go sit in the corner.

I have a better idea.

[an0n]

[pyro-manic]

Very good!

Bleh, I'm gonna have to move the 'puter. Or try and get a wifi signal where it is....

[Vertigo1]

hahah

I'm immortal, thus I cannot die.