[ZylonBane]

Originally posted by Slasher
I decided to try that out and load my old copy of Half-Life (bought in 1998) and Steam popped up asking me to upgrade this or that.  Funny, I can't remember Steam asking me if it could oh so graciously annex any games installed on my computer.

Yup, that would be the "automatic" part.

[Shrike]

Originally posted by Liberator
Yes, but I have to install the Monstosity to play the demo.  It's like giving us a juicy, perfectly grilled cheeseburger and the requiring us to scarf a half-pound of calamari to get the cheeseburger.

What's wrong with calamari?  I like calamari!

[Liberator]

When you're in the mood(can taste it) for a cheeseburger?

'course I've never had any calimari m'self, sushi either.  But then I won't eat anything unless it's been cooked.

My point was they're pulling a bait & switch.  Once you install it, it will never likely be really gone.

[Shrike]

Originally posted by Liberator
'course I've never had any calimari m'self, sushi either.  But then I won't eat anything unless it's been cooked.

I practically live off Sushi.

[Thorn]

Originally posted by Shrike
I practically live off Sushi.

True story.

[Liberator]

Originally posted by Shrike
I practically live off Sushi.

But it's not cooked...you could get food poisoning or something.

[Shrike]

Originally posted by Liberator
But it's not cooked...you could get food poisoning or something.

No, but it is frozen first.  I suppose in theory I could get food poisoning, but you could get that from other stuff too.  More importantly, I like it.

[NGTM-1R]

Originally posted by Triple Ace
Still waitin for them to contact me. I sent in scans of my box, cdkey and receipt.

If you use snail mail, they are legally required to get back to you within a certain period of time, I think a week, but it could be a bit more. Fun fact, huh? Federal law here in the US for any company you wish to contact regarding a defective product.

Take 'em to court now.

[Roanoke]

Originally posted by Shrike
I practically live off Sushi.

Meh, I hate sushi. Have to drown it in soy sauce to get rid 0f the taste

[vyper]

Calamari isn't something I relish - it's too... well, squiddy

[Martinus]

Originally posted by Shrike
What's wrong with calamari?  I like calamari!

[color=66ff00]You killed Admiral Ackbar you monster!
[/color]

[Nico]

Originally posted by Liberator


But it's not cooked...you could get food poisoning or something.

Last ( and only ) time I got food poisoning, it was from lasagna. Was cooked obviously. What a ridiculous argument, cooked food doesn't not prevent anything

[Jetmech Jr.]

Sushi is all that is good. I laugh at people who've never tried it because "it's not cooked." If you can't stomach a little fish, you should never be introduced to some of the other forms of Asian cuisine.

Anyway, back on topic, go for it, Triple Ace.

[Corhellion]

I don't know why people hate Steam...it's alright...it's better than gamespy was...and loads faster...haven't had any problems with it...yet...and the problems I did have were just me being a bit...stupid...

*swishes around front part of brain in a jar*

Hello little man...how are you today...

*drools slightly*

It's ok...they just go up your noes...and take out that part of your brain that hates Steam...afterwards...Steams...bliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiissssssss...

*passes out*

but on a completely related note...SUE 'EM! SUE 'EM GOOD!

Why can't you play the original HL? It doesn't need Steam to run...just install it to a different directory instead of the Steam folder.

[Unknown Target]

You know what's sad? All the magazines and news people are slobbering over Steam, saying it's a monumental leap forward. It's like they're obvlivious to all that's going on.

Even Maximum PC, a magazine which I trust dearly and has a very good reputation, still says Steam "stops piracy and is a monumental leap forward, its problems being related to it being such a new technology" (those aren't the exact words, but the general gist).

[aldo_14]

Originally posted by Shrike
What's wrong with calamari?  I like calamari!

Calamari kicks arse.

 Unless you get it at a certain overpriced resteraunt in Barcelona, which gives you sod-all for far too much, and doesn't even heat it properly.........

[Kazan]

kick their ass - submit this to slashdot!

seriously slashdot HATES steam - and slashdot has influence

[WMCoolmon]

Originally posted by Unknown Target
You know what's sad? All the magazines and news people are slobbering over Steam, saying it's a monumental leap forward. It's like they're obvlivious to all that's going on.

Even Maximum PC, a magazine which I trust dearly and has a very good reputation, still says Steam "stops piracy and is a monumental leap forward, its problems being related to it being such a new technology" (those aren't the exact words, but the general gist).

I didn't not pirate Half-Life 2 because of Steam. I bought it because I wanted the game, no hassle, no fuss.

Thanks to Steam, hassle, fuss, and general annoyance were exactly what I got. Eventually, HL2 spontaneously started working - but only after my second time 'round installing and decrypting HL2 (And I had to watch it install because Valve decided 5 CDs were better than 1 DVD.) I also installed drivers (Which I doubt did anything), and it took me a while to figure out how to get to the 'play games' screen of steam instead of the 'buy the ones you already have' screen.

Edit: clarification

[aldo_14]

To be honest, I had been led to believe you could buy HL2 retail, install steam, verify the games' cd key, then uninstall Steam and keep playing.

I am muchly pissed off to find I cannot.......

[Fineus]

Originally posted by Unknown Target
You know what's sad? All the magazines and news people are slobbering over Steam, saying it's a monumental leap forward. It's like they're obvlivious to all that's going on.

I know what you mean, as has been pointed out - if any game but Half Life 2 had tried to do this, it would've been laughed at and the game would have died a fiery death for putting a consumer through such a process.

Unfortunately it's the same kind of thing that you can observe in the music industry magasines such as NME and Kerrang. If the bands are popular at the time then the magasines will wax lyrical about them - they can do no wrong. No matter what stupid things they do - it'll be for a good reason and anyone who says otherwise doesn't appreciate the situation properly.