[Unknown Target]

I just got Half Life 2, and all that came with it is a small keycard and the five CDs. Only problem? I don't have a CD key. Where is it?

[Tiara]

They don't want you to have it. Don't you get it yet? And anyone who does get one, gets kicked off anyway for some bull**** reason.

[Unknown Target]

Phew, thank God I found it. It was on the back of the flimsy 20 cent CD case covers

[Jetmech Jr.]

Aren't they always...?

[Fineus]

They're usually printed on a sticker that's stuck somewhere on the box, or on the back of the manual that usually comes with the game.

Of course, my theory is thus: Half Life 2 is an odd creature that - while a good game - isn't what the majority wanted. Therefore they've made it so hard to actually get to play the game that only the dedicated fanboys will put in the time and effort to being allowed to.

The end result - the only people able to say they've played the game are the hardcore fans - the ones who won't say they didn't enjoy the game. Half Life 2 gets great coverage and so more and more people buy it - but the chances are that these new comers won't put forth the effort required to play the game.

Valve gets its fat cash, HL2 its coverage. The world continous to turn and nobody is any the wiser.

[Tiara]

Actually, I got the game, actually got it to play and then got a refund for such a crap-ass game.

It looks good and all, but the game itself sucks IMO. But thats just me.

[Unknown Target]

The loading times are a pain in the ass, every five minutes you enter a new area and have to wait a minute or two to load it.

Can someone please tell me if it's possible to play this game without running steam (which hogs resources), and to play it without a CD?

[Grug]

Missed all the anti steam threads huh?
The answer is simply no. Unless you use a crack of some sort.

I'd agree with Tiara though, I didn't enjoy it all that much. After I finished it, I havn't run Steam again.
And bewarned UT, don't play the game expecting a decent storyline.

The game's more like several hours of pointless eye candy...

[vyper]

I liked the game, I just wished it had lasted a bit longer. I was genuinely disappointed the moment I heard that voice saying "Time, Mr. Freeman?"

[Turnsky]

Originally posted by Unknown Target
Phew, thank God I found it. It was on the back of the flimsy 20 cent CD case covers

that really irked me, you'd think they would be good enough to put it in a big DVD case or something..

[Unknown Target]

Yea, I was actually expecting something of quality, not the little CD flaps...the thing that just irks me the most about this game is the load times. Doom 3 ran just fine on my machine, but Half Life 2....eh, it's choppy, takes forever to load up the sound files, and the mid-mission load times (like in the fanboat ride) really kills all the action...I've read more while playing this game than I have in the past week, while I read waitng for the load to finish.

[Tiara]

What can I say... Get a refund.

Seriously, for that money there are a ton of other games that surpass HL2 in game-quality by friggin' miles. Hell, the patience game that comes with windows is more entertaining.

[Martinus]

Originally posted by Tiara
Actually, I got the game, actually got it to play and then got a refund for such a crap-ass game.

It looks good and all, but the game itself sucks IMO. But thats just me.

[color=66ff00]No dear axe lady, it is not just you.
[/color]

[Turnsky]

finished HL2 twice now.. and ....bleh.. it's a good engine and all, the story happens around you, but you don't have much of a bloody clue as to what's going on, what's happened, and so on.. to many questions left unanswered, hell, it didn't even answer any questions from HL1.

[Gloriano]

but you don't have much of a bloody clue as to what's going on

True, I tried find some Story in it in my second run but i did get bored, because of lack story telling. I fully understant that they did have their own way telling stories (finding clues) but still....

[WMCoolmon]

Originally posted by Unknown Target
The loading times are a pain in the ass, every five minutes you enter a new area and have to wait a minute or two to load it.

Can someone please tell me if it's possible to play this game without running steam (which hogs resources), and to play it without a CD?

I don't think you can play it without steam, but then, I've never tried closing steam while it's running.

You can play it without a CD after the newest update though.

[Roanoke]

Damn, this has not been a good year for the PC. We had the promise of Deus Ex2, Thief3, Doom3 and HL2 and they all sucked.
Thank f**k I didn't send a load of cash updating my pc.

[Sandwich]

Far Cry was good...

[Roanoke]

Yeah, but those 4 we're my Big Hopes for '04. Especially Thief and Deus Ex.

[Rictor]

If Doom 3 and Half Life 2 didn't impress you, its safe you say that your standards might be a bit high.