theInq: Half-Life 2 is piracy savvy

[maziwanka]

Originally posted by: Confused

Originally posted by: biostud666
When steam was introduced it was really bad IMHO, but I haven't had any problems recently. The concept is good and as it seems to work better it's good.

Yeah, when Steam first came out there were a few bugs. However, since it came out (which is WELL over a year ago), it has improved greatly, and I think it's a great system.

One application from which I can keep all my games up to date, purchase them through the internet, and can use my games and my user ID on any PC in the world which has Steam installed.


I'm happy with Steam, I wasn't originally as I was one of the ones that it caused problems for, but it is much much better.


Confused

i just started using steam and i have to say that i haven't had any problems with it yet..

this article was a good read...

 

[yhelothar]

Steam has already been cracked. :roll:
Pirates can easily play CS:Source online on STEAM with the crack.
This will be cracked too.

 

[GTaudiophile]

WTF! CS:Source has been available to play for free for a while as far as I know. What needs to be cracked?

My version of Steam had CS:Source ready to go since day one.

 

[ArmchairAthlete]

I wish everyone had something like Steam or even better. This is 2004, I shouldn't have to go out to the store to buy a *game* that can be downloaded. I don't even have a car right now as Freshman can't really have them at my school.

I find it funny that everyone but the game developers flip out about piracy.

Maybe because the publisher gets the lion's share of the profits, usually 80%+

 

[Hammer]

Originally posted by: Kev

Originally posted by: Modeps

Originally posted by: biostud666
Does this mean that you can't play HL-2 if you don't have an internet connection? (not that it applies to that many gamers)

Just a guess, but they probably have some sort of phone activation system in place.

i doubt it, because if it was just phone activation then the game would have been cracked already. i'm thinking there are extra game files you need to dl to make it work

more likely the number won't be made available until the day of the release

 

[GoSharks]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
WTF! CS:Source has been available to play for free for a while as far as I know. What needs to be cracked?

My version of Steam had CS:Source ready to go since day one.

then you had the ati voucher - or you bought hl2 bronze+ and installed steam then. cs:source is not a free product.

 

[xboxist]

Originally posted by: virtualgames0
Steam has already been cracked. :roll:
Pirates can easily play CS:Source online on STEAM with the crack.
This will be cracked too.

What the hell are you talking about?

 

[Kev]

Originally posted by: Hammer

Originally posted by: Kev

Originally posted by: Modeps

Originally posted by: biostud666
Does this mean that you can't play HL-2 if you don't have an internet connection? (not that it applies to that many gamers)

Just a guess, but they probably have some sort of phone activation system in place.

i doubt it, because if it was just phone activation then the game would have been cracked already. i'm thinking there are extra game files you need to dl to make it work

more likely the number won't be made available until the day of the release

how would that prevent it from being cracked?

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: SampSon
I find it funny that everyone but the game developers flip out about piracy.

That's because they're sitting back with their BEEEELIONS of dollars not giving a crap whether some stupid kid downloaded a copy of their game or not. Valve==my new hero.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

The problem with internet activation, is that sometimes the company stops caring or stops existing. If for example, Pole Position had an online activation. And I felt like some retro gaming. I power up my Atari, fire up the (theoretical) modem, and find out thier BBS died 5 years ago and is never to return. The game's now only suitable for a display case.

 

[TheVrolok]

Valve. :beer:

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
WTF! CS:Source has been available to play for free for a while as far as I know. What needs to be cracked?

My version of Steam had CS:Source ready to go since day one.

Valve requires that you pay for CS:Source. How the heck did you manage to play it without buying it? :Q

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: Kev

Originally posted by: Hammer

Originally posted by: Kev

Originally posted by: Modeps

Originally posted by: biostud666
Does this mean that you can't play HL-2 if you don't have an internet connection? (not that it applies to that many gamers)

Just a guess, but they probably have some sort of phone activation system in place.

i doubt it, because if it was just phone activation then the game would have been cracked already. i'm thinking there are extra game files you need to dl to make it work

more likely the number won't be made available until the day of the release

how would that prevent it from being cracked?

Exactly. The online registration, in order to be fool proof, will require a secure download of some core game component or registration data that does not come with the full install of HL2, directly from valve.

 

[Anonemous]

so they require broadband/dialup connections just to play single player?

 

[MetalMat]

I really think people are going to find away around this, its just in due time.

 

[Anonemous]

Originally posted by: MetalMat
I really think people are going to find away around this, its just in due time.

yea, but as others suggested, it's probably a file or two that's required from valve's servers to get the complete game.

 

[EarthwormJim]

I think you're required to have an internet connection if you bought the game through steam. Most likely the retail version will be usable if you don't have a connection.

 

[Confused]

Originally posted by: Anonemous
so they require broadband/dialup connections just to play single player?

It is clearly stated on the box that you require an internet connection to activate the game. It is not required to play the Single Player mode, but you MUST be connected to the internet to activate it, and then set Steam in Offline mode.


Confused

 

[Quasmo]

Originally posted by: EarthwormJim
I think you're required to have an internet connection if you bought the game through steam. Most likely the retail version will be usable if you don't have a connection.

Nope you have to have an internet connection. What I bet they'll do is get you to call up valve from your computer modem, and then it will tell steam that it has been activated, therefore avoiding ISPs and gives the ability to be truly secure. But that would cost alot of money for servers. Just a guess.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: Hammer

Originally posted by: Kev

Originally posted by: Modeps

Originally posted by: biostud666
Does this mean that you can't play HL-2 if you don't have an internet connection? (not that it applies to that many gamers)

Just a guess, but they probably have some sort of phone activation system in place.

i doubt it, because if it was just phone activation then the game would have been cracked already. i'm thinking there are extra game files you need to dl to make it work

more likely the number won't be made available until the day of the release

Yes, because Valve is going to recall all the boxes it shipped a week before the release, print phone numbers on them, and ship the back out on the day of the release.

The whole purpose of phone activation would be to let people without internet connections play. How do you expect someone to get a phone number that doesn't come in the box if they don't have an internet connection?

 

[Anonemous]

Originally posted by: notfred

Originally posted by: Hammer

Originally posted by: Kev

Originally posted by: Modeps

Originally posted by: biostud666
Does this mean that you can't play HL-2 if you don't have an internet connection? (not that it applies to that many gamers)

Just a guess, but they probably have some sort of phone activation system in place.

i doubt it, because if it was just phone activation then the game would have been cracked already. i'm thinking there are extra game files you need to dl to make it work

more likely the number won't be made available until the day of the release

Yes, because Valve is going to recall all the boxes it shipped a week before the release, print phone numbers on them, and ship the back out on the day of the release.

The whole purpose of phone activation would be to let people without internet connections play. How do you expect someone to get a phone number that doesn't come in the box if they don't have an internet connection?

they would travel back in time and reprint the boxes.

 

[MustISO]

Forcing you to have an internet connection to play a game is really lame. They can try and protect the game all they want but it will be cracked. They're just alienating the people who don't have internet access.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: MustISO
Forcing you to have an internet connection to play a game is really lame. They can try and protect the game all they want but it will be cracked. They're just alienating the people who don't have internet access.

It's two-thousand and fricken' four, who the hell doesn't have an internet connection but a HL2 capable PC in the 1st world?

 

[Anonemous]

Originally posted by: ViRGEIt's two-thousand and fricken' four, who the hell doesn't have a DVD-drive but a HL2 capable PC in the 1st world?

/fixed

 

[BlamoHammer]

Originally posted by: virtualgames0
Steam has already been cracked. :roll:
Pirates can easily play CS:Source online on STEAM with the crack.
This will be cracked too.

Of course it will be cracked, its inevitable. BUt the harder they make it to crack for the average Joe the more profits they see. I think the developers accept that supar 1337 h4x0rs will always find a way around but the percentage that those people represent is very small compared to everyone else. Make a decent amount of work involved and most people will simply give up and pay for it.