Support NeoGAF

[Redlink]

I've had HL2 installed for about two weeks now..
I get on to play today and I can't figure out a way NOT to download and set up Deathmatch..
What is this?
Why when I click on "Play $50 dollar game you purchased" does it make me go through this?
Any way around it?
I hate Steam
[/rant]

 

[ManaByte]

How could you have had it installed without Steam?

ARRR?

 

[drohne]

you're kidding. i won't be able to play half-life 2 without downloading the deathmatch stuff? the buggy deathmatch stuff, that's preventing some people from booting the game at all? i'm still working on hl1 source, but that's bullshit. steam sux.

 

[Redlink]

I did use Steam to install it...
But these mandatory updates are ridiculous...
I don't want to play HL2: Deathmatch Rise of the D-Day blah blah blah...

I just wanna double click on my CD Drive and play the game...



I can understand patches or in game fuzes, new models, etc...

But stuff I don't want or need?

 

[Bregor]

AFAIK it does not force you to download HL2: DM, just the updates to the Source engine that have been released.

HL2: DM isn't downloaded until you click on it in the 'My Games' list. Of course, it mostly uses the Source / HL2 shared files, so it doesn't take hardly any time at all to download.

 

[Foreign Jackass]

Bregor is right. You just need to download the steam update. Now go and be a good boy.

 

[drohne]

oh. well, i think i already downloaded the source update when i launched hl1. and it's good to know that deathmatch isn't a huge download.

 

[Mr_Furious]

:lol :lol :lol

 

[Burger]

Steam doesn't suck, you suck, at getting the answers you need in a prompt and efficient manner.

Instead of giving up on what is the best content delivery system ever made for a videogame, and proclaiming that it 'sucks', why not head over to the support section at http://www.steampowered.com

Some people don't understand how EASY Steam makes your whole HL2 experience. There have been, hell, 5 odd patches released for HL2 since it's release. Normally that would seem excessive, but with Steam, Valve can (and have) fix one simple problem within HOURS of discovering it.

Normally a publisher would add a fix to a list of fixes, to be released in a block patch after testing and Q/A.

Instead of jumping on a que at fileplanet to get "Half-Life 2 non-cumulative Patch 1.034 (requires version 1.022-1.028).exe" your game does it for you.

If you don't know how to use Steam, use the support system, or have a look at the FAQ's posted in the steampowered forums. You will find all the answers you need there.

 

[The Shadow]

People are dumb...

Steam does not force you to download HL2DM. If there is an upgrade to steam or to the engine (ie, a patch) then it'll download by default but it does not force you to download content you don't want. You can even shut off the automatic updates just like any other program that supports a feature like that.

 

[Uncle Dukey]

I've had HL2 installed for about two weeks now..
I get on to play today and I can't figure out a way NOT to download and set up Deathmatch..
What is this?
Why when I click on "Play $50 dollar game you purchased" does it make me go through this?
Any way around it?
I hate Steam
[/rant]

Shut off all 'my games' notices in the options.

Right click games you don't want [or even games you do want..], go into properties, and then tell it not to update itself.

Also, right click games you want to play, and tell it to 'add desktop shortcut'. Then you can just boot games with the desktop shortcuts. It will still start steam, but it will launch directly into your game this way.

 

[djpubba]

Is there a way to play the retail version without the CD in the drive? I gather the steam downloaded version plays without any CD in the drive, so what's with forcing you to insert the CD when it's obviously possible to play without it?

 

[Burger]

Is there a way to play the retail version without the CD in the drive? I gather the steam downloaded version plays without any CD in the drive, so what's with forcing you to insert the CD when it's obviously possible to play without it?

Not without a lengthy crack process.

Basically Vivendi Universal *REQUIRES* all games it ships to have a form of CD based copy protection.

This is a requirement that Valve does not have. Seeing as how you brought the game from Vivendi, you play by their rules. Valve would not be within their rights to remove this protection and it has no say in the matter. It was obviously a part of their Software Publishing Agreement.

 

[djpubba]

Oh, poo.

 

[Cutley]

Steam works fine for people who have an iq higher than a tree stump. Its not valves fault people are stupid.

 

[TekunoRobby]

The few things that I don't like about Steam is that: (a) the frontend is ugly (b) it needs to be run and it takes up resources (b) it's a bit more complicated than the simple install game and run of the previous era.

Of course those points are completely nonexistent but they have to atleast count for something.