Half Life 2 Unlocked

[a|A]

That's right kids,
Valve has offically UNLOCKED the single player campaign of Half Life 2, so if you bought it over steam, then you're able to play right now!

I wont get my copy from EB until tommorrow, but HL2 is out, and I hope you all enjoy it. Let's pray it's not another Doom3.

[Movius]

I find it most humourous that the same people that have been so offended by the alleged hype surrounding doom 3, are the same people that have been salivating over every piece of news/screenshot/etc. related to half-life 2 saying "OMG HALFLIEF 2 WIL BE TEH BESTEST GAEM EVAR!!!111111111onoeoneone"

[dozer]

seeing the screenshots that are up it seems to be surpassing the hype, looks amazing.

[MisterBishi]

It may be that stills don't do it justice, but I'm really not that impressed by the screenshots. I was when the first hl2 screens were released in what seems like the early 90s, but a lot of good stuff has come out since then and these hl2 screens look pretty ordinary.

edit: Some of the outdoor ones look pretty cool.

[dozer]

yeah

http://www.btinternet.com/~j_beales/hl2/d1_canals_010005.jpg

[MisterBishi]

hehe, that looks a whole lot better than the low res ones I've seen.

[dozer]

this guy has a fair few at high res

http://www.thesnipergecko.co.uk/index.php?offset=0&folder=gallery%2Fgames%2Fhl2%2F&page=index

[fastfood]

i played the original through on software rendering and still loved it :D

600x460 resolution, AWESOME!

this one.. the physics engine, gravity weapons... drool.. its looks too good to be true
*cries*

[dozer]

looks like you wont need too much to run it at full spec. ive just seen a stress test with 2.5ghz cpu/1gb ram/9800pro 128 getting 112fps at 1024x768

[sagit]

now I just need to wait (but not too long) for ati-valve to contact me about the "free HL2" (non-steam edition) with my ATI vidcard.

[MisterBishi]

The vouchers on the ATI cards that shipped in the UK said it would take up to 90 days to get a non-Steam ver. Probably won't take as long as that though.

[saige]

Well so far I think it's better than Doom 3. The screenies don't look that good till you're actually playing and interacting. I was very impressed.

Spec wise, I get a few hiccups with sound, but it's mostly as I'm running crap in the background and I have everything set to max.

[sagit]

The vouchers on the ATI cards that shipped in the UK said it would take up to 90 days to get a non-Steam ver. Probably won't take as long as that though.

hope not

[Afro88]

Well so far I think it's better than Doom 3. The screenies don't look that good till you're actually playing and interacting. I was very impressed.

Spec wise, I get a few hiccups with sound, but it's mostly as I'm running crap in the background and I have everything set to max.

What's your spec saige? And what res are you running at?

I've got an Athlon 2800XP, 512 megs ram and a geforce2mx 32meg card. Reckon it'll run alright?

[Urban3300]

I have here... a Half-Life² PC DVD ROM. :cool:

[saige]

What's your spec saige? And what res are you running at?

I've got an Athlon 2800XP, 512 megs ram and a geforce2mx 32meg card. Reckon it'll run alright?


You should be fine me thinks. Well depending on what effects you want to lose and the res you'll play it on. My specs: Athlon 64 FX53, 1 G of Corsair dram and a krusty ATI Sapphire 9600XT 256 smegs that got me a free HL2.

edit: Forgot the res: 1024x768 or was it 1280x1024... one of those. Don't usually go higher since type goes tiny.

[saige]

hope not

sagit, I recommend downloading it off Stream. I couldn't wait, so registered the cd key and downloaded it. Took about 4 or 5 hours on 150kb. Sure it sucks using one's download quota, but if you leave it overnight, it sure was worth it.

[dozer]

nice system saige, except for that card, whats the deal with mulitplayer?

[fastfood]

yeah that small font mx card is holding you back! you need to achieve balance in the force.

perhaps a good mid range card, not sure what that is nowadays, but when i got my system a year ago i got a 4600TI card, generally considered to be in that sweet spot between price and performance, i hope it gives me a good run on these new games when i get my boxen back, cos the laptop i have now only plays games up to about 2 years old as it has an 'intel' video card, possibly worse than the mx.

[fastfood]

nice system saige, except for that card, whats the deal with mulitplayer?

maybe the mod community will do a halflife 2 team fortress, or counter strike?
with the physics engine in there, it would be sweet

[dozer]

his card is about the same as yours

[dozer]

apparently just cs is the crappy multi and dm will hopefully developed at a later stage.

[fastfood]

his card is about the same as yours

well not quite, i would have been ripped off it it was!

GPU DX SM Clock Trans Proc PP Vertex Bandwidth Mem
GeForce4 Ti 4400 8 1.3 275MHz 63M 0.15u 4x2 125M 8.8GB 128mb
GeForce2 MX 7 - 175MHz ? 0.18u 2x2 20M 2.7GB 32mb

http://www.pcvsconsole.com/features/video/

looking at that chart, it seems i had the 4400, cos i remember having the middle one.

[dozer]

sorry dude, dx9 kills your card, sadly stats dont always match benchies
http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=415&pageID=638
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.html?i=1904

but still its crazy using that chip with tha gfx, bottleneck.

but anyway back to the game, ive read at least 10 different forums saying this game has it, i think im finally convinced.

[fastfood]

sorry dude, dx9 kills your card, sadly stats dont always match benchies
http://www.bjorn3d.com/read.php?cID=415&pageID=638
http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.html?i=1904

but still its crazy using that chip with tha gfx, bottleneck.

but anyway back to the game, ive read at least 10 different forums saying this game has it, i think im finally convinced.


damn it! don't tell me that! *cries*
i think that 'dawn' deom never ran on that PC
i can switch off the pretties right?

bloody upgrade treadmill, i might have to just abandon the pc and get a console for games :D .. but then fps are crap on a joypad..

i had a look in the games shop at lunch, they had it there £35..

[dozer]

you will still be able to play, just with less pretties, sadly your card isnt made for direct x9.

i still think the 9800pro is the best buy atm, the latest ones can be flashed to xt speeds, and they run hl2 at full spec, will play games for a while yet and its over a year old.

dont get a console, san andres has been confirmed on pc so why bother? nothing beats a nice mx mouse.

as i wont have a chance to play it until next week i think ill wait and get it at asda for £20

[Urban3300]

How exactly do you play Half-Life 2 offline? The quick icon on the desktop launches Steam(ing pile of shit) and the other two Half-Life 2.exe's in the game folder complain something about .dll's not loading. :mad:

[Lord_Phat]

maybe the mod community will do a halflife 2 team fortress, or counter strike?

er, both tf2 and cs2 are inhouse projects :fag:

[Moga2]

Woot Installing Now :)

[Moga2]

Its nice to see that the steam servers can handle the absolute flogging they must be getting, i've been waiting a good 5 minutes to fucking login for fucks sake

[saige]

Uber reply..

nice system saige, except for that card, whats the deal with mulitplayer?

Yeah, but have to say it's not a bad card considering the amount of stuff I've made it do. I had to toss up between getting a new one or speakers. I think I'll be going for 5.1 speakers as the sound in the game is awesome.

Multiplayer doesn't seem so bad. Haven't really tested it though.


apparently just cs is the crappy multi and dm will hopefully developed at a later stage.

I believe that CS was available to play already. Haven't done so myself, and don't really plan to.

How exactly do you play Half-Life 2 offline? The quick icon on the desktop launches Steam(ing pile of shit) and the other two Half-Life 2.exe's in the game folder complain something about .dll's not loading. :mad:

I had that same problem. You'll need to launch it via Steam for it to work.
Not sure if this is a Steam deal only or if you get it in the box you have to do the same. I would say that the retail one won't have the problem, otherwise they ruin it for people that don't have a online connection.

Even on my specs it took 5 mintues to load up and takes about a minute for each area. So I would suggest a lot of patience! Other than the sound hiccups I mentioned. It's super smooth.

Its nice to see that the steam servers can handle the absolute flogging they must be getting, i've been waiting a good 5 minutes to fucking login for fucks sake

Hey that's not so bad. I had to wait 2 hours last night to get the sucker active.....

[Moga2]

I would like to be the first to thank Valve for probably the worst release of game i have ever encounted. While the wait to actually buy the game is understandable, the wait after purchase to log in and play said game is the worst idea in the fucking world, YOU FUCKING CUNTS I PAYED MY MONEY LET ME PLAY THE GOD DAMN GAME, IM STILL FUCKING WAITING ON YOUR FUCKING ANCIENT SERVERS! GET WITH IT FUCKERS!!!

*end rant*

Sorry, i need to vent my frustration...

[Merudo]

well hey, put it this way, you could always, oh, i dont know , NOT HAVE THE STEAM SERVERS AT ALL, then you'd really be up shit creek without a paddle...

Instead of showing some intelligence and thinking "wow, there's like 500,000 people nailing their server right now", so many people just have sporadic idiot attacks and go fucking mental at the game developer (in this case, valve) over small issues...

So you have to wait a little while to log in? big deal, so do I.

I guess their "fucking ancient servers" just can't cope. Maybe you should donate your computer to them.

:fag:

[Necron]

Yes, Steam is very not cool. Hopefully the server load will decrease by the time I get my copy this arvo... Not likely though.

[sapience.]

the Half Life series has to be THE fucking worst series of games ever produced, even worse than parappa the rapper.

[Truephoenix]

In all fairness, having to register the game just so you can play totally sucks arse.

I hope a crack is released before saturday when i get my copy just so i don't have to go through valves dodgy business practice.

I don't really care about not being able to play multiplayer seeing as though i'm on a 28.8 kbps connection.

Hopefully next time valve releases a game they can come up with an anti-piracy measure that actually works.

[saige]

well hey, put it this way, you could always, oh, i dont know , NOT HAVE THE STEAM SERVERS AT ALL, then you'd really be up shit creek without a paddle...

Instead of showing some intelligence and thinking "wow, there's like 500,000 people nailing their server right now", so many people just have sporadic idiot attacks and go fucking mental at the game developer (in this case, valve) over small issues...

So you have to wait a little while to log in? big deal, so do I.

I guess their "fucking ancient servers" just can't cope. Maybe you should donate your computer to them.

:fag:


I think the point he was making was that it wasn't thought out logisticly. I also happen to agree with him that it was a very bad way to release a game.

By the way, I don't think it was Valve idea to do it the Stram way. I think it's more the publishers. I think that this issue is more for those that bought it via Steam than those that got it retail. I won't think they would make you have to go online so you could play a stand alone game.

edit: Looks like you still need to activate it to play even if you got it retail. Really stoopid move.

[landmachine]

TORRENT PLZ KTHXBAI

[landmachine]

why isn't anyone posting a torrent? are you all trying to upset me?

[Merudo]

Yes.


edit: maybe that was a 'o' bit flame bait up there that i posted :/ and was a bit harsh, but seriously, who can blame them for wanting to protect their intellectual property?



The whole steam "content delivery system" was valves idea to circumvent the publisher in order to bring you cheaper games easier, and for them to get more of the profit. But since a contractual agreement already existed with vivendi universal for Half Life 2, thats why it was released in tandem like this.

But to summarise the point in the post i wrote above that i got -Rep for....

So you have to log in? Big deal. Wait a few minutes, go have a coffee, look out the window, absorb some vitamin D, get back to work, do WHATEVER, but is it really worth a mega bitch session over?


ok i'm done. :(

[Goat Boy]

I just handed over my 120 bucks, now I want to go home and play it.
I had to laugh at the free T-Shirt offer. It comes in one size: Mens. XL.
Heh. Trying to tell us something? You are all a bunch of fat gamers!

FYI: It fits me quite nicely :)

[Goat Boy]

TORRENT PLZ KTHXBAI
http://www.suprnova.org/ has it.

[t101]

Hang on, you need to register the fucker online even if you bought it in a store and have no intention of playing multiplayer?

What, are they trying to give people a reason to go hunting for cracks?! Morons.

[landmachine]

WOOOO!@$!@$#

Ok, I am going to link to a "random" URL that "may" or "may not" be anything that "YOU MIGHT WANT TO FUCKING DOWNLOAD RIGHT NOW". Note, I am in no way "endorsing" nor "indicating that this is an active torrent for HL2".

http://isohunt.com/download.php?mode=bt&id=2547165

[Merudo]

Just buy the game, damn cheapskate. ;)

:greenman:

[Salted_Chipmunk]

Is work over yet? I just bowed to the pressure and went and bought it on my lunch break, its sat taunting me next to my monitor :(

[tikdoph]

http://www.suprnova.org/ has it.
Ok... downloaded it, but for some reason there is no t-shirt included.

[SamBo]

I just handed over my 120 bucks, now I want to go home and play it.
I had to laugh at the free T-Shirt offer. It comes in one size: Mens. XL.
Heh. Trying to tell us something? You are all a bunch of fat gamers!

FYI: It fits me quite nicely :)
I've seen this for $114 (online) and am tempted to get it..... would you endorse it over the normal version of the game?

[Goat Boy]

The t-shirt is in the .nfo file.
You need to print it and iron it on.

[BSS]

My HL2 experience has been nothing but pleasant.

Never having used Steam before, and hearing people complain about it non-stop had me apprehensive. But seriously what's the problem? Do you not have an Internet connection or something? I installed Steam a few months ago. Launched it every couple of weeks to see if there was any new pre-load content available. It always downloaded fast. When the time came yesterday, I loaded Steam, connected almost straight away, it unlocked the game, and I was playing a few minutes later. I haven't seen any bugs, and the game is fun.

I hope Valve can eventually fuck Vivendi off and do everything through Steam. Hell, I'd even like other developers to do business the same way.

[landmachine]

Just buy the game, damn cheapskate. ;)

:greenman:

buying games is strictly for the queers.

[Merudo]

and steers?

seriously though, while i'm a fan of the "download full version and try before you buy" ideal, since barely anyone releases demos these days... but you've gotta "give back" to the people that give to you :)

and i don't mean donate money to suprnova :P

[fastfood]

yeah, whats with donating money to torrent site? thats crazy!

buy the games you really want, most of them! if you can buy direct form the makers that would be the best. fuck those publisher fat-cats :D

$120 is that Kiwi dollars? :D
its £35 here, about $85 i guess

[Darksbane]

Its been smooth as for my HL2 via steam experience- its pretty sweet being able to buy it all online for a reduced price. Then again I do have cable so authentication/downloading was all too easy.

As for the game....apart from some in level loading times which seem a bit long (i only have a 1700+ !!) its very, very, very, very fun.

The gig of ram makes it run smoothly at 1024 with high detail- so Im happy :D

[Something Fast]

I'd get this, but I've got a really fucking crap piece of shit computer...

[saige]

Some Screenies.

http://www.users.on.net/~das/HL2/background020000.jpg

http://www.users.on.net/~das/HL2/d1_canals_010090.jpg

http://www.users.on.net/~das/HL2/d1_trainstation_040032.jpg

http://www.users.on.net/~das/HL2/d1_canals_070176.jpg

http://www.users.on.net/~das/HL2/d1_canals_060146.jpg

http://www.users.on.net/~das/HL2/d1_trainstation_050048.jpg

http://www.users.on.net/~das/HL2/d1_trainstation_050059.jpg

http://www.users.on.net/~das/HL2/d1_canals_010071.jpg

Check out this link for some more that I've done so far. Spoilers so don't clicky if you don't want to see some things.

I'll delete this in a few days (http://www.users.on.net/~das/HL2/)

[dozer]

nice work, your 9600 is doing very well. i may bow to the pressure and torrent it tonight.

[Urban3300]

http://www.suprnova.org/ has it. Are you sure it's not the alpha? It has been there for ages.

[Aardvark]

Nah, they've already cracked it. I was hoping they'd figure a way of cracking it before they activated it, just so they could start posting screenies and demos everywhere and really give vivendi some anti-steam ammunition

[Urban3300]

There's three 1282 Mb torrents on suprnova, I don't think it's the real deal buster. However, ircspy seems to have it: 3.9 GB.

[dozer]

got link? i can only see the movie on torrentspy

found it, emporio release, there seem to be many, also a 2.2gb version

[SamBo]

I'm going to buy this (just the normal version).
It's going to be the first game I have bought in years *sniff*, my mum would be so proud of me *sniff*

[Moga2]

Check out this link for some more that I've done so far. Spoilers so don't clicky if you don't want to see some things.

I'll delete this in a few days


I Think someone has the hots for Alex, atleast half those pictures feature her :P

Now that im into the game im very impressed with it, excellent game.

[saige]

I Think someone has the hots for Alex, atleast half those pictures feature her :P

Now that im into the game im very impressed with it, excellent game.


Ahaha, I'd hit it! :tits:

Seriously though, I took them for the facial expressions since at that stage of the game, you spend a fair amount of time with her talking and her pulling faces, and I was busy getting shot at for the others. Did some more and will include them of some of the other people you bump into. I'm seriously amazed at how natural and human the expressions and reactions are.

[fastfood]

What a babe! And she's wearing hipsters too :D

[dozer]

nudepatch?

[fastfood]

nudepatch?

haha, usually the FIRST mod to come out!