HL2 is now PreLoading on Steam! Hmmmm

[Jeradln82]

Well title says it all. You can now start to preload Half Life 2 through steam. What does this mean? Is HL2 gonna be released sometime soon, like Sept soon? I hope so anyway. If not, why would you preload a game thats not gonna be released until Dec or even next yr? I'm hoping for an early Sept release.

Yeah, I'm sure not many people really care anymore. Its already like a year late isn't it? lol But now that is actually preloading kinda gets my engine revin again. Good timing too, b/c I'm just about done with Doom 3

[icallmedan]

I heard Sep 1. a while back, and the preloading help confirms it! My free HL2 coupon finally comes to use. I wonder if I will still be able to get a hard copy of the game.

[ghost2003]

heh, the servers are too busy to DL

[Force Flow]

Originally Posted by icallmedan I heard Sep 1. a while back, and the preloading help confirms it! My free HL2 coupon finally comes to use. I wonder if I will still be able to get a hard copy of the game.

EB had a release date up for sept. It now has been pushed back two months. Surprise, surprise.

[kram 2.0]

Originally Posted by Jeradln82 Well title says it all. You can now start to preload Half Life 2 through steam. What does this mean? Is HL2 gonna be released sometime soon, like Sept soon? I hope so anyway. If not, why would you preload a game thats not gonna be released until Dec or even next yr? I'm hoping for an early Sept release. Yeah, I'm sure not many people really care anymore. Its already like a year late isn't it? lol But now that is actually preloading kinda gets my engine revin again. Good timing too, b/c I'm just about done with Doom 3

Once I get a monitor, I can download it onto my yet-to-be-tested-for-gaming build . So if it means its preloading, doesn't that mean you can play the game? Or is valve only releasing segments of the game at a time, in which now, we're seeing part of it?

Thanks,
kram

[aym]

Nope, you can't play the game now, I think you only download what's finished so far.

The downloaded file is encrypted, so you won't be able to do anything with it right now.

[kram 2.0]

Originally Posted by aym_7 Nope, you can't play the game now, I think you only download what's finished so far. The downloaded file is encrypted, so you won't be able to do anything with it right now.

Gottcha - gonna get Steam rolling tonight to start the download. I presume that means I need to purchase a CD key for HL2.

kram

[Jeradln82]

The pre-load just loads things that don't change in the game, such as the textures and stuff. They did the same thing for CZ and CS:Source. Its a pretty good idea, that way when it is released its all ready to go and the servers are not bogged down by people downloading the game.

I'm hoping for a mid Sept release, but ya never know.

I presume that means I need to purchase a CD key for HL2.

Yes you will need to purchase HL2 sooner or later. You can preload, but when it comes time to play it you must buy it through steam.

If you like, you can just wait for it to be released and buy the hard copy. That way you don't have to preload it and worry about anything. Thats what I'm gonna do.

[Force Flow]

Originally Posted by Jeradln82 I'm hoping for a mid Sept release, but ya never know.

EB showed a November release date.

[sdkfz]

Best Buy has a November 6 release date, written in stone of course!

[Force Flow]

I'll believe it when I see it on the shelves.

[spyder003]

Originally Posted by Force Flow I'll believe it when I see it on the shelves.

Give me 1 good reason why you wouldn't believe Valve, or 99...

[kram 2.0]

Originally Posted by Force Flow I'll believe it when I see it on the shelves.

I concur. Valve's release date is as accurate as a blind person guessing what color the wall is.

kram

[Force Flow]

Originally Posted by spyder003 Give me 1 good reason why you wouldn't believe Valve, or 99...

First of all, I would like to hear through offical channels that the game has gone gold, and not some petty rumor or some hacked forum admin user account affliated with valve or whoever happens to be producing whatever game that it is in question.

[spyder003]

Looks like it's been submitted to the publisher...

http://www.anandtech.com/news/shownews.aspx?i=22994

[colecifer]

I think its kind of funny valve is doing this. Apparently people can't drive to the store anymore. They have to be able to play the moment its out. I geuss you can't really be out of stock though online which is a good thing.