Half-Life 2 Steam and Store deal?

[GhostRecon]

Can someone explain the difference between the steam and store deals?
I'd buy the HL2 Silver package from steam but I like having the color manuals and retail box, and cds. Does the packages prepared by Steam include these materials or is it just streamed to your computer using Steam?

[icallmedan]

It's not streamed, it is actually downloaded to your computer (the full game). I don't think there is a way to get the manuals and such with just buying it and downloading it from Steam. It would be nice if you did, but so far I don't know of a way to get it.

[DragonNOA1]

I've heard more ppl having trouble with the retail packages b/c they aren't prepared to wait an hour or two while steam loads, updates, downloads files, unlocks, verifies, and registers. Plus you need the CD in everytime you play.

And while I don't have the retail version, I wouldn't be surprised if all they send is a pdf manual. Steam, and all it's frustration, seem to be the more logical way to go.

[kram 2.0]

Steam and its more frustration...though I don't like it different from my regular CounterStrike 1.5, Steam, like DraganNOA mentioned, works infinitely easier, especially if you've predownloded and waiting to get it unlocked (like I am going to do).

kram

[GhostRecon]

I don't mind having to wait for an hour for patches or inserting the HL2 Disc everytime Just for some reason I appreciate the game more if I have all the items such as the nice black box its packed in and manuals.

NOW

Why would anyone buy the collectors edition (boxed up) instead of the Half-Life 2 Gold Package? Both seem to include the some of the same contents but Gold has more for the same price. WHY?

[Yuanji]

it's more like sentimental value in collectors edition anyways. if you download gold package, it's just a bit of data tied to a username and password but if you buy it, you have the physical thing in your hand. the retail doesn't come witha manual though or at least mine didn't.

[DragonNOA1]

Ghost, Look here....

Why buy retail when you get more with Steam AND you can make your own packaging!

HL2 CD & DVD Covers:
http://www.marcopolo.me.uk/hl2.html

CD Labels Here:
http://www.halflifexpert.com/special...pid=195&page=1





Edit* The CD Label site is sometimes slow, keep trying if it link doesn't seem to work.

[GhostRecon]

I thought after purchasing the game from Steam, the games were just downloaded and ready to play after a few hours later They send you the box and everything

[DragonNOA1]

Originally Posted by GhostRecon I thought after purchasing the game from Steam, the games were just downloaded and ready to play after a few hours later They send you the box and everything

They sent you the box? Those pics on a above are printed home printer and they came from the sites I listed. Just another reason to buy from Steam; you can have whatever covers you want!

[csp]

The retail packages don't have manuals.