What if Half-life 2 uses Starforce?

[-Lord Ebonstone-]

...

OH NOES DEY WIL STEEL MY CREDIT KARD NUMMARS AND MANPR0N!!!!111

[Clanwolfer]

This means I'd have to plug it in just to install the game and play by myself, that's lame.

You only need it once, when you install.  To play by yourself, you can be offline, as long as you've registered.  I know extra wires are clutter, but if it's only a one-time thing, I wouldn't mind.

[Big Jake]

OH NOES DEY WIL STEEL MY CREDIT KARD NUMMARS AND MANPR0N!!!!111

Mock all you want, it took me a while to accumulate all that gay porn.  I'm not going to jeapordize my stash for anyone.

Just adding in that there is no evidence anywhere that Steam is spyware of any kind/shape/form.  

And you clearly need to read the last segment of my previous post.  Lack of Proof doesn't immediately mean lack of Fact.  (Where has Valve said that steam will not gather personal information?  I checked steampowered.com and got nothing.)  

BTW: Wasn't Steam part of the code stolen last year?  And a few of you have already put blind faith in Steam to not fuck you.  Do you really think someone risks major jail time...to cheat online?  IF (and I admit this is a big IF) one of the people who stole the code manages to insert a trojan into the auto-downloader, I'm laughing my ass off at all you guys who will get boned, and I will mercilessly taunt you guys.

Secondary questions given previous paragraph:
Also, given that Valve couldn't even protect the damn thing while in development, how much faith do you have that Steam will be secure?

If you are one of the conspiracy nuts who thinked they 'faked' the hackers last year: you think they lied to the authorities (filing a false report is illegal, btw), but they're going to be completely honest with you about a program they already admits 'dials home'? Explain your logic to me.
-----

Steam may well be a great multi-player program.  I DO NOT PLAY MULTI.  There is no proof that it will deter piracy any better then traditional method, and given what happened last year, there is evidence that it may be worse.

[Greggy_D]

What if you don't have the internet?  How do you register/play HL2?  Are they going to have a 800 number to call ala Microsoft?

[Clanwolfer]

What if you don't have the internet?  How do you register/play HL2?  Are they going to have a 800 number to call ala Microsoft?

You don't.  I expect 'working Internet connection' will be in the requirements on the box.  It'll probably piss a lot of people off, but that's the risk they run.

[Destructor]

What if you don't have the internet?  How do you register/play HL2?  Are they going to have a 800 number to call ala Microsoft?

You don't.  I expect 'working Internet connection' will be in the requirements on the box.  It'll probably piss a lot of people off, but that's the risk they run.

It'll be 'gotten around' within the first day, if not sooner, methinks.

[Thin_J]

I think if I lived even half of my life with the paranoia that seems to be so important to several people here I probably would have gone absolutely bat-shit fucking insane years ago.



/me thanks PA for the colorful but expressive wording

[Clanwolfer]

What if you don't have the internet?  How do you register/play HL2?  Are they going to have a 800 number to call ala Microsoft?

You don't.  I expect 'working Internet connection' will be in the requirements on the box.  It'll probably piss a lot of people off, but that's the risk they run.

It'll be 'gotten around' within the first day, if not sooner, methinks.

But surely any method to 'get around' this kind of thing would require an Internet connection to find.

[Falator]

What if you don't have the internet?  How do you register/play HL2?  Are they going to have a 800 number to call ala Microsoft?

You don't.  I expect 'working Internet connection' will be in the requirements on the box.  It'll probably piss a lot of people off, but that's the risk they run.

It'll be 'gotten around' within the first day, if not sooner, methinks.

But surely any method to 'get around' this kind of thing would require an Internet connection to find.

Go to a public computer connected to the internet and put it on a floppy (or one of those usb flash drives that are so cool)?

[jessie]

yes, you surely have beat the system if you're going to go to a public library.

[gameoverman]

Well, at least public libraries have finally found their niche in today's information society.

[whiteboyskim]

So what was the big deal with Starcraft? You may be the only one who remembers it, but I seem to be the only one who thought it was an "eh" game and never played much of it.

Also, I too think HL2 will be cracked within 72 hours of it "activating" but the question comes to mind of whether the activation cracks will be worth hunting for in the future. Should Valve go under and I have to reload and reactivate HL2 10 years from now, will I be ot of luck? Hmm...

[farley2k]

It'll be 'gotten around' within the first day, if not sooner, methinks.

Yup.

It actually seems fairly easy.  You go on-line, and register, a file is changed (I can't remember the name) and then you can play.  It actually sounds easier than some methods of cracking games.

[Kevin Grey]

So what was the big deal with Starcraft? You may be the only one who remembers it, but I seem to be the only one who thought it was an "eh" game and never played much of it.

I don't remember many details but it was discovered that Blizzard was culling information on people's computers or somesuch from Battle.net information.  I can't remember if it ended up being much to to do about nothing but it was a pretty big flap for a little while.

[Falator]

It'll be 'gotten around' within the first day, if not sooner, methinks.

Yup.

It actually seems fairly easy.  You go on-line, and register, a file is changed (I can't remember the name) and then you can play.  It actually sounds easier than some methods of cracking games.

what is to stop someone from doing that once and then copying the folder to a hundred different computers though? I can't imagine the copy protection for such a hugely hyped game being that simple. The suits wouldn't allow it.

[farley2k]

It'll be 'gotten around' within the first day, if not sooner, methinks.

Yup.

It actually seems fairly easy.  You go on-line, and register, a file is changed (I can't remember the name) and then you can play.  It actually sounds easier than some methods of cracking games.

what is to stop someone from doing that once and then copying the folder to a hundred different computers though? I can't imagine the copy protection for such a hugely hyped game being that simple. The suits wouldn't allow it.

I imagine it must be more difficult too but the offical FAQ lists this solution (quoted below)   So if for my "friend" I just need to copy the clientregistry.blob so he can play offline, why wouldn't that work for pirates everywhere?

Two Scenarios:
1.  My friend has no Internet connection, how can he set things up so he can play offline?

2. I want to be able to play at a LAN party and they won't have an internet connection there, how can we all play offline?

Answer:
There are several ways to do this that will work for players without Internet access as well as for LAN Parties where there won't be internet access.

Note:
You have to be online somewhere at least once to perform all of the following steps.

The first step here is to perform the latest update and capture it. This is very important to make sure you get the latest content and bug fixes.  Everyone that will be participating at the LAN event must have the latest update!

Easiest way
Bring the computer that will be playing offline to an available internet connection at a friend's house, school or perhaps business.  Log into the account and do all the updates, make sure it all works.

Then "exit" (do not log out!) from Steam, go to the Steam folder and make a copy of the clientregistry.blob file (just in case).  Write-protect the copy (mark it Read/Only).

Physically unplug the computer from the internet, start up Steam and let it fall back into offline mode.  Make sure the computer will play both Listenserver (LAN), client and the single player ok, then exit from Steam again.

WIN98
If this is a WIN98 computer, it will act like it's stuck updating and not logging in, JUST WAIT!  It will take about 90 seconds for it to finally figure out that there isn't an active internet connection then it will prompt you to retry or go into offline mode.

The computer is now ready to play offline at home unless he accidentally logs out ...

If he does this he won't be able to play unless he verifies online again >> or << exits from Steam, then copies the copy of the clientregistry.blob file back which will restore his offline play.

NOTE: MAKE SURE THE ACTIVE ClientRegistry.blob FILE IS NOT WRITE PROTECTED!

It certainly wouldn't hurt to burn a CD of the working offline installation for him.

[Big Jake]

Hey Thinj, and If everyone lived with the complete oblivious attitude towards potential abuse of their rights that you do, we'd all be living in cages with numbers stamped on our fucking foreheads.

Or maybe, I'm just a nut.

We all know, The Stasi weren't so bad.

[JayG]

I have no problem with activation in this way. If this takes off, we might see a increase in PC game sales, and an end to things like Starforce that cripple the system. We might even go back to the days when we didn't need the Cd in the drive.

[Samurai]

Steam > Starforce, which is a virus that I wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole.

[Cleric7]

I have heard conflicting answers to the following question. Can someone help me out:

After the intitial online validation, do you need to be connected to the Internet to play single player game??????

[Greggy_D]

No Cleric....you do not need to be connected for single player after the initial activation.  Nor do you need to be connected for a LAN multiplayer game.  But if you're never connected, you won't get any patches from what I understand.

I still don't agree with having to connect to the net once.  Those FAQ's are ridiculous.  If you don't have net access, you should take your PC to work or school?  Are they out of their mind????  Just to play a fricking game?  F that.

[Clanwolfer]

I have heard conflicting answers to the following question. Can someone help me out:

After the intitial online validation, do you need to be connected to the Internet to play single player game??????

Definitive answer: NO.  The FAQ posted on EvilAvatar was very clear about that.  Connect once, activate, and you're good to go after you pull the internet cable.

[\/\/olverine]

Nothing is going to stop be from playing this game, there could be a 50/50 chance it would ruin my HD and I'd still risk it. I know all of you who are saying you won't buy it will, or you'll pirate it...

[warning]

I've got HL2 preloaded via Steam and will buy the Silver edition when the game is out.  That said...

My issue with Steam is what if all PC game companies go this route?  Valve can get away with it because HL was one of the top games (single and multiplayer) but what about other companies?  5 years from now I don't want to have 30 different applets installed on my computer in order to play the 30 different games I own.

Though it seems like a bad precedent... hey it's Half-Life 2.  How can I not buy it?

[\/\/olverine]

What I think I read was that the next version of Windows will have control over the applications as far as activation and security measures, hopefully it will be a neat and efficient system. I really dont mind the measures Valve is taking to protect their games if the method actually works.

[Greggy_D]

Question for you Steam buying guys:

Don't you want the physical disks in your hands?  I'd be all over Steam if they actually sent a copy of the game on disk after you make your purchase.

[SamAdams]

I will not be buying HL2 at all.  Steam is as evil as starforce in my mind.

Where is the unistall utility for starforce?   My kids machine looks like they may have been infected.  Would like to repair it for them.


SamAdams

Beer drinker and PC game player