Half-Life 2 (PC)

[Ciaran]

I just had a look through some release dates and the is going to be some month.

GTA: SA - 22nd October
Halo 2 - 11th November
Metroid Prime 2 - 26th November

[Concept]

Oops. I didn't bother checking what day the 16th was. Hopefully I may get it on the monday then( I can hope can't I? )

I'd check your independent retailer, because you'll probably get it earlier that way. There's a chance the big players won't budge on their Friday rollouts.

I just had a look through some release dates and the is going to be some month.

GTA: SA - 22nd October
Halo 2 - 11th November
Metroid Prime 2 - 26th November

In my opinion, this is the strongest Q4 period since 1998. We're going to be swamped with gaming goodness.

[Spatial]

WOOOO HOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!!




November the 16th and a worldwide date too ! And its just under a month away !!!!

Guess what the first thing I'm going to do when I get to work tommorow ?!

"Sorry boss, important family `do` that week, couldn't possibly come in."

If its a worldwide release now I don't think I'm going to bother with Steam. I've got my copy ordered from Gameplay so I know I'll be getting it on the day of release - if not the day before :fingers crossed :

Viva la Half Life 2 !!!!

[/screaming hyper fanboy mode]

[Len]

Well I think I'll join in as well...

OMFG...at last! 8)

Time to book the day off work.

As said previously what a week for fps's, it's gonna be sooooo good.

Deep breaths, relax, ahhh f@ck it....W0000h0000!!!

[Concept]

http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/34091

Steam users: Half-Life 2 will be unlocked on Steam on November 16th as well. Unless of course any retailer breaks the street date and puts it out on shelves sooner, then Steam will unlock Half-Life 2 sooner.

Someone break the street date. Please.

[Spatial]

I think I could slip someone I know some money to do that

[Ciaran]

I've got my copy ordered from Gameplay so I know I'll be getting it on the day of release - if not the day before

So the retailers will have it Thursday/ Friday and some of them will send it out on Friday for pre orders so some people (shop owners/posties) will have it before the weekend. If they can crack it, it could be on suprnova before Monday. Sounds like a potential Doom3 release

[Concept]

I think it'll be a lot harder. Since listed in the minimum requirements for the game is an internet connection.

In other words, Half-Life 2 needs to be validated and played over Steam (at least intially), which Valve control and monitor.

[Concept]

I think I could slip someone I know some money to do that

Heh. We need to organise a full scale official retail break-the-date campaign.

[Spatial]

Now that would be a campaign worth supporting - forget the Campaign for Kerry / Bush. This is far more important

I'm not sure how the logistics of it will work in getting the game to the retailers for the Tuesday. I think thats why UK retailers tend to stick with the Friday thing cos its a little bit easier.

If that Shacknews post is right it'll only take one or two independants to break the street date and it'll be unlocked over Steam in no time. The pressure on some retailers will just be too much.

If they don't break it for joe public but are fans themselves they'll be the first to take it home and play. Enough of that happens and they'll go for an early unlock - which puts me in two minds about keeping my order with Gameplay and going down the Steam route !

I didn't realise Valve had gone down the `must have an internet connection` route to validate each copy. Good for them tbh, as it'll make things a lot more difficult for the hax0rs.

[Zapp$ter]

I think it'll be a lot harder. Since listed in the minimum requirements for the game is an internet connection.

In other words, Half-Life 2 needs to be validated and played over Steam (at least intially), which Valve control and monitor.

and we all know how good Valve are when it comes to controlling and monitoring something really important

[Spatial]

Saucer of milk for Zapp$ter

It'll be interesting to see if it works (as it'll take off big time for other companies as a means of copy protection if it does).

Saying that on some dodgy sites I have seen copies of CS:S that are supposed to work online. They could have been fakes mind you.

[Ciaran]

Ooof, low blow. Zapp$ter


But unforunatley true

[Zapp$ter]

Ooof, low blow. Zapp$ter


But unforunatley true

Yeah, yeah I know it was a cheap shot. But it was just setup perfectly for me. I couldn't resist

[Concept]

and we all know how good Valve are when it comes to controlling and monitoring something really important

True. But you'd kind of hope since last year, Valve has ever so slightly thought about organising security issues a little better.

If that Shacknews post is right it'll only take one or two independants to break the street date and it'll be unlocked over Steam in no time. The pressure on some retailers will just be too much.

If they don't break it for joe public but are fans themselves they'll be the first to take it home and play. Enough of that happens and they'll go for an early unlock - which puts me in two minds about keeping my order with Gameplay and going down the Steam route !

I think it'll probably need a large-scale retailer such as GAME, Gameplay or EB (US) to break the date for Valve to act. If thousands of people are playing the game early.

I didn't realise Valve had gone down the `must have an internet connection` route to validate each copy. Good for them tbh, as it'll make things a lot more difficult for the hax0rs.

http://www.steampowered.com/Steam/Messages/minimum_req/index.php?l=english

Through Steam, checking the requirements for the game brings this page up. So yes, even if it's only for an initial check, I think Valve have to validate all copies through Steam online before we can play.