[digitalwanderer]

Originally Posted by Over at Elite Bastards I

I just fired up Steam on another daily check to see if HL2 might have something interesting up with it, and happened to catch that it's pre-loading again for HL2 like a mofo!

I had over a Gig already, the full pre-load I had thought as I've been doing this a couple of times a day....but now I'm sucking down a solid Mb/s and it's saying it's only 52% done?

Developing, but you folks pre-loaded might just want to re-pre-load up again before this news spreads and all the servers are filled up.

I'm at 53% now and Steam is still serving me at just over a meg. (LOVE me new cable connect! )

[Spaceman-Spiff]

I'd rather buy the cd than buy off steam. In case I need to reinstall in the future, I don't need to download the whole game again if I have the cd .

[ZoinKs!]

A cd or dvd burner solves that problem.

[Zyrusticae]

Or a HD backup.

But yeah, CDs are superior.
Besides, I get the pretty box to add to my (insanely huge) collection.

[kyleb]

odd, i didn't see any more pre-loading and my gfc is still at 1gig. maybe you just didn't finish before?

[thatdude90210]

I had to restart Steam in order to see the next preload.

[digitalwanderer]

Originally Posted by kyleb

odd, i didn't see any more pre-loading and my gfc is still at 1gig. maybe you just didn't finish before?

Nope, I'm at about 1.9Gb now....two seperate files.

EDITED BITS: Oh yeah, Devourer over at EB set me straight on the skinny:

Originally Posted by Devourer over at Elite Bastards

http://ve3d.ign.com/articles/544/544392p1.html

[kyleb]

Ya, sure enough, I restarted steam again and now it is pre-loading.

[Illestone]

Steam is crazy. I've preloaded and dl'ed CS:S at pretty much a CONSTANT 2.1mb/s, peaking up to 2.6mb/s...

That's just crazy

[oddfellow]

I put off jumping on Steam beacuse it was having problems early on (to be expected i guess), but I eventually got around to registering the other day, and I have to say it's simply amazing! Valve's content delivery servers never seem to top out, despite there being MASSIVE demand!
I've streamed almost 6 gigs from them over the past few days, and I'm now getting the second Half-Life2 pre-load at full speed with no problems.

I'm on a 512kb ADSL line and It's flat out! 82% there on the second pre-load. woohoo!

[digitalwanderer]

Yup, I ended up getting mine at over 2Mbs too....Steam works just spiffy for me.

<Spongebob voice>

"I'M READY!!! I'M READY!!! I'M READY!!! I'M READY!!! I'M READY!!! I'M READY!!!"

</Spongebob voice>

[XxStratoMasterXx]

I hope other developers follow the STEAM route...cut out the publishers and middle man, and bingo, lower costs of games and they make more profit.

[Bouncing Zabaglione Bros.]

Originally Posted by XxStratoMasterXx

I hope other developers follow the STEAM route...cut out the publishers and middle man, and bingo, lower costs of games and they make more profit.

We're seeing Valve make more profit, but are they actually passing this onto customers in the form of cheaper prices? I had a quick look at the Steam website, and there doesn't seem to be prices on there.

[digitalwanderer]

Originally Posted by Bouncing Zabaglione Bros.

there doesn't seem to be prices on there.

Nor will there be until the game is actually available, gives 'em more time to figure out what to make it.

[XxStratoMasterXx]

Originally Posted by Bouncing Zabaglione Bros.

We're seeing Valve make more profit, but are they actually passing this onto customers in the form of cheaper prices? I had a quick look at the Steam website, and there doesn't seem to be prices on there.

Maybe we wont start seeing lower prices until later, but STEAM is, in my opinion the way of game distribution in the future...

[fallguy]

Hows about a link. I still have not figured out how to download without a http link. :sigh:

[Unknown Soldier]

Half-Life 2 audio now preloading

Half-Life 2's preload to Steam account holders continued apace this week as Valve allowed users to download "the majority of the audio of Half-Life 2 in encrypted form," according to an update on the developer's website.

The second splurge of data - preceded by around 1040MB of texture and art content last week - comes in at around 900MB and, as with the original preload, will not cost you anything to download. The idea is that the moment the game is made available, those with preloaded copies on their hard disks will be able to start playing immediately once payment is made.

---------------------------

I take that it was the second phase??

US

[mito]

Please pardon my ignorance.

What exactly are you guys downloading from Steam's server? Did you preorder the game or have you got those infamous radeon cupons?

Are you downloading the final product or have to compile something?

The preload scheme has me confused....

[tEd]

Originally Posted by mito

Please pardon my ignorance.

What exactly are you guys downloading from Steam's server? Did you preorder the game or have you got those infamous radeon cupons?

Are you downloading the final product or have to compile something?

The preload scheme has me confused....

Everybody can preload hl2 if he/she likes to. Mainly content which is already final like textures,sounds,etc

[mito]

AFter I download the preload version, is it ready to be played?

[tEd]

Originally Posted by mito

AFter I download the preload version, is it ready to be played?

i guess

there were 2 preloads til now(aprox. 2gb data) probably gonna be a third one but then as soon as you can buy it over steam you should be ready to play right away

[mito]

Where do I preload HL2? I've found nothing at Steam's site.

[LeGreg]

Originally Posted by mito

Where do I preload HL2? I've found nothing at Steam's site.

you don't need to preload it if you don't intend to buy it by steam.. And it will be available in stores with a real box and all.

[LeGreg]

Originally Posted by Bouncing Zabaglione Bros.

We're seeing Valve make more profit, but are they actually passing this onto customers in the form of cheaper prices? I had a quick look at the Steam website, and there doesn't seem to be prices on there.

the price will be almost identical as retail: same old problem as usual, they don't want to be accused of unfair competition with their first clients (retail stores.).
Of course it probably means huge margin on the units they will sell by steam (or no additional cost for those they already sold by coupons).

[mito]

Originally Posted by LeGreg

you don't need to preload it if you don't intend to buy it by steam.. And it will be available in stores with a real box and all.

And what if I intend to actually purchase through Steam? I'm still confused about this preload stuff. Is this "hype"?