dragonfire_uk

Hi,

I've just reinstalled HL after years away.... I'd like to know where things
are at with it?? I don't have the computer to run HL2 so forget that.... But
whats this Steam thing?? Is Counter Strike free still?? Where can I get all
the files needed for a good bash online??

Thanks

Andy

chadwick

If you don't want to play HL1 multiplayer (HLDM, CS etc) then you don't
need Steam. Just go and install the game by itself.

If you do want the online stuff, then you'll need to use Steam. You can
play single player through Steam as well.

Steam is Valve's front end for all their games. From HL2 onwards, every
Valve game will need to Steam to install, play and patch it.

Basically, you create an online Steam account, then register your
Cd-Key to that account. You can now go to any PC in the world, login to
your Steam account and play the games you have registered, downloading
them first if necessary. To play the game you must log in to Steam
first - all your games will then be available. You don't need to have
the disk in the drive - your Steam login is all you need to access your
games. If you somehow delete or damage the game files on your PC, you
can just download them again.

When you login to Steam, it tries to go online to authenticate you. If
successful, it will then check for updates and patches for your games
and will automatically downlaod and install them. If a game is being
patched, you must wait until the update is finished before you can play
it.

You can avoid the above online authenticaton, by making sure you are
not connected to the internet when you start Steam. It will then go
into "offline mode" - you can play your games offline, but there is no
check for updates. Obviously, this only works for single-player.

Steam will search your PC for older Valve titles and make them
available through its portal.

There's a lot of debate about whether it's really necessary for a
single-player game to require online authentication, and there are some
bugs and annoyances in the way Steam itself works. If this post isn't
followed by a continuation of that argument, I'd be surprised.

I hope this explains what Steam is and how it will affect the way you
play HL.