Half-Life 2 Preloading from Steam: Part 2

BrainsVolpe writes "For those of us on Steam, we can continue our 'preloading'of Half-Life 2. This time around we'll be downloading 'the majority of the audio of Half-Life 2 in encrypted form.' Does this mean we'll be getting HL2 before September 30th? Only Valve knows for sure... sorta."

Ask Slashdot: How to re-start?

[richie2000]

I got the prompt to pre-load before, denied it to let the server load subside a bit and now I can't get it to ask me again. Now what?

Digital transfer is the best way

[ricotest]

I really like this (legal) digital form of selling games. The pre-loading makes it as instant as a game box, but Valve can't really go out of stock. Makes it easier for lazy people like me who aren't pre-ordering HL2 from their local game shop.

Re:Ask Slashdot: How to re-start?

[Baikala]

Wich was the default setting back when all this "diferent secctions" madness begun.

Encryption?

[Sp00nMan]

While this may be the future of games delivery, I don't quite understand the "protection" involved with this Steam system. I mean, once the entire game is on your system, how long would it take for a pirate group to crack the thing and let you play it without paying? How is this going to be any different that other methods of copy protection?

Re:Encryption?

[karmatic]

It's not encrypted (despite what they say), if you fire up GCFScape, you can open and extract all the files.

The true protection lies in that they aren't preloading Half-Life 2.gcf (the filename is in the ClientRegistry.blob file), which contains the client dlls, nor are they releasing the maps yet.

Re:Who gets the money?

[doodzed]

I am buying it through steam not only because they get more money, but also because I trust steam will be around for a while. So when I am at my parents visiting, I can install steam..... I have all my valve games in a couple of hours. No digging to find reg code, find the cd, find the updates......

With steam, all I need to have is my login.
So far valve has done an ok job with steam considering they are the first people to do this.