Uhhhh...whats so bad about only dl'ing it on steam?

[phatman]

I bet you could buy it off ebay, :cheers:


Or maybe someone can sell you aftermath on a burned dvd or cd's

whats the big deal?


The reason valve does this is so vivindi doesnt get any money, retail= 50% publishers money, On steam= 100%


So they can get more money, and with more money, they can make more games :D

[rae]

But not everyone has a credit card... major problem as that means that quite a few people won't be able to pay for it if they don't have one

[CrazyHarij]

According to Lombard at this PHL post, the expansion might be released traditionally aswell: http://www.forumplanet.com/planethalflife/topic.asp?fid=2348&tid=1640841

It'd obviously be a waste of alot of money if they only released it on Steam.

[Samon]

I don't mind either way but personally...like a good ol box to add to my collection :)

And quite frankly they would miss out on alot of money if it was steam only.

[Gunner]

According to Lombard at this PHL post, the expansion might be released traditionally aswell: http://www.forumplanet.com/planethalflife/topic.asp?fid=2348&tid=1640841

It'd obviously be a waste of alot of money if they only released it on Steam.

Not necessarily, besides expansion packs always sell less than the original game anyway.

[ríomhaire]

I think a steam-only realese will encourage piracy, the oposite of what steam is for.

[jondy]

And quite frankly they would miss out on alot of money if it was steam only.

Hmm, that's a good talking point, as although they will miss out on traditional retail sales, development time will be reduced and 'going gold' and release candidate problems etc. etc. won't exist, meaning it's possible they'll be able to work faster and more efficiently without a publisher to liase with every step of the way.

[Kato]

Uh...:

If you own Half Life 2, YOU ALREADY HAVE STEAM. It wouldn't be a problem. YOU HAVE TO CONNECT TO THE NET anyway if you have Half Life 2.

:P

-Kato

[Cole]

YOU HAVE TO CONNECT TO THE NET anyway if you have Half Life 2.
Only one time smartass.

[sniper wolf]

The problem with aftermath only being available over steam is that i still have dial-up, so it would most likely take over a week for me to download aftermath over steam(after i got hl2 the day it came out it took about two hours of updating before i could play).while if they release a retail version both me and the other dial-up users will still be able to get it.

[kupocake]

Problems with Steam distribution:
- No Box. Sure you can make your own, but even if you use someone else's photoshop skills, you still have to find decent Printer-Paper and a DVD box from somewhere.
- No Hard Copy of the game. Sure there is a backup feature, but this effectively adds "CD-R or DVD-R Drive" to the recommended requirements for the game.
- Less Customers (I know it seems obvious, but most people buy games in a shop. No ammount of advertising on the Net or Games magazines can get to the vast majority of people who just walk into a shop and choose their games there).
- Requires a credit card in a rather restricted range of credit cards.
- Requires a broadband connection or enough patience to grab the expansion over a prolonged period on a crappy connection.
- Price Fixing: In one scenario, Aftermath will be wonderfully cheap. In another more likely scenario, there is only one source for the game and the price is unreasonable. I very rarely, if ever buy anything at the RRP. Aftermath could easily be as expensive or even more expensive than Retail HL2 was for me.
- If everyone is downloading via steam, the Steam servers are going to be under considerable strain.

[Ravioli]

Dude, Valve broke the contract with Vivendi to be the publisher, so all of Valve games is only available from steam right now...The games are going down from the shelves...check ur stores.

[kupocake]

Dude, Valve broke the contract with Vivendi to be the publisher, so all of Valve games is only available from steam right now...The games are going down from the shelves...check ur stores.
Not until August 31st, which gives Vivendi enough time to make a bit more money off the game, and Valve enough time to go looking for another publisher.

[Slainchild]

Not until August 31st, which gives Vivendi enough time to make a bit more money off the game, and Valve enough time to go looking for another publisher.
July 31st is probably when they will release Aftermath, which should give them enough time to sell it in the shops.

[kupocake]

July 31st is probably when they will release Aftermath, which should give them enough time to sell it in the shops.
Vivendi have no rights to Aftermath in the first place: "VU Games will cease distribution of retail packaged versions of Valve's games, including Half-Life®, Half-Life 2, Counter-Strike™, Counter-Strike: Condition Zero and Counter-Strike: Source, effective August 31, 2005."

As of yet, there is nothing that says that Aftermath will get released via Retail at all. Expect another publisher to handle it if it does.

[Samon]

July 31st is probably when they will release Aftermath, which should give them enough time to sell it in the shops.

Thats a stupid guess my friend :rolleyes:

[jimbo118]

Problems with Steam distribution:
- No Box. Sure you can make your own, but even if you use someone else's photoshop skills, you still have to find decent Printer-Paper and a DVD box from somewhere.
- No Hard Copy of the game. Sure there is a backup feature, but this effectively adds "CD-R or DVD-R Drive" to the recommended requirements for the game.
- Less Customers (I know it seems obvious, but most people buy games in a shop. No ammount of advertising on the Net or Games magazines can get to the vast majority of people who just walk into a shop and choose their games there).
- Requires a credit card in a rather restricted range of credit cards.
- Requires a broadband connection or enough patience to grab the expansion over a prolonged period on a crappy connection.
- Price Fixing: In one scenario, Aftermath will be wonderfully cheap. In another more likely scenario, there is only one source for the game and the price is unreasonable. I very rarely, if ever buy anything at the RRP. Aftermath could easily be as expensive or even more expensive than Retail HL2 was for me.
- If everyone is downloading via steam, the Steam servers are going to be under considerable strain.
listen to this guy. you should post more n stuff. :D

[Slainchild]

Thats a stupid guess my friend :rolleyes:
Well, it was only a guess. ;)

[Styloid]

listen to this guy. you should post more n stuff. :D
It's true, there are a lot of risks when trying new things.

[Feath]

Problems with Steam distribution:
- No Box. Sure you can make your own, but even if you use someone else's photoshop skills, you still have to find decent Printer-Paper and a DVD box from somewhere.
- No Hard Copy of the game. Sure there is a backup feature, but this effectively adds "CD-R or DVD-R Drive" to the recommended requirements for the game.
- Less Customers (I know it seems obvious, but most people buy games in a shop. No ammount of advertising on the Net or Games magazines can get to the vast majority of people who just walk into a shop and choose their games there).
- Requires a credit card in a rather restricted range of credit cards.
- Requires a broadband connection or enough patience to grab the expansion over a prolonged period on a crappy connection.
- Price Fixing: In one scenario, Aftermath will be wonderfully cheap. In another more likely scenario, there is only one source for the game and the price is unreasonable. I very rarely, if ever buy anything at the RRP. Aftermath could easily be as expensive or even more expensive than Retail HL2 was for me.
- If everyone is downloading via steam, the Steam servers are going to be under considerable strain.


I agree completely with those problems. They don't affect me (except for the credit card one) but I'd hate it if they did.

I hope Valve increase the number of payment options. I doubt I'm going to get a credit card for at least 5 years. More European Cards (i.e. Switch/Maestro) would be better. Even Paypal would be a good option.

[diluted]

I have no problem downloading Aftermath on Steam, as long as it's free, which it is unlikely to be, which means I would need a credit card. There lies the problem. :p

[capteeni]

Valve must publish they're games themselves in stores, i dont really know..

[Spoonoop]

I got an idea, but it's probably the same concept as selling the actual game retail. Why dont they just put a CD key in a box and sell it? Then You input it into Steam and get the game. Kind of like those game cards for MMORPG's, but it's not a pre-paid game card of course. Just a card with a CD key so you can download the game.

[clairelovestlc]

i agree with feath, it would be nice to see a switch/ maestro option, as i dont have a visa or a mastercard, luckily my dad does, so ill just have to "accumulate" it from him

[JellyWorld]

in one word: Credit Card. I think the idea of selling the cd key is good though, it would probably be cheaper.

[Cuddlez.ini]

My bet is that even if it is sold in stores it will be availabe on steam first. Also have you guys already forgotten about the preloading with HL2. I would not be surprised to see that used again, so that as the release date draws near all the people who want to get it from steam already have the game they just need to pay to actually play it.

[Samon]

Well, it was only a guess. ;)

Figured ;)

[Dirk Pitt]

For all you kiddies without a credit card - have mommy and daddy open up a new checking account for you with $35 in it, then wait a week on your debit card. Tuck it in a nice secure spot until HL2AM comes out, then bust that puppy out and play.

[el Chi]

For all you kiddies without a credit card - have mommy and daddy open up a new checking account for you with $35 in it, then wait a week on your debit card. Tuck it in a nice secure spot until HL2AM comes out, then bust that puppy out and play.Stop being such a smug, condescending little tw*t.
Just 'cause you have a f*cking credit card it doesn't make you an adult, nor does it make you an intelligent human being, as you have just expertly illustrated.

Also, those people with slower connections or no connections at all will be really disadvantaged. I see why Valve are doing it, after all the problems they've had with Vivendi, but to be honest I'd much rather have a physical, boxed copy. I feel the same about games, films and albums - I feel much more like I own something if it's a physical object.

Besides, I'll have to buy it with mummy and daddy's credit card :hmph:

[Feath]

Well, I was basically going to write what el Chi wrote, but I'll add something to it.

A notice to all Americans

I don't know what it's like over there, but over in the UK it's kinda rare for anyone round about my age to have a credit. In fact, I only know of two people my age who have a credit cards and neither of them use their credit card. I'm 21 (far from a kiddy) and I'll probably not get a credit card for quite a while, because I don't have a big enough need for one.

So can we please stop with the stupid "Kiddies who don't have credit cards" line?

[kupocake]

So can we please stop with the stupid "Kiddies who don't have credit cards" line?
Frankly, I know few UK people who own Credit Cards full stop, and of those who do, they're usually in debt. Perhaps an alien concept to Americans, but it's some kind of cultural divide centered around the fact that we're not quite so commercialist. So yeah, quit overgenerallising on the whole Credit Card thing.

[wilka91]

Steam sucks, period.

Just kidding :P

[el Chi]

Frankly, I know few UK people who own Credit Cards full stop, and of those who do, they're usually in debt.That's the reason I don't have one. It's like you're not even spending money!

[Edcrab]

I don't own a credit card either- but I was under the impression that Steam accepted certain types of debit card? Maybe I'm just misinformed.

[Farrowlesparrow]

They should sell redemption cards of some sort in the stores. Basically just a CD key sealed up. You buy it, type it into steam and download. No need for a credit card then.

I should so email Gabe that idea.

[Edcrab]

But then you might as well just issue the stores complete games-in-a-box, as sending them the details via e-mail or whatever would encounter numerous security issues :O

I know what I'd rather take home...

[Dr. Freeman]

They should sell redemption cards of some sort in the stores. Basically just a CD key sealed up. You buy it, type it into steam and download. No need for a credit card then.

I should so email Gabe that idea.

i don't know if u were joking when u posted this...but in all honesty, u should email Gabe about this idea.
i have noticed a few people talking about some solo card or something and they all happened to be somewhere in Europe...anyway for those not aware, here in Canada (not sure about the US) theres no such cards which can be used over the net.

anyway i agree with Feath about that credit card line...people need to stop with the bashing and understand that credit cards just aren't for everyone.

[Samon]

They should sell redemption cards of some sort in the stores. Basically just a CD key sealed up. You buy it, type it into steam and download. No need for a credit card then.

I should so email Gabe that idea.

Thats awesome, but I'm afraid I'm out of cookies.

[Mr-Fusion]

I suggested what Farrow said on steampowered sometime last year.

Biggest complaint was security issues, which are exactly the same as with regular boxed copies. I've also emailed Gabe with this idea.

I think Valve just hate the idea of having anything to with physical distribution.

[UndeadScottsman]

Here's the thing about Aftermath; there's nothing preventing Valve from mailing people box'd copies like how they did Half-Life 2 gold. :) I would be surprised if they don't offer Aftermath on some sort of a physical media. Just because it's not going to be in stores doesn't mean it's not going to have some kind of a boxed copy (It may end up not though.) So don't give up hope quite yet. :D

Although, upon futher consideration, I doubt many people will want to wait 8-10 weeks to get their game. :D

[Dr. Freeman]

Here's the thing about Aftermath; there's nothing preventing Valve from mailing people box'd copies like how they did Half-Life 2 gold. :) I would be surprised if they don't offer Aftermath on some sort of a physical media. Just because it's not going to be in stores doesn't mean it's not going to have some kind of a boxed copy (It may end up not though.) So don't give up hope quite yet. :D

Although, upon futher consideration, I doubt many people will want to wait 8-10 weeks to get their game. :D

even with the scenerio u presented, Valve will still be limiting themselves to gamers/fans who know about the expansion through Steam.
not to mention, some people are turned off by Steam and only use it to access the SP part of HL2.

no matter which way u slice it, Valve should go retail with Aftermath because that just increases chances of sales they wouldn't get otherwise.

[Nephtis]

I have dial up.

[Edcrab]

I suggested what Farrow said on steampowered sometime last year.

Biggest complaint was security issues, which are exactly the same as with regular boxed copies. I've also emailed Gabe with this idea.

I think Valve just hate the idea of having anything to with physical distribution.

Quite possibly- it's almost as if they want to banish everything to do with their retail-reliant past.

Granted, supplying CD keys on vouchers (or whatever) is just as "secure" as distributing complete games, and that's why I think that they might as well send out the actual game to the shops instead.

[Farrowlesparrow]

The point is though, that they need a publishing company to send the game out where as a card would be much cheaper and easier.

[DEATH eVADER]

I should really make a poll to indicate the percentage of people who have no Internet Connection.

The fact that I would have to dish out an extra £30 for a wireless LAN connection to my dads computer just makes it ever frustrating.

Just out of interest, do I need a LAN connection to my dads computer if we got broadband, or can I just connect straight to the internet with a wireless

[kupocake]

I should really make a poll to indicate the percentage of people who have no Internet Connection.
... On an Internet Forum?

[JCampbell]

... On an Internet Forum?
Hah! Good one!

[shadow6899]

one thing i do wanna point out to all the people that complain about 56k, and not having a broadband connection. They just came out w/ a new statistic saying that about 85% of the people online in the US are on some type of broadband. So i dont think that can really be used as an excuse anymore... if u dont have enough to pay for broadband, even dsl, you dont have enough to buy the game in the first place.

[kupocake]

They just came out w/ a new statistic saying that about 85% of the people online in the US are on some type of broadband. So i dont think that can really be used as an excuse anymore...
I understand where you're coming from, but unlike the US public would no doubt like to have it, 85% of the world's population aren't from the US. Some countries are ahead of that figure, others are behind.

[Kel Thuzad]

I understand where you're coming from, but unlike the US public would no doubt like to have it, 85% of the world's population aren't from the US. Some countries are ahead of that figure, others are behind.
Yep, and i say more are definitely behind...

[Dublo7]

Will be a pain for 56kers. Namely me.

[15357]

Will be a pain for 56kers. Namely me.

Quoted for emphasis.

also, steam has its problems. a lot of them.

[Dublo7]

Quoted for emphasis.

also, steam has its problems. a lot of them.
Yeah, that aswell.

[Smigit]

Just out of interest, do I need a LAN connection to my dads computer if we got broadband, or can I just connect straight to the internet with a wirelessdepends on your network, I have a wireless adsl modem so I connect straight to that, assuming you have the right gear you won't need to go near your dad's computer.

I wan't a boxed copy for the hell of having a box. I also dont have a CCard although I could borrow my parent's if needed (they dont mind but not all parents are like mine). I think Valvue would really shoot themselves in the foot not offering a boxed copy and down the line they will need to re-enter retail anyway for HL3 of HL2 Collectors edition (say with DOF , the EXP's or whatever like they did with HL1).

Besides having a product to ship immediatly after their contract expires with vivendi could be a good bargaining device with a potential new publisher. If I was a publisher wanting to sign someone up I'd rather have some company that is releasing new games for an established franchise (the HL name is guaranteed to bring in dosh) than a company with nothing to offer me for 12+ months except an aging back catalogue. I don't think valvue should wait until HL3 to get a new publisher simply due to the fact people still want to buy their games NOW so either find one straight away or distribute them themselves via reatil. In either case it'd then make sense to distribute Aftermath retail.

[Danimal]

I bet you could buy it off ebay, :cheers:


Or maybe someone can sell you aftermath on a burned dvd or cd's

whats the big deal?


The reason valve does this is so vivindi doesnt get any money, retail= 50% publishers money, On steam= 100%


So they can get more money, and with more money, they can make more games :D

1) Buying it off eBay is like asking a nun to slap you, you don't expect it to happen but she actually slaps you.

(In other words, buying it off eBay will result in account bannage since 9/10 cases the game is of the stolen leak version.)

2) Not everyone has credit cards or the internet speed to download a 3GB game.

3) I don't have the paitence or the trust to download a game off VAVLe after giving them my credit card number.



If Aftermath is Steam only then that gives me another reason to hate Steam and to an extent VAVLe.

They're hanging on by a thread as it is already.

[Cole]

one thing i do wanna point out to all the people that complain about 56k, and not having a broadband connection. They just came out w/ a new statistic saying that about 85% of the people online in the US are on some type of broadband. So i dont think that can really be used as an excuse anymore... if u dont have enough to pay for broadband, even dsl, you dont have enough to buy the game in the first place.

Im a 56ker... I don't complain.... To bad broadband isn't around here... Well I could care less ;).
If a 56ker complains... he should be arrested and beat the shit out of. If I can go dl a 600 meg file on my 56k...delete it within the hour and not care...I don't want to hear any whining.