HL2 preloading

Now I hope im not mistaken but as I have heard from many people hl2 is supposed to preload tonight. If not tell me I would like to go to bed now because knowing such a thing could happen even though I cant play it is still a big thing just because im bored to hell. If this is not true then tell me plzz.......

Also if anyone knows when the new valve hammer editor comes out also tell the release for that because iv been itching to get ahold of it although it wont do much unless i actualy have the material files and wat not.

HL2 is not preloading tonight seeing as how the game isn't done. The new Valve Hammer Editor will probably come out after the game.

The new VHE will most likley come WITH the game...

If you buy the collector's edition of it, sure. And when I say after the release, I basically just mean simultaneous, not weeks after or anything, just yknow... minutes or something. I dunno.

im going on the fact that HL1 came with Worldcraft 2.1 on the disk

Didn't they say at the initial announcement of the game that they would release the SDK a few months before the game to give Mods a head start?

Didn't they also say at the initial announcement of the game that it would be released in September 2003? Either way, if they did intend to release the SDK a few months early, we should be hearing about it shortly unless they decide to release the game early 2005 or something.

Tracer Bullet said:
Didn't they say at the initial announcement of the game that they would release the SDK a few months before the game to give Mods a head start?

They can not continue with that since the source was already out, and releasing the SDK would be like putting up a "Cheaters of the world, unite!" sign.

SDK comes with the full complete mod builder version of the game, which is NOT available of Steaming Pile of s**t.
Nor at Walmart.

The big version of the game comes with editting tools such as hammer, but not with the professional modelling tools and such. This will be on Steam, and at Walmart

The minimal version includes the game, and will be on steam

The games current release is September 3rd in North America and on Steam, and October 15th in Europe.

A wait of a month for the game to hit Europe? I can't see that happening to be honest - especially if it's available over Steam (which covers everywhere basically).

It generally takes 2-3 weeks after a game "goes gold" before it appears
on retailer shelves. Of course on Steam, this should be
instantaneous. There's also the possibility that they're delaying the
"gold" announcement, but that's usually for movie tie-in's or something
and is unlikely. So I don't think it'll be done for a while. But I'd love to be proven wrong, anyway.

I doubt it'll be like that. It'll likely be more like when Zelda:Ocarina of time came out. Lots of preorders, game available at opening on the day of release.

Of course, some stores are stupid.

HL2 is not preloading tonight seeing as how the game isn't done. The new Valve Hammer Editor will probably come out after the game.

Valve were all set to preload parts of HL2 last night (parts that they were definately not changing like sounds and textures), but something has gone wrong and Valve hasn't said what yet.

If you buy the collector's edition of it, sure. And when I say after the release, I basically just mean simultaneous, not weeks after or anything, just yknow... minutes or something. I dunno.

Valve plan to release the SDK before or at the same time as the game. This includes most, if not all the tools.

SDK comes with the full complete mod builder version of the game, which is NOT available of Steaming Pile of s**t.
Nor at Walmart.

The big version of the game comes with editting tools such as hammer, but not with the professional modelling tools and such. This will be on Steam, and at Walmart

The minimal version includes the game, and will be on steam

The games current release is September 3rd in North America and on Steam, and October 15th in Europe.

There's no longer a "walmart" version, and it's just standard and collector's edititon now. No one knows for sure what will be in the colector's edition, but all the professional modding tools and full SDK should be available will all versions of the game AND free for download.

A wait of a month for the game to hit Europe? I can't see that happening to be honest - especially if it's available over Steam (which covers everywhere basically).

Valve are planning a worldwide release to coincide with their own Steam release, so there won't be any delayes for specific countries or anything like that..

In other Half-Life 2 news, I'm almost done MY Half-Life 2 (New box artwork screenies available!)

boo to valve for trying to make us not think about the preload with videos!

Campaignjunkie said:
It generally takes 2-3 weeks after a game "goes gold" before it appears on retailer shelves. Of course on Steam, this should be instantaneous. There's also the possibility that they're delaying the "gold" announcement, but that's usually for movie tie-in's or something and is unlikely. So I don't think it'll be done for a while. But I'd love to be proven wrong, anyway.

Seeing as Going Gold means that the gold master copy is sent to the pressed it would make sense that it takes a few weeks for a few hundred thousand or millions of copies are pressed and boxed.

Just wondering, does anybody happen to know if valve will be releasing the 64-bit version at the same time as the 32-bit? I read somewhere that it was "gated on the release of windows 64", whatever that means. As far as I know windows 64 is out now.

I will by the retail version. Seeing as how it will have everything with it and I get a cool HL2 box. Now all I need is a new comp and 200,000 more yen.

Just wondering, does anybody happen to know if valve will be releasing the 64-bit version at the same time as the 32-bit? I read somewhere that it was "gated on the release of windows 64", whatever that means. As far as I know windows 64 is out now.

No, but I think they're considering having some sort of 64-bit upgrade distributed through Steam at some later date.

As for the lack of a preload yesterday, it seems a new update for CS:S was released, so that explains where the preload went. Most likely they wanted to conserve bandwith for the CS:S update. The same thing happened last Friday, when the hl2 preload was originally scheduled for. Makes sense, I think getting rid of bugs in the netcode and the Source engine is more important than having a bunch of useless files uploaded onto everyone's HDD.

NO. I WANT THE USELESS FILES!!!!!!

Me too, I'll have a great time browsing through the textures :biggrin:

I recommend everyone stays off any popular Half-Life 2 forums after the preload. All the sound files will be released, which means speech files, and thus big fat spoilers. I've been subjected to a few pricks posting stuff on hl2.net, and beleive me, you don't want to be spoiled.

I'll have a great time browsing through gun shot sounds

SDK comes with the full complete mod builder version of the game, which is NOT available of Steaming Pile of s**t.
Nor at Walmart.

The big version of the game comes with editting tools such as hammer, but not with the professional modelling tools and such. This will be on Steam, and at Walmart

The minimal version includes the game, and will be on steam

The games current release is September 3rd in North America and on Steam, and October 15th in Europe.

They're not doing that anymore. There is just the normal version (same as buying any other game) and then a collectors edition (think WarCraft 3).

They tossed the idea out because Sierra went under. (I'll find a link to the article later).