Preload on Steam

(LyndonL) #21

No. I don’t want to. I’ve already preordered on Steam anyway. Be off with ye troll.

(SockDog) #22

For me a pre-load is desirable just to avoid the server slow downs during these kinds of peaks. When you’re talking a few hours difference between a possible retail launch and pre-loads unlocking (and hours you’d likely be asleep anyway) I think I can live it it. Then again maybe I’m getting old. :slight_smile:

Would be nice if both unlocked at the same time though, especially given all the muck retailers are throwing Steam’s way.

(madoule) #23

man, in this case the whole steamworks stuff is a huge bummer.
if i have to download as much as i had to for L4D2, it’ll be a huge grudge.
why do they put a frickin dvd in the retail box anyways???

(LyndonL) #24

…So people who NEED a disc can get one. Games always require patches these days anyways (SD has pushed back release to help alleviate this requirement (see COD:BO) but unfortunately things do get missed until they are released to the wide audience) so I don’t know why a disc is such a huge deal since Steam does backups to DVD anyway… But that can of worms will spawn another 10 page bitchfest…

(madoule) #25

sticking with my example: for me the disc which came with L4D2 implied to me that the majority of the content is on the disc.
point taken, steam is mandatory, as it is indicated on the case. however, they simply stated internet connection is needed. imo they should’ve but there: listen, mate, you need to download at least 11GB! PREPARE for that or just buy it online, while you’re at it. i’m fine either way, with brink i’ll be prepared. still as you said “can o’ worms”, we’d better not open it…

(Auzner) #26

The trend now is that every game has to call home (be on the internet) even if it’s single player. It’s generally accepted that anyone who plays PC games is more than likely to have an internet connection to the computer they play on. This is what’s generally being done with all games so you pretty much have to accept that. The idea is that everything stays updated and it all functions the way it should so that a person can play whenever they please. “Offline mode” I guess is just lingo for “loner playing with bots” since you will have to be on steam to play. It is very misleading since in the past single player meant “okay I never need to be online to play this so it won’t occupy my phone connection.” Now games are the opposite. You always need to be online, and while they’re at it various parties throw in their own form of social network along with it.

There have been at least 2 major DLCs since the discs were released. Also L4D1’s goty disc is now obsolete too since there’s another DLC for it. Those disc alleviate some of the downloading required but do not update themselves. Also when it says it has to download 11GB it means it needs to verify that much. Out of the disc you’ll get about 8 GB which you’ll see it “downloads” at 400mbit/s+ (verifying what’s already loaded). Then the rest it downloads what’s missing. At lan parties we’ve had people purchase things there and we just copy the files over the lan since they already exist locally. Then it’s just a few minutes to check what’s there.

(madoule) #27

There have been at least 2 major DLCs since the discs were released. Also L4D1’s goty disc is now obsolete too since there’s another DLC for it. Those disc alleviate some of the downloading required but do not update themselves. Also when it says it has to download 11GB it means it needs to verify that much. Out of the disc you’ll get about 8 GB which you’ll see it “downloads” at 400mbit/s+ (verifying what’s already loaded). Then the rest it downloads what’s missing. At lan parties we’ve had people purchase things there and we just copy the files over the lan since they already exist locally. Then it’s just a few minutes to check what’s there.

cheers for the insight.
in the end it’s definitely worth it. however it’d be nice to have some kind of a notice. i’m not whining, it’s just like this feeling: if i’d only known that in its total ramifications. still: hoping to slash some smokers 2nite

(Lanz) #28

I would really like to know why being always online is a problem for some people. Do you still have to connect from a phone line? Do you always use a laptop on the go and can’t afford/no available 3G? Why is it a problem? Especially with a game like BRINK that will obviously be a lot more fun online than offline in the first place IMO.

(madoule) #29

well, certainly my current web-situation could be improved. however i don’t have a problem with being online. my point is: i as a consumer would like to have the option of buying a install’n’play version of a game of the shelf if i want to. i want the standard experience with the budget title. if i’d chosen the DL option via steam, i’d have used it. tho the standard version may lack some patches it is supposed to be running (offline, unpatched).
i bought it of the shelf to kill some time, in offline mode and SP. why the heck do i have to download any patch, extra content. that’s what bothered me.

(LyndonL) #30

Thanks to DarkAngel’s link… It is now said that they AIM to have preload available on Steam prior to the game’s unlock. Hope so!

(Linsolv) #31

Because while I use perfectly good internet, sometimes I drop connection and it’s a real pisser to be in single player and have to lose all unsaved process because of a drop.

(madoule) #32

the forum will go bananas if somebody actually gets a message that steam’s downloading brink.
should we start a betting pool on date and time?

i’d go with may 10th - 16:41 CET

(riptide) #33

[QUOTE=madoule;285517]the forum will go bananas if somebody actually gets a message that steam’s downloading brink.
should we start a betting pool on date and time?

i’d go with may 10th - 16:41 CET[/QUOTE]

I am sorry to inform you but the price is wrong. You overbid, you see the game comes out in NA on May 10th :stuck_out_tongue: Pre-load will likely be 2-3 days prior :slight_smile:

(madoule) #34

kudos for the reference. :smiley:

****, i forgot you guys over in the US.
however that brings me to the next question, is the pre-load instantly available for all geographies? or is it as “distributed” in two waves through steam - first the us - then all other territories?

(Kryptyk Samurai) #35

[QUOTE=BMXer;248357]Everyone that I know that preordered and then preloaded their copies of Black Ops on Steam all had to wait until around 9-10am of release day before they could play.
If you want to play as soon as humanly possible on release day, bring your laptop to the midnight launch and your local GameStop and install Brink on your laptop in the parking lot and play over 3G while your mommy drives you home.[/QUOTE]

Same thing happened with Crysis 2. People who bought retail copies went home, installed it and were playing shortly after midnight. Those who preloaded with steam couldn’t play until 10 am EST which was EA’s response to irate customers who purchased but could not play it. That time was apparently the “OFFICIAL RELEASE TIME and DATE”. Those were from mycrysis.com forum posts…people were pissed!

I’m still going to get it on steam regardless. I can wait a couple hours…besides, I can’t get off work to play all day anyways so won’t be playing until that night anyways.

(Linsolv) #36

[QUOTE=BMXer;248357]Everyone that I know that preordered and then preloaded their copies of Black Ops on Steam all had to wait until around 9-10am of release day before they could play.
If you want to play as soon as humanly possible on release day, bring your laptop to the midnight launch and your local GameStop and install Brink on your laptop in the parking lot and play over 3G while your mommy drives you home.[/QUOTE]

Is there some reason to believe there’s going to be a midnight launch? I’ve been looking for info all over, since I’m totally free that night and would probably be really keen on going. But I can’t find anything of the sort.

Except at Wal-Mart, where I don’t have the game preordered anyways.

(riptide) #37

[QUOTE=Linsolv;285560]Is there some reason to believe there’s going to be a midnight launch? I’ve been looking for info all over, since I’m totally free that night and would probably be really keen on going. But I can’t find anything of the sort.

Except at Wal-Mart, where I don’t have the game preordered anyways.[/QUOTE]

Obviously all 24 hour stores… and then gamestop/ebgames will have it in some locations. You need to call them and ask though. When it was slated for May 17th , the same day as LAN , it was almost a certainty that all gamestops would have a midnight release.

(LyndonL) #38

All Steam Content servers worldwide update at about the same time afaik.

(SockDog) #39

Wonder when the D2D keys will go live? Be nice if it’s before release so I can pre-load too but then again I’m not buying from steam so maybe I should get a bit of grief.