I'm sure there's info somewhere but I don't feel like googling it... nor am I actually going to buy this... just wondering.

Steam, HL2 requires Steam. As far as I know, Steam requires an internet connection. What if you don't have an internet connection or it's not working? Can you not play HL2?

I know for Windows XP activation you can call an 800# and activate but can you do that with HL2/Steam too?

 

Yes, for installation ONLY.

 

Does it bypass Steam?

 

It just needs to make a TCP connection to Valve's servers. :dunno: I am google'ing everything, I dont even own this game h:

 

No internet, no play game.... I bought it day 1 and tried to connect to their server to activate...Well they didnt plan for the server load, so I could not log on to the steam network all day. So it just would not finish the install.

The discs install about 95% of the game. the rest is downloaded and installed after activation. This blows chunks, I almost took the game back because of this BS! After installation, you dont need internet. But after all the BS, this game ROCKS. No multiplayer really pissed me off too. But single player is still really fun

 

you need an internet connection to play the game, it's in the system requirements.
and it absolutely kicks ass.

 

the game will Play after installed without internet....Go ahead, unplug your net cable and start the game, it works. I tried it.

 

what i dont understand is why steam does this. In my suite, one guy bought the game. He gave five other people his username/password and they downloaded to their computer. They just play HL2 now in offline mode...