Questions about Steam

[Kamog]

With SEV not available in local stores at this time, but available through Steam, I'm starting to wonder if getting the Steam version is a good idea. I would prefer to get the boxed version that comes with a printed manual and CD, but if the stores around here don't sell it, then Steam would be an alternative. How does Steam work?

If you purchase SEV through steam...
1. Do you need to have internet access every time you want to play the game?
2. Is it possible to install the game onto a computer that does not have internet access?
3. Do we need to leave the "Steam" program installed on the computer to play SEV?
4. If you replace your computer in the future, would you be able to install your copy of SEV onto the new computer?
5. Will it work with dial-up internet?

Thanks for your help.

[Solymr]

The manual isn't really worth writing home about, the PDF version is far superior.

1. No, at least I can play HL2 and HL1 and whatnot offline, dunno about SEV though.
2. No.
3. Yes.
4. Yes, just reinstall STeam, logon and it'll begin redownloading SEV to that computer.
5. Yes, but I hope you have the patience of a saint.

[NullAshton]

I'm pretty sure it's not avaliable through steam yet, if you prepurchace it just downloads it on your computer to be unlocked with the actual release date...

[Fyron]

You can't easily maintain separate game versions for PBW compatibility. Never have I been able to just update SE4 and not worry about different PBW games updating at different times (or not at all in a few cases).

AFAIK, you can't easily decide when to patch and when not to patch. Maybe you can disable it, but who knows.

You have to wait for their slovenly delayed patch schedule.

Buying from Steam is a class A bad idea. Just pay $40 to EB Games.

[Spoo]

I think the reality will be that Steam determines the current PBW version. If there's at least one Steam player in the game, no one else will be able to apply the patch until Steam does. Likewise, once Steam applies the patch everyone else in the game will have to as well.

Not that this is a good thing...

[Kamog]

Thanks for the answers.

[Solymr]

Actually, Steam updated within hours of the patch being released. Valve's pretty quick to get on top of these things.