Caltrops - Half-Life II ???





	[quote name="foolio"][quote name="Fullofkittens"][quote name="Choson"][quote name="Souffle of Pain"]I installed Steam on C:\Program Files\Valve\Steam. I have a little space on my C:, no worries there. Next in the retail boxed copy process, I have to install Half-Life II. The actual game. I'll put it on the H:\ because I have 20 gigs free. Whoa, I'm stuck installing it to C:\Program Files\Valve\Steam?!? There's no option to change the install directory? Well thanks for telling me! <b><i>IT'S TWO THOUSAND AND FUCKING FOUR YOU ASSHOLES! THERE'S NO FUCKING EXCUSE FOR THIS SHIT! YOU LAZY, INCOMPETENT, DUMB MOTHERFUCKERS!!! WHO THE FUCK CAN'T WRITE AN INSTALLER IN 2004?</b></i>[/quote] Here's my sort-of-related question: Has anyone figured out whether it's possible to run HL2 standalone without launching Steam, once you've verified it? The HL2.exe gives an "Unable to load filesystem_stdio.dll" error when I try to launch it that way.[/quote] The installer says specifically that any Steam games won't work without Steam, and if you want to play HL1 without an internet connection you'd better quit the install.[/quote] Something about offline mode. There's apparently an option for it. I don't know the specifics--I don't even have Steam installed right now. But Chet@QTT seems to think this will work. Also, Shacknews is linking to some Valve dudes who are writing FAQs on this sort of thing. But the gist is this: You successfully authenticate once. You make sure you save your Steam password (so presumably you can skip the logon). You make a shortcut directly to Half-Life 2--this is one of the options in the context-menu (right-click on Half-Life 2). Somehow enable offline mode (no idea how). Close steam. Then whenever you click on the HL2 shortcut, you presumably bypass the authentication. This is the worst technical answer ever. HTH! HAND.[/quote]