StarDestroyer.Net BBS

Portal used to cost money. Until May 24th, it's free. End of story.

Well, technically speaking, there are some strings attached. Fortunately, they're entirely decorative. We just like the way they look, swaying in the gentle breeze created by a million people simultanously fainting from shock at the news that Portal is free. Now you have no reason not to try Portal.

"I have a reason," some of you are probably typing into an angry email. "You see, sir, I own a Mac."

Well guess what: For the first time ever, Portal is also available for the Mac.

"Capital news! But the excellent puzzle adventure Portal won over 40 Game of the Year awards; Surely it must cost at least five or six hundred dollars."

You'd think that, especially since it actually won over 70 Game of the Year Awards. But, like we keep saying, Portal is free. Free on the Mac. Free on the PC. But only until May 24th. So you only have a few days to decide if your free copy of Portal is worth the price we're currently charging - which is you ever-so-slightly moving your index finger just barely enough to click the big red "download" button right there to the left.

General Zod wrote:I like how this was posted in the bargain bin thread and nobody seemed to notice.

Phantasee wrote:Hey, if I don't have a computer capable of powering Portal right now, but will get one in the future, would I be able to transfer my (I guess?) license for the game to that new computer when I get it?

General Zod wrote:

Phantasee wrote:Hey, if I don't have a computer capable of powering Portal right now, but will get one in the future, would I be able to transfer my (I guess?) license for the game to that new computer when I get it?

Yes. Steam games are tied to your account, so you can install them on any computer you want. Just sign in with your account and your list of games will be there.

Phantasee wrote:Why would I waste my own storage space for a game I can't play and likely won't play for a year or two, when it'll still be waiting for me on their servers when I do get around to getting a new computer?

PeZook wrote:

Phantasee wrote:Why would I waste my own storage space for a game I can't play and likely won't play for a year or two, when it'll still be waiting for me on their servers when I do get around to getting a new computer?

How do you know that?

It's unlikely, but Steam could go bankrupt in two years, in which case...bye bye, games library!

Gramzamber wrote: Too bad Steam games are shackled to the Steam client, which now requires an online connection at all times..

Gramzamber wrote:

PeZook wrote:

Phantasee wrote:Why would I waste my own storage space for a game I can't play and likely won't play for a year or two, when it'll still be waiting for me on their servers when I do get around to getting a new computer?

How do you know that?

It's unlikely, but Steam could go bankrupt in two years, in which case...bye bye, games library!

Too bad Steam games are shackled to the Steam client, which now requires an online connection at all times..

Gramzamber wrote:

PeZook wrote:

Phantasee wrote:Why would I waste my own storage space for a game I can't play and likely won't play for a year or two, when it'll still be waiting for me on their servers when I do get around to getting a new computer?

How do you know that?

It's unlikely, but Steam could go bankrupt in two years, in which case...bye bye, games library!

Too bad Steam games are shackled to the Steam client, which now requires an online connection at all times..

Coaan wrote:Except when you use that nutty little 'Go offline' mode. Crazy features. You're probably thinking about Ubisoft games and their daft insistence on having all their games tied to a Master server that doesn't even work particularly well. (read - most of the time, it doesn't.)

As far as Steam and Portal goes, it'll be interesting PR for them. I can't help but wonder if they intend to give more games away in the future.

Gramzamber wrote:

Coaan wrote:Except when you use that nutty little 'Go offline' mode. Crazy features. You're probably thinking about Ubisoft games and their daft insistence on having all their games tied to a Master server that doesn't even work particularly well. (read - most of the time, it doesn't.)

As far as Steam and Portal goes, it'll be interesting PR for them. I can't help but wonder if they intend to give more games away in the future.

Go offline is only an option when I'm already logged in.
Trying to start Steam or a Steam game without a connection or while Valve's servers are down gets me an error message and the client shuts down.

General Zod wrote:Maybe your computer just sucks? Are you trying to play a GFWL title? Because I've never ran into this and I've got a fuckton of Steam games. It'd be easier to believe you if you could give specific examples.

PeZook wrote:

Phantasee wrote:Why would I waste my own storage space for a game I can't play and likely won't play for a year or two, when it'll still be waiting for me on their servers when I do get around to getting a new computer?

How do you know that?

It's unlikely, but Steam could go bankrupt in two years, in which case...bye bye, games library!

Phantasee wrote:

PeZook wrote:

Phantasee wrote:Why would I waste my own storage space for a game I can't play and likely won't play for a year or two, when it'll still be waiting for me on their servers when I do get around to getting a new computer?

How do you know that?

It's unlikely, but Steam could go bankrupt in two years, in which case...bye bye, games library!

Bye bye, one free game?

Gramzamber wrote:

General Zod wrote:Maybe your computer just sucks? Are you trying to play a GFWL title? Because I've never ran into this and I've got a fuckton of Steam games. It'd be easier to believe you if you could give specific examples.

I doubt my computer's specs have anything to do with it, and this happens with any game on Steam. Dragon Age, Portal, Torchlight, etc.