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Valve bans 20,000 Steam accounts that used a pirate CD-Key

Check out all the losers moaning

"It wasn't me, it was my cousin, honest. Please un-ban me."

and I care why?

Because of all the hackers, crackers, pirates and general idiots providing comedy gold by whining?

They've just taught 20,000 schmucks a lesson about warez

2000AD wrote:They've just taught 20,000 schmucks a lesson about warez

Even if I buy HL2, the only way I'm installing it on my computar is as
a cracked pirated version with Steam de-balled.

MKSheppard wrote:

2000AD wrote:They've just taught 20,000 schmucks a lesson about warez

Even if I buy HL2, the only way I'm installing it on my computar is as
a cracked pirated version with Steam de-balled.

Might be awhile the files themselves are encpyted not just waiting for an ID tag to be assigned so you can play meaning that potentinal pirates have to crack the encryption not just the keys, but because of that any pirates who do break it thanks to the new provisions in the Patriot act mean its a crime along the lines and punishments of Grand Theft(But for every copy you let someone download its a seperate change meaning that someone could rack up few thousands years or more in jail(25 max per sentance)

Since I can't access the site, please explain this to me ~

How is it special to ban accounts created on a cracked version? Game companies always immediately ban any cdkey that's been put up on the internet so that people can't play online with it. I don't see why this is different.

What it means is that you could not play it at all. Without a valid cd-key, you cannot decrypt the game files through Steam.

I am betting Valve left a backdoor way to run the game for people who absolutely have no internet access on their gaming machine.

Seggybop wrote:Since I can't access the site, please explain this to me ~

How is it special to ban accounts created on a cracked version? Game companies always immediately ban any cdkey that's been put up on the internet so that people can't play online with it. I don't see why this is different.

Because if they're telling the truth there's some dipshits who couldn't wait a couple of hours, so used the cracked cd-key instead of their legit one. tehy've been banned.
Also, any of the additional valve products bought, are also blocked.
They're steam accounts have been permantly closed down. One guy is making a big fuss about how he's lost $200 because "his cousin" used the cracked cdkey.
And they haven't got a foot to stand on because Valve can just point to the EULA and all the relevant sections about piracy, computer security or whatever and say "you signed it, you broke it, your now screwed."

Of course tey can just go out and by a new version of HL2

Alyeska wrote:I am betting Valve left a backdoor way to run the game for people who absolutely have no internet access on their gaming machine.

Definitely. It's just a matter of time to find it.

Alyeska wrote:I am betting Valve left a backdoor way to run the game for people who absolutely have no internet access on their gaming machine.

Not likely. Though it might be possible to fool steam into thinking it's talking to a steam server, when it acutally isn't.

Valve can't be so fucking stupid as to create a game that MUST have Steam to work. What happens if Valve gets shut down? What about people with no internet access?

Alyeska wrote:Valve can't be so fucking stupid as to create a game that MUST have Steam to work. What happens if Valve gets shut down? What about people with no internet access?

Yeah. My buddy's bro has got a kickass gaming machine in his basement, state-of-the-art shit, but no Internet access so he doesn't get any viruses or the like on it. He bought HL2 and was as pissed as hell. He was hoping there would be some sort of revolt. Guess not.

One of the requirements listed on the box is an internet connection.

At the bare minimum, you MUST be online to activate/decrypt HL2. After you do that, you can pull the NIC or modem out of your machine.

That is still absurd. People can and do have computers they never connect to the internet or can't connect to the internet. Valve HAS to provide a way for those people to play the bloody game.

Alyeska wrote:That is still absurd. People can and do have computers they never connect to the internet or can't connect to the internet. Valve HAS to provide a way for those people to play the bloody game.

And those people are in the vast minority compared to the overall population Valve knows will buy Half-Life 2 just for the updates to their favorite mods, plus all the new mods. It's a risk, but for Valve, it's probably a safe one.

Now, could there be a way to run and unlock the game without an internet connection? Sure. Will it be easy to find and activate? Probably not.

The worst part of this is that the people who KNEW Valve was requiring this activation all have easy access to the Internet, so it doesn't really bother them that much. People without the net access, the people who are hurt most by this, won't have much of a clue, other than the minimum requirement, which makes no mention of it being required to INSTALL the game, not just play.

Alyeska wrote:Valve can't be so fucking stupid as to create a game that MUST have Steam to work. What happens if Valve gets shut down? What about people with no internet access?

All indications show that you must have Steam to run HL2 (short of cracking, etc.) If Valve gets shut down or the Steam servers get shut down, well, you're SOL.

I feel your friend's pain, DGG. My internet connection crapped out for 2 days and I couldn't play HL2 over that period. It's only a single-player game, for chrissakes!

Alyeska wrote:That is still absurd. People can and do have computers they never connect to the internet or can't connect to the internet. Valve HAS to provide a way for those people to play the bloody game.

'This is absurd. People can and do have computers without graphic accelerators. Id HAS to provide a way for those people to play Quake II.'

Its not the same fucking thing and you know it.

Well...
They'll do whatever they think is necessary.
It doesn't matter though.
This insane copyprotect scheme's going to last a week at most. All they're doing is causing everyone a lot of trouble over something that they're incapable of stopping.

I await the coming of teh hax.

Mr Bean wrote:

MKSheppard wrote:

2000AD wrote:They've just taught 20,000 schmucks a lesson about warez

Even if I buy HL2, the only way I'm installing it on my computar is as
a cracked pirated version with Steam de-balled.

Might be awhile the files themselves are encpyted not just waiting for an ID tag to be assigned so you can play meaning that potentinal pirates have to crack the encryption not just the keys, but because of that any pirates who do break it thanks to the new provisions in the Patriot act mean its a crime along the lines and punishments of Grand Theft(But for every copy you let someone download its a seperate change meaning that someone could rack up few thousands years or more in jail(25 max per sentance)

I give it 3 months tops before the Pirated version hits the stores in Russia.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

You only need to connect to Steam once, then afterwards you can play HL2 with offline mode.


Also if Valve goes under, they're likely to either hand responsibility of Steam to someone else, or likely release a patch that auto-validates all copies of HL2 and let's them play without Steam.

Alyeska wrote:Its not the same fucking thing and you know it.

It is the exact same logic. The only difference is motivation: Steam is required to prevent them from losing revenue, as opposed to graphics acceleration needed to provide top-notch graphics.

1. I hate microsith
2. I refuse to buy Halo, or any sequels etc.
3. I don't care, it's not my problem

4. now the whole fact that Ando PRE-ORDERED his legit copy months in advance, and still can't play it because STEAM's fucked up security, and drop out problems particualrly relating to the portion of Austrialia that ando lives in.....

yes, this deserves a mighty FUCK YOU!!!!, and that has nothing to do with protecting the rights of corps, profits etc.