FREE: Portal from Valve via Steam

[Hoopz]

I realize that this could go in software but Main sees more action and I thought this was important enough for everyone to see:

Portal is free until May 24.  

http://www.geek.com/articles/games/portal-is-free-to-download-until-may-24th-20100512/

http://store.steampowered.com/app/400

UPDATE: 

Portal is free again until Sept 20th, 2012. 

http://store.steampowered.com/app/400/

http://www.geek.com/articles/games/portal-is-free-to-download-until-september-20th-20110916/

[Ginsu Victim]

Awesome! I advise everyone who hasn't played it to go nab their free copy! It's one of the best games I've played in a long time.

[HaRuMaN]

Awesome! I advise everyone who hasn't played it to go nab their free copy! It's one of the best games I've played in a long time.

I've played it (on 360), now I'll grab it for PC, thanks!

[Ginsu Victim]

Way better on PC (mouse and keyboard are a must for this game)

[RayB]

Thanks!

[mimic]

Beware: "Cake is a Lie!"

[Hoopz]

Their servers are getting slammed.  Everyone is trying to grab this.  Or the Mac fans are finally getting to play.   

[Havok]

Nice - thanks for the heads up. I'm still kicking myself for missing the Orange Box promo they did not too long ago where it was only $10...

[WhereEaglesDare]

Nice - thanks for the heads up. I'm still kicking myself for missing the Orange Box promo they did not too long ago where it was only $10...

you should be... Team Fortress 2 has to be one of the best online games, it is so easy to make intricate plans with other players, same with L4D

[ccmathome]

sweet thanks for the heads up ive never played this game and have been wanting to

[Encryptor]

I realize that this could go in software but Main sees more action and I thought this was important enough for everyone to see:

Portal is free until May 24.  

http://www.geek.com/articles/games/portal-is-free-to-download-until-may-24th-20100512/

http://store.steampowered.com/app/400

Never heard of it. Is it an online game?

Encryptor

[SirPeale]

I realize that this could go in software but Main sees more action and I thought this was important enough for everyone to see:

Portal is free until May 24.  

http://www.geek.com/articles/games/portal-is-free-to-download-until-may-24th-20100512/

http://store.steampowered.com/app/400

Never heard of it. Is it an online game?

Encryptor

Wow...you've never heard of Portal?

Download it RIGHT NOW.

No, it's not an online game.

[Encryptor]

I realize that this could go in software but Main sees more action and I thought this was important enough for everyone to see:

Portal is free until May 24.  

http://www.geek.com/articles/games/portal-is-free-to-download-until-may-24th-20100512/

http://store.steampowered.com/app/400

Never heard of it. Is it an online game?

Encryptor

Wow...you've never heard of Portal?

Download it RIGHT NOW.

No, it's not an online game.

Nope never heard of it. I went to download it and I even registered and it wants to install some Steam client online games or something. Is there a way to download it without installing their client?

Encryptor

[Hoopz]

I realize that this could go in software but Main sees more action and I thought this was important enough for everyone to see:

Portal is free until May 24.  

http://www.geek.com/articles/games/portal-is-free-to-download-until-may-24th-20100512/

http://store.steampowered.com/app/400

Never heard of it. Is it an online game?

Encryptor

Wow...you've never heard of Portal?

Download it RIGHT NOW.

No, it's not an online game.

Nope never heard of it. I went to download it and I even registered and it wants to install some Steam client online games or something. Is there a way to download it without installing their client?

Encryptor

No, you have to install steam.  A lot of people don't like Steam, but Portal is considered more than worth it.

[JustMichael]

Is it just me or is everyone having a really hard time picking up the cubes?  It seems like most of the time I have to alt-tab out of the game and then back in to pick it up and then all too often it drops the cube right after picking it up.  Once in a while it will pick it up and carry it and then I can put the cube where it needs to go.

[FrizzleFried]

I refuse to install steam.  I still have a copy of Half-Life in my drawer... never installed... why?  Because it requires steam.  Screw that.  I refuse to be tethered to anyone.

[Havok]

I refuse to install steam.  I still have a copy of Half-Life in my drawer... never installed... why?  Because it requires steam.  Screw that.  I refuse to be tethered to anyone.

Dude - you're married. Way worse than Steam...

 

[syph007]

I refuse to install steam.  I still have a copy of Half-Life in my drawer... never installed... why?  Because it requires steam.  Screw that.  I refuse to be tethered to anyone.

Totally agree.  I dont want monitoring software on my pc.  I refused to buy HL2 on pc because of it, and it was the big impetus behind my move to console gaming instead.. I'd had enough of the PC gaming issue... root kits, monitoring software etc etc...

[XtraSmiley]

I want my g/f to get this on her Macbook for free now, but she can't play it b/c of her videocard.  Can she d/l it and later, when she upgrades transfer it?

[HaRuMaN]

I want my g/f to get this on her Macbook for free now, but she can't play it b/c of her videocard.  Can she d/l it and later, when she upgrades transfer it?

Should be able to

[Ginsu Victim]

I was against Steam until I really started using it. Now I love it. Automatic updates, the ability to redownload any games I buy from there, constant sales and specials.

It's not obtrusive in any way.

[Havok]

Plus, you know you can use it offline, right?

[XtraSmiley]

I want my g/f to get this on her Macbook for free now, but she can't play it b/c of her videocard.  Can she d/l it and later, when she upgrades transfer it?

Should be able to

How can I check this?  I'm new to Steam as well.

[Havok]

Just log onto Steam and click the link. It will attach to your account. Once there, you can download it any time you want. You can even do this from any computer connected to the Internet, and not install the Steam client.

[AtomSmasher]

I was against Steam until I really started using it. Now I love it. Automatic updates, the ability to redownload any games I buy from there, constant sales and specials.

It's not obtrusive in any way.

Agreed.  I now prefer to buy my games through steam even though I used to be completely against buying games digitally. 

[Ginsu Victim]

I now prefer to buy my games through steam even though I used to be completely against buying games digitally.  

Same here. I don't have to worry about a disc getting lost or damaged.

[Encryptor]

I refuse to install steam.  I still have a copy of Half-Life in my drawer... never installed... why?  Because it requires steam.  Screw that.  I refuse to be tethered to anyone.

+100! I refuse to be forced to install more crap on my pc just to play a game. Just one I'll have to do without. Thanks for answering my questions about it though.

Encryptor

[Sir Headless VII]

Steam is great. It's not intrusive, it automatically updates all your games, it has fabulous sales (especially if you are into older games; as I suspect one or two people around here might be), you don't have to worry about losing or damaging disks, you don't have to worry about cd keys, it tracks stats, it lets you see when and what your friends are playing. I just formatted my c: drive to install windows 7. All I have to do to get back my games is click one little button and they are back on my system. I understand people are resistant to change, and don't like extra management software but steam is fantastic (it actually drew me back from pirating games). Once you have used steam for more than one or two games I don't see how you could not like it.

[XCVG]

I was against Steam until I really started using it. Now I love it. Automatic updates, the ability to redownload any games I buy from there, constant sales and specials.

It's not obtrusive in any way.

Agreed.  I now prefer to buy my games through steam even though I used to be completely against buying games digitally. 

Pretty much the same thing here. I especially like that you don't have to juggle discs to play your games. Although I think less and less games require the disc in to play nowadays...

[Ginsu Victim]

I refuse to be forced to install more crap on my pc just to play a game.

What about one program to run hundreds?

[bkenobi]

What about one program to run hundreds?

Pffft...  Who around here wants to use one program to allow them to run hundreds of games.  That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!   

[AtomSmasher]

I also use it as a chat client between friends, as a voice client when we're playing a game that doesn't support in-game voice, and as a way for us to easily join a game server that someone else is playing in.

[Ginsu Victim]

What about one program to run hundreds?

Pffft...  Who around here wants to use one program to allow them to run hundreds of games.  That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!   

That was the parallel I was trying to make.

[FrizzleFried]

I now prefer to buy my games through steam even though I used to be completely against buying games digitally.  

Same here. I don't have to worry about a disc getting lost or damaged.

Uh...now you only have to worry about the day the service is pulled offline.

[Havok]

Uh...now you only have to worry about the day the service is pulled offline.

As long as your games are already installed, no worries. It will try and connect and when it can't, it asks if you want to run offline...

[Ginsu Victim]

I now prefer to buy my games through steam even though I used to be completely against buying games digitally.  

Same here. I don't have to worry about a disc getting lost or damaged.

Uh...now you only have to worry about the day the service is pulled offline.

I don't see it happening.

[bkenobi]

What about one program to run hundreds?

Pffft...  Who around here wants to use one program to allow them to run hundreds of games.  That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard!   

That was the parallel I was trying to make.

Yeah, I know.   

[DaveMMR]

I posted the Portal link on FB as well.   Everyone needs to play this game.  Even Yahtzee couldn't find anything bad to say about it...

And I think the people who say Steam is bad have either never installed it or used it for five minutes (or the third group: people who used Steam, cheat, get caught and are banned from playing online).   It's not obtrusive at all.  Plus, c'mon, Psychonauts for $2 (that one time)! They're always having good software deals.  I happen to like Steam a lot.

[tommyinajar]

Years ago Steam was a real PITA, but I gave it another shot and now I almost won't buy a PC game except if it is on steam. The frequent self loading game updates & the free or $5 sales make it worth it alone. You can alway turn off the Steam startup anyhow and only use it when you plan on playing.

[DeLuSioNal29]

I refuse to install steam.  I still have a copy of Half-Life in my drawer... never installed... why?  Because it requires steam.  Screw that.  I refuse to be tethered to anyone.

You can set it to not load on Windows start.  I only run it when I play HL games.  It defaults to load automatically, but it can be disabled.

But I understand.  I had purchased Geometry Wars on steam with the intention of running it on my arcade cab and then I found out that you cannot execute it outside of steam (a huge bummer for the front end).  So I took matters into my own hands and found a hacked version that runs right from the executable.  I figured I'd already paid for it so why not...



D

[Hoopz]

Portal is free again until 9/20/11:

http://store.steampowered.com/app/400/

http://www.geek.com/articles/games/portal-is-free-to-download-until-september-20th-20110916/

[newmanfamilyvlogs]

I used to dislike the concept of steam as well as far as fear of the system no longer being available, but the convenience of being able to install and play games that i've purchased on any computer, at any time, on a whim really outweighs this in my opinion.

Steamcloud is pretty cool for games that support it as well (the syncing of save games to your account, across computers).

[Sir Headless VII]

If someone is really that afraid of steam going out of business you can use their built in backup system to back the games onto a disk (or any storage media) and hey presto you have the game forever and you don't have to worry about them going out of business anymore. You can also use it to move games from computer to computer without re-downloading them, which can be a godsend to someone with a cap.

[tommyinajar]

Steam go out of business? They have to be filthy rich. I don't even want to think how many games people (me) bought at $2,$3 five bucks a crack when they go on sale...

[lordnacho]

Steam go out of business? They have to be filthy rich. I don't even want to think how many games people (me) bought at $2,$3 five bucks a crack when they go on sale...

I hear ya.  The bigger concern is all of those $2-5 games that never got played