* Step 1 - Navigate to the directory containing Steam.exe
* Step 2 - Then goto SteamApps/YourUserNameXXX/half-life 2/cfg
* Step 3 - Create a new text file and name it servermode.cfg
* Step 4 - In the file and the following
net_start
sv_lan 0
deathmatch 1
maxplayers (whatever you want)
* Step 5 - Save the file and load up Half-life 2
* Step 6 - Open the console and type exec servermode.cfg
* Step 7 - Now in the console type map
* Step 8 - When it loads up open console up and type restart

Brothers in Arms is the most realistic and authentic WWII shooter ever. While other WWII games have sugarcoated the war experience, Brothers in Arms is based on a true story and will immerse gamers into the gritty, uncensored and emotionally-charged side of war. The game puts you in the shoes of Sgt. Matt Baker, a D-Day paratrooper squad leader, and asks you to lead the squad as you balance their lives with the success of the mission.

A small number of Half-Life 2 customers have been experiencing problems while playing the game, and we have traced these issues to corrupt Steam cache files. We've released a Steam update to help resolve these issues. If you have been experiencing problems such as crashing during gameplay or startup of Half-Life 2, please restart Steam and then click on one of the links below. Steam will then automatically verify your cache files. The verification process will take roughly five minutes to complete.

Recently, one of the HL2Files.com members here, alerted me of a pirated warez version of Half-Life 2, apparently released via the Bittorent network. I immediaely, forwarded this to Gabe Newell of VALVe Software. [The great man, we should all be thanking for Half-Life 2 :)].

A couple of hours later, Gabe replied with the following:

We're running a bit of an experiment. We're keeping track of the accounts that do this and will be shutting them off.

So, as you can see, VALVe Software have released a test "warez" version aimed at catching people out. These people will have their accounts deleted and will be banned from Steam.

Therefore, I strongly suggest that you DO NOT participate in these illegal activities as it would only lead to your own harm.

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Linux gamers can experience the new interactive world of Half-Life 2 with TransGaming's release of Cedega 4.2, scheduled for December 7th. Cedega also supports Steam, Valve Software's online distribution technology, along with a number of other Valve titles.

By transforming the game environment into a ready-made urban studio space, the objects and interiors were altered using the in-game weapons with the gore from dead enemies being used to 'paint' the sets before being unceremoniously blasted out of view and the scene captured.

I don’t just take screenshots randomly – I took a long time to find the right game – rejected Doom 3 – played MP2 3 times through, spent days in developer mode finding the right locations, then it took literally hours to find and create the scenes – many of the screen grabs were discarded.

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Matchmaking: Some players have experienced irritating delays while waiting for a game to be found while in Quickmatch and Optimatch. This is caused by a combination of factors, including connection speed and other detailed nuances of matchmaking. We have isolated the cause and applied a solution to the autoupdate which should normalize that wait time.

480p Support: The autoupdate will improve support for 480p resolutions on a wide range of HDTV and EDTV displays, correcting a flaw that the software encountered with some sets causing part of the HUD to be obscured. This problem does not currently occur on all HDTV sets, so it is possible that your specific set is unaffected right now and it will therefore not be altered or changed by this autoupdate. If you are seeing the HUD clip or bleed off the screen in 480p widescreen and 4:3 modes) this should address that problem perfectly.

Foundation: As something of a treat for players, we’ve decided to make the unlockable multiplayer map, Foundation, available to everyone. Previously, to unlock Foundation, it was necessary to both complete the game and activate a “training event” on the final level. We reckon that was too tough for most, and wanted very much to share Foundation – inspired by our old shoot ‘em up Marathon – with Halo 2 players everywhere. Once you have the autoupdate, you’ll be able to play this rarely seen arena map with anyone you wish. And be sure to try a game of four-team CTF on this map. It's a hoot!

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Release Highlights:

* Added new Performance and Quality option called “Negative LOD bias” to allow more user control
* Unified Compiler optimizations
* Compatibility fixes (Please view the release notes for a full list of fixes)
* Added support for SLI™
* Added support for using HDTV over DVI connectors
* Added support for 512 MB frame buffer GPUs
* Added support for advanced DVI timing on all GeForce 6 series GPUs
* Added support to recognize and display monitor name in all control panels
* Added support for TV/HDTV setup in the nView Display Setup Wizard
* Updated Gridlines for easier grid setup and management
* Microsoft® DirectX® 9.0c and OpenGL® 1.5 support

In the nearest future we are going to have a new article devoted to the details and most indepth benchmarking of the whole bunch of graphics accelerators in this new game. However, already today we are ready to offer you a brief report about the major performance achievements of the contemporary graphics products in this game.

We have resolved the issues that caused some to experience delays with Half-Life 2 authentication earlier today. We appreciate your patience and hope everyone enjoys the game.

Reality Is False:

this is the one game game that has met and surpassed all my expectations. There is not much that you can say about the gfx. The sound fx and voice acting are second to none. The atmosphere this game generates is beyond anything else.

Dave:

first impressions have been poor for me. loaded up the game i beat flea by all of 10 secs bitch. it then ccrashed when getting off the rail. ive managed to get it to work my specs are alright i do need the extra 512mb ram but

3200xp
512mb
9800 pro

and on source i get 95fps average and same settings as hl2 and it laggs like hell
veru buggy and disappointed.

Gary:

I'm getting unplayable lag and skipping audio at 1024 x 768 res, every setting on high and no aa or af. My spces 3.4 Pentium 4, 512 Mb ddr 400, Nvidia 6800 Gt 256 Mb, Audigy 2. I'm also gettting graphical distortion on a few objects.

I'm SOOOO dissapointed do far, to think that with the gfx card i have it is unplayable at those settings. I have to believe i'm not the only one experiencing these problems.

P.T. Flea:

The game is difficult to get used to...but once you play it for a bit, you get really immersed in it. Within the first half hour of playing my pulse was quickening when I was running from some (combine?) police officers, really pretty neat. I didn't realize how immersed I was until today though, because I was trying to get used to it all.

I think once the bugs are fixed for you guys you'll really get to like it. It definately looks and feels like it has great potential. As stated by gamespot, nothing revolutionary graphically or anything, but it's a good game.

As a result, we will have new live-action and animated TV shows over the next few years, and I think there's a bright future there for games based on these new properties as well as original "Star Wars" games like a new real-time strategy PC game that Petroglyph is developing for next year. This game will take the (real-time strategy) genre in a new direction and will balance gameplay between the hard-core gamers who buy these games and the broader audience that's familiar with the "Star Wars" brand.
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Will Halo 3 come out in a mere 3 months, or possibly another year? What does the date mean, is Halo 3 finally here? One thing is for sure, the only way you'll know is on February 9th, when something special from Bungie is sure to come.

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In this obscenely addictive arcade, your objective will be to control your spacecraft and rescue the once idyllic world from the supremacy of the Corporation of Evil which is trying to enslave people and command their minds through the Dumb Box. As you struggle through 100 diversely-themed levels, you must take down impenetrable corporate structures with the fireball. Watch out! Weird bugs, aliens and bomb-gifts may steal one of your lives.