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[Demophobe]

Well, I pre-loaded HL2 today. What does this mean?

Well, many of you may be familiar with "Steam", Valve's server system, which hosts online games as well as being an infamous download delivery system. It will allow you to buy, install and play and download HL2 the minute it is finished with the only limiter being your download speed and the Steam server.

I was one of the ATI voucher holders, so I got mine for free! (Well, my graphic card was an arm and a leg, so....kinda free) You can pre-load as well, but the download is locked and when the full game becomes avaliable, only a purchased CD-key will unlock the box.

The pre-load is designed to take some of the pressure off "Steam" (hehe) when HL2 hits. The pre-load is parts of the game that are finished (textures, for example) and can be downloaded early and stored locally on the user's system.

Joining Steam is free, but be ready to pay up when the full download becomes avaliable.

Then again, this is Valve, the one-hit wonders who until now have provided vaporware, so who knows how long the wait, pre-load or not.

Anyways, if you plan to get the game, beat the rush.