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Last edited by hmm on Sat Jun 06, 2009 4:39 am, edited 2 times in total.

The long-awaited sequel has no official release date, but game maker Valve has started letting members of its online community get hold of encrypted copies.

When officially launched, downloaders will be able to buy codes to access the encrypted files and start playing immediately.

But Valve is facing criticism online for making the game available, but not actually letting people play it.

The 500MB compressed file containing some of the encrypted game was put on machines serving Valve's Steam community on 26 August.

Unpacked the file is reportedly about 1GB in size.

Steam is software that, among other things, lets players take each other on in online games, acts as an anti-cheating and online authentication system and helps people get hold of the latest updates.

Half-Life 2 was originally supposed to appear in September 2003 but has faced consistent delays.

Even now no fixed date has been given for its release and some gamers speculate that it may not appear until November.

Others believe that release is imminent because Valve is happy for the game software to be downloaded.

Some also speculate that the relatively small size of the files means that the encrypted version is not the full game. Many expect to have to download more code when the full and final game is released.

According to some reports, the download only includes files such as textures and audio, rather than the actual levels and programs needed to run the game.

A lot of people keen to download the game are been forced to wait because the Steam servers are managing the numbers of people allowed to download it at any one time.

However, soon after being appearing on the Steam servers, copies of the download started to appear on the BitTorrent file-sharing network.

Many people commenting on the Half-Life 2 release on the Slashdot discussion boards criticised Valve for keeping the game locked up even though it was almost ready to play.

MEH, i will steal it 1st, if its any good then i might go and pay for it, depending on the MP of course! I never Beta tested HLII, i wish i had now¬

edit

However, soon after being appearing on the Steam servers, copies of the download started to appear on the BitTorrent file-sharing network.

So thats what it is

I'll probably buy it. It will be just like Half-Life. Great game, good MP, great reviews etc etc etc. Then the mod community kicks in and starts making some great stuff. I await a good WW2 mod.