That description isn't actually accurate. Its perfectly possible to play a lan game where everyone uses the same steam ID, all in online mode. The only time restrictions kick in are when you try to join an internet game. Because of this, I don't think "copy protection" is the reason for offline mode's lameness. Similarly, the 5 friends all playing at once issue you describe would work fine on online mode. The only caveat is that only one of you can be logged into friends at a time.
On the other hand, I don't have an alternative suggestion for why it doesn't work... :-P ----- Original Message ----- > Message: 4 > Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 07:56:02 +0100 > From: Adam Buckland <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Re: [hlcoders] Offline Mode... > To: Discussion of Half-Life Programming > <hlcoders@list.valvesoftware.com> > Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed; delsp=yes > > I agree, there's been a number of times that I've been offline and > wanted to work on my mod, but the sdk base refuses to load into the > debugger if you're offline. > > On the other hand, I can see why Valve don't want it to work. With > other games you have to put a cd into the drive to play the game. The > idea of this is to ensure that only one user cab use the software at > any one time, keeping to the one user license > > With steam, where you don't have to put a cd in, they have to ensure > only one computer is logged into a particular steam account at any one > moment. When steam is online, it can tell when an account is accessed > by two computers at one. But in offline mode, they don't. What would > stop me giving my HL2 cd to five of by friends, along with my account > information, and making them all use offline mode, so we could all > play at once? > > On 6 May 2008, at 07:30, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > >> I was more than slightly annoyed when my net connection died during >> last >> weekend and I couldn't open Steam to test my mod. >> >>> So I'm sitting here at work trying to fire up Steam on my laptop (no >>> active >>> net connection). It comes up (expectedly) with a dialog prompting >>> me to >>> start in offline mode, and when I click it, I get an error message >>> saying >>> 'Steam cannot connect to the network' and that 'This operation >>> cannot be >>> completed in offline mode'. >>> >>> Is there ANY chance we can ***maybe*** get some at least better error >>> messages for Offline Mode, or even some better support? Its really >>> bloody >>> frustrating trying to do anything without a net connection (or >>> behind a >>> firewall) with this kind of crappy offline mode support. I know I'm >>> not >>> the >>> only person who is continually pissed off about this kind of >>> support. Even >>> decoupling the SDK from Steam could be a nice start. Is there >>> anything >>> that >>> can actually be done to make our lives the slightest bit easier? >>> >>> I mean, how hard is it to actually code a decent offline mode... >>> >>> -- >>> Matt Stafford (Wraiyth) >>> http://www.wraiyth.com _______________________________________________ To unsubscribe, edit your list preferences, or view the list archives, please visit: http://list.valvesoftware.com/mailman/listinfo/hlcoders
