Can I play Half-Life 2 without internet?

[wolfseeker2828]

My gaming rig is currently in my room, which means there's no internet. I tried to install Half-life 2 Ep. 1, but obviously I need an internet connection. My question is, does it need an internet connection to play it as well or just to install?

 

[Sengoku]

You will need to select a special feature called "offline mode", while you are online, and logged into your steam account. See valve support for more info.

 

[warezme]

if your not squeemish, there are versions that require nothing to do with steam, cd's or keys for that matter....

 

[Sengoku]

"Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny" -- Yoda

You have a legit license. You might as well use it.

 

[physx7]

Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny

"Yeah but the bad guys get cooler powers!"-- Me

 

[spuddyt]

"come to the dark side, we have cookies"
anyway, i have troubles with offline mode, and i think i'm going to start a thread on that, because it just refuses to load it up like that most of the time

 

[wolfseeker2828]

sweet. I'll try to install Half-life 2 tomorrow on the internet, then use offline mode.

 

[cfvh600]

I've played Half Life 2 in offline mode without any problems.

 

[monsterrocks]

"come to the dark side, we have cookies"
anyway, i have troubles with offline mode, and i think i'm going to start a thread on that, because it just refuses to load it up like that most of the time

Oooo! Can I have a cookie?

 

[amk21]

Don't you have to activate it through steam?

 

[Fox_Aquatis]

To play a Steam game you do have to activate it online and let it fully update before playing. If you want to play offline you also have to verify the games after they finish the updating (right click the game -> properties -> Local Files [tab] -> "verify integrity of game cache"). After it finishes the verification you can play offline to your heart's content.

Note: some people who play offline never actually use the above procedure. It seems like most (if not all) Steam games will verify themselves if you play them for any substantial time period online.