So i ahve hl2 and i'm to the part where you first get into eli's lab. The thing is the chick won't get in the elevator to go down to eli. Anyone have any suggestions or want to send me a save game right after that.

same thing happened to me, I just had to jump ahead to the next chapter.. I forget the command, though... try poking around in the console. It's (something) chapter X (where X is the chapter number you wish to jump to... I think you need to go to 5 or 6)

well, if you don't want to skip a chunk of story like I did, you could try to noclip down through the elevator and see if that'll get you anywhere... in order to do this you have to add

-console

to the end of the command line on the shortcut to HL2 to do this (found by right clicking and going to properties)

should look like "c:\folders\hl2.exe" -console

That's a bug with the rip. It's best to look for the Vengeance release instead as this will probably keep popping up later in the game.

Just buy the game. It's incredible, and actually worth the money. You can't even use HL2: Deathmatch or CS: Source with the pirated copy either. HL2 is the first game that I've bought since I bought HL six or seven years ago. VALVe deserves your support. And besides, if you buy the Silver edition for $59 through Steam, you get HL: Source, CS: Source, DoD: Source, and then access to ALL of the other old HL games as well - it saves you from buying HL: Platinum if you didn't buy it like 4 yrs ago when it came out.

It's worth the money, buy it.

Ya, dont bother pirating Half Life 2. This is one game that you should buy.

Only reason I got it off of seek is because I know I'm getting it for xmas anyways... just couldn't wait to play the game. If not the single player experience alone, but the CS Source and HL2DM make it more than worth the money.

btw that wierd break in the scripted event only happened once to me, after that point in the game it ran fine.

actually there are patches out there now that allow cracked versions to play on legitimate CS:Source servers and also install the deathmatch portion.

But you're right, this game is freaking awesome, one of the best i've played in a while, very very fun to play.

Yeah, I knew VENGEANCE, DEViANCE, RELOADED, or any of the other cracking groups would find a way to fool Steam's online authenticating of their cd-keys, I just didn't know when.

If you have broadband at home (or can wait until you get back to Rolla) don't buy the retail box. Buy it over Steam. For $5 more than the retail price (which probably turns into $1 more after you factor in sales tax) you can get the Silver edition like was previously mentioned. If you install the retail box, you can't ever get the back catalog or other goodies (I think you can't even get HL2DM, not sure though) and you'll also be condemned to swapping CD's ad naseum. If you install a no-CD crack they'll ban you.

YOu get HL2DM with retail...

I made sure that the person getting it for me grabs the collector's edition. No crazy swapping of CDs, and plenty of goodies.
-HL2
-CS Source
-HL2DM (through download)
-HL Source
-T shirt
-Guide Book

I'm not quite ready to put my faith in steam for the purchase of my games. It's comforting to know you've got a hard copy should anything catastrophic happen.

You don't get Half-Life: Source if you purchase a hard copy from Wal-Mart or some other store. It, along with Day of Defeat: Source are only available through Steam.

Are you sure you're not just thinking of the normal package? There are two retail options (regular and Collector's Edition), and the Collector's EdictionDOES come with HL Source. Then again, it's entirely possible that Walmart doesn't carry the Collector's Edition.
As for DoD Source, I think it's steam exclusive as you said, but I never really got into that mod and don't mind missing out on it.

My apologies on HL: Source. I was under the impression that it was only available through Steam.

Steam has a nifty feature that lets you back up downloaded games to disc. And even if you somehow lost the hard copies, your CD key is tied to your account and as long as Steam is running, you'll be able to download the copies again if needed.

I think online game releasing will become more and more common, if for no other reason than the game companies don't have to pay producers to create CDs for them by default anymore. So you'll probably have to get used to this system in the near future...