Portal is free on Steam until the 20th

[bearhawk72]

Portal(the original one) is free again on Steam for a limited time.

If you don't have it, I highly recommend getting it if you like puzzles/problem solving.

If you search for it on steam it still says it's $20, but click on the game and there should just be an option to install it.

[Dudebro]

Thanks for the heads up I'll have to download this asap. I never got around to playing it on 360 because tf2 was more fun.

[tanc24]

Thanks, Bearhawk. I've always wanted to play this game. I've never used Steam before, so forgive the noob question:
Once I download the game, will I be able to access it forever or will I only have until the 20th to play it?

Cheers!

[Dudebro]

Steam is a free gaming service. Once you download it you can delete the game as many times as you want and redownload it for free. While you're at it download team fortress 2, it's free too. Even if you're not that into first person shooters it's a hell of a bargain for free.

[CrispyChicken]

@Everyone with a capable computer- Do it. Very, very fun game.

Unfortunately my computer absolutely sucks and I know there would be no way my comp would be capable of running it.

Quick question though. If I download it, could I download it on another computer in the future? Say, I download on my comp and then delete it, then in a few months I get a new computer. Could I download it on that for free?

[Dudebro]

You can download it on any device that has your steam account installed, as far as I know.

[bearhawk72]

Ok, here is more info (I've been away from home all day)

1) Once you download it, it should be yours forever. You can uninstall it whenever, Steam will put it in your "My games" list forever and you can redownload at any time
2) Even if your cop can't run it, sign onto steam, start downloading it, then cancel. It should stay in your "My Games" list because you own it.( I did this the first time
Steam was offered for free)
3) Everything you buy/get for free on steam is tied to your account. Changing computers doesn't matter(other than reinstalling) because the games are tied to your username and not computer. Some games even use Cloud saves to keep your save games and items on Valves servers so you can pick up your saved game on another computer.

[CrispyChicken]

Thanks Bearhawk. I downloaded Steam along with Portal. My username is Chrisp722, feel free to add me. Portal actually runs pretty decently on my computer.

[Dudebro]

I got a question for ya BH. Can I put my steam account on a PC that already has a steam account?

[bearhawk72]

I got a question for ya BH. Can I put my steam account on a PC that already has a steam account?
You mean log onto a steam on a different computer that already has steam?

If so yes. I have logged into steam on my friends computer before, you have access to all your games and if they have the same games installed you can start playing. If not you need to install them(like if you both have TF2 installed you can play on your account simply by logging in.)

[tanc24]

Very cool. I have downloaded Portal and am in the process of downloading TF2.
My username is: tanc24

[Dudebro]

@BH- So what's to stop you from putting your steam account on someones PC to share games with them? Like if I wanted to share some games with my brother I could just give him my username and password. If I'm not online when he tries to access it then it should be ok? I didn't think they'd go for that.

[bearhawk72]

@BH- So what's to stop you from putting your steam account on someones PC to share games with them? Like if I wanted to share some games with my brother I could just give him my username and password. If I'm not online when he tries to access it then it should be ok? I didn't think they'd go for that.
They recently implemented a new security to kind of stop it. If you log onto steam from a computer it doesn't recognize it sends you an email with a code you have to enter to access steam.

From the industry standpoint, it's one of the downsides of digital copies. If someone knows the username and password they get access to other people's games. It's all over PSN as well except they put a limit on how many different consoles a game can be downloaded to(which can screw you if you share games and your console dies)

[Dudebro]

Still seems kinda relaxed.

[CrispyChicken]

Well I already beat it :p It's much shorter than the second.

[tanc24]

There is probably a better place to put this, but can anyone offer any suggestions how to overcome lagging issues on Steam? I can play Portal, but it is lagging pretty bad. I have a fairly new computer (2-3 years old) and I've never run into anything like this on RU.

Are there certain computer requirements for Steam? Have any of you encountered lag issues?

[Dudebro]

It's not Steam causing the issues(as far as I know) it's most likely portal. A game like portal takes way more of your PC than a game on RU. You could try going into options and turning down the graphics. If you don't know what something is don't mess it with it though :)


Portals requirements from wikipedia
System requirements
Minimum Recommended Windows[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal_%28video_game%29#cite_note-Steam_App_400-1) Operating system Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000 CPU 1.7 GHz (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hertz) 3.0 GHz Memory 512 MB (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Megabyte) 1 GB (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gigabyte) Graphics hardware DirectX (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DirectX) 8 video card DirectX 9 video card Network Internet Connection

Mac[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal_%28video_game%29#cite_note-Steam_App_400-1) Operating system Leopard (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_OS_X_Leopard) 10.5.8, Snow Leopard (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_OS_X_Snow_Leopard) 10.6.3 Memory 1 GB Graphics hardware NVIDIA GeForce 8 / ATI X1600 or higher Network Internet Connection

[Kugyince]

I'll do this tomorrow, thanks.

[bearhawk72]

Like DB said, Portal doesn't run online so it's your computer settings causing the problems. Fiddle around with them to see if you get better performance.

Also, make sure the video card drivers are up to date.

My computer is basically ancient(1.8Ghz, 768mb ram, crappy video card) but I can get it to run without lagging by running everything on low.

Also, turn you can try disabling the Steam in game client, and stop running any programs in the background while playing to free up resources

[tanc24]

Thanks for the tips, I'll try to mess around with my settings a little.

I run a 2.5Ghz Athlon processor with 3MB of RAM on Windows Vista. My Graphics card is some Nvidia stock item, and even though I updated the driver, I suspect that's part of the problem.

I've run a lot of large PC games (GTA San Andreas, Rainbow Six Vegas, etc.) and have never had lag problems. Thanks again for the tips and the heads up on Portal. I've always wanted to play this game, so I'm having fun with it even if it does lag.

---------- Post added 09-25-2011 at 05:21 AM ---------- Previous post was 09-19-2011 at 03:40 AM ----------

So I've learned some good news and some bad news regarding my Portal lag issues:

The good news: I've figured out why the game is lagging.

The bad news: I'm afraid my hard drive/cpu/motherboard/processor is dying. :(

My computer has been making this sick, wah-wah-wah-wah sound for the past few weeks. I told my wife that the hard drive is about to crash, but so far nothing has happened. Then I downloaded Steam and Portal. I've learned that if I smack my computer tower, the wah-wah-wah sound goes away (temporarily) and Portal plays normally. Super sweet game!

Does anyone here with some hardware experience have any clue as to what is wrong with my computer? Like I said, it just started making this sickly sound, like a processor or fan is not running to full speed. This is obviously the cause for my lag issues, because when I smack the tower and the sound stops, the game speeds up again.

I'm expecting the worst, so don't be afraid to hurt my feelings with your insight. ;)
Cheers!

[Dudebro]

I dunno but it sure doesn't sound good. I bet Kong or SH will be along eventually to explain why you're screwed. ;)

[bearhawk72]

I'm not really sure. A couple of things to try

1) Open the case, make sure there are no loose connections on the motherboard
2) Get a can of compressed air, blow out all of the dust in the case, especially in the fan(the power supply has a fan on it as well, though I'd take it out of the computer before you blow the dust out of it)

[tanc24]

I opened up my computer and think I've located the problem. The fan on my Graphics card is making that ugly sound. Considering a new graphics card is $50-$150, I might get off relatively cheap. A faulty graphics card would certainly account for laggy gameplay, wouldn't it?

Keeping a bit more on topic, I've had a great time playing Portal. I'm stuck at level 18 right now, can't quite figure out how to get myself up to the top of those really tall platforms. Thanks again bearhawk for the great find.

[bearhawk72]

I opened up my computer and think I've located the problem. The fan on my Graphics card is making that ugly sound. Considering a new graphics card is $50-$150, I might get off relatively cheap. A faulty graphics card would certainly account for laggy gameplay, wouldn't it?

Keeping a bit more on topic, I've had a great time playing Portal. I'm stuck at level 18 right now, can't quite figure out how to get myself up to the top of those really tall platforms. Thanks again bearhawk for the great find.
If it's the fan on the graphics card, it might be dying. You can try to blow the air out of it and see if it works any better. If you get a new one make sure you get one for the right connection(most are PCI-e now)

I don't remember all the chambers, but if it's really high you're going to need to use multiple portals to gain the momentum you need to get there. Try falling and shooting a portal before you land.