How do I expand?

[Earth2]

I have the retail disc / packaging and I am on the Hidden Path email list. A while back I paid the 99¢ for an addition to the game, but it never worked. At that time my connection was slow so I could not download the full game as was suggested.

But now I have broadband, and I want all additions to the game. All I have is the game from the disc right now.

What are all of the steps to add the new things?

If there is a choice, I would prefer a way that does not change the start-up of my
PC -- does not default to some game system platform that I must escape every time the computer is turned on.

Thanks!

[jeffpobst]

When you purchased the retail disc packaging you also got a key for a Steam version of the game. The DLC packages that we sell work with the Steam version, but don't work with other versions. For you to enjoy the DLC you would go to http://store.steampowered.com, install Steam on to your computer, when you have created an account and logged in, you would go to the Library page of your Steam application and click in the bottom lefthand corner on the "Add a game" link. Choose Activate a Product on Steam, and follow the instructions putting in your code when asked.

Jeff

[Earth2]

Thanks.

I was able to activate my game without installing the basic game via steam download. Do I need to install the basic game via steam download, or can I look for the addons now?

[NightBirdDS]

Install the game via Steam. Once you have Steam download the game it will contain the latest Community Update. Then, once you start up the game you'll notice a new option on the main menu "Download Content". The 4 Resurgance packs are available there, and You Monster will be appearing there on the 7th. You'll also get the Borderlands pack included in the base game, so that will be 4 extra maps for you to play through.

Having been using Steam for more than 6 years now, I can tell you that it really isn't as bad as a lot of people want to make it out to be. It's always worked for me, and it keeps the games up to date.

If you have trouble, I'll do what I can to help out.

[Earth2]

_THANKS_ and sorry for such simple questions, but...

Should I uninstall the retail store bought game from my hard drive?

If I do, will I always have to be online with steam to open play the game?

[NightBirdDS]

You can uninstall it if you like. The copy that Steam downloads will be in a different folder, so you will be taking up double the space if you leave it installed. Beyond that though, there aren't any issues in leaving it there.

As for being online to play the game, no. You do not need to be connected all the time, though if you're on a broadband connection most likely you will be connected more often than not. Steam has an offline mode, which you can set your client to by clicking on the "Steam" menu option at the top of your Steam Client, and then choosing "Go Offline". It will then ask you to restart in offline mode. Once that's done it should stay in offline mode until you tell it to connect.

If you lose your internet connection while online, Steam will fall back to offline mode. Over the last couple of months Steam seems to have finally fixed the issues that prevented people from accessing their account offline, so you should be alright in the event of a lost connection.

Hope that helps.

[Earth2]

Can I download the game and addons from Steam onto a 2nd PC without having to pay for the addons again?

I have the retail code for the basic game, but when I bought and downloaded the 99¢ additions, I did not see a code for any of them.

[jeffpobst]

Yes, you can download and play on any PC that has your Steam account, and I believe only one PC can be logged in at one time into your Steam account. I don't know how the purchase process goes for the DLC on Steam, but you will find a new button under "Play" that is called "resurgence" and it is under "the awakening" and "borderlands" and it will take you to each pair of maps in it that you've purchased up to all 8.