Got a good question....

i think this is a good question. i am downloading off of steam three games, garrys mod, half life 2, and half life tow eppisode one. the only other steam game i have is dark messiah, but i bought that in a store, it doesn't show up in steam. garrys mod is alittle under 50% complete, half life 2 is alittle over 50 percent, and eppisode 2 is at about 30%. i was getting board so i left clicked on garrys mod to see if it would tell me how much longer. when i left clicked i saw a button that said "launch game" so i tried it. the game loaded. i turned the settings up and started a new game. the load time was like two minits, but it worked. while playing nothing seemed missing or anything, all the half life two charicters, vehicles, and wepons were all there! the game had a huge stutering problem though. my question is, given that the game was under 50% loaded, how is this possible?

 

It was only 50 percent UPDATED. you loaded it in like a matter or seconds.

 

Even though it was updated 50%, wouldn't that mean that you'll be missing some things here and there?

 

i couldn't find anything missing. but i didn't play it too long.

 

what? i am still downloading the game from steam, i dont have it yet.

 

It might have downloaded all the core files and the parts of the game you are playing but not the later parts of the game.

 

yeah steam is really weird. once it downloads enough of the files to run, it will let you do it.

if you have downloaded like 70-80% of counter strike source, then you can play.

its weird. im assuming that it has downloaded all the critical files and just left out textures and maps and models that it expects wont show up.

mind boggling.

 

With Half Life 2, I was trying to hurry up and install it from a reformat for a trip. It was only 47 percent done, but i still beat it, but it was just missing some textures here and there.