First I am totally new to games.

I just bought H/L 2 episode one. I installed the game ( I thougtht) but it was a steam icon. After wandering what the heck was happening, I figured to connect to the internet, and then clicked the steam icon. This started a long process of downloading files /updates/ product key confirmation etc etc (about 1 hour) So I end up with 5 icons on my desktop steam, H/L2 deathmatch, H/L deathmatch, H/L2 Episode one (which when clicked wanted to connect to internet. And another in the system tray. SO what did I miss so that I am able to play single player mode. I am not in the least interested in playing on line. Therefor do I have to download all of the above just to play in S/P mode.

I un-installed everything, so do I have to start all over again.

Would appreciate help to play (it did after all cost $35.00)

Thank you for your assistance

John macklin

All the Half Life series of games (including Episode One) use a program called Steam. Steam is Valve's (the people behind HL) "software delivery system". It's a way of delivering their products to you while at the same time protecting themselves from having their software pirated. On the first time you play the game it will connect to the internet via Steam and verify that the game is legal. At the same time, all the game files are encrypted so on installing you need to be connected to the internet to decrypt the files and run the game.

Basically, you need to just let it use the internet when it wants to. There should have been a warning on the box (and possibly from the people selling you the game) that the product would require access to the internet to install and verify itself.