Half-Life 2 users bitten by bugs

Several Half-Life 2 users who finally got the long-delayed game into their hands yesterday got exactly what they didn't want--more delays.

The Half-Life 2 forums have been busy with gamers saying online authentication delays have rendered their copies temporarily useless. Some users who downloaded the copy directly from Valve's download service, Steam, also reported problems, specifically logging in.

In a statement from Valve posted on its Web site shortly after 4:30pm PST, the company stated: "We've received a number of reports from people experiencing delays with Half-Life 2 authentication. We are investigating the issue and will update everyone as soon as possible. We appreciate your patience and hope to have everyone in the game very soon."