Civilization V

[Scotch_Lufkin]

According to the Steam website, they aren’t turning it on until 10AM on Tuesday. If you could play at midnight by buying a physical copy, I’m interested :) (actually only if it doesn’t require the DVD in the drive to play)

Well, it won’t (becuase it’s a steam game) require the disc in the drive. However, not being able to play before Steam unlocks the game is an interesting point? However, I DOUBT that will be an issue…?

[bjbrains]

Well, it won’t (becuase it’s a steam game) require the disc in the drive. However, not being able to play before Steam unlocks the game is an interesting point? However, I DOUBT that will be an issue…?

Actually, I’m fairly certain that it won’t allow you to play since all copies are over steam.

[Sarkus]

According to the Steam website, they aren’t turning it on until 10AM on Tuesday. If you could play at midnight by buying a physical copy, I’m interested :) (actually only if it doesn’t require the DVD in the drive to play)

Looking at the official 2K forums, it looks like that is indeed the case. Supposedly 2K told retailers to not do a midnight launch for the game for that very reason. But even without GameStop doing something like that, it will be possible for people to get the game earlier. For example, 24 hour Walmarts will start putting it on the shelf at midnight either way.

I’m kind of surprised that they are not unlocking the gamer earlier. Normally the excuse given for why Steam/digital versions of games don’t unlock early is because it would give Steam/digital an advantage over retail. That hardly applies in this case.

[Grifman]

I’m kind of surprised that they are not unlocking the gamer earlier. Normally the excuse given for why Steam/digital versions of games don’t unlock early is because it would give Steam/digital an advantage over retail. That hardly applies in this case.

Except that most retail stores won’t be opening at midnight :)

[Sarkus]

Except that most retail stores won’t be opening at midnight :)

Sure, but the biggest gaming retailer (Walmart) will be open hours before.

I’m just saying that 2K will probably be getting some flack from people who buy the game earlier then it’s unlocked on Steam. It’s not like the box is going to say “Can’t be played until 10AM on Tuesday, Sept. 21st, 2010” on it. ;-)

I’m just bummed because my schedule for those days is such that I could buy it at midnight and get some gaming time in before I next have to work.

EDIT: Apparently the unlock time is 10AM EST, not 10AM PST. So that’s 7AM PST for those who are interested.

[DaleKent]

Sure, but the biggest gaming retailer (Walmart) will be open hours before.

I’m just saying that 2K will probably be getting some flack from people who buy the game earlier then it’s unlocked on Steam. It’s not like the box is going to say “Can’t be played until 10AM on Tuesday, Sept. 21st, 2010” on it. ;-)

I’m just bummed because my schedule for those days is such that I could buy it at midnight and get some gaming time in before I next have to work.

EDIT: Apparently the unlock time is 10AM EST, not 10AM PST. So that’s 7AM PST for those who are interested.

Quit-cha-bitchin’. Most of us have to wait till the 24th!

[deanco]

Anyone know if the demo on Tuesday is worldwide? I’m counting on that demo to hold me over until Friday.

[Octonoo]

Anyone know if the demo on Tuesday is worldwide? I’m counting on that demo to hold me over until Friday.

Crap, I can’t find it, but I remember reading somewhere that the bonus compensation for regions where Civ 5 is released on the 24th would be that they would get the demo a full 3 days earlier before release than those in the US.

[Lorini]

Um Sarkus, hate to disappoint you but according to the Civ V Steam page Civ V will unlock in 5 days and 2 hours, which would put it at 10AM PDT.

[Scotch_Lufkin]

Um Sarkus, hate to disappoint you but according to the Civ V Steam page Civ V will unlock in 5 days and 2 hours, which would put it at 10AM PDT.

They announced on the official forums that it’s 7am PDT, unless it was changed.

Official Unlock Time is 10am EDT

[Lorini]

Well in the end Steam controls the time. Meaning that if 2K says GO and Steam says STOP, it’s stopped. I sure hope it’s 7AM PDT, me being an early riser.

EDIT! They just fixed it. So yes, it will be 7AM Tuesday. Yay!

[TimJames]

Wait, people are taking Steam unlock times at face value again? They used to be so slow you’d be lucky to play the game at 2 in the morning the next day. Sounds like they are more organized for Civ V though.

[Otagan]

Sounds like they are more organized for Civ V though.

It always sounds that way. Always.

[mono]

Direct 2 Drive just sent me my activation code, so I could pre-load in Steam.

[Reldan]

Wait, people are taking Steam unlock times at face value again? They used to be so slow you’d be lucky to play the game at 2 in the morning the next day. Sounds like they are more organized for Civ V though.

People are going to be watching this one though. This is a huge name release supporting Steamworks and requiring everybody to go through Steam regardless of the point of purchase.

They cannot afford a snafu on this release - doing this right could open a lot of doors.

[Sarkus]

People are going to be watching this one though. This is a huge name release supporting Steamworks and requiring everybody to go through Steam regardless of the point of purchase.

They cannot afford a snafu on this release - doing this right could open a lot of doors.

Exactly. Steam will be totally screwed if they mess this up!

Lets be serious here: Civ5 is a fairly big title, but it’s not a huge title. And Steam has botched third party releases before that were arguably more important. In the end Steam offers something to developers/publishers that they can’t get elsewhere right now and that’s why its being used, not because of their perfect track record. Civ5 is not, after all, the first major third-party Steam tied PC game.

[Lorini]

I just bought the Brady Games strategy guide from Gamestop.com. Online purchase only right now. The Brady Games Starcraft 2 strategy guide was really really good, so I’ll give the Civ one a shot.

[inactive_user]

Exactly. Steam will be totally screwed if they mess this up!

Lets be serious here: Civ5 is a fairly big title, but it’s not a huge title. And Steam has botched third party releases before that were arguably more important. In the end Steam offers something to developers/publishers that they can’t get elsewhere right now and that’s why its being used, not because of their perfect track record. Civ5 is not, after all, the first major third-party Steam tied PC game.

For Steam? Are you kidding me?

[Black_Isis]

For Steam? Are you kidding me?

Civ5 is definitely a big title, but is it going to sell more than MW2? I dunno – what were the sales figures for Civ4 like compared to MW2 on the PC?

Were there a lot of problems with the MW2 PC launch? I skipped it myself, so I’m not sure if it was as problematic as some of Valve’s earlier releases.

[Dan_Theman]

Civ5 is definitely a big title, but is it going to sell more than MW2? I dunno – what were the sales figures for Civ4 like compared to MW2 on the PC?

Were there a lot of problems with the MW2 PC launch? I skipped it myself, so I’m not sure if it was as problematic as some of Valve’s earlier releases.

MW2 was huge on console, but Valve does not disclose sales numbers for individual titles sold through Steam so it’s just conjecture one way or another beyond that. Still, my guess is due to mass appeal that MW2 will have sold more when it’s all said and done, but Civ V will be more loved ;)