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Just a few...more...hours...

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Just a few...more...hours...

Today!

from GalCiv2 Forums

Galactic Civilizations II will be digitally released late afternoon EST to users who have pre-ordered it.

It should also start showing up in retail today (though actual availability will depend on a store by store basis, by end of week it should be in most retail outlets hopefully).

If you're looking to pass the time, check out the forum stickies as we talk about what to expect and look for when you download this.

Most of Stardock's people will be hanging out here all day to help people since initial orders aren't the 2.5X of GalCiv I we had expected but more like 10X GalCiv I (thankfully, most of the game is mirrored across the world, we've had reports of download speeds on the multimedia of >1 Mebabyte per second).

You can also create your Metaverse characters if you'd like with the serial #s.  If you run into any issues or just have a question, feel free to stop by #galciv on irc.stardock.com. We'll be there.

Stay tuned!

36,964 views 62 replies
Reply #26 from Stardock Forums Top
Release economics 101: Why 3:00pm EST?
Brad has already given some pretty good reasons in his posts about why they went with 3:00pm EST, however I'll elaborate on the economics bit for those who are as impatient as I am.

For Galciv II to really succeed, it MUST stay on store shelves. Already it's doing well and I hope that there are 100,000 preorders (10X more then GalCiv I). Enough to recoup game costs, probably publishing costs as well. Then longer it stays on shelves afterwards, the better it will do in the general market. If it was available online sooner, the number of canceled pre-orders would have been enormous and not just the amount we are seeing on the board. Which means there would be a lot less retail sales, and a lot less time on shelves. Plus you piss off all the retailers, your future business partners, if you steal all their sales.
Reply #27 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Don't mind this post, i just want to check what time it is in EST, and can't be bothered doing the math.
Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #29 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Hmm... its earlier than I thought. Oh well, i guess I'll just have to wait until I get home from work to download (I wouldn't have time to play until then anyway).
Reply #31 from Stardock Forums Top
For those waiting for it in stores, I think tomorrow is more realistic. Today is the SHIPPING date, so they usually ship from their warehouses today to reach their stores or direct order customers the following day.

I am sure there will be some sightings in some stores today, but the vast majority of retailers will be receiving their stock tomorrow. (I have no inside information on Gal Civ II, but having worked years in a Big Box retailer, as well as being a rabid commuter gaming fan, experience does teach me a few things. )

You also have to allow for yesterday being a Holiday, shipping times, the time of day shipments arrive in stores, and the speed store personal can check shipments in and stock it on shelves. You might want to call ahead before driving any great distance.

Stores like EB, that specialize in games, will get it out pretty quickly. Big box stores such as Walmart and Circuit City may not be as excited about getting it onto the shelves as we are.

Those of us that ordered the DL also have to allow for possible problems getting the final download with net and server capacity being finite. A recent DL add-on for Flight Simulator crashed the download servers of the distributor despite this being the fourth or fifth release by the developer. It also crashed the forums of the largest Flight Sim support site because of all the buzz and anticipation. Stardock has done everything they can to be ready, but things can still happen.

Patience, everyone. We will all be playing soon enough.
Reply #32 from Stardock Forums Top
For those expecting to walk into EB and see the game on the shelf, make sure you call first. EB and GS are really bad about getting PC titles in, even on marquee games like CivIV. I preordered Civ4 from EB and when I picked it up the guy told they only ordered enough to fill preorders. They had zero copies to go out on the shelves. GalCiv2, is not nearly as mainstream as Civ4 was and I really doubt that many EBs ordered more than a few copies, if they ordered any at all above the amount needed to fill preorders.
Reply #33 from Stardock Forums Top
AHhahaaaaaa

must resist ...running naked through streets..

stardock you rock for letting the preorder people do the download
Reply #34 from Stardock Forums Top
For all those asking about when the time is in your area:
http://time.gov/
Thats the USA government official time for the differant zones of USA. click on the right area in the purple, thats for EST time.
When it hits somewhere around 3pm (give or take a couple hours) thats when its out.

At the moment of my posting it shows about noon.
Reply #35 from Stardock Forums Top
For those that ask, "Why was the download not made available at midnight EST or GMT?" Stardock wants their staff in the office to deal with any problems that might arise (especially given the higher than expected demand). The Stardock staff has lost lots of sleep over GalCiv2 over the past 2 years to bring us this great game and I for one don't want to cost them another night's sleep! That said putting it up on the servers at noon EST would allow pre-orders in Europe to download it when they get home from work and would not affect the retailers since they likely won't have GalCiv2 on their shelves until tomorrow anyways. Makes no difference to me since I'm on EST and won't be downloading until at least 8:00 pm EST.
Reply #36 from Stardock Forums Top
I just called my local GameStop here in Dallas where I pre-ordered. I'm told they won't have it until tomorrow.

So, looks like I have one more day of being a responsible adult.
Reply #37 from Stardock Forums Top
ah man, can't wait for the download to become active. i saw they updated on stardock, but no install yet.
Reply #40 from Stardock Forums Top
just as i post, it goes up it was me, it was me
Reply #41 from Stardock Forums Top
I'm very excited about the release, just a question from my side of the world (South Africa). I was busy download the multimedia pack (movies, sounds etc). It's didn't finish downloading (have a lousy dial-up) and now when I access Stardock Central, I can't access the files.
Reply #42 from Stardock Forums Top
Goddamn, I'm not even able to download the files that are put out already... I keep registering the serial number, and get the message that all is ok, but the game just doesn't show up in the games section at Stardock Central. Can anyone help me out? I want to have the complete game as soon as it's out!!!
Reply #43 from Stardock Forums Top
Whoopdeedoo, seems like it worked now after all... maaaaan, this is going to kill my social life!
Reply #44 from Stardock Forums Top
Go to tools->settings->general->make sure to check the option check for any stardock central(beta/release update) update, hit ok, and that should do it
Reply #45 from Stardock Forums Top
Got it! Got it! Galaxy beware!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Reply #46 from Stardock Forums Top
Just downloading it, too. But man, it's nowhere near as fast as the preload. Seems we are not the only ones to currently leech.
Reply #47 from Stardock Forums Top
Took only a minute or two to download the rest of the content. It was "< 1 byte / s", but sped up to 100 KB/s.

Congrats on the game launch, and good luck with sales
Reply #48 from Stardock Forums Top
Updating and ready to play. About time too...I hated it that I couldnt play it anymore for those few days.
Reply #49 from Stardock Forums Top
shaking......must......get.......fix......

slaps arm.......hand ......twitching.......need.......ship......builder.......need......takeover.....galaxy.......
Reply #50 from Stardock Forums Top
game.......mine......

must........playnow.......cant......stop......shaking.....