ok that sounds a little complicated but cool....its easier than my plans of unhooking their computer and transporting it to my place, install all the software they'll need to get online just to register and then unpack it all and send it back to them.

just a quick re-cap to see if i've left anything out.

I've installed Galactic Civilization 2: Dread Lords onto their computer [unregistered]
I've downloaded the 1.6patch [a few MBs] for GalCiv2: Dark Avatar

do i still need to download another full CD/DVD installation directory from stardock to INSTALL "DARK AVATAR" before i can install the patch? or just install the patch, pay for registration codes [and instalation discs so i dont have to re-download them] and do what you just told me up there?

Yeah, as you can gather - im a little confused. im not too good/familiar with this stuff.

ok, there's a different serial for Dark Avatar right? or does it use the same serial as Dread Lords?


ill just explain whats happened so you have a clearer understanding. i bought the game and installed it onto MY computer last year [havnt deleted it since] -i cant find any trace of it either box, manual or case [thats why]. so i've downloaded a copy and installed it onto my cousin's computer without registering....which im guessing is semi-illegal

now, i would like to purchase the expansion and get it playing. do i need the serial from my 1st purchase or only the serial for dark avatar? im guessing like all expansions, i need to install it before running the patch? THEN updating/registering the serial number to euthenticate the game.

tell me if anything i've said is wrong or confusing and ill clear it up - and dont forget to throw in helpful advice/information too. once everything seems downpat and fine - ill purchase the game and run it through.

i just dont want to spend money and realise i've made a mistake and need to spend more to get it fixed up

Not having registered would indicate that you've downloaded a pirate copy from a third party. And yes, that's illegal. If you register the game you can download it legally through SDC, though you're not allowed to share the game with other people (if you're giving it to your cousins, you'd need to get rid of it yourself, or buy a second copy).


Anyway, first off, you seem to be confusing registration and activation. Registering is a one-time event where you link your serial key to your account so you can get patches, or download the whole game via SDC. Activation is done each time you put a patched copy of the game on a new machine, so it can be played (though if you install via SDC, it's done automatically for you). Unpatched retail copies do not require activation or registration to play, but if you do want to patch, you'll need to do both.

Registration and activation both require your serial key; unless you get GC2 Gold, DL and DA will use different keys.

The first thing you'd need to do, if you haven't already, is register GC2. This allows you to get updates or download the whole game. To do that:



Once that is done, you'll be able to download, patch, and archive (as above) GC2 via SDC. Now, to get DA, you can buy it directly from the Purchase page on the site here if you have a card compatible with the major US credit companies, or if you have a verified paypal account. In that case, just proceed through the store, making sure to give it the same email address as you registered GC2 with when it asks for one.

Once the purchase is completed, DA should be automatically added to your account (if not, you should be provided a serial key for DA by email--you can register it by the same process as above, just pick Dark Avatar in the product list rather than GC2).

Once you've got that done, you'll be able to download both GC2 and DA from your SDC account, and archive them for manual transport elsewhere.





If that's still confusing, there's a simple option. You appear to be in Australia, so you should be able to find GalCiv2 Gold (published there by Auran) in a local game store. GC2 Gold includes both DL and DA, and as above the unpatched retail version doesn't require doing anything with the serial to play. So you could simply give it to your cousins, install it on their machine as any other retail PC game, and they can just play it unpatched until such a time as you're ready to deal with SDC again (or if a standalone 'public' patch is released after the final DA patch).

Correct, you can play right out of the box without doing anything at all with the serial or the internet.



I believe it's [email protected], though you'll get the address for sure along with the message to send. You'd just fire off an email with the subject and body you're given, and you'll get back a reply with a file attatched that will need to be put in the install directory on the offline machine.


Of course, if you can't find it locally and don't mind not having a box and paper manual, you can buy the download-only version. The complete install process for a download copy is the same as the patching process (download it in SDC after registering, archive and take to the offline machine).

No, if you download the game you'll need to perform activation regardless. The ONLY version that does not require it is an unpatched copy installed from retail boxed discs (which you can order and have shipped, or find in a store). As noted previously, if you then choose to update that copy activation will be required.



Activation would be a one-time thing so long as the game isnt removed or windows reinstalled on the machine used to play. So on any later updates, you'd just download and archive from SDC, and take the archive to that computer. You wouldn't need to do a second loop for activation after the first time.

What it all boils down to is that the process for updating an offline machine would be identical to just getting the whole thing by download to start with (just more stuff to download). The only real difference is having the retail discs as a fallback should you find yourself in a position where you want to play, but don't have the game installed and don't have ready internet access.