Yes, you can buy the game from here, you will then be able to download it and if you live outside US you can have CD sent to you for 10$ extra. The BonusPak will be aviable for download only I think.

/Andreas

Just my 2 cents, well maybe 4.

I like that Stardock is offering more options than other developers.
I would be disappointed if they short changed distribution partners by releasing the full game in any form before it was available through those partners, for that would burn Stardocks bridges for future titles and hurt the long term health of the developer of my soon to be favorite game. Cascading into less resources to continue development of the current release, and dampening the staffs enthusiasim and creativity for future releases.
For those that are fortunate to live near mass distribution and can just walk into a Gamestop store:
My local store told me the ship date is 3/25/03, so it will likely be in store some time 3/26/03, probably afternoon some time 1-3 PM.
Finally to my point. Since some pirated software sometimes comes from store employees (NOT Gamestop in particular) selling copies pre release to friends, I suggest you make sure original tape, one piece each end, not two layers, is intact on the box, "and not accidental crate unpacking slashes from razor knives." Just a quick look over. That happened to me with a game once and I had a devil of a time convincing the store owner that I hadn't done it myself and was just trying to get a free second copy to sell to a friend. In that particular case the jewel was missing the game and had an AOL disk in it.
As for demo pre release, that is desirable for my self, BUT for perfectly legitimate marketing reasons sometimes that is not wise for the publishers or the developer.
In my case I will wait until 3/26/03 afternoon and walk in and get my copy at Gamestop as they have the 7 day full refund policy if I don't want the game for any reason. And as a 38 year old fella with some cognitive limitations due to grey hair and other issues I am not compatable with a lot of games. But, after reading almost the whole Galactic Encyclopedia yesterday I intend to give this game a multi session try. If it doesn't suit my fancy the first time I play it I would not be surprised. Since I have a strong preconception of what the game is. And with a multifaceted entertainment product like a 4X game, the likely hood of my preconception being right on target is mighty slim. I expect GalCiv to have strengths and weaknesses I do not hold in my mind at this moment. I will sit down with chocolate and soda close at hand for a couple hours at least a few times before making my final judgment about dollar value. I do rate a good interactive game highly for it gives me a positive attitude through out the next 24 hours or so.

I have a question.

I have two computers, and I would like to put GalCiv on both of them.

The serial number is shut down only if two or more different accounts try to use it, right?

Most of the time it's ok to install on 2 computers as long as both of the instances of the software are not intended to be in use at the SAME TIME. This would allow you to have a copy on both your desktop and laptop legally. But if your wife (or room mate or brother or fried, etc) has their own computer and wants the game, and you both plan to play it seperately, you should buy two copies. At least this has always been my understanding.

--Soulfire

Actually Soulfire, that is a pretty much outdated software licensing policy. Nowadays, software is licensed on a per computer basis. It is licensed for use on a single computer, and that is it. They may deviate from what is pretty much an industry standard now, but I doubt it. At least, this is how most commercial software licensing is handled. I buy and install tons of software for our company, and most of it is of this variety.

The only exception? Some have a key (hardware or a license manager installed on a server) that manages how many are being used simutaneously. But this is typically for expensive software.

Anyways, kudos for the great idea! Since fat pipes are the norm now for many a gamer, this makes much more sense.

And warez users of this game will be out of luck as far as updates, addons, etc go. Since they are supporting this for a year, those who choose to play an illegal copy will be sad I'm sure, that they can't even patch the thing.

And just out of curiosity.. is that going to be the ONLY way to patch this game? Through Stardock Central? With a valid serial? I hope so! That is a wonderful way to not punish valid users, and TO punish warezing cheapskates.

fleabitfox

To push this a little more, they could put a killer bug that utterly destroy your PC in the standard version, warn legit user and give a patch on the 1st day ...
That's so Eeeeeeeevil ! :evilgrin:

Is there an official word on this? Can I have it installed on my desktop and also laptop for when I go out of town without needing to buy 2?

--Soulfire

"But be careful, the serial number that comes with GalCiv isn't like serial numbers you've seen before. They are tied to each user. So if it were to somehow "get out there", the system would detect anomalous activity and shut down that number so guard that number"

It SOUNDS like it is tied to the user and not the computer? I really hope that is how it works.

--Soulfire

Im almost 100% sure its NOT tied to your computer.. if it were then you would never be able to install it again if you buy another comp:)

I think that what he meant was, if it gets out and 2-3 people try to log in with the same serial at the same time, the program says... Ho there! Somethings is not right here... LOL

So having it on several comps should be ok, as long as you dont use them all at the same time:)

/Andreas

"Tied to the user"?

Loosely, a security system can attempt to grant/deny access based on:

- Knowledge: of passwords, serial numbers, how to dance a Macarena in front of a security camera, et al.
- Possessions: e.g. smart cards, dongles, hardware-based challenge-response systems, et al
- User characteristics: iris scans, fingerprints, DNA sequencing, that sort of thing

If I read correctly, you can even download the game before having anything shipped to you, which rules out possession-based systems. Nowhere it is specified that you need biometric data or other evidence, so the only checks involved must be knowledged-based. Knowledge can be propagated; even if it's a serial number, AND Stardock Central account details, just like a Warcraft serial could be. Stardock might do some checking to detect repeated use of a serial from different subnets, or near-simultaneous usage to get the same patch, but that could be done for any software package with unique, tracked serial numbers. Blizzard could do it for the Warcraft series, for instance.

The one distinction here between what Stardock and most software support systems do appears to be that Stardock will require the use of a special downloading system, which presumably will both download and install. The installation would, most likely, involve more than simply unpacking an archive into a easily-duplicated directory; it may seek to tie that installation to the machine (possibly tricky; not all machines have cpu identifiers, and the obvious approach of IP address breaks for dynamic IP users, as well as for anybody who knows how to change his), or it may simply distribute enough parts of itself into the registry to make it more difficult to redistribute.

Why wouldn't they just look for the number of hits against a given serial number in time x?

Yeah a few people will be able to abuse the system and still let their close friends use their serial number, but Stardock seems to have taken the approach that MOST of us can be trusted and is only trying to curb the most serious abuses of the system.

Just checking the hit frequency? There has to be more than that, because otherwise somebody might easily repackage what he's downloaded and make it available on his own -- in which case the serial numbers become irrelevant, since it's not being downloaded from Stardock Central. Hence, there's probably something about the installation meant to make that non-trivial. Of course, that would also mean that if you have a laptop and a desktop, that even if it's legal to put GalCiv on both with the same serial, you'd need to download it to each machine, and that modem users can't download it at work to take advantage of a fast pipe, burn a CD, and bring it home.

Suffice to say we have a pretty sophisticated system on the server end based on 4 years of experience with Object Desktop which functions in the same way.

You can't eliminate piracy but you can make it a lot more inconvenient.

And yes, it's tied to the user. Not the computer. I have GalCiv on 3 machines, same serial #.

So whats the deal with this bonus pack? Is this like a patch available to the game already on its first day out?

No patches or fixes just some goodies to reward those who bought the game.

~SDC~

Things that has been made between the gold and release date..

Logical and even handed policy. While there is no safe that can not be cracked. It is the safe manufacturer that makes more money.

a)but if we buy it from let's say amazon, do they send you the serial directly by e-mail?

b)do we have the option to only buy the serial?, I don't want to give 10$ for a cd wich I will never use (cause I can burn the cd myself)

Is that the 26th world wide (Specifically Australia) ???

If not when is the date for Australia

Elden

When I rang EB Chatswood yesterday (Fri 14 March) they said there is no date as yet....they are probably still in neg with Red Ant who will be distributing it.

Besides they need to correct the spelling, as usual it's spelt wrong...it's Galactic Civilisations

Viproxx---I am not up on conversion rates. How many Euro-dollars to the U.S. dollar? Quality games in the U.S. are usually 40 to 50 bucks. For a game with alot of replay value, 50 bucks is really cheap when you consider how long it will be on your hard drive! I'm STILL playing and enjoying CIV2 (and thats not because I dont have alot of games. I have so many games I'm almost (not quite) ashamed!! I can spend 50 bucks on dinner with my wife easily and its down the toilet the next day if you get my drift!
Also- a general question to the forum...is there a English language conversion system or do you Europeans speak English? If you do, I'm impressed! I havent even mastered it myself!
Cheers.

One Euro is appr. the same as One US Dollar. Adn towards the English language: Here in The Netherlands we start learning at least one foreign language in school at the age of 9. In Higher Schools you HAVE to learn at least 3. Most youngers choose of course English as their first learning objective, English is the only true World language, isn't it?

and in belgium we are all obligated to learn dutch (native language), french (from the age of 10) and english (from the age of 13), we can also take german lessons if we are interrested in languages. So here it's normal you speak at least 3 languages. For myself I took spanish and C/C++ as an extra
ps a euro dollar doesn't exists, it's a euro...

wow. here in the USA, most of us barely learn our own language! (members of this forum excluded OF COURSE!)