I'm thinking of switching to going CD-less because I travel a lot, and it's really annoying to bring games with, plus they get damaged. And I'm not too fond of the "other" ways to play without a cd, because I like my computer to be secure, not to mention how annoying it is when a patch comes out.

So how do people who have bought Direct2Drive like it? Are there other places to buy that work better ? (what is steam, anyways). I've heard there were quite a few problems with Direct2Drive when it came out, not to mention they didn't release patches for the game right away.

Should I go Cd-less for the upcoming expansion pack, or go for the CD version and suck it up because the alternative sucks more? Thoughts?

The biggest downside to Direct2Drive, as far as I see it, is that the version needs separate patches. So, when Firaxis releases a patch, you'll have to awit some more for a D2D version. Also, there's no saying if BtS will be available on D2D the same day it's available in retail.

Steam is another method of downloading games. It's a system ran and developed by Valve, primarily used for their games (Valve is the developer of Half-Life series), but recently, some other games have also become available on Steam. Personally, I don't like the Steam software itself much, but I trust the system more than D2D.

However, at first, only vanilla Civ4 became available on Steam, with Warlords coming in later. That makes me suspect that BtS would arrive to Steam some time after retail release, although that's just a guess.

CDs are annoying and can be damaged, but I should point out that the law allows you to make one backup copy of your game CDs in case they break.

Yeah, I've thought about the backup copy, but that would negate the whole travelling thing. It would allow me to take a disk with me, knowing I would have a copy at home in case it got damaged. But it wouldn't allow me to travel and go places without a disk.

I'm a mobile person, so its more knowing I could go hang out at a park and just decide to play Civ, or AOE3, or whatever game I feel like playing, and not have to worry about whether I brought the disk.

I guess it really makes a difference when you go completely disk free, so you wouldn't have to take a disk for any of your games. So you could play whatever you like when you like.

It sucks to hear that D2D isn't as quickly maintained as the CD version is. Its like you either have to carry around all your disks, or be a criminal.

Are there any other alternatives besides D2D?

Yeah, illegal No-CD cracks. I mean, if you really wanted to.

Do not, do not, do not buy Civilization IV from Direct2Drive. Do not.

Do not, do not, do not buy Civilization IV from Direct2Drive. Do not.
I agree. Do not.

I wish they would start making games like they sell music. Just a DRM file thats the exact copy of the disks. Would it be that hard to put them in iTunes and put fairplay on them and have it work just like having the CD? This frustrates me. And cracks aren't an option, too much crap out there, plus I feel dirty, even if I own the game.

Anyways, get off that topic or else the thread will be closed. I'm looking for good info. I take it D2D is the end of the line, and pretty much the only no cd version. And it sucks. Is that correct?

Does Steam use the same meothod as D2D, or do you get the updates quicker?

i wanted to like it. i expected very much to like it. even knowing i'd have the wait for the patches, it seemed the best solution for me, since i wouldn't have to swap out the disks. i bought it and it does not work for me and ended up being a complete waste of money.

i already had the disk versions. they run fine when my drive recognizes them, so obviously my machine can run the game. my drive's just finicky about tiny scratches (hubby can read the civ disks just fine, and my drive can read all others, warlords and vanilla got a lot of use tho, and i do still swap between the 2). so that i didn't run into this again, i bought vanilla and warlords from D2D. i can't get either of them to work on my machine. the installation process seems to run smoothly. then when i try to play, apparently nothing happens. after more than fifteen minutes (not an exaggeration, i have timed it), the loading screen pops up on machine and the game tries to load, but doesn't ever quite finish, it freezes up somewhere in there. it runs in the background that whole 15 minutes, and i can't figure out how to get it to work. did the uninstall/reinstall thing, no luck, installed and reinstalled the old disk version, that one was done in 2 minutes. so obviously, something about my computer and the D2D version didn't like each other :lol:

i dunno, i gave up on it, and that money is wasted. i obviously would prefer download versions rather than disk versions since the problem that makes me need new copies wouldn't have ever happened if i didn't need the disk in the drive every time i turn it on. but the D2D version does not work for me.

i have now paid money, TWICE, in good faith, for a game that i still sometimes can/sometimes can't play because of that "please insert the disk" rule and itsy bitsy scratches on a physical disk that the company won't replace. i tried to make a backup copy but that was way back when i first got it. it didn't work, i forget what message i got. i should probably look further into that, if people have been able to get a backup copy to work.

So if I bought D2D for the expansion pack, and it didn't work, could I get my money back, or are you just screwed? That doesn't sound like a winning proposition.

So if I bought D2D for the expansion pack, and it didn't work, could I get my money back, or are you just screwed? That doesn't sound like a winning proposition.
Do not, do not, do not purchase Civilization IV (or any of its expansion packs) off of Direct2Drive. Get your lazy ass up, go to your local Target, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Kmart, Circuit City, etc. and pick up a copy.

Right. You're pretty insistent about that.

So far we have no votes for, all votes against. This bites.

I vote we petition Firaxis to release their first ever no-cd check version of a game, with Apple like DRM to limit yourself to 3 computers, or whatever (ie. you couldn't play a lan game against your own copy). It should be available as a download, with the manual and game documentation coming in the mail (see, cheaper, no CD's to print, just mail the docs in a small package).

Right. You're pretty insistent about that.

So far we have no votes for, all votes against. This bites.
I'm insistent about it because I'm right. I have had the negative experience of buying Civilization IV: Warlords off of Direct2Drive and all the problems that came with it. After 2 weeks of struggling with them, I ended up going to Best Buy to purchase the game. Save yourself the frustrating and just go to the store and take care of your CDs.

I haven't used the Steam version, but I think that, unlike D2D, it gives you the same thing as retail does - so regular patches will work if you buy through Steam.

The problem with Steam is that it can sometimes get cranky and refuse to let you play if your PC is offline. Other than that, there shouldn't be any problems with it. Although, as said, I dunno how soon BtS might be available on Steam.

Gee, I guess I got real lucky. Because I bought Warlords 2.08 from D2D (I waited several months to get Warlords) and it is just perfect. There is also a little side benefit of not having to use the DVD to run the game which I won't mention. ;) I am willing to bet that BtS comes out riddled with bugs and you will want to wait for one or two patches and a nice little price-drop anyway.

On the other hand I absolutely DETEST Steam and for that reason would never play Half Life 2 on my PC. I got the Xbox version instead. No mess, no fuss - perfect.