[BTS] Can a pre-Steam copy of Civ play online with a Steam copy?

[Tabanese]

By 'pre-Steam' I mean a copy of Civ that I bought before everything was bought through Steam. I even have the box.

Basically, I bought the humble bundle and want to give my Civ 4 copy to a friend so we can play together (he is a Civ newbie. Has played TW though). However, if we couldn't because of, say, DRM, then I'd rather just have a copy on Steam in case anything happens to my physical copy.

Anyone know, or have good reason to speculate, what the answer this is?

 

[Windsor]

It works, but the Steam-user will have to follow these instructions.

 

[Tabanese]

Thank you. In addition, I realized that I could just pony up a euro for a second copy if I wanted my cake and to eat it.

 

[Mudokon Pop]

Thank you. In addition, I realized that I could just pony up a euro for a second copy if I wanted my cake and to eat it.

For future reference, if you own a CD copy and send 2K support an email outlining your problem they can send you the Steam version for free. My problem was that Civ IV wasn't installing on windows 10 so they asked for my Steam ID and a photo of the disk to prove that I own one.

They even added in Civ IV Colonization which I didn't own!!