Firaxis free Steam download ending

[Severus]

Hi,

Just thought I'd bring to everyone's attention that Firaxis are ending the free digital copy of Civ 4 for anyone who owns a physical copy. The closing date is June 5th, after this you'll have to buy it if you ever want to own it digitally on Steam.

I'd recommend anyone who wants to future proof their ability to play Civ 4 takes advantage of it even if you currently have no use for it.

You have to contact 2k and submit a new support request on this link: http://support.2k.com/hc/en-us/requests/new

They'll email you asking you to provide one photo which shows the Civ 4 box, the boxes of any expansions you own, the disc and any expansion discs, and a piece of paper with the number they send you written on it.

I have to say their customer support is the best I've ever had, responses about ten minutes after each email I sent, and they talk about gladly helping "a fellow conqueror" and say things that make you feel like you're talking to actual fans of the game. It seems that even in customer support Civ 4 still to this day stands head and shoulders above any so-called competitors; a fitting testament to the greatest game ever created.

Hope this is useful

 

[Major Tom]

Thanks for the info. Sooner or later I buy a new machine and assume there are no cd-slots anymore. Can I just dump my whole Civ directory on a portable harddisk and copy over to new machine, or do I need a digital copy? And even worse, do i need to involve steam?

 

[s.bernbaum]

I can't say about the future but in the past I have copied the old hard drive to the new one with no problems. Also, even if a new computer does not have a DVD/CD slot, you can always buy a free standing USB DVD/CD drive and use that. I have two of those hooked up to my current computer. I bought the kind that use drawers instead of slots, since they are less likely to damage the discs.

 

[Severus]

Can I just dump my whole Civ directory on a portable harddisk and copy over to new machine, or do I need a digital copy? And even worse, do i need to involve steam?

As far as I know you can't just copy the Civ directory over unless you also copy over the registry entries that the game creates and the dependent DLLs.

It's a Steam code that 2K send you so, yes, if you want to take advantage of their offer it has to involve Steam.

The issue with Civ 4 seemed to be that Windows 10 wouldn't allow the discs to install (this is the reason I gave 2K for requesting a code but you don't need a reason), I don't know if that's been fixed in a subsequent Windows 10 update though.

I'm currently waiting on the last part for my new pc coming through the post before I start building it (only building a new one because my current one has just passed her 16th birthday and she dies now when the game reaches the 1200s. Is spending £1k simply to play Civ 4 excessive? Hell no!) and I'll try installing the discs first, maybe the install issues have gone. If not, I'm considering making an XP boot partition just for Civ. And my last act on my old pc will be to install Steam just to claim my code so it's in my account even if I never download Steam to my new computer.

And yes, as s.bernbaum says, copying over the entire drive should still work in future. I've never tried this myself though.

I've never used Steam, is it really that bad that it should be avoided if possible?

 

[Archon_Wing]

Wait I don't get it.

I don't have steam whatever. Just the cd version. Would I have to reinstall? Also, doesn't the steam version have crippled multiplayer? It doesn't have any online only crap does it? Why should I get it over the CD version?

I have the cds, not sure where boxes are. Edit: Found it. It's Gold Edition and Beyond the Sword,

 

[Major Tom]

I can't say about the future but in the past I have copied the old hard drive to the new one with no problems. Also, even if a new computer does not have a DVD/CD slot, you can always buy a free standing USB DVD/CD drive and use that. I have two of those hooked up to my current computer. I bought the kind that use drawers instead of slots, since they are less likely to damage the discs.

Thanks for good tips about the USB device and also copy entire hard disk with registry, DLL and god know what. Hopefully avoid the win10 denials.

 

[Major Tom]

I've never used Steam, is it really that bad that it should be avoided if possible?

Thanks u too.
I used it once but ofc forget passwords. Main reason i avoid it, dont like to be online if not necessary. Too mutch horsehockey want to spy. Also less resources tied.

 

[lymond]

Wait I don't get it.

I don't have steam whatever. Just the cd version. Would I have to reinstall? Also, doesn't the steam version have crippled multiplayer? It doesn't have any online only crap does it? Why should I get it over the CD version?

I have the cds, not sure where boxes are. Edit: Found it. It's Gold Edition and Beyond the Sword,

Surprised you don't have Steam. You do know that games on disk is very close to extinct..very close. Almost all my games now are on Steam, or otherwise digital, and have been for years. I have box, Steam and another digital version of Civ IV.

In your case, no harm in at least getting the free Steam key. It's all about insurance on your game once your cds don't work anymore.

Multiplayer is irrelevant to this decision, but Steam has the only public IV servers now..not that i play MP myself either

Also, I find STeam works better on my WIN10 machine which is the very reason I got it, although downside is the hurdles to get BUFFY to work on that version, but I have non-steam version on other machines.

Maybe you are not a big gamer overall, but if you are, not having Steam is silly

 

[Severus]

Wait I don't get it.

I don't have steam whatever. Just the cd version. Would I have to reinstall? Also, doesn't the steam version have crippled multiplayer? It doesn't have any online only crap does it? Why should I get it over the CD version?

I have the cds, not sure where boxes are. Edit: Found it. It's Gold Edition and Beyond the Sword,

You don't have to reinstall but you would have to install Steam, create an account and redeem the code 2K send to you, and then uninstall Steam if you don't want it on your computer. Civ 4 will remain in your Steam account to download any number of times in future providing you don't delete the account, there's no requirement to download immediately or change how you currently play the game.

But...

In your case, no harm in at least getting the free Steam key. It's all about insurance on your game once your cds don't work anymore.

Exactly. There will come a time when discs just won't be an option any longer and you'll be reliant on a digital copy or copying your hard drive when you get a new computer, so having a digital copy makes sense especially since it's free.

I disagree that games on disc are on the verge of extinction, they said the same about books when Kindles came about, but I'm planning on playing Civ for another four decades at least and I'm not sure they'll still be around in 2057.

2057... we'll all be holidaying on the moon and Firaxis will still be trying to create an AI that can play 6.

 

[lymond]

Well, the majority of PC games are digital now...so yeah, we are close to cd/dvd extinction...only some AAA titles still go out on disk. And many rigs you can buy now don't even come with disc players.

Books are a completely different animal. Although I have started reading books on my Iphone and laptop..now. There is a convenience to it at times. But I'll always love to have the feel of a real book in my hands. The one thing though is that now that my eyesight is finally starting to go, it's nice to have the font options in the Kindle. ugh..i just hope to put off glasses for as long as i can

 

[Severus]

Well, the majority of PC games are digital now

That surprises me but then I'm not a pc gamer. Civ, Sim City and Railroad Tycoon are about the only pc games I've ever played. Strange it's not the same with PS4 though; I'm guilty of buying a decent amount of sub-standard strategy games that all retail around £13 or under and they're all available on disc.

Definitely agree about the players themselves being phased out though it'll be because manufacturers have decided it's an obsolete format rather than lack of demand which will kill them sadly.

 

[Severus]

Books are a completely different animal. Although I have started reading books on my Iphone and laptop..now. There is a convenience to it at times. But I'll always love to have the feel of a real book in my hands. The one thing though is that now that my eyesight is finally starting to go, it's nice to have the font options in the Kindle. ugh..i just hope to put off glasses for as long as i can

Lol definitely there's a convenience to having the complete works of an author in your phone. For me it's the smell that would be irreplaceable if they ever went, nothing finer than opening a much-loved book at a random page and taking a big sniff with your nostrils jammed in the middle!

 

[lymond]

Lol definitely there's a convenience to having the complete works of an author in your phone. For me it's the smell that would be irreplaceable if they ever went, nothing finer than opening a much-loved book at a random page and taking a big sniff with your nostrils jammed in the middle!

So true..ha..love the smell of a new book..been and avid reader since ..well...the moment i could

Likewise, not a console player, but I've even read that they may be out in the near future...at least in the way they are now...and certainly retail disks for console. I think you can download some games on console, no?

As for PC model, that is something I've been predicting for years and have pointed out in older discussions here, but you can search the subject online even and find articles dating back several years heralding the death of the retail PC game.

Funny, years ago folks worried that PC gaming was dying. Nowadays, I find consoles kinda silly myself. Granted, obviously some tiles are console exclusive, but the main draw of console to me is playing on the big TV screen. Otherwise, PC is always better from a tech standpoint, adaptability,and upgrade-ability. Plus, you can play PC games on TV now anyways.

 

[Fippy]

I find the whole iphone addiction disturbing..
and yup by now i can only call it that way, when i watch some peoples around me.

Books are really a great example for that, it's not the same atmo compared with real books.
While we are moving up in tech, i feel like we are moving down constantly in things that give you passive & automatic happy feelings.

lol ~~

 

[lymond]

Lol..like a group of friends or family sitting down to a nice meal at a restaurant and all glued to their iphones.

I'd write more but my iphone needs my attention

this message sent from an iphone

 

[Archon_Wing]

Surprised you don't have Steam. You do know that games on disk is very close to extinct..very close. Almost all my games now are on Steam, or otherwise digital, and have been for years. I have box, Steam and another digital version of Civ IV.

In your case, no harm in at least getting the free Steam key. It's all about insurance on your game once your cds don't work anymore.

Multiplayer is irrelevant to this decision, but Steam has the only public IV servers now..not that i play MP myself either

Also, I find STeam works better on my WIN10 machine which is the very reason I got it, although downside is the hurdles to get BUFFY to work on that version, but I have non-steam version on other machines.

Maybe you are not a big gamer overall, but if you are, not having Steam is silly

I don't use steam because I don't have any of their games. Not sure how that's hard to figure out, not like it matters. And it's cool you don't care about multiplayer, but it does affect my decision, so that's not very helpful.

I ask because I am aware there's a few issues with the Direct IP option, as I believe when trying to play with a friend who has the steam version. But it'd be nice if I could use Steam's multiplayer.

You don't have to reinstall but you would have to install Steam, create an account and redeem the code 2K send to you, and then uninstall Steam if you don't want it on your computer. Civ 4 will remain in your Steam account to download any number of times in future providing you don't delete the account, there's no requirement to download immediately or change how you currently play the game.

Thanks for the actual answer.

 

[lymond]

"their games"? Steam has pretty much all PC games It's the largest distributor of PC games worldwide by a wide margin. So actually the idea of "their games" would be the very least reason I would think of. For whatever reason, I've seen some folks here that are just adamantly against steam for no other reason really than they are adverse to digital games and want boxes and disks, or some other obtuse or stubborn reason.(not directed at you)

Not sure on Direct IP option. My comment was in part misreading what you had stated. Point really was that for public MP, Steam is actually the way to go. As for direct IP, it may be related to some differences between Steam and Non-steam version, but I'm sure by now their is a fix or at least workaround for the issue, The MP forum here probably has the answer to that.

 

[Archon_Wing]

That's really cool and all, but most games today are digital copies without physical media, I know. That's not something specific to Steam.

And no I don't have anything against Steam or whatever. It doesn't matter as long as I can still play the same game.

 

[s.bernbaum]

The issue with Civ 4 seemed to be that Windows 10 wouldn't allow the discs to install (this is the reason I gave 2K for requesting a code but you don't need a reason), I don't know if that's been fixed in a subsequent Windows 10 update though.

There is a thread over in the Tech forum about how to "fix" Windows 10 so it will allow access to CIV discs.

 

[Imperator Knoedel]

There is a thread over in the Tech forum about how to "fix" Windows 10 so it will allow access to CIV discs.

Honestly I would be glad if Windows 10 would recognize any CDs whatsoever. I have to make use of an external CD drive because my computer is somehow unable to recognize the existence of the perfectly fine internal CD drive ever since I "upgraded" to Win10.