Poll; How many versions of Civ 5 will there be by Game Release?

[tom2050]

Poll;

How many different versions (EDIT: content configurations) of Civ 5 will there be by the Release Date (Sept 21st)?

Right now, there is:
Amazon pre-order bonus: "Cradle of Civilization: Asia" map pack
Direct2Drive "Double Civilization and Scenario Pack"
Steam Pre-order with Cradle of Civilization Map Pack: Mesopotamia.
Steam Civilization V - Deluxe Edition
Store-bought regular edition
Store-bought Collectors edition

If I missed a version, let me know and I'll add it in. (minimum vote is 6 versions taking the above into account)

It is highly probable more versions will continue pouring out (my guess), do you think that this is it for different versions? Or do you think there will be more?

Vote Now!


If you guess right - you get a free smiley!

 

[ZimbuTheMonkey]

Gamestop will probably get something too.

 

[Tee Kay]

On the subject, there'll be more DLCs, I think, definitely. Don't know whether they count as their own versions. And maybe 3-4 expansion packs, plus their DLCs and deluxe editions.

On a semi-related note, who's up for modding the hell out of Civ4 and making it x10 better than Civ5?

 

[Silvestris]

Over 9000!!!

 

[Tylerryan79]

I like my civ like my ice cream, 31 flavors!

 

[Commander Bello]

This is becoming more and more ridiculous.

And it clearly shows that 2k is not taking the customers seriously, in no way. "They are just like cows: milk them and they will make 'moooh', don't milk them and they will may 'moooh' - so where's the difference?"

 

[PieceOfMind]

1 - They will all be the Steam version.

 

[12agnar0k]

Over 9000!!!

lol dbz quote yes?

 

[Mercade]

You missed that Direct2Drive has Regular + pack and Deluxe + pack.

Other than that I find this thread borderline trolling. There are essentially only three different versions (regular, deluxe and special) of the game being offered. DVD vs download are not essentially different versions; you end up with the same game. In that sense the Special Edition is only a different wrapper too, since the game is unchanged, but I'll count it anyway, but your poll is missing the options for 2 and 3.

The Amazon + map and The Direct2Drive download + pack are not versions. They're combo packages of products are are also separately available or will be separately available in the future.

The release of four different DLC's at some point doesn't make for 16 different versions of the product. At most it can be described as 16 different configuration options.

 

[12agnar0k]

Technically, atleast I hope so, the game will be coded so that all the different 0-day DLC does not affect gameplay playability and combatiability so that, Their is only one "Version" per say, Civilisation 5 v1.0, but a lot of people will have different DLC on the day of purchase due to buying in different areas.

I also hope we will be able to play "gotta catch em all" to get all the DLC, but not at a high price.

...

Over 9000!!!!!!!!!, Boom headset blows up.

Ah... classics.

 

[The_J]

This is becoming more and more ridiculous.

1 - They will all be the Steam version.

Both right :/.

31-50.
I guess we might not even see all the version for russia and asia.

 

[tom2050]

Other than that I find this thread borderline trolling.

Trolling is: someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking other users into a desired emotional response or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.

Exactly how is this trolling? Please elaborate... because it is just for fun. No one should get offended or upset over a bit of fun. If anything your post possibly does this by provoking other users into a desired emotional response or to disrupt the normal on-topic discussion of the thread.

On the serious side, there are going to be more versions coming out as others have confirmed; and since each 'version', or 'combo' or 'pack' so far all mostly contain different elements, it becomes confusing and a chore to search through them all to find the best value. If there ends up being 10 to 20 different 'combo version packs' available, with different content... and different prices... .

 

[ColdFever]

This is becoming more and more ridiculous.
And it clearly shows that 2k is not taking the customers seriously.

2K probably does not understand the Civilization community anymore...

Instead of giving the loyal fans what they ask for and what they want to pay a lot of money for -a luxurious and complete Collectors Edition and a basic but still complete Standard Edition, as with former versions- 2K now is producing many, many versions with different content and not a single complete version anymore, making people uncertain about what to buy.

The result could be dangerous for the Civ franchise. In Europe, the uncertainty about the versions and which one to buy is getting so massive that Amazon Germany has to lower the Civ5 price almost daily, Amazon UK already offers an incredibly low price. It is possible that 2K even destroys the Civ5 presale market with the new DLC splitting strategy, because people now may have to wait until release to decide about the best possible version. The worst case: What, if in the end only pirates (stealing the game) will be able to play a complete Civ5?

Not to speak about related topics, like the possible damage to multiplayer and modding, for example: Being a modder, how can you know which content is installed and moddable and which modded content you are allowed to release?

Customers do not know which version to buy?
Customers cannot use certain content in multiplayer?
Customers do not know which content is available for modding?

Is this marketing smart or dumb? Do they want to ruin the franchise? People would love to pay the publisher a lot of money for a complete Civ5, but the publisher refuses to deliver such a complete version? What a fiasco...

 

[Mercade]

Exactly how is this trolling? Please elaborate... because it is just for fun. No one should get offended or upset over a bit of fun. If anything your post possibly does this by provoking other users into a desired emotional response or to disrupt the normal on-topic discussion of the thread.

On the serious side, there are going to be more versions coming out as others have confirmed; and since each 'version', or 'combo' or 'pack' so far all mostly contain different elements, it becomes confusing and a chore to search through them all to find the best value. If there ends up being 10 to 20 different 'combo version packs' available, with different content... and different prices... .

A poll about game versions that starts at 6 and ends with 101+ could be seen as another way to complain about the concept of DLC. But I acknowledge how this is supposed to be a fun poll, which is why I said borderline (although I guess I meant bordering).

Sure, there is some DLC announced for the future, and some of it is offered by some suppliers as part of a pre-deal sweatener. But in the end it's small beans. Civilization V is meant to be modded and the previous incarnations have been very heavily modded by the community. Now the author of the game is making a few mods of his own and selling them. Big deal. But there are other theats on this already.

In the end, as PieceOfMind said, there'll be one version, one game, and it's Civilization V.

Having said that, I do acknowledge that there are different packages out there, which does pose a choice for people. Not like Civ3 where you had the choice between a retail CD and a mail-order CD.

But if you feel offended by the term, I'll happy withdraw it.

 

[Chiyo]

2K probably does not understand the Civilization community anymore...

Instead of giving the loyal fans what they ask for and what they want to pay a lot of money for -a luxurious and complete Collectors Edition and a basic but still complete Standard Edition, as with former versions- 2K now is producing many, many versions with different content and not a single complete version anymore, making people uncertain about what to buy.

I think this is definitely true. I will not preorder anything as I cannot be certain that there will not appear another special addition by online shop XYZ that will exclusively include the option to build a settler unit...

I want a complete version that includes all Civilizations and all units and do not mind paying a little more for that as there in the past has been no other game that I have spent as much time on as the varoius Civilization versions.

 

[Ahriman]

I have spoken out defending 2K before when people were accusing them of basically doing this.

I retract my defense. I'm pretty irritated that they're trying to scatter various map and civilization packs across all kinds of different pre-order versions a la Dragon Age, which makes it highly likely that any post-release content will be pay-for DLC.

This is lame. I much prefer the "main release + expansions" business model. I didn't mind one deluxe edition with some extra stuff, but deliberately creating all these different versions from different vendors and with-holding the content unless you purchase from a particular vendor is unacceptable.

Versions and info need to be *clear*, and it needs to be clear when any of this content will later become available free (or bundled into an expansion, or what have you).
More than the money, customers *hate* getting into the feeling that they're at risk of being suckered with bait-and-switch.

 

[ori]

2K probably does not understand the Civilization community anymore...

Instead of giving the loyal fans what they ask for and what they want to pay a lot of money for -a luxurious and complete Collectors Edition and a basic but still complete Standard Edition, as with former versions- 2K now is producing many, many versions with different content and not a single complete version anymore, making people uncertain about what to buy.

The result could be dangerous for the Civ franchise. In Europe, the uncertainty about the versions and which one to buy is getting so massive that Amazon Germany has to lower the Civ5 price almost daily, Amazon UK already offers an incredibly low price. It is possible that 2K even destroys the Civ5 presale market with the new DLC splitting strategy, because people now may have to wait until release to decide about the best possible version. The worst case: What, if in the end only pirates (stealing the game) will be able to play a complete Civ5?

Not to speak about related topics, like the possible damage to multiplayer and modding, for example: Being a modder, how can you know which content is installed and moddable and which modded content you are allowed to release?

Customers do not know which version to buy?
Customers cannot use certain content in multiplayer?
Customers do not know which content is available for modding?

Is this marketing smart or dumb? Do they want to ruin the franchise? People would love to pay the publisher a lot of money for a complete Civ5, but the publisher refuses to deliver such a complete version? What a fiasco...

I wholeheartedly agree. I at least have the luxury of not caring a bit about multiplayer - but I pity those that have to try to find a balanced way of playing MP with apparently multiple restricted civs out there
With paid for DLC being a lot more likely (as in almost certain) I also fear that modders will have a hard time figuring out what content is allowed to be released and what may be infringing on Firaxis plans for future releases of DLC - currently no one knows what the policy for hosting of mods through the official mod browser will be - and with mods potentially competing with DLC or planned DLC there is bound to be some policing by Take2 to protect their sales.

 

[Mercade]

Sorry, Tom2050. But don't blame me for Civ King's post in your thread.

 

[Aramel]

What about exactly 101 versions? That is apparently not an option in this poll.

 

[crismac]

This has become a joke.We still have over two months to go until release date,and we have more versions than I can think of,and I'm sure there is more on the way.This is prime example that more is not better.

I have not complained about steam or any of the other changes by 2K or Firaxis to date,but I posting this to let them know that enough is enough.The person in charge of marketing this game is turning there loyal fan base away.How hard is it to put out two versions for DLC(Reg and Col)and two versions for box(Reg and Col).I have no idea what to get now,and not sure what I'll do.

2K,if trying to confuse your customers is your goal you have accomplished this task

Sorry for the rant.I don't ever do that here,but I felt I needed to