Release Date on Steam - Caution for the fanatics!

[SomethingCronic]

Hi guys, this is just a word of caution for those eagerly anticipating the release of Civ V on Steam. Note I'm not bashing steam at all here - as a long time user I'm more than happy Civ is released on Steam as opposed to some of the truly alwful distribution systems out there.

Those that are taking the day off of work/school to start playing this game on release date - bear in mind that the time set for it's release will almost certaintly be Pacific time - so those based in the UK for example will not be able to unlock the game (assuming you've pre-downloaded or bought the DVD) until later that evening.

Even if you have installed from DVD or pre-ordered, the decryption and other late updates will still take a while - even with the best Internet connection. Don't be surprised if you don't play the game until the next morning.

This is based on previous experiance with Steam games on release date (Orange Box, Day of Defeat, Ostfront etc...). Seeing as it's released in North America first hopefully that will take some load off of their servers.

 

[Rebel44]

Whenever I had game preloaded before Steam release I was always able to start game in less than 1 hour after release (mosly I just had to reestart Steam just after release, wait few minutes and I was able to play).

 

[Ischenous]

Even if you have installed from DVD or pre-ordered, the decryption and other late updates will still take a while - even with the best Internet connection. Don't be surprised if you don't play the game until the next morning.

I don't know what it's like for other games but when I pre-ordered ETW I was able to play within 5 minutes and I do not have a great connection.

 

[Oishi]

My internet is slow, so I'm waiting for a retail version of this game.

 

[radioplug]

I don't know what it's like for other games but when I pre-ordered ETW I was able to play within 5 minutes and I do not have a great connection.

No, it's true. I'm on cable and I just downloaded a 100MB patch (that normally takes less than half a minute) that ended up taking about 10 minutes. The only difference I saw was when I was on a college campus and it was pretty instantaneous. It's like how all of Firefox's downloads are slower than norm.

 

[SomethingCronic]

I've not purchased a hugely anticipated game on Steam on the release date for a year or so, so hopefully there are more servers to deal with demand nowadays.

The downloading of the patch is not the same as everyone activating their game on the release date.

What I mentioned earlier is certainly an issue though, even if it doesn't affect everyone. When HL2 was released there was reports of people buying the game and then waiting days before they could authenticate it - however I've not had anything that bad I must admit - and that was also in the earlier days of Steam.

 

[Mercade]

I've not purchased a hugely anticipated game on Steam on the release date for a year or so, so hopefully there are more servers to deal with demand nowadays.

I never had a game that required on-line activation crap, and I intend to get the game retail. Since I'll probably be working during the week, if not travelling, I don't mind at all if it's a week or two later before installing the game. By then things should've quieted down.

 

[The_J]

I never had a game that required on-line activation crap, and I intend to get the game retail.

It will still requiere the online activation crap, because steam is fully integrated in every version, even the retail one.