About downloading the game (answers)

from Stardock Forums
Okay just so that we're clear:

On March 26th GalCiv will be available. Now, whether you buy the game at EB, Amazon, CompUSA, Gamestop, or direct, etc. you will be, able to, after you get the game with the serial # download the FULL game via Stardock Central. This is how it works:

Each copy of GalCiv comes with a Stardock.net serial #. It will be on the back of the jewel case for GalCiv in the retail box or if you buy it directly it'll be in the DVD case as well as in your email.

Once you have that number, you'll be able to come here, click on the download link and get Stardock Central (http://www.stardock.com/products/sdcentral/sd1.jpg). If you've already installed GalCiv, it will show you what updates have been made (BonusPak, new features, bug fixes, trojan horse viruses added, etc.).

But even you've blown away GalCiv entirely, you can still go onto Stardock Central and download the whole thing and have the latest version. So even if you melt your original CD you will still be able to get the full game as long as you have that serial #. But be careful, the serial number that comes with GalCiv isn't like serial numbers you've seen before. They are tied to each user. So if it were to somehow "get out there", the system would detect anomalous activity and shut down that number so guard that number, it's your personal Stardock.net account number.

As someone who has kids who have damaged many a CD (I've had to repurchase Total Annihilation 3 times), being able to download the game on-line long after purchase will come in handy we think.

So anyway, no matter where you buy it, the benefits are equal. Whether it's from EB, or CompUSA or direct, you'll be able to download updates or the whole thing from scratch with that Stardock.net serial #.

Hope this helps.
3,718 views 68 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
I am very curious how you will prevent piracy with this method. What prevents someone from taking a legit & complete copy of the game (w/ BonusPak) and making it available on a warez site?

Granted, I don't know all the ins and outs of warez so this may be a stupid question. :p
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Probably nothing at all. The disadvantage of the warez copy will show up when naughty player tries to download updates from Stardock.net they will not be able to correctly identify themselves and thus get the serial # blocked.

Correctly me if I'm wrong Brad.
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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Read this article:

http://www.avault.com/developer/getarticle.asp?name=bwardell3
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
Ok this looks very good : I'm in France and don't want to wait for weeks before having my game !

Can someone just confirm :

* Will we be able to buy "direct" at Stardock and when ? I mean, I've understood that it should be possible, but if by now I want to buy and use the "purchase" button here, I'm directed to EBGames, Amazon etc ... I'd prefer to give my money directly to Stardock and not even go through e-sellers (an habit I took with BattleFront !). Will it be available only on March 26th, 00.01 AM EST (or is it PST ?) ??

* I'm rather worried about what whe bandwidth will look like at the instant the game is available ! I suppose some 100-500 people will each want to grab 500 Mb each simultaneously... Won't the server blow up or have insanely low dload bw ?

About the article : very interesting, I'm really sharing Brad's view on these matters. If only more companies were... :CONGRAT:
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
Same question as pdifolco - My impression from the first post was that if we bought online on the 26th we'd have to wait for the box to be delivered with the serial number inside prior to being able to download...?

Oh and excellent article on the future of gaming. Completely agree. Can't wait for GalCiv =)

SithUK
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
SithUK, AFAIK the serial # will be sent via email too, so you won't have to wait for the CD/Box...
But why in Hell can't I just preorder NOW direct to StarDock, but can to EBGames or Amazon ?? It doesn't make sense ... They don't want my money ?? :sniff!:
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
Bump cos'I didn't have answer to my main issue : how/when will I be able to buy DIRECT ?? It is'nt possible currently !
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
Hmmm I don't quite get it... If I buy the on-line version and recives til key in an e-mail then why should I have a CD? I just want the game... :)


Cheers

Cougar
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
The 26th. The 26th. The 26th.

That's when the game will be available at stores, for download, etc.
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
Thx Frogboy, now we just have to wait till the damn 26th !!
Prepare for a huge burst of purchase and downloads on D-Day !! :D
But I still wonder why you don't take direct preorders ? Don't need money ?? ;p
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
When I click on the purchase link on the menu I don't see a StarDock direct purchase option. I'm guessing Amazon won't be kind enough to e-mail me a serial # to download the game immediately upon purchase.

Will a StarDock direct purchase option appear there soon? One that will send out a serial # upon money transfer that allows immediate d/l?

I'd much rather give my money to StarDock directly than an intermediary too :-)

Sith
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
i wonder if stardock is legally obligated not to make it available till the release date. You don't want the stores and the distributors to get mad at you.
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
On the 26th a purchase button will appear.

It's not out of any legal reason. It's more like a random event:

"You have just created a new game. Your publishing partner has worked very hard to get retailers to pick up the game and even take pre-orders. But you have the right to sell the game directly and you have the finished game now. What do you do?"

[A] Tough luck for them. Time to cash in! Make it available now! (evil)

[B] Let's try to make sure it's available at multiple places at once. We are part of a team. (non-evil)

We chose B. Strangely, my desk UI didn't change. ;) But the Altarians are pleased..

Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top
Hrm. What time on March 26th? You should probably use AU Eastern Standard/Summer Time (GMT +10:00) at 12:00AM. For those in the USA, that would be March 25th at 9:00A EST. :) You are, afterall, going for a global market, right?

/ds
Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top
So, what are the real chances that many people are going to be able to actually download the game at midnight on the 26th? What I mean is, are your servers going to be overwhelmed by a ton of people all trying to get it at once? How much do you think you can handle? :)

Just somewhat worried that if I go with the direct buy and download route, it'll take hours and hours either due to a "line" (like at FilePlanet) or due to only getting a small fraction of your total bandwidth.

Thanks!
Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top
Frogboy rules (a new t-shirt idea) :)

Smart business decision , i like buying from ethical companys.....+100%good bonus to stardock :)
Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top
A note about our servers...

I must now talk about the dirty little secret of GalCiv...

GalCiv benefits from Stardock's OTHER business -- Object Desktop. Object Desktop is immensely popular. The website, WinCustomize.com is one of the most popular websites on the net.

Even if 10,000 people came on at the same time on the launch night, it would only represent a fraction of our server load compared to WinCustomize.

We're boosting capacity just to be safe and we hope to have alternative servers up just in case there's some problem with overseas since we suspect that's wehre a lot of people will be coming from on that first day (since it'll be available locally here).

~SDC~
Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top
I don't think the current scenario was the original plan. MOO3 was supposed to become the emperor (now without clothes according to some) and GalCiv would play a background role and allow market space to grow over time. Things change in a dynamic world.
I say this from the viewpoint that the "demo" was recently pulled from availability since it is nowhere near a complete representation of the current product - according to posts I've read, I absolutely believe that is the truth.
Regardless, there are MOO3 players who have rejected that venue of the MOO environment (including myself) and are now seeking some solace in a space-based strategy game. I, as well as a number of other folks who resurrecting older games, immediately sought some stabilization (let's not get too serious here). In my case I linked into GalCiv. Ready for the demo, Sir! You bet lieutenant... carry on. Wall.
Who would have thought the above situation? Maybe I'm ramgling here. 'Nuff said... guess I'll just have to wait with the rest of world... but I would have liked to be able to play the demo (in whatever form) until "gold" was available throught my local vendor. This is all followed by significant whining and sniffing... not really, but it sounds good.
:D

AA
Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top
;)We'll definitely have a demo of GalCiv.

Make sur you check out Stardock Central, that's how the GalCiv updates will be handled.

~SDC~
Reply #20 from Stardock Forums Top
Excellent...that's very good to know. Thank you, Brad. :)

I do live in the U.S., but when I'm anticipating a new game I like to get it and start playing it as soon as humanly possible. Unfortunately, unlike with CDs and movies, stores don't put out new game releases at midnight on launch day (for those stores, like Wal-Mart) that are open anyway. Also, since I routinely stay up until 4 or 5am, downloading it at midnight on the 26th and then playing all night is a very attractive option to me. And I've already printed out the manual, so I can be up to speed and ready to go by the time the game is "live." Sounds all good to me. :)
Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top
Ah.

Just to recap:

At midnight on the 26th GalCiv will be available. If you purchased the game from a store and have it, you'll be able to obtain the BonusPak via Stardock Central.

If you don't have GalCiv available at a local retailer, you will have the ability to purchse it directly from us and download it as well as having the option to have the CD sent to you at the cost of shipping.

The game will be able to be downloaded by modules (core game, multimedia, bonuspak) and Stardock Central will resume downloads (though it's not clear in the UI that it does but it does). The core game is something like 80 megabytes. The multimedia is, well, it's big. But you can queue up your downloads and play the game while waiting for the multimedia to come down.

~SDC~
Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top
hiyah there...

well, i'm from germany, and i read about 2 or 3 weeks ago that modern games will handle the strategy first games here. in the same article was a list about that games they will sell.

i saw there galciv for 19,95 euros. is that true? how can the price be so much lower?

does anyone here know something about it?

see ya
ViproXX
Reply #23 from Stardock Forums Top
It's not. It will be more like 45 euros I suspect.

~SDC~
Reply #24 from Stardock Forums Top
thanks for that frogboy...

wow, it was hard to find this thread again... why isn't there a search in this forum? or did'nt i see it?

well, anyway i looked at okaysoft.de today... and they stated galciv for 49,99 or like that... i think its expensive.. but thats just my 2 cents...

bye
ViproXX
Reply #25 from Stardock Forums Top
If, heaven forbid, I cannot get the game here via retail will I still be able to buy the CD off Stardock direct without downloading? Yes I know it's a stupid question, but have to be 100% clear is all.

Also will the Bonus Pack be available on CD as well or will it be to small to justify a CD?