This game is awesome!

from GalCiv2 Forums

I found Galactic Civilizations II : Dread Lords in the bargain bin of a local store for 7,99 € (approximately 10$). Unfortunately it was the german version (I am from Austria), but I found, that renaming the "german" folder automatically makes the game use the english language (the german version is awfully lame, there are numerous syntax errors and the descriptions can't stand up to the amusing written english ones).

First I though this game is rather boring. But after playing for a few hours, I really got addicted. The most exciting thing is the reaction of the AI controlled factions. I play with "normal" settings for the AI, since it is my first play-through, and I don't want to get my butt kicked by the AI. But even on this setting, the AI demonstrates "smart" choices. For example: Pretty early in the game I attacked and destroyed one of the Drath Legion's Space Station (just out of curiosity how Space combat was implemented in the game :) ). Of course they were fed up, and declared war on me. But when I rallied my combat fleet (consisting of 2 custom made interceptors with Stinger missiles) next to the second space station of the Drath, they begged for a peace treaty. I accepted, and got 1500bc and all their technologies in return. :)

Too bad, I am at work now and can't play this fantastic game.

Now I have a question: Is my german version compatible with the Galactic Civilizations II: Expansion Bundle digital download (containing Dark Avatar and Twilight of the Arnor). I was able to update the german version normally via impulse (and now have version 1.5 or so). And it is english now, since I changed the language folders. And why is this expansion pack rather expensive (44.95$)?

mailor

3,223 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

Since you are able to update the original game, there shouldn't be any problem for downloading DA & TA as far as I know

and you think the expansion bundle is expansive 8(| ? but consider things again there's not 1 but 2 expansion packs full of new features inside !

for a base of comparison, most games cost this price but there's only 1 game inside.And also most expansions packs for games aren't that full of new features (new campaign for each expansion, and not even short ones, new jewelleries for your ship, espionnage, reworked graphics.... ) and most of all you get a company which will actually deliver one last rather big update for both expansions, namely 2.0 5* . Accorded I personnaly got it cheaper due to a rebate I got and the fact that I live in europe.

Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

the expansion bundle is expansive
End of quote

This typo actually makes the case to get the expansions at the price shown.  The bang for the buck is great.  While most game's expansions are just more areas to go to and more of the same...DA & TA shake up the gameplay drastically.

Anywho, the expansions by themselves are $30.  Getting the expansion bundle saves you $15 off the final price.  So think of us poor smucks that got the expansions the day they came out lol.

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Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

whismerhill: Since I live in europe too, can you tell me, how you obtained the expansions? To be honest, I don't really like this digital download stuff, because first of all I need a credit card for it (I don't have one) and secondly, I have a rather slow internet connection.

What is this "Endless" universe btw? Are these the expansions, and where can I get it?

 

mailor

Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Quoting mailor, reply 3
whismerhill: Since I live in europe too, can you tell me, how you obtained the expansions? To be honest, I don't really like this digital download stuff, because first of all I need a credit card for it (I don't have one) and secondly, I have a rather slow internet connection.

What is this "Endless" universe btw? Are these the expansions, and where can I get it?

 

mailor
End of mailor's quote

Define "slow"?  Europe's slow, in general, is >10x faster than the States' slow.  Read: Some people are still on 56k dialup modems.  I myself am on a wimpy 768kbit DSL connection.

Also, I'm fairly certain that Paypal works as well, for which a credit card is not strictly necessary.

And if you really, really, really, want the CD (& box, but there's no box for TA, just DL & DA), you can have them ship you the physical media as well, for simply what it costs them to ship it-$5 or $6, I think.

Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting mailor, reply 3
whismerhill: Since I live in europe too, can you tell me, how you obtained the expansions? To be honest, I don't really like this digital download stuff, because first of all I need a credit card for it (I don't have one) and secondly, I have a rather slow internet connection.
End of mailor's quote

well I downloaded them since they ain't that big (1024kbit DSL here), I think about 600MB for both

I don't care about physical support, you can archive the games, put them on CD along with a copy of impulse or stardock central install files and it will be exactly the same (if you know what you're doing you can even rar/zip the files and extract the necessary registry settings ^_^ )

the deal I got was from stardock, I got it for answering to an official poll... sorry ... I guess. Though on the upside, stardock takes directly Euros and 44$95 translates to approximately 30€ :erk: ... as for the credit card ... well ... ask your parents or family someone should be able to buy it for you if you give him the money in cash immediately ...

Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

because first of all I need a credit card for it (I don't have one) and secondly, I have a rather slow internet connection.
End of quote

 

Bank Drafts, checks, postal money orders? Even in Europe, those are valid.

I paid both expansions with postal money orders in US cash (converted from Quebec CDN$), stamped an envelope, mailed it all... less than a week later i got the eMail confirmations from SD straight into my PC. Logged onto SDC, filled the necessary 'codes' right into the proper registration fields - and downloaded everything easily and made the backup archives as suggested.

 

And, back in early August; bought a brand new PC. Re-installed everything again without a flaw.

 

Mind you, i have a High-speed router connection (sometimes i get 650KBs+/sec) and i get stuff much faster than before. For slower access (from anywhere in the world, btw), the only solution is patience or buying a new ISP "package" with faster Ethernet_T card and a more recent modem.

Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

:erk:  You all do not know slow, I pay 75usd for access over a cell tower that is supposed to be 227kb/s but when I down load it laggs to as low as 7kb/s to on this download 26 to 40 kb/s, I have had to start the download for the 3rd time as it will not install when it finishes the download, says download is invalid, would you like to start again.  I am reading the forums and jumping at the bit to get playing!  Everyone makes the game sound amazing, and being in the middle of nowhere, sometimes I have nothing but time!:erk: