Bought the game AND pre-loaded it.

[SirMaru]

I made the jump, installed Steam, installed the new Adobe Flash Player for Steam, and then purchased Civ V via PayPal.

It now occupies 4.47 Gb on my 1.5 Tb hard disk.

I did not see the DLC which is supposed to be extra for the game.

One question, do I need to validate the game before I play it and how do I validate it?

I have an icon on my desktop, a big "V." Do I just click on that on Sep 21, 2010, to start the game after 1:00 PM PDT or is there anything else I have to do?

How do I know if upgrades are available and how do I get them?

My equipment is as follows:

ATI Radion HD 5800 Series Display Adapter; AMD Phenom II x6 1055 T Processor 2.80 GHz; 8.0 Gb RAM; 1.35 Tb free on the hard disk. I received the Dell Studio XPS 7100 in July, 2010, and am using the ATI Driver 8.762.0.0 dated 8/3/2010. My operating system is Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit.

Will that suffice to run this game?

[JayFirelance]

I made the jump, installed Steam, installed the new Adobe Flash Player for Steam, and then purchased Civ V via PayPal.

It now occupies 4.47 Gb on my 1.5 Tb hard disk.

I did not see the DLC which is supposed to be extra for the game.

One question, do I need to validate the game before I play it and how do I validate it?

I have an icon on my desktop, a big "V." Do I just click on that on Sep 21, 2010, to start the game after 1:00 PM PDT or is there anything else I have to do?

How do I know if upgrades are available and how do I get them?

My equipment is as follows:

ATI Radion HD 5800 Series Display Adapter; AMD Phenom II x6 1055 T Processor 2.80 GHz; 8.0 Gb RAM; 1.35 Tb free on the hard disk. I received the Dell Studio XPS 7100 in July, 2010, and am using the ATI Driver 8.762.0.0 dated 8/3/2010. My operating system is Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit.

Will that suffice to run this game?

Boy, you really feel special about buying and preloading the game, even thought it is just a 50 dollar game, albeit a VERY AWESOME 50 dollar game.

The DLC is only a map pack, you should have the code on steam somewhere. Also, your prebuilt Dell (ew) can run it. I'm pretty sure. Wait, is that a Quad or a Dual?

When you do run the game, it will run the first time setup, usually DirectX and such. From what I know so far, you're good to go.

[SirMaru]

Wait, is that a Quad or a Dual?

I have a SIX CORE. See my equipment list above. It took me just 30 minutes to download the 4.47 Gb at 17 Mbps.

Was I the first on this Forum to Pre-Load?

2K Greg's 2 hour video earlier today convinced me to take the plunge. Its now the ONLY video game on my PC.

[JayFirelance]

I have a SIX CORE. See my equipment list above.

Not that familiar with AMD CPUs, I run a Wintel.
Wintels are superior.

[Rebel44]

1. One question, do I need to validate the game before I play it and how do I validate it?

2. How do I know if upgrades are available and how do I get them?

My equipment is as follows:

ATI Radion HD 5800 Series Display Adapter; AMD Phenom II x6 1055 T Processor 2.80 GHz; 8.0 Gb RAM; 1.35 Tb free on the hard disk. I received the Dell Studio XPS 7100 in July, 2010, and am using the ATI Driver 8.762.0.0 dated 8/3/2010. My operating system is Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit.

Will that suffice to run this game?

1. No, but when game is released you will need few more files from Steam (most likely just .EXE) + if there is any 0day patch. Preloaded files are encrypted, so after release, before you can play you will have to wait few minutes to decrypt all those files.

2. Your PC wont have any problem with Civ5. You are way above recomended HW.

[aznhonor]

I have a SIX CORE. See my equipment list above. It took me just 30 minutes to download the 4.47 Gb at 17 Mbps.

Was I the first on this Forum to Pre-Load?

2K Greg's 2 hour video earlier today convinced me to take the plunge. Its now the ONLY video game on my PC.

Its probably just me but when I read this, you come off as very arrogant.

EDIT: Nvm I got it to preload

[riddlemethis]

My equipment is as follows:

ATI Radion HD 5800 Series Display Adapter; AMD Phenom II x6 1055 T Processor 2.80 GHz; 8.0 Gb RAM; 1.35 Tb free on the hard disk. I received the Dell Studio XPS 7100 in July, 2010, and am using the ATI Driver 8.762.0.0 dated 8/3/2010. My operating system is Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit.

Will that suffice to run this game?

I doubt this will run it to be honest. I have a 24-core x 8 GHz, 64 Gb Ram, 100 Tb hard disk PC. Does anyone know if Civ 5 will run ok on it?

[2K Greg]

I doubt this will run it to be honest. I have a 24-core x 8 GHz, 64 Gb Ram, 100 Tb hard disk PC. Does anyone know if Civ 5 will run ok on it?

Yes but you can only play in strategic view

[JayFirelance]

Yes but you can only play in strategic view

You know, I'm gonna be frank with you. You're turning into one of my all time favorite PR person. I mean, your sense of humor comes so naturally and you actually care about the players. I hope you stay this way AFTER the game had been released.

[riddlemethis]

Yes but you can only play in strategic view

Dang it!

Bragging aside , the Steam preloading and uncertain situation with D2D preloading leads me to ask : Will the exclusive bonuses offered by D2D and elsewhere be available to buy later? (if so, how much later?) I was going to buy from D2D but now preloading via Steam is an option I may buy from there - but can I still get the other stuff?

Because if I'm not playing at the exact time of release I may well die

[Rebel44]

I doubt this will run it to be honest. I have a 24-core x 8 GHz, 64 Gb Ram, 100 Tb hard disk PC. Does anyone know if Civ 5 will run ok on it?

Sorry, but you dont meet minimal requirements. Try Civ2 - it will be slow on such crappy PC but it might run.

[Kevin2202]

Upgrade does it automatically when you aren't looking. As for the pre-load... no you don't have to do anything else.

[slowtarget]

Not that familiar with AMD CPUs, I run a Wintel.
Wintels are superior.

Wintel? That seems to be a misapplied term. Pretty much everyone is running Windows here.

And: Nope, they're not. The upper level Intels are better than the highest AMDs, but once you step into the middle it stops mattering. At the moment, CPUs are generally more powerful than any normal use of them and the only applications which regularly use the full power of the CPU are time-donating apps (Folding@Home) and video-encoding speed runs.

Bragging about your processor is mostly pointless these days.

[MortVader]

Bragging about your processor is mostly pointless these days.

-though yet very important to certain people, on many forums

[City Builder]

To the OP,
Your CPU is (or atleast was towards the beginning of 2010) one of the top tier of CPU's that AMD has made, it's not going to have any problems running Civ 5, and if it does, I think we can grab the pitchforks and torches and meet up at Firaxis to have a little "talk" with them.

I'm seriously thinking of upgrading my CPU to that model, since I've only got the AMD Quad Phenom II, ~3.4GHz, it was the next step down from your CPU but substantially lower price, buy a couple hundred dollars I believe. Still, both good CPU's and I feel pretty confident will not have any issues running Civ 5 with either of them.

[Thjan]

City Builder,

the OP is one of those "look at me! look how awesome I am!" guys you really don't need to care about. Happens all the time pre-release that some funny person posts a thread like the OP did. Especially on steam forums
Your CPU already is way above the requirements, why should you upgrade it? Waste of time and money imho.

[Turukano]

Locked and loaded ... hey devs, how about letting us play this sucker early

[JayFirelance]

Wintel? That seems to be a misapplied term. Pretty much everyone is running Windows here.

And: Nope, they're not. The upper level Intels are better than the highest AMDs, but once you step into the middle it stops mattering. At the moment, CPUs are generally more powerful than any normal use of them and the only applications which regularly use the full power of the CPU are time-donating apps (Folding@Home) and video-encoding speed runs.

Bragging about your processor is mostly pointless these days.

I was kidding. I just never used an AMD CPU before...

[Black Gate of Mordor]

I doubt this will run it to be honest. I have a 24-core x 8 GHz, 64 Gb Ram, 100 Tb hard disk PC. Does anyone know if Civ 5 will run ok on it?

Could you actually even buy (or find) a 24-core CPU? (not counting clusters or supercomputers)

[Rebel44]

Could you actually even buy (or find) a 24-core CPU? (not counting clusters or supercomputers)

Current maximum for mass produced x86 CPUs is 12 cores.

[TalijaN]

Could you actually even buy (or find) a 24-core CPU? (not counting clusters or supercomputers)

Man, he was completely sarcastic. How do you not see it, i definitely don't know...

[slowtarget]

Could you actually even buy (or find) a 24-core CPU? (not counting clusters or supercomputers)

Yup.

My employer owns a couple of 4-socket AMD systems. I think at the moment they just have quad-cores in them, but there's no reason you couldn't upgrade to the 6-cores.

Of course... its sold as a blade, so the enclosure is gonna look a little out-of-place in your living room.

EDIT: Of course, this wouldn't technically be a 24-core CPU, but a 24-core system, using four separate CPUs. Technicality, but... well, the information is there.

[SirMaru]

I was kidding. I just never used an AMD CPU before...

AMD recently won an antitrust suit against Intel. Thus, Dell now MUST use AMD processors as well as those from their former sole supplyer, Intel.

However, I notice that Dell does charge more for the Intel CPU's even now. The Dell Alienware line is their top one for gamer enthusiasts and sports an Intel Core i7 980x Extreme Processor 3.73 GHz 12 Mb Cache Overclocked.

For RTS and Arcade games, that's the best. For Civ V, a TURN BASED GAME, I don't believe we really need top of the line.

At my age RTS and Arcade games are beyond my reaction time anyway.

By the way, the most powerful super computers today use 10's of thousands of Servers wired together rather than a single 20 ton machine. Times have changed. I believe the SuperCollider Computer on the Swiss / French border uses MILLIONS of those Servers wired together. They are using them to produce black holes for analysis. Our video games have much less stress.

Some astronomical projects use down time on millions of volunteer PC's around the world to process their data.

In any event I am anxiously awaiting the Civ V release time on Sep 21 at 10:00 AM PDT with my preload ready to go. For those around the world here are the related times:

http://www.timeanddate.com/worldcloc...17&min=0&sec=0

[spideymn]

Wait, you can buy and preload the game so that on sept 21 12:00am you can play instead of waiting till 10:00am?

[SirMaru]

Wait, you can buy and preload the game so that on sept 21 12:00am you can play instead of waiting till 10:00am?

I have the preload. Can I start playing Civ V at 12:00 AM on Sep 21?

If true, I may not be sleeping that night. LOL.

I won't believe that unless somone else confirms the time change but I will try at that time anyway.

[slowtarget]

The Dell Alienware line is their top one for gamer enthusiasts

Is that what the Alienware line is for? I always thought it was for people who wanted to waste money in an attempt to prove they were cool?

(Steps back in to Mod shoes)

Okay, that was a joke. I can understand the line a little bit, but for the most part its really just overpriced and flashy. The machines themselves really aren't that much more capable than loads of other systems and can't match the systems that can be built by real enthusiasts or custom ordered from various services.

[slowtarget]

I have the preload. Can I start playing Civ V at 12:00 AM on Sep 21.

I believe it unlocks Sept 21 @ 10am PDT.

[Rikkia]

Is that what the Alienware line is for? I always thought it was for people who wanted to waste money in an attempt to prove they were cool?

(Steps back in to Mod shoes)

Okay, that was a joke. I can understand the line a little bit, but for the most part its really just overpriced and flashy. The machines themselves really aren't that much more capable than loads of other systems and can't match the systems that can be built by real enthusiasts or custom ordered from various services.

If you were a woman Slowtarget and fictional to boot you would so have to be Claudia from Warehouse 13 (boy is her tech/geek speak funny and hot at the same time)

[spideymn]

I believe it unlocks Sept 21 @ 10am PDT.

Pacific time?! Really? oh come on!!

[Spekingur]

I believe it unlocks Sept 21 @ 10am PDT.

That's only for the U.S.

[danielout]

I believe it unlocks Sept 21 @ 10am PDT.

Have we gotten official word on this, or just folks speculating?

[Spekingur]

Have we gotten official word on this, or just folks speculating?

According to the last info I saw it was:
21st for the US
24th for the rest of the world

[danielout]

Looks like Greg just came out and said it is 10AM EDT for the unlock, for both physical copies and digital. So 7am Pacific, 8am Mountain, 9am Central.

[slowtarget]

If you were a woman Slowtarget

Wait... who said I'm not a woman?

[Timferius]

It's been quoted in another thread that it's 10am EDT. That's 2KGreg speak too, so you know it's true!

[danangleland]

City Builder,

the OP is one of those "look at me! look how awesome I am!" guys you really don't need to care about. Happens all the time pre-release that some funny person posts a thread like the OP did. Especially on steam forums
Your CPU already is way above the requirements, why should you upgrade it? Waste of time and money imho.

He never talked about upgrading his system. He used the word 'upgrade' when a better word would have been 'updates'- he was asking about how to upgrade the game, i.e. update the game with patches. As one helpful poster pointed out already, Steam will automatically update the game as long as the option to do this isn't turned off by the user. Nothing to do with upgrading his machine...

[dk1421]

It's been quoted in another thread that it's 10am EDT. That's 2KGreg speak too, so you know it's true!

Oh, Thank God it's Eastern Standard Time!! I didn't know if I could wait any longer!! I have my pre-order at Gamestop and they freakin' better have it ready for me when they open!!!

[tfordp]

Wait... who said I'm not a woman?

And I'm all for that... just not using the AZW format. I really like Kindles. I bought one for my wife and she uses it all the time.

My wife and I play multiplayer with simultaneous turns.

These are just two I could still remember. Same-sex couples usually say 'my partner'.

[Rikkia]

Wait... who said I'm not a woman?

See above :P

My partner plays EVE-O while I play civ


Gender asside any word on when D2D get to preload if at all?

[spideymn]

Oh, Thank God it's Eastern Standard Time!! I didn't know if I could wait any longer!! I have my pre-order at Gamestop and they freakin' better have it ready for me when they open!!!

I gotta preorder at gamestop too but I think I'll pass on that. Where's the bonus dlc? If you ask me, gamestop isn't to considerate of its pc gaming constituency...