Steam download or DVD

[SpencerH]

I hoping to maintain my pledge not to buy ETW until I've seen reviews from players who'se opinions I trust, but I have to admit that I'm somewhat excited about the possibility of a new TW game.

Assuming I do buy it, what's the best way to do so.

I like the idea that if I download from Steam since I'll always have access to the patched version. OTOH, the download itself is likely to be a massive undertaking, especially on and around the release date.

I like DVD's. There is something reassuring about actually possessing the disks. OTOH, The version on the disks will not be as up to date as the version available for download.

[ByzanKing]

It is really just a matter of preference. I myself am the strange type and will always like a physical copy of the game.

[Barkhorn1x]

I thought about it a lot - and went with STEAM.

I can always print and bind the manual and the thought of pre-loading 48 hours in advance really appealed to me.

[Mailman653]

I was going to get the box but I think I'll go with Steam, it's really a matter of convience for me at least. I already have almost no room in my drawers to put another box and to get it would just add to the clutter.

What does concern me a little is patching, I know several games get patches for the retail and d/l version, the d/l version usually seeing a patch much later after retail does. I hope that kind of problem does not develop where people with the retail version get a patch and those with the d/l version have to wait weeks or months to get the same patch.

[Discoman]

What does concern me a little is patching, I know several games get patches for the retail and d/l version, the d/l version usually seeing a patch much later after retail does. I hope that kind of problem does not develop where people with the retail version get a patch and those with the d/l version have to wait weeks or months to get the same patch.

Well the way Steam works is, you can just put the serial number of your game into steam and it is downloaded and registered to your account. Which is good because you can just download it online or use the disk. Steam updates are released via Steam and everyone (regardless of downloading or buying a hardcopy) gets the same patch. One more benefit of Steam is that you don't need the disk to play (or install for that matter) No matter what why you buy it we're all playing it through Steam.

[Sir Beane]

I'm going for the Special Forces DVD option. I wants me a paper campaign map so I can pin coloured string and tacks to it and pretend that my study is a war room.

Yes, my reason is a little odd.

[Fisherking]

I ordered the SF DVD.

Silly or not I just feel better with the hard copy. I also wanted the special units and any extras they felt like adding. I guess you can have all but the map through Steam. I can’t say the price was bad buying early. I would expect to pay more getting it in a shop.

[Monk]

I was about to make a very similar thread last night but decided not to, as I needed to finish a paper.

Both options have their pros. Downloading from Steam will directly tie the game to your account. On a trip, dont have your dvd? No problem! If you've got a machine with the specs to run Empire, just plug in steam, type in your info and download it there. With steam you can be playing on day one. Hell, even hour one if you get the jump on the release day!

Buying the DvDs from a retail shop will give you something you can hold onto. There's something very reassuring about being able to hold the disc in your hands, physically put it in the drive and hear it spin up. It's very.. i dunno. Aesthetically pleasing?

It's really just a matter of preference. Do you want to download the game, or install it the old fashioned way? I will likely go with retail.

[Discoman]

I'd prefer the DVD more so if it comes with a map.

[Vuk]

DVD, without a doubt. I have never and never will buy a game on Steam. I like to have a disc that I can install on other computers, take with me, etc. I like a book that I can read and a sexy box that I can put in my collection. :P That way I will have something to show company.

[Husar]

I like to have a disc that I can install on other computers, take with me, etc.

You can install Steam on other computers and download all your Steam games on them as long as you always login with your account, you will have to install Steam on those other computers anyway to get Empire to run. You can still get the DVD for the other reasons of course.

[Vuk]

You can install Steam on other computers and download all your Steam games on them as long as you always login with your account, you will have to install Steam on those other computers anyway to get Empire to run. You can still get the DVD for the other reasons of course.

Yeah, but I like having the disc. That way what I own is something real and physical that I can hold in my hand. :P Maybe that sounds noobish, but I have downloaded games before, then had to rewrite my hard disc and lost them. I am not sure if it will be the same for Empire and I do not care, I like the physical copy.

[Polemists]

I usually have more problems with hard disks then downloads. Usually do to fact disks can be scratched, or have errors and for whatever reason when I download they usually don't. However as steam's download is so large i'd rather not resort to that.

SO....I will be buying a hard copy, hope it works, and if not I will resort to a download, I prefer downloads to be a fall back though.

[Vuk]

I usually have more problems with hard disks then downloads. Usually do to fact disks can be scratched, or have errors and for whatever reason when I download they usually don't. However as steam's download is so large i'd rather not resort to that.

SO....I will be buying a hard copy, hope it works, and if not I will resort to a download, I prefer downloads to be a fall back though.

lol, that is another thing, my internet is as fast as a snail. :P It would probably take me days to download it. :P

[Husar]

Yeah, but I like having the disc. That way what I own is something real and physical that I can hold in my hand. :P Maybe that sounds noobish, but I have downloaded games before, then had to rewrite my hard disc and lost them. I am not sure if it will be the same for Empire and I do not care, I like the physical copy.

The problem is the physical copy is useless without the online activation, so all you actually own is a piece of plastic with little holes in it and a nice picture on top.

I'm also going to buy a disc, for financial and other reasons though, just saying the disc itself is relatively worthless unless you don't have an internet flat and would have to pay a lot for downloading 11GB.

[Sir Beane]

The problem is the physical copy is useless without the online activation, so all you actually own is a piece of plastic with little holes in it and a nice picture on top.

I'm also going to buy a disc, for financial and other reasons though, just saying the disc itself is relatively worthless unless you don't have an internet flat and would have to pay a lot for downloading 11GB.

You probably don't even own the piece of plastic. Todays EULA agreements are worded in such a way that companies have the right to take that back off you if they wanted. Nowadays it's more a case of renting the game for as long as the company feels you should have it, rather than actually owning it.

[imperialus]

I've recently started downloading everything, though I use Direct2Drive rather than Steam

Couple reasons for this.

1) Electronic Boutique, Future Shop, and Best Buy have all seen their space dedicated to PC games shrink astronomically in the past couple years. Hell the EB nearest my house now has maybe 20 or so titles in stock right now. They've been completely taken over by console games that I simply couldn't care less about. If they aren't going to support my games, I won't support them and I'll give my money to a retailer who does.

2) I am notorious for loosing manuals, jewel cases, and other little bits of paper that have useful things like activation codes on them. It's a pain in the butt to re-install games when you loose those.

3) I recently went purged my collection of old games and realized that I have 4 or 5 large boxes full of games that will probably never get played again. That's a huge amount of stuff to end up in a landfill. Switching to digital copies might not make a huge difference, but it does make a difference.

[Sir Beane]

I've recently started downloading everything, though I use Direct2Drive rather than Steam

Couple reasons for this.

1) Electronic Boutique, Future Shop, and Best Buy have all seen their space dedicated to PC games shrink astronomically in the past couple years. Hell the EB nearest my house now has maybe 20 or so titles in stock right now. They've been completely taken over by console games that I simply couldn't care less about. If they aren't going to support my games, I won't support them and I'll give my money to a retailer who does.

2) I am notorious for loosing manuals, jewel cases, and other little bits of paper that have useful things like activation codes on them. It's a pain in the butt to re-install games when you loose those.

3) I recently went purged my collection of old games and realized that I have 4 or 5 large boxes full of games that will probably never get played again. That's a huge amount of stuff to end up in a landfill. Switching to digital copies might not make a huge difference, but it does make a difference.

I can fully support reason number 3. If it weren't for the fact that I really want the map and manual then I would have gone for the digital edition.

Congratulations on doing your bit to help lessen the landfill problem.

[KozaK13]

DVD is more reliable than a digital version. You have your copy in your hands and there are no stupid things like files maybe mucking up or downloads going wrong.

Plus ofc the manual and map, if the map comes in the bog standard edition ofc...

[Reddog]

If you buy the dvd you will really get both because once you activate it you wont ever need the dvd again because you can download from steam anytime you need it.

[Zoring]

So when you install the DVD version you need to start steam up anyhow. Thus logically i can then use steam to download my registered copy later.

Also in ten years when steam goes tits up, i want my old DvD so i can play ETW on the future machines we have then, fire up a quick battle with 20,000 men a side and go, ahh look at them old graphics, no match for our future space vibrating codpiece virtual reality jobbies, but i miss the old days.

[Mailman653]

Well, I finally pre-ordered my copy and went with Bestbuy. I was going to get the d/l version via Steam but looking at the Empire website, it stated that pre-ordering from Bestbuy gets my the special pre-order unit while that is no where menttioned on the Steam portion or on the Steam page (other than getting Rome for free). Who's to say that Steam does give out the special pre-ordered unit, but I didn't want to risk it.

And since when does Bestbuy get the special treatment? Usually its the game outlets like Gamestop that gets all the special goods.

[Marius Dynamite]

I'll go out to the shop and buy it, if only to keep the guys in the shop in a job.