D2D says world wide release on the store page, but it returned an error when I tried to paypal it, I suspect its regional :/

Ardbug Wrote:

City Builder Wrote:I read a post somewhere around here after all the real moaning that we (myself included) did and when Steam started selling it on the 20th (or the 21st, whatever day retail release was), and I read a post here that said that Impulse was now selling world wide.

Of course anybody that is interested should contact Impulse if they want to go that route, as the person that wrote that post might have simply been from the U.S. and gotten the information totally half ass backwards (or not).

Its not for sale world wide on impulse, I tried to place an order but my location was not accepted (Denmark). I can import pretty much everything else, but I cant import PC games ....

why don't you try Gamesplanet. I got it from there. no special stuff though. and they said you can burn it to dvd, no drm. I already burned it to dvd

deardictator Wrote:why don't you try Gamesplanet. I got it from there. no special stuff though. and they said you can burn it to dvd, no drm. I already burned it to dvd

Not to nitpick, but I believe there is DRM, it's the online activation. Once you activate it you can safely put the DVD away, that's what I did. Activate it and put the DVD away and it hasn't asked me to provide it the DVD so far because it's already been activated online.

Gamesplanet has it as preorder.

City Builder Wrote:

deardictator Wrote:why don't you try Gamesplanet. I got it from there. no special stuff though. and they said you can burn it to dvd, no drm. I already burned it to dvd

Not to nitpick, but I believe there is DRM, it's the online activation. Once you activate it you can safely put the DVD away, that's what I did. Activate it and put the DVD away and it hasn't asked me to provide it the DVD so far because it's already been activated online.

but my understanding with steam and similar services, you have to always confirm with their servers and when you launch the game, it is through their client. correct?

the registration of the game is different thing.

Ardbug Wrote:Gamesplanet has it as preorder.

I pre-ordered it many weeks ago, and they said it will be released Nov 6, but then on Oct 23, I received the game and the key. it is odd and mess. not sure if they still releasing it or not. they don't say pre-order I believe, and they don't say the date on gamesplanet site, only download.

Steam definitely has a remote-authentication routine that launches the game (and verifies that the Steam account to which you have logged in has legally "purchased" the game you are trying to run). This is not the case with other services -- like GamersGate, Direct2Drive, etc. -- which allows you to just download the game and install it. Tropico 3 has its own online activation (requiring entering your serial number), but once this is done, it is done. It does not seem to re-authenticate in this way any further, until you use online features (like challenges, profiles, island sharing/visiting, etc.).

Bummer to hear about Direct2Drive not selling to your region. Did you check out Gamesplanet?

I will just buy it from this site the 6th when its released, unless it has some DRM stuff on the client here ?

Ardbug Wrote:I will just buy it from this site the 6th when its released, unless it has some DRM stuff on the client here ?

The game itself has standard activation using your Internet connection. That is all the DRM that it has. I believe that this is the same with the Gamesplanet edition.

Aye ok thats the good kind of DRM, I will just buy it here

I bought the box version, i'll load it up later and check my list.

still no response from Kalypso (and yes I know it is the weekend but it's their website that says the support is 24/7 via email. )

I submitted an application for a refund from Steam yesterday, hopefully I'll hear from them soon.
Once I get the refund (hopefully, I'm Australian so I have to wait till the 6th) I'll get it off D2D.

Just make sure that if you buy from Direct2Drive or perhaps even Gamersgate, I don't know, remember to make a back-up of the downloaded files, as your Direct2Drive download permission will expire within an year or a few years if you bought "download insurance".

Just burn it on a DVD, as that's alot cheaper and will last for decades.

Wardo Wrote:Just make sure that if you buy from Direct2Drive or perhaps even Gamersgate, I don't know, remember to make a back-up of the downloaded files, as your Direct2Drive download permission will expire within an year or a few years if you bought "download insurance".

Just burn it on a DVD, as that's alot cheaper and will last for decades.

Perhaps that has changed on Direct2Drive.

I bought Titans Quest on 11/29/07 So it's been almost 2 years now since I bought it and I'm still allowed to download it anytime that I like. After reading your message I went to D2D and downloaded it again fearing that I might lose the right to download it, then I noticed the date of 11/29/2007 and realized that I bought it from them 1 year and 11 months ago and can still download it today.

Now, it's still a good idea to burn it to CD or DVD so that you have it but if that was true, then they must have changed that since I can redownload it and I NEVER buy download insurance on any digital purchase, the way I figure it, is that they owe it to me to allow me to redownload it anytime I need to since I've payed them for it. However, on some services you only have the first 30 days to download your purchased item and then after that you are out of luck (bought ATrain 8 recently and they only give 7 days to download it).

On my GamersGate account I've still got access to download games from when I bought them a couple years ago too and can still download all of them anytime that I want as well. Although I don't use gamersgate anymore since it's got download speeds of 80kb to 120kb when my Net connection is rated to be between 1.2MB to 2.4MB so to download a 6 or 12GB game from them takes literally 24 to 26 hours.

City Builder Wrote:Perhaps that has changed on Direct2Drive.

http://www.direct2drive.com/staticpage.aspx?topic=about

http://www.direct2drive.com/Sites/RET/_i...rod/dp.htm

They say you can download anytime you want. but of course burning it to dvd/cd is always a good backup, just in case. who knows, what if d2d vanished suddenly , or changed their license. but right now they don't put any limit on their site, so it should mean no limit IMHO

Yeah I read both those pages today while trying to find where they say that the download will only be valid for 1 year from date of purchase which i couldn't find anywhere. It seems like they are selling that download insurance but for the life of me, I can't figure out why, since like I said, Im still able to download a game I bought in 2007 from them.

Kalypso answered today and has acknowledged there is a problem and that they are working on it.

Quote:First of all, we are very sorry for the delayed answer. We are currently
investigating the causes for the additional content not being present on
some Steam installations of the game. We are working closely with Steam
to resolve the issue. There are indeed 17 maps for sandbox mode and
additional avatar accessoired in the Special Edition. If your game
didn't include these, they will be delivered to you shortly with a
content update. All you need to do is configure Tropico 3 to obtain
automatic online updates. Please accept our sincerest apologies for the
situation.

Teao Wrote:Kalypso answered today and has acknowledged there is a problem and that they are working on it.

[quote]
First of all, we are very sorry for the delayed answer. We are currently
investigating the causes for the additional content not being present on
some Steam installations of the game. We are working closely with Steam
to resolve the issue. There are indeed 17 maps for sandbox mode and
additional avatar accessoired in the Special Edition. If your game
didn't include these, they will be delivered to you shortly with a
content update. All you need to do is configure Tropico 3 to obtain
automatic online updates. Please accept our sincerest apologies for the
situation.

Wow, now that's just great news! Thanks for the update man! 8)

Just as an FYI regarding Direct2Drive, I bought a game November 06 and the game is still and always has been available fo re-download. Although I totally acknowledge that at any point in time Direct2Drive (or the game you purchase from them) could go offline and your game goes up in smoke, I think they are as reliable a downloading service as any other. I also back-up all of my downloaded game son DVD and an external hard drive.

The first game I bought on D2D was on the 1st of Feb 2006.

I can still download this title.

I'm not saying don't bother backing anything up, it's always a good idea and easy/cheap to do. But it's been over 3 years since I ordered this game and it is still available to me and I assume always will be.

I didn't even pay money for it, I got it using hitpoints that I earned for signing up to fileplanet for a year.

One thing they do with there games however is limit the number of times you can install and activate them. But all you have to do to remedy this is put up a support ticket requesting more activations and they will give them to you no fuss. I have already done this with two of the games I have purchased through them.

It'd be great if you guys with Steam accounts (and purchased Steam versions) can let us know when the update gets pushed through from Kalypso, and what exactly is in it.

Kaelon Wrote:It'd be great if you guys with Steam accounts (and purchased Steam versions) can let us know when the update gets pushed through from Kalypso, and what exactly is in it.

...so we can get it from you guys, muahahahaha

just kidding (not too much kidding though)

Just to clarify on Direct2Drive, I indeed have no experience with re-downloads from that site, and the information I have is specifically about Battlefront.com and Matrix Games, which have download restrictions such as 10 max downloads within an year (and then never again): http://www.battlefront.com/community/sho...hp?t=86758

On Direct2Drive I had only heard about the same issues, and thought myself that that was the case since there was a "download protection" thing. I apologize for sounding too certain and causing panic among you. Given your research it is pretty clear that they are keeping up with Steam and Impulse and are not putting up a time-limit for re-downloads.

steam tropico 3 patched today, have extras now

These are the Steam extras:

New casual clothing and "commie" hat for male avatar:

   

New casual clothing and baseball hat for female avatar:

   

New sandbox map "Verde Playa":

       

New sandbox map "Coco Chico":

       

Still 1 week and 5h left for waiting....

wow how embarrassing...