Australian Release Date

MidKnight Lament · November 15, 2000, 23:18

I recieved this ICQ message from Mike8472 (ICQ#69571255) who's been having some problems posting in Apolyton. He asked me to post this here:

"Ok for all you Aussies out there i have a confirmed release for Australia. I phoned Activision personaly, they told be that the release date for Australia is now the 20th November, pushed forward form the 3rd of december due to the early shiping in the US and our version is nearly the smae as theres except of a few code changes. I also rang my local Electronic Boutique store to confirm this where i also have a depsit down on a copy CTP2, and they confirmed that the release date is the 20th, as long as they recieve the games by then, they can only sell them sa soon as they get them. Anyway happy gaming next week."

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- MKL
"And a sun that doesn't set but settles" - Augie March
Shameless Plug: http://www.poetic-license.org ............. All welcome.
[This message has been edited by MidKnight Lament (edited November 15, 2000).]

Monkey · November 15, 2000, 23:59

Four more days...mmmmmm....CTP2. I probably won't reserve it though unless my local EB has a special going on with preordering. I'm just going to pick it up at the swap meets. You can get it at the swap meets in Melbourne for around $20 cheaper. Any game I'm definitely sure I want to keep I'll buy at the swap meets, any game I'm not sure about I'll buy it at EB. Hmmm, maybe I should go check out EB right now...hehehehe...

MidKnight Lament · November 17, 2000, 19:56

I'm not sure what EB is doing here in Melbourne as I haven't spoken to them yet, but my favourite (and generally cheap) computer shop Pulsar Computers on Bourke St says that it doesn't even ship until the 30th...

Looks like I've got a while to wait yet. At least it gives me time to look for another video card.

I don't suppose anyone has managed to run the game on only a 2MB video card? *holds breath*

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- MKL
"And a sun that doesn't set but settles" - Augie March
Shameless Plug: http://www.poetic-license.org ............. All welcome.

Monkey · November 17, 2000, 20:29

What are the typical prices for new releases at Pulsar computers, MKL? Also do they accept exchanges, refunds, returns of opened software? I'm always looking for the bigger better deal when it comes to games.

Mr Ogre · November 17, 2000, 20:32

There aren't any "code" changes for any of the international versions. The installer is slightly different (no online registration) and one tiny bug in the tutorial script got fixed for everything but the US (It was only causing a minor display problem in the German version, I don't think it made a difference otherwise.) For the English language versions, those are the only differences. Other language versions obviously have a lot more data changed, but it's still just data, not code.

I guess to a PR/CS person, anything on the CD counts as "code" though

So in some sense I guess that's a fair statement. Just sounds wrong to my programmer ears.

MidKnight Lament · November 17, 2000, 20:40

They're not insanely cheap. You'll always still do better at swap meets. To be honest I haven't bought new release games there before. I bought Caesar 3 there for $45 when it was still near $60 everywhere else, and I bought the SMAC Planetary Pack for $45 too, and I still haven't seen it that cheap elsewhere yet.

Best of all it's nice and central in the city. It's on the corner of Bourke and Elizabeth. You go up an escalator which faces on to Bourke St (on the opposite side of Elizabeth St to the mall). The Blood Bank is up there too.

Don't expect there to be much of a price difference, but generally I've found it to be consistently a little cheaper, and the people there are really nice. I'm not sure about their refund policy.

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- MKL
"And a sun that doesn't set but settles" - Augie March
Shameless Plug: http://www.poetic-license.org ............. All welcome.

red_jon · November 18, 2000, 14:46

Then WHY THE HELL IS IT BEING RELEASED OVER HERE ON THE 8TH DECEMBER.

Its official. I hate Activision.

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...And if the British Commonwealth and its people live for a thousand years, man will still say "this was their finest hour"- Winston Churchill.

November 18, 2000, 20:05

Sidenote: If Mike8472 is having problems posting in our forums, he should get in contact with us directly.

Back to the regularly scheduled 'Release Date' discussion...

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Dan; Apolyton CS

Tuerkuem · November 18, 2000, 20:45

Damn!
Is it really 8th December. HMV told me they'd have a copy for me on the 4th. Don't hate them red_jon, it's not *that* bad!
Anyway, I should hate you for misquoting Churchill ;-)
Turk

MidKnight Lament · November 19, 2000, 02:23

DanQ - He told me that he was waiting for a response from you guys. Crossed wires there somewhere... I'll ask him to try again.

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- MKL
"And a sun that doesn't set but settles" - Augie March
Shameless Plug: http://www.poetic-license.org ............. All welcome.

MSB · November 19, 2000, 04:47

Regarding the UK release date, I was under the impression it was scheduled for 24th November. It says so on the Gamespot UK Q&A.

Does anyone know for sure, is it 24 Nov or 8 Dec?

Monkey · November 20, 2000, 04:14

Well, I went to my local EB store. No CTP2 there yet and today is the 20th.

XWaste · November 20, 2000, 05:23

I called up EB today and they said the release date is still 3/12

Hydey · November 20, 2000, 06:15

quote:

Originally posted by XWaste on 11-20-2000 04:23 AM
I called up EB today and they said the release date is still 3/12

So did I

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I'm Australia's nuclear cop
I am the real Troll
A.H. is a nice guy

MidKnight Lament · November 28, 2000, 01:16

I went in today and asked when they'd have it, and the guy behind the counter initially told me they'd held it back until NEXT YEAR. That was a bit of a punch in the face. Anyway, after checking the computer he said they'd just got an email saying it was held back, and that they wouldn't have it in their warehouse until December the 1st. He said they'd hopefully have it in store a week after that.

When does this stop? If Activision only have to change a couple of keys, why the hell is it taking so long?! Civ 3 will be out by the time we get CTP2 down here!!!

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- MKL
"And a sun that doesn't set but settles" - Augie March
Shameless Plug: http://www.poetic-license.org ............. All welcome.

Monkey · November 28, 2000, 03:47

My local EB told me yesterday 3rd of December. The good news is that the EB catalogued advertised that you will et a free mini strategy guide if you purchase CTP2 from them.

MidKnight Lament · November 28, 2000, 08:23

Hey, hey! That's good news. CTP2 is an emotional rollercoaster, and I haven't even got it yet. I get psyched up for it, then I'm disappointed, then I get hope again...

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- MKL
"And a sun that doesn't set but settles" - Augie March
Shameless Plug: http://www.poetic-license.org ............. All welcome.

MidKnight Lament · November 29, 2000, 04:36

I rang the EB in Chaddy today, and they said the 3rd. She said it'll probably be the 4th though because the 3rd is a Sunday.

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- MKL
"And a sun that doesn't set but settles" - Augie March
Shameless Plug: http://www.poetic-license.org ............. All welcome.

XWaste · December 1, 2000, 00:27

It's here, its here!

I just called EB and they have just got it in, am about to go get it now

Yay!

MidKnight Lament · December 1, 2000, 00:36

I gotta get off the net and ring them now! Woo-hoo!

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- MKL Shameless Plug: http://www.poetic-license.org ............. All welcome.
"And a sun that doesn't set but settles" - Augie March

Monkey · December 1, 2000, 05:42

Well, normally I would have rushed out to get CTP2 but after reading a lot of ummm... negative posts about CTP2's AI, I'm beginning to think they didn't put any extra work into the AI from CTP1. Plus the feedback from the diplomacy doesn't seem to be helping anyone. I keep reading more and more posts about how the diplomacy is supposed to work. It appears they focused on the proposal aspect of the diplomacy but not the feedback leading to the guesswork that we also had to do for CTP1 last year. Also it looks like the game is still buggy and a patch is needed for it so I won't get it until the game is either patched or WesW finishes his MedModII for it. (Recently downloaded Medmod 4 for CTP... WOW...CTP is a whole new different game... played it everyday until my little problem below...)

The other factor for me not getting this game right away(the most significant factor actually) is that my monitor is stuffed. It refuses to display green so in effect I can't play games anymore since a lot of games use green... like hitpoint bars. I'm going to get a new computer next year so until then I can't play or get any more new games.

Finally, I've noticed a trend with new release Activision games at EB. It appears they go on budget after only 2-3 months after they are released. I'm surprised that games like Dark Reign 2 and Vampire have already hit the $49.95 mark so if the current trend holds I should expect CTP2 to hit the bargain bins around ohhh... March or April. (If you live in Australia you will know that games going to the bargain bins this early is actually a rarity)By then the patch for CTP2 will be out, I'll have a brand new spanking computer with a WORKING monitor and several mods would have been released for it. Gawd I'm such a diabolical genius.

Anyway, make sure you Aussies post your reviews for the game too! I might not be getting it now but I still thirst for those reviews of CTP2.

MidKnight Lament · December 1, 2000, 07:11

Well, I rushed off and got myself a copy, although EB didn't have those mini strategy guides that were in the catologue. The guy said he wasn't sure that they had receivd any, but to give them a ring in a few days to see if they've come though. Mind you, there's not usually much in a whole guide let alone a mini one, so I don't know that I'll bother going back for it.

What I think of the game so far? To begin with I didn't know where to look. Which screen should I look at first?

I've got to say I'm still a little overwhelmed. Mind you, I've only given it half an hour so far. I managed to get myself killed by barbarians a few times because I was too busy trying to build settlers. I haven't got the hang of getting a start yet, but I'm picking that Warriors need to be higher up on my priority list.

The good news of course, is that 2MB Diamond Stealth video card is doing fine. That's a relief. I'll post more once I get to play the game a bit more (gotta move house tomorrow, so I've been pretty busy).

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- MKL Shameless Plug: http://www.poetic-license.org ............. All welcome.
"And a sun that doesn't set but settles" - Augie March

MidKnight Lament · December 1, 2000, 07:20

Oh, btw, my copy has "Asia-Pacific Version" written on it. People from countries around here (eg NZ) can make of that what they will, but I'm picking it means that your copies aren't far off either.

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- MKL Shameless Plug: http://www.poetic-license.org ............. All welcome.
"And a sun that doesn't set but settles" - Augie March

December 1, 2000, 07:42

quote:

Originally posted by Monkey on 12-01-2000 04:42 AM
Plus the feedback from the diplomacy doesn't seem to be helping anyone. I keep reading more and more posts about how the diplomacy is supposed to work. It appears they focused on the proposal aspect of the diplomacy but not the feedback leading to the guesswork that we also had to do for CTP1 last year.

my feelings about the lack of feedback when you're rejected were negative too. i tend to find though that geting my proposals accepted is more "fun" after a few tons of unexplained rejections

MidKnight Lament · December 1, 2000, 19:51

Well, there's a few problems I've got with the interface (eg. all that clicking you have to do to read and get rid of messages, a lack of any 'turns to next pop' when it's blatantly obvious it would be quite useful). But overall I've got to say I'm hooked.

I'm moving house today, so I was supposed to be getting to bed relatively early so I could do some more packing this morning, but guess who had trouble exiting the game?

No interface issues there; I just kept setting myself new targets until 3am in the morning. "I'll get to 200 turns, then off I go. I'll just have an apple while I play some more, then it's bed for me. I've just got to get an embassy with those Americans. That new caravan is only a couple of turns off - after that I'm out of here."

It's fantastic to feel this way about a civ game again. Hopefully it's not something that's going to wear off, but I'm quite excited about the game so far. And quite keen to get my computer plugged in ASAP when I move in to my mate's place tonight.

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- MKL Shameless Plug: http://www.poetic-license.org ............. All welcome.
"And a sun that doesn't set but settles" - Augie March

ravagon · December 1, 2000, 22:34

So if the east coast has it now then I'm guessing that it'll get to W.A. by about ..... August 2003 huh?

Ah well, lets hope its worth waiting for...

Dauphin · December 1, 2000, 22:53

MMMmmmm. I think I should check the shops tomorrow to see if the game is out here in Europe. If not, I'll be confused at the lack of courtesy Activision has for us EU types.

Grumbold · December 1, 2000, 23:05

quote:

Originally posted by Big Crunch on 12-01-2000 09:53 PM
MMMmmmm. I think I should check the shops tomorrow to see if the game is out here in Europe. If not, I'll be confused at the lack of courtesy Activision has for us EU types.

It's definitely scheduled for the 8th Dec in the UK at present. All UK games ship on fridays and it was not released today. Another week to build anticipation or reconsider, depending on your point of view.

XWaste · December 2, 2000, 09:41

quote:

So if the east coast has it now then I'm guessing that it'll get to W.A. by about ..... August 2003 huh?
Ah well, lets hope its worth waiting for...

its made its way to little 'ol Adelaide, I can't see Perth being too far away.

Tha game is kinda good, I'm liking it a bit more the more I'm playing it but I have to say that I'm not enjoying it as much as I enjoyed playing and learning ctp1 - though as that was my first civ type game I had played that might have something to do with it...I don't know at the moment.