Civ Conquests presell CD

Jeff_ATARI · September 22, 2003, 17:08

Dear Apolyton Civ fans,

I hope you've noticed an increasing presence of Atari, Firaxis, and Breakaway folks on Civ fansites such as Apolyton, especially the newly created Civ Conquests forum. Hopefully, you've enjoyed seeing all of us make occasional posts to keep you updated on our work. Though I admit we are more often lurkers than posters, I can assure you that we devour a lot of the info and opinions that you post here.

Now it's our chance to give something back to the fan community. Actually, it's also a chance for you to give something to yourselves.

This week we're announcing the new "Best of the Net" Bonus CD, which will be given away FREE to customers who pre-order Civ Conquests at selected retail outlets*. It contains some of the best Civ-related work created by our growing community of Civ fans, from sites such as Apolyton and Civ Fanatics. In addition to the fansite related content, the CD includes new soundtracks from Civ Conquests as well as some of the preview artwork and screenshots released for the game.

I would like to personally invite each of you to take advantage of this presell offer. But I want to emphasize that this is not just about me doing my job as a brand manager for the product. This is about giving the mod-makers here a foot in the door to make this happen again and again. This marks the first time that we've released a Best of the Net CD, and I have several people here at Atari watching the results closely. If we have a significant rise in pre-orders for Civ Conquests, it gives me ammunition to feature fan-created content in our future releases.

So, if you already know you're going to pick up Civ Conquests, why not help support fan sites such as Apolyton and Civfanatics (and the dedicated modders who post here) by making a trip to the store and placing a pre-order for the game. I know many of you visit both sites, so you've probably seen my other thread started there as well.

It's always a struggle for brand managers to quantify the effects of a strong fan community base, and to make sure the fans' thoughts, comments, and contributions are taken into account. In a way this is a referendum to show the world (both at retail stores and within Atari) that we should continue to use fan-created mods as a pre-sell giveaway, and that a strong fan community should be rewarded for their support of a game such as Civilization III.

Best,
Jeff Foley
Atari

* Retail outlets currently include: Electronics Boutique, GameStop, Electronics Boutique Canada, and Future Shop.
Online: EBworld.com, GameStop.com, and Amazon.com.

Gamestop has their online link up already at: http://www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=645419

If you pre-order the game online, you will get the pre-sell CD with your game when it ships. If you pre-order the game at a retail store, they should have the bonus CD there to give you, as early as this week.

As of this date the presell is not available outside of North America, but we're hoping to change some retailer's minds.

statusperfect · September 22, 2003, 17:17

It is great to have you around! Both that and the pre-order CD project is a great way to reduce the tensions there was between firaxis and the gamers after the PtW release

If this offer goes to Europe i will pre-order for sure.

Kaos XIII · September 22, 2003, 18:56

It's always good to hear from Atari, Firaxis, Breakaway folks.

I've got just one question;

Can you be a bit more specific, about the contents in the 'Best of the Net' CD???

Wittlich · September 22, 2003, 20:12

Thanks for the heads-up Jeff! I just placed my order for two copies of Conquests through Gamestop (with overnight delivery, of course.

)

asleepathewheel · September 22, 2003, 21:13

Sweet

Gunter · September 23, 2003, 03:46

When producers / developers chats with their fans it's always appreciated a lot and I thank you for coming and discussing.

Now let me give you a personal suggestion, fundamental part of professional games success and starting to include them ( even if in part ) into official Net CD is a concrete deposition of professional behaviour.

Well done,well done.

Please bear also in mind that another success key of a game is the level of customization that it has,therefore grant me to sugggest you to develop as much as you can this feature,maybe thinking also about a kind of " wizard " to import-export third part marvellous jobs ( graphic mods,units etc.. ) as the ones you mentioned in your statement.

Cheers & Thanks again from an old CIV series fan

Gunter

P.S. A short comment here in this forum of SID will be much appreciated as well

Saint Marcus · September 23, 2003, 04:25

Quote:

* Retail outlets currently include: Electronics Boutique, GameStop, Electronics Boutique Canada, and Future Shop.
Online: EBworld.com, GameStop.com, and Amazon.com.

Any European retailers or online shops as well? Gamestop charges a bundle, Amazon won't ship it to Europe at all, and EBWorld is all iffy about international orders in general.

(quite annoying that we're always treated as somehow less important then US costumers. later release dates, less/no goodies, later released patches, etc)

Jaybe · September 23, 2003, 19:55

Pre-purchased.

My EBoutique didn't have the Best of Net CD yet, though. I'll check again this weekend.

Paddy · September 24, 2003, 00:07

I come from a land down under....

will your offer ever get below the equator...?

Rhothaerill · September 24, 2003, 00:18

Thanks Jeff. Now pre-ordered.

And thanks for including the Apolyton University mod.

Tassadar500 · September 24, 2003, 00:25

GREAT! I am very happy the AU mod was included

Thanks Jeff. I would pre-order it but I HAVE A MAC. Jeff PLEASE make Conquests for the mac?

sabrewolf · September 24, 2003, 04:32

i really DO hope this pre-order offer (including the best of the net bonus CD) also comes at amazon.co.uk.

due to some export laws, amazon.com doesn't export to my country. so i've preordered it at the british website of amazon.

please please confirm this

player1 · September 24, 2003, 08:15

Sorry for being off-topic but:

Red color hurts my eyes.

mrboo123 · September 24, 2003, 09:06

Question: Will you be able to get it AFTER its released? If so, will it cost anymore? (problay will)

Deathwalker · September 24, 2003, 12:38

As is always the way we Europeans are left out, buts thats nothing new, look at how long it takes to translate from American to English. Is it true they can translate a ptach from American to German quicker than American to English or was that only the last patch

ChrisiusMaximus · September 24, 2003, 13:13

I pre ordered conquests weeks ago on Amazons UK page, will I get this bonus CD ? I hope so.

Saint Marcus · September 24, 2003, 14:04

Quote:

As is always the way we Europeans are left out

we want a free CD with goodies too damnit.

Quote:

pre ordered conquests weeks ago on Amazons UK page, will I get this bonus CD ? I hope so.

same position here.

PLATO · September 24, 2003, 22:24

Done! Can't wait Jeff!! Thanks for the heads up on a cool offer.

jkelly · September 25, 2003, 13:41

It's not as if I was going to pass on 'Conquests', so I went and cast my vote in your "referendum" by pre-ordering it from Amazon. I notice that their product description doesn't mention this giveaway.

Jeff_ATARI · September 25, 2003, 16:57

Quote:

Originally posted by jkelly
It's not as if I was going to pass on 'Conquests', so I went and cast my vote in your "referendum" by pre-ordering it from Amazon. I notice that their product description doesn't mention this giveaway.

Thanks! I've contacted our rep with Amazon and they should be updating the site with the appropriate information shortly. And yes, you should be receiving the Bonus CD.

Best,
Jeff Foley
Atari

sabrewolf · September 25, 2003, 17:00

jeff, thanks for the answer to that other question.

but what about the european amazon retailers? (amazon.co.uk, amazon.de, amazon.fr)?

Jeff_ATARI · September 25, 2003, 17:03

Quote:

Originally posted by 123john321
Question: Will you be able to get it AFTER its released? If so, will it cost anymore? (problay will)

We've manufactured a certain number of CDs based on the initial forecasts at the stores participating in the pre-sell. If all goes well, we will blow through their forecasts and get to manufacture more of them. There are currently no plans to sell the Bonus CD separately, though I made sure a UPC number made its way onto the back of the packaging in case that ever did happen. However, I suspect that we will simply go through the inventory that we have made, create more if necessary, and then that will be that.

And as I've said, if we really move a lot of these, you can probably expect to see more of them in the future.

Best,
Jeff Foley
Atari

sabrewolf · October 1, 2003, 10:35

(bump)
so, amazon.co.uk too? (pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease!)

joncnunn · October 1, 2003, 15:02

I'm curious if there's a deadline on pre orders from the US for the pre-sell CD.

Temporary Cash flow issues

conmcb25 · October 1, 2003, 18:06

Quote:

Originally posted by joncnunn
I'm curious if there's a deadline on pre orders from the US for the pre-sell CD.

Temporary Cash flow issues

Better order before the release date!

TheArsenal · October 1, 2003, 18:15

Quote:

Originally posted by joncnunn
I'm curious if there's a deadline on pre orders from the US for the pre-sell CD.

Temporary Cash flow issues

Amazon, at least, doesn't charge until they ship.

Beta · October 1, 2003, 19:46

On my way tomorrow to pre-order at EBCanada.

Great stuff! Thank you!

asleepathewheel · October 2, 2003, 00:43

Quote:

Originally posted by Beta
On my way tomorrow to pre-order at EBCanada.

Great stuff! Thank you!

I went to my mall today to preorder, but the EB there didn't know what I was talking about. However Game Stop apparently did, but the cds were still in boxes, might go back tomorrow or saturday.

Beta · October 2, 2003, 10:19

Quote:

Originally posted by asleepathewheel

I went to my mall today to preorder, but the EB there didn't know what I was talking about. However Game Stop apparently did, but the cds were still in boxes, might go back tomorrow or saturday.

That is what I am afraid of. But I will direct them to their own web site.

ChrisiusMaximus · October 2, 2003, 12:54

Jeff could you please answer as to whether the CD will be available to those of us who have pre ordered from Amazon's UK page, yes or no please.