Wasn't Firaxis going to bog it down with a ton of DRM?

>>93752
From what I understand all it requires is an internet connection of authentication.

>>93752
In this case, Steam is the DRM. I don't really find Steam overbearing so I don't mind in this case.

If there's anything I'm concerned about it's that we're going to get nickel-and-dimed with DLC, but I think the large modding community will help offset that.

>>93752

The internet are kings of hyperbole.

>>93758
Well that's good, Steam is not bad when it comes to this kind of thing.

>>93758
>>93764
Steam is what we should have been doing from the start.

But I might hold off on getting it, only because I think we probably will be nickeled and dimed with DLC until the Gold or GOTY editions come out (which they will). Then I can buy it in one nice package.

>>93792
Your lose, this game looks pretty awesome as it stands now. But if you want to wait, that's your deal.

>>93792
Maybe it'll also be in next years summer steam sales. If it is and cheap enough I'll buy it.

>>93806
You seem to be picking a lot of fights lately...

Awh yeah Wu Zetian

>I think if Samuel L Jackson was a woman, Chinese, and alive during the Tang Dynasty, he would be this woman right here.

Tomorrow! Tomorrow! I love ya, tomorrow! It's only a day away!

Fuck, I had to get a piece of shit netbook that can't play anything... This sucks. I mean, I know I'm crappy at the game but I love playing it so much.

TODAY

>Download demo from steam
(I'm going to wait for Christmas, get it for free)
>Start to see how the new graphics look first hand
>MFW three hours later
>It's still got the touch!

what kind of computer do I need to run the game well?

>>94288
Dual Core Pentium i7 980x
Two GTX 480s in SLI mode with an ATI Radeon 5870 for PhysX
12 GB of DDR1 SDRAM
Gentoo Linux w/ 2TB free hard drive space

>>94294
What kind of computer won't cost a couple thousand?

So I've been playing it a bunch today -- it's really enjoyable and while I still don't know what the hell I'm doing I want to know more.

The multiplayer's really got some kinks that need to be worked out. Besides the issue with one of our roommates simply never being able to join a game with us without his computer freezing up, there was a really weird design decision to disable unit animations in MP (e.g. units just magically move from start to end hex, there's no visible fighting between units in combat, etc). It was said that it was done to keep games from dragging on too long, but I think they're gonna find a way to make it work as an option in some subsequent patch, considering all the complaints they're getting about it on the forums. And I can't blame them -- without those animations the world really does lose something.

But Jesus Christ, one of my friends simply would NOT shut up about it. Our first attempt at MP this evening petered out after like 30 turns, less because of the weird quirks in multiplayer I hope they fix -- and more because his constant petulant whining put a damper on everything. :P

But single-player's really nice and polished, and I've got a nice Chinese Empire that has a frightening habit of bullying all the city-states around it while the other civs impotently denounce my actions.

>>94305

System Requirements

Operating System: Windows XP SP3/ Windows Vista SP2/ Windows 7
Processor: Dual Core CPU
Memory: 2GB RAM
Hard Disk Space: 8 GB Free
DVD-ROM Drive: Required for disc-based installation
Video: 256 MB ATI HD2600 XT or better, 256 MB nVidia 7900 GS or better, or Core i3 or better integrated graphics
Sound: DirectX 9.0c-compatible sound card
DirectX: DirectX version 9.0c

Recommended System Requirements

Operating System: Windows Vista SP2/ Windows 7
Processor: 1.8 GHz Quad Core CPU
Memory: 4 GB RAM
Hard Disk Space: 8 GB Free
DVD-ROM Drive: Required for disc-based installation
Video: 512 MB ATI 4800 series or better, 512 MB nVidia 9800 series or better
Sound: DirectX 9.0c-compatible sound card
DirectX: DirectX version 11
Other Requirements: Initial installation requires one-time Internet connection for Steam authentication; software installations required (included with the game) include Steam Client, Microsoft Visual C++2008 Runtime Libraries and Microsoft DirectX.

From http://forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=128148

>>94307
Thanks.

So I just finished tonight's gaming session. I'm in the 1800s right now, and the world is divided between myself (Chinese) and the Greeks, with a continent for each of us. I'm slightly ahead in score, but I need to find a way to manage all the unhappiness I've accumulated from my conquests.

I have to say I'm really amazed at the wonderfully positive effect city-states have (for those of you who don't know, city-states are one-city "NPC" civs that you don't directly compete with, who will like or hate you depending on if you give them gold or do quests for them or protect them from other civs, and then give you various bonuses. Alternatively you can just conquer them and turn them into cities). At first I found a few city-states that I just outright conquered, giving myself a reputation as a bloodthirsty leader. But then I became buddies with this state Monaco, and I was surprised at how protective I was of it.

Once I saw Russia start to assault it, I just had to come to its aid, throwing my nation into total war until Catherine learned her lesson and gave me a very generous reward of two cities and many resources in order to stop the fighting. I was content to leave it at that for a while, guarding the border with my forces, until the Ottomans (my buddies for most of the game) suddenly request open borders with me, and I witness a massive force cutting through my territory to attack Catherine. Knowing I couldn't let Suleiman get those strategic cities, I restarted the Sino-Russian war, finishing the job as the Ottomans quickly retreated, knowing they couldn't take the cities from Catherine when I was around.

Now I really had no plans at all to attack the Ottomans, but when he suddenly surrounded the city-state of Oslo (who had only become an ally of mine a few turns earlier) and started bombarding it, I just felt like I had to do something. I found myself rooting for Oslo with each turned attack, and it was a wonderful feeling to see Monaco step up to fight alongside me to protect Oslo, until I could get enough units to vanquish the Ottomans.

I know these summaries are more fun to write than to read, but I was just very impressed with how this new mechanic works.

Well, looks like someone decided to buck the trend of high scores.
http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3181540

>>94332

No, people sharing their stories are the best part of sandbox games like this. It's why games like Dwarf Fortress and Minecraft are so popular.

It's also why I don't exactly care for sandbox games like GTA "so, I shot some people and did a sweet car jump" -- terrific.

Share more, I'm not going to be getting this until there's a price drop (because I am buhroke), but I look forward to seeing and hearing more.

>>94377

>"so, I shot some people and did a sweet car jump"

not always

>get on motorbike
>friend chases me in helicopter
>hit ramp
>land on rotor blades
>get flung about 500 miles
>land casually on wheels
>character spasms out and sinks into the ground
>bike explodes
>get up
>im fine

Vikings all the way.