Release the game on Steam when it goes gold?

[Stoferr]

So when a game goes gold (The state when it is finished) it is often a few weeks before the actual launch of the game so that there's time to print it on discs and distribute it worldwide. However today, we live in a truly digital age, where the only distribution method would be to upload the game to steam and get the servers running, which they obviously are doing already. SO what say you, lets say the game goes gold sometime in mid august, would you like the game to be released some 24-48 hours later for download, so that we can play the game earlier?

[SamueleD]

I voted yes for those of you who bought it on steam. If it happens, I'm just going to quietly hate you all while I await my DVD from amazon.
But it won't happen.

[Poniatowski1991]

So when a game goes gold (The state when it is finished) it is often a few weeks before the actual launch of the game so that there's time to print it on discs and distribute it worldwide. However today, we live in a truly digital age, where the only distribution method would be to upload the game to steam and get the servers running, which they obviously are doing already. SO what say you, lets say the game goes gold sometime in mid august, would you like the game to be released some 24-48 hours later for download, so that we can play the game earlier?

Would sound like yaya yippie yayee (like the Hornbach commercial), but no. They will release it on September the 3rd just because it would be unfair for the people who buy it in a store on disc, just as moi.
I want the book, the goodies, I like something tangible. Therefore I am buying at the store, but to release digital earlier just because it is virtually finished and time to distribute plays no role, would be unfair for those purchasing at a local store September the 3rd. Of course I understand your reason for saying this.

But then again, it would be also strange, because everybody in this business has to be consequent!

[=Vastator=]

When the game will go gold, it will go to printing and shipping phase.
But MEANWHILE CA will be working on a Day 0 patch, that will be ready for the 3rd September.
So no

[Poniatowski1991]

When the game will go gold, it will go to printing and shipping phase.
But MEANWHILE CA will be working on a Day 0 patch, that will be ready for the 3rd September.
So no

Lol, today the games are not patched. I see mods as big patches, making the game more accurate and fun. It is just like filling the holes in the Polish roads, you just won't get them filled out. There always occur more, eventually. Patching it up is just another word of; "whoops" missed a spot, "whoops" again!

[BeastG33]

When the game will go gold, it will go to printing and shipping phase.
But MEANWHILE CA will be working on a Day 0 patch, that will be ready for the 3rd September.
So no

This.

[Travisfv]

I voted yes but Vastator is right.

As many first born children that we would all give up for this to be true, I fear that we're SOL when it comes to any early release.

[d4g4n]

Highly unlikely, but of course it would be saweeeet

[Poniatowski1991]

You know what? They can give a big fat patch on September 3rd. Yes, sweet. They can give me the ability to command 4 entire legions during 1 battle WITHOUT lag. that is 4 times 6,000 men. So I am going to multiply my cohort units by 3 in the scripts file, making it 480 men each. Then I am going to throw a total of 48,000 men on my machine. Check if it lags.

Success? YES, Total War, finally. This is ROME.

Fail? Stutter, CTD mayhem? RMA back to the store and play Europa Universalis 4 or Flightsim X when the 777 bird is out!

[talljoe]

You know what? They can give a big fat patch on September 3rd. Yes, sweet. They can give me the ability to command 4 entire legions during 1 battle WITHOUT lag. that is 4 times 6,000 men. So I am going to multiply my cohort units by 3 in the scripts file, making it 480 men each. Then I am going to throw a total of 48,000 men on my machine. Check if it lags.

Success? YES, Total War, finally. This is ROME.

Fail? Stutter, CTD mayhem? RMA back to the store and play Europa Universalis 4 or Flightsim X when the 777 bird is out!

Why bother buying it then? You and I both know perfectly well that Rome II will hit the exact same CPU bottleneck that every warscape game has, even in a 20v20 1v1 battle. So why even bother?

[Lockcaps]

They would be sued to hell and back by retailers if they did that.

[RGA]

No, that would be unfair for those who purchase hard-copy, having to live 2 full weeks under the stream of spoilers, whinning, complains, etc. of those who get it earlier via Steam.

[Gaelstrix]

Being able to pre-download earlier but not be able to activate it or play until release time would be best, but I don't think anything like that will be happening.

[zala]

I got MW3 & Skyrim a few days earlier than release from Play when I preordered on there, sometimes good things happen to good people.

Side note, I only played MW3 for like 10 minutes, it was the hardened edition too. Waste of money -.-

Edit: Both in disc form.

[111289]

I got MW3 & Skyrim a few days earlier than release from Play when I preordered on there, sometimes good things happen to good people.

Side note, I only played MW3 for like 10 minutes, it was the hardened edition too. Waste of money -.-

Edit: Both in disc form.

sorry for going a bit offtopic but don't you get banned from steam or something for playing it earlier? as an ex console player( yes I know) I usually was able to get games early but on xbox you would get banned isn't this the same on pc?

[Dreagon]

sorry for going a bit offtopic but don't you get banned from steam or something for playing it earlier? as an ex console player( yes I know) I usually was able to get games early but on xbox you would get banned isn't this the same on pc?

It's impossible to play a steam game before release. Doesn't matter if you have the digital or disc version, the game is locked until the set release date.

[ToonTotalWar]

Seems a bit daft as the retail version still needs steam to play the game anyways? Just look at Empire, NTW 2 and Shogun 2. You still cannot play without steam downloading the content to your PC. If I am incorrect on this I stand to be corrected.

[nomercysniper]

I liked the predownload idea... Would save a good (if its 30gb) 8 hours downloading!

[AngryTitusPullo]

Voted don't care but certainly would love preload option. Never preordered from Steam (or anywhere before). Those who have preordered from Steam for previous TW games (ETW - FOTS) do the preload option happened ? Maybe 24-48 hours before the game released ?

On topic I don't think that CA will change the release date because marketing/advertising stuff probably already booked around this date. The only possibility is the game be delayed because of some issues, but never brought forward.

[Sir Sesshaku]

Voted don't care but certainly would love preload option. Never preordered from Steam (or anywhere before). Those who have preordered from Steam for previous TW games (ETW - FOTS) do the preload option happened ? Maybe 24-48 hours before the game released ?

If we're speaking of TW games, I can't remember actually. But I can assure you that I downloaded Bioshock Infinite before the release date.