If you order here you get the Tech Tree map too... plus you can preload and download the game so you can play it while you wait for your CDs to arrive in the mail.

In short, ordering it here is the best way of going about it. You get the maximum amount of extras and support that way.

I believe so. First, you're paying $5 extra, second, it all goes to Stardock instead of to the retailer middlemen.

According to the FAQ Link, all purchases in the US are the Collector's Edition. So the product you get will be the same, only difference is who you prefer to puchase from thats all.

I was going to wait to buy the game from EBGames or Best Buy until I realized and read that Stardock might see a bit more of a profit if I purchased GalCiv2 from them directly. I just bought the game from them a few hours ago and am happy to support them with my purchase!

Them allowing me to read through the manual due to the pre-load didn't hurt my decision either.

From the "GETTING THE GAME FAQ HERE!!!" thread https://www.galciv2.com/Forums.aspx?ForumID=162&AID=100213

Q: If I pre-order at will I get the Collector' Edition? A: In North America, as far as we know, ALL pre-orders are being fulfilled with the Collector's Edition. Walmart, EB, and Gamestop explicitly mention it on their sites for instance.

Q: Do I have to pre-order to get the collector's edition? A: Somewhat. Direct CD orders will be fulfilled with the collector's edition until we run out of stock which should last for a couple months at least.

So, some of you are saying that if you pre-order either place you will still get the additional ship components as part of the deal? Can this truly be confirmed?

This confuses the heck out of me, too, so it may require a SD answer to set it properly straight, but my understanding is this:

- EVERYONE who buys the game, preorder or not, will have access to the Bonus Pack that will be published on Release Day. The contents of this are largely unknown at this point, but have been rumoured to be ship components, visual upgrades to the game, etc. This is SD's way of saying "thank you" for buying the game, rather than using copy protection to try to penalize piracy. Honey vs vinegar and all that.

- everyone who PREORDERS, whereever they do it from, will receive the downloadable preorder goodies, which the Preorder link on this website describes as "extra content: Additional ship components, the Galactic Civilizations Desktop and more."

- everyone who preorders the RETAIL CD (either through Stardock or through another retail outlet) will get the above, plus a couple other physical goodies ("a fold-out tech tree and other goodies", again, from the Preorder link on this site). This makes sense, since it's impossible to download a fold-out tech tree (or a printed manual or whatnot, since it's a bulky physical object, and not just data).

So preordering a retail box/CD will get you slightly more than preordering the direct download, which in turn will get you slightly more than just buying the game withou preordering, which in turn gets you slightly more than pirating the game. All in all, a somewhat convoluted but very rewarding system, I think.

- Ash

Personally, I just want to know what these extra components are. Are they going to provide any significant advantage? Are they pure fluff? Are they the same components that would be in the Bonus Pack? (My understanding is that the bonus pack would have different additional components than the pre-order additional components).

I pre-ordered from Stardock to get the download, and get the extras, and hopefully put a few more bucks in their pocket.

What I would like to know though, are a few more details as to what the extra components we will get with the pre-order are. (already pre-downloaded the game through Stardock, so now it's just waiting for the days to tick by)

The extra ship components are pure fluff. They do nothing except change the way the ship looks.

So, you are saying the extra components are really nothing more then bits and pieces to add on to your ship for looks only?
Nothing added to really change the way it behaves, or any real outworking that would give an advantage over an opponent?

I guess I am still a bit in the dark on this one.

So, you are saying the extra components are really nothing more then bits and pieces to add on to your ship for looks only? Nothing added to really change the way it behaves, or any real outworking that would give an advantage over an opponent? I guess I am still a bit in the dark on this one.

When you build a ship in the game you design how it looks using components that you can manipulate in 3D. These components are only for the look of the ship and do not take up space on the ship like a weapon or engine does, so they are just there to customize your ship. If you don't preorder you get a certain set of components, while if you preorder you get the default set and an additional set of components.

Is this true if I pre-order at EB Games? Makes me wonder why they would not list something like Additional Ship Components that could get people to order the game possibly.

Yes, if you order from EB Games it should be the collectors edition (I remember reading somewhere that all US pre-orders are Collectors editions till they run out or something along those lines) and thus will have the extra ship components.

Ask for them not using it as a selling point ... umm .... bad marketing department?

OK, one more thing to add to the confusion... )

If I order through Wal-Mart.com will I get the pre-order items? It does not list anything about getting any bonus material what-so-ever.

Can someone definitively answer this for me, please?

Links are allowed, as long as they don't contain an underscore character.

I noticed that, so I cut it out of the post!

@ PJ, If I go and order from Wal-Mart I will FOR SURE get all extra content?

So, you are saying the extra components are really nothing more then bits and pieces to add on to your ship for looks only? Nothing added to really change the way it behaves, or any real outworking that would give an advantage over an opponent? I guess I am still a bit in the dark on this one.

Everything I have heard and read around here indicates that, whatever ends up being included in the various bonus sets (which has not been definitely announced - it's only been hinted at), none of it will provide an advantage in gameplay. Cosmetic ship components, pretty explosion graphics, etc... lots of things might be included. But I'm pretty sure Stardock will be very careful not to include anything that would make the game "easier" for people that preordered.

Come next Tuesday, non-preordered folks would scream bloody murder at even the slightest hint that those who preordered were getting a leg up on beating the AI because of it (and thus, getting a leg up on Metaverse scores, too ).

- Ash