Confused over DL and DA

you should be able to buy DA in the shops - although nowdays most shops only have room for the top 10 pc games since stupid console games take up all the shelf space! grrrrr

buying from stardock is better though since more profits go to them so they can afford better games/updates.

Is DA stand alone? you know what, i do not know? but i recomend getting DL anyway, even just for the campaign (which is good) so you then understand the plot in DA better.

DA is an add-on to DL.

Best to get the combo pack either in a store or on-line. Galciv2 Gold Edition.

I think they are different enough (and similar enough) to play both.

Circuit City sells it for $30.

Or get it from Stardock and support their cause more.

From what I understand, GalCiv2 originally retailed by itself, but because Stardock doesn't have the power at retail to have both the original game AND an expansion on the shelves, they started shipping out a version that contained both the original and expansion. If you wanted DA stand alone, you had to order online.

I'm pretty sure you must have DL in order to use DA. It's not stand alone. If you already own DL, you can only get DA by itself online, otherwise, get the Gold edition.

Ok, I may be able to get a cheap DL from E-bay and I wil then get DA from Stardock. I got confused as IGN stated it was standalone:

"...latest stand-alone expansion pack, Dark Avatar. Galactic Civilizations II: Dark Avatar..."

Well, before doing that you take in accounts the followings:

- on TGN (http://totalgaming.stardock.com/store/ ), GC2:DL is at 20$, GC2:DA is at 30$ and GC2 Gold (containing DL and DA) is at 45$

- getting a copy from E-bay means that you get an used copy. You are almost guaranteed that you won't be able to update that copy. And you need to update it to be able to play DA ...

You'll regret it if you buy from ebay - not only will DA not work, but you won't get any updates.

Buy direct from Stardock and support them - this is a fantastic game and they deserve the support. And of course you can play the game with your stardock account on any computer you like, for the same license fee.

The guy has promised me to give the acounts details if I win the bid, but why won't I be able to use DA?

If this promise is kept, you shouldn't have any problem updating DL since you will have the e-mail linked with the serial ID.

But there will be some hurdles left. In the EULA, it is stated:

When buying DA from Stardock, you will have your serial id send to the e-mail used for buying. And it should be better, for updating GC2 and getting DA through Stardock Central to have only one e-mail. And I don't know what happen to the registred link between serial Id and e-mail when your change the e-mail in your Stardock account.

I guess Kryo will be better placed to explain you how to do things in a legal way.

 

I would personally advise against buying the game on ebay, due to the risk of either getting a used copy which has already been registered, or a pirate copy which can never be registered. And if you can't register DL, you can't download DA.

If you're looking to buy DA direct by download anyway and don't already have DL, the simplest thing to do is just get GC2 Gold instead, which includes both.

Ok, ok I will buy from stardock, it looks like it will cost me £21. Is stardock the only easy way to get GAL CIV II gold.

Shipping would be USD$10 (if you get a box--remember you don't actually need to unless you really want one).

You can find DL at retail in Europe, but DA is currently only available at retail in North America and Australia (via GC2 Gold) either way. So at the minimum you'll need to download/import DA regardless if you want it.

Well I think I will jus get a download for gold at £21

Wise choice. You have taken your first steps into a great game

I think my first step was downloading both demos and playing them to death.

I think I"LL wait untill I have a less sucky computer before upgrading. I have trouble with DL as it is.

I am curious to know what your comp specs are Maquise.