How does buying DA work?

CD vs DL

from GalCiv2 Forums
I’m thinking of buying DA, so I guess this is really a support question.
If so, sorry for posting in the wrong corner of the forum.

What I like to know is what type of media will be shipped if I opt for the Download + CD alternative. I get the CD part, but will it be an ordinary blank CD like the type you buy for burning, or will it be a "proper" one? What kind of box and manuals ships with it?
I must say that the box for the GalCiv II special edition was the coolest ever!
Also I’d like to know what the shipping and handling cost will be. I live in Sweden (like my spelling wasn’t a dead giveaway ).

I would also like to know if I can burn my own backup of the downloaded files.
Particularly interesting if the shipped CD is of lesser quality to begin with.
What I really like to do is get all content on one DVD,
I know I can slipstream windows so the two GalCiv II CD’s + DA and updates should work too, at least in theory.

Thanks for any replies.


Rygel XVI - Dominar to over 600 billion (more or less) loyal subjects.
6,034 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I'm not sure exactly what type of disc you'll get if you order DA by mail, but it'll just be a disc in a sleve, with no manual or other trappings (DA didn't go to retail on its own, so there's no box made for it). However if you buy GC2 Gold, which includes DA, you will get a full retail box (in English) with everything that entails.

International shipping is USD$10.

You can download the entire latest version of the game at any time via Stardock Central once you've bought/registered it, and use SDC's archive option to make packages you can store for later installations.


I must say that the box for the GalCiv II special edition was the coolest ever!


If you got the limited edition tin at retail, that was a Europe-only deal by the company that published it there. GC2 Gold will be in a regular paperboard box like any other game if you buy it direct.
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I'll offer what I know:

The media included will be a proper (naturally) CD of the game, the manual, the box as seen on the main site. I am not sure of further inserts as I went for the downloaded version.

You most definitely can burn backups - and are actively encouraged to, but ultimately you can always just use the Stardock application manager and download it again whenever you want to after registering your purchase.

As for your English, dont knock yourself - your English is better than all too many native speakers.... I work in Thailand as an English teacher and I have met teachers who write less concisely and accurately than you!
ObjectDock - Access shortcuts and frequently used applications from an animated dock.
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Many thanks for the replies guys!
Very useful indeed.

Two additional questions came up though, I hope someone can help.
1. Do I absolutely positively HAVE to use Stardock Central for download?
I’m trying to keep the tray as clean as possible. Having a “no autostart “-feature would work as well.

2. I don’t normally make backup copies of my games, I just use no-cd’s instead.
By not using the CD’s the wear and tear don’t become an issue to begin with. I would find a slipstreamed DVD useful from a laziness perspective, however. Any word on whether this is possible or not? I don’t feel that this is a deal breaker, but it would be quite convenient.


Rygel XVI - Dominar to over 600 billion (more or less) loyal subjects.
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
1. Do I absolutely positively HAVE to use Stardock Central for download?


Yes. Unlike some competing digital distribution systems though, it is *only* needed for the downloading. It doesn't run in the background, and if you don't want it around for some reason you can just as well uninstall it once you have the game (though you'll need it again later if a new patch comes out and you want to update).

As I said above you can use SDC to pack up the latest version of the game in its entirety once you've downloaded it, or installed from the disc and updated it. You can put that package along with the SDC installer (to unpack it) on the media of your choice for later installs (just install SDC then doubleclick the packages in explorer to unpack them).

The game does not require the CD in the drive to play, even on the retail version. If you download the game, you never need the CD at all.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Thanks for the clarification.
Much appreciated.

The game does not require the CD in the drive to play, even on the retail version. If you download the game, you never need the CD at all.

And that’s why you rock, guys!


Rygel XVI - Dominar to over 600 billion (more or less) loyal subjects.