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Only for those that looked at the additional trailers, rather than just the cinematic one.

By get-go, I mean beginning of the game, just like in Civ V.

Yup. Start game, open tech tree, get spoiled.

And I'm sure that everyone who's played Alpha Centauri suspected as much.

Isn't it like that with all Civs?

 ZebioLizard2 wrote:


What sort of peaceful Ghandi are you playing? He is the lord of Nuclear Attacks in Civ.

Maybe knowing this is why, anytime I meet Ghandi in a Civ game, he's usually the first to go

Also, in my experience with Civ V, Queen Elizabeth is the queen of denouncements, but generally all bark and no bite.

I must say, the most innoying part of civ is always looking for it under C instead of S in steam.

My game library is so huge I just search for "civ" or add it to my favorites list instead.

That's a good idea, I'll try that.

 Melissia wrote:
My game library is so huge I just search for "civ" or add it to my favorites list instead.

This is why I stay away from Steam sales.

It has less to do with that and more to do with the fact that I don't buy console games and have been on steam since almost the very beginning.

My problem is humble bundle. I can often get games I want for cheaper, but end up with 12 other games at the same time.

Just preordered the gamespy pack, with Ace patrol and the Exoplanet module.

Wait what?

 Melissia wrote:
It has less to do with that and more to do with the fact that I don't buy console games and have been on steam since almost the very beginning.

Might not be the "very beginning" but my first Steam game was Half Life 2, back in 04-05 time frame

My gaming store (Gamestop Australia basically) preorders for Beyond Earth includes Ace Patrol and the exoplanets pack. Its pretty cool.

EBgames right?

EB games yes. Its a division of Gamestop.

 Doctadeth wrote:
My gaming store (Gamestop Australia basically) preorders for Beyond Earth includes Ace Patrol and the exoplanets pack. Its pretty cool.

What exactly is "ace patrol" and "the exoplanets pack"?

I see no DLC for the game.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Okay, found the "exoplanet map pack", nothing exceptional there (just some pre-generated maps, I prefer random anyway so meh). What is "ace patrol"?


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Aaaand found it. It's nothing to do with Civ:BE at all, so I'm not losing out on anything lol.

The exoplanets pack is basically the designs of a couple of the actual irl alien planets found in the astronomical surveys. Stuff I like lol.

Yeah, no worries. I was just worried I missed something I'd want hehe.

If you've preordered it on Steam, you're going to get it anyways.

Pre-purchase Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth and receive the Exoplanets Map Pack for free.

The Exoplanets Map Pack includes six custom maps inspired by real-world exoplanets. Specialized scripts produce randomized geographic layouts each time a new game begins, allowing for even more replayability on new alien worlds.

• Kepler 186f: This lush forest planet is one of the oldest known Earth-like planets.
• Rigil Khantoris Bb: Orbiting the closest star to the solar system, the historical records of this arid continental planet’s settlement are well-preserved.
• Tau Ceti d: This planet of seas and archipelagos features a booming biodiversity and a wealth of resources.
• Mu Arae f: Tidally locked in orbit around a weak star, the southern hemisphere of this planet is a blistering desert where the sun never sets, while the northern hemisphere is perpetually in frozen darkness.
• 82 Eridani e: An alien world of scarce water and wracked by tectonic forces.
• Eta Vulpeculae b: A mysterious new discovery with unknown terrain.

Already scheduled my first multiplayer game, btw, right after launch. I'm going to pick the PAC as a sponsor, with additional scientists, a retrograde thruster colony ship, and raw materials.
Here's hoping for a smooth release and a stable netcode!

Ah, I didn't see that. Steam's changed its UI so sometimes it hides things behind a "see more" button heh.

Is Beyond Earth not unlocking for anyone else in the UK? It's past midnight but everytime I try and launch the game it won't update as the data is still encrypted

 Hlaine Larkin mk2 wrote:
Is Beyond Earth not unlocking for anyone else in the UK? It's past midnight but everytime I try and launch the game it won't update as the data is still encrypted

Apparently the unlocks are by time zones. See the link here to determine when the game will unlock for you -

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?p=13512728#post13512728


Of course, given what you're stating, the game should have already unlocked for you. I know the Zone 1 unlocks took place, because someone on the official forums mentioned roughly three hours ago that 3500 people were online and playing (according to a friend of the poster).


Edit - Based on a comment or two on the forums, it looks like Zone 2 isn't live yet for some reason.

Asia region: 23rd Oct, 5 PM
UK/EU region: 23rd Oct, 11 PM
NA/SA region: 24th Oct, 4 AM.
Times are in UTC.


And yeah, it's bugging for some people in the UK.

Got notice my physical copy shipped. Looks like I'll probably be waiting until next week to play.

Eumerin wrote:

 Hlaine Larkin mk2 wrote:
Is Beyond Earth not unlocking for anyone else in the UK? It's past midnight but everytime I try and launch the game it won't update as the data is still encrypted

Apparently the unlocks are by time zones. See the link here to determine when the game will unlock for you -

http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?p=13512728#post13512728


Of course, given what you're stating, the game should have already unlocked for you. I know the Zone 1 unlocks took place, because someone on the official forums mentioned roughly three hours ago that 3500 people were online and playing (according to a friend of the poster).


Edit - Based on a comment or two on the forums, it looks like Zone 2 isn't live yet for some reason.

I just gave up after a bit to go watch the hockey, there's always tomorrow

Going to pick up my copy naow, always good to get a box.

Me too, I always get my stuff in through a local independent gaming store (even PC games! )

Looking forward to reading about people's first impressions of the game are like though as I won't get a chance to play until next week some time.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
First reviews are starting to filter through. C&VG gave the game an 8, although I question how an accurate score can be given to a game that has traditionally been about the long haul - I thought V was excellent for instance when I was initially dazzled by the graphical improvements, only to realise later that there were quite a few features and elements from the previous games missing.

Sheesh, the hours just keep flying by with that game. But I have to say, I really like the new Tech and Culture trees.

The only thing I'm really missing from Civ V is more options for unit promotions, because in CivBE they've nailed it down to two (one-time immediate health regen or permanent efficiency bonus), which I suppose could be seen as "dumbing it down", given how it removes some customisation options that were pretty cool in Civ V. Granted, there are empire-wide Affinity-based unit upgrades, but they are fairly limited as well (2 options per level, for a total of 6 bonuses you can pick 3 of) and do not allow specialist units like having some ships of the same class reserved for naval combat and others for coastal bombardment in Civ V.
I've heard that Alpha Centauri had a pretty cool editor to build your own units, but sadly none of that is in CivBE either.

Other than that, Beyond Earth looks really nice. Espionage in particular feels a lot better, simply by giving you different things to focus your security apparatus on and providing operational bonuses for agents staying at your HQ. For example, my PAC Security has specialised on Operational Support, which means that each agent in the HQ lowers the risk for operatives in the field.

Aliens are also cool. They look scary at first due to their numbers, but my troopers just gunned them down like the bugs they are. I think I'm in a sort of "cold war" with them right now as the ecosystem doesn't seem to be actively fighting me anymore as long as I don't venture out of my currently claimed territory. There was some fierce fighting where several waves of alien creatures hurled themselves against a forward outpost, but gun batteries and missile crawlers held them back with little effort. I didn't pursue them, just held my ground, and it seems they have now lost interest in attacking me, even when standing in a hex right next to my army (which has occupied a strategic hotspot just outside the settlement's perimeter fence). They still attack me further away from the border, though.
I'm not sure if this is because it's another nest/continent, or perhaps because the aliens react to how many of my units they are facing ...

The only problems with aliens is how they kept crushing the neutral outposts behind my border. I haven't managed to establish a single trade route yet. :(

The quest system is also a cool addition in that it allows you to refine your shaping of the colony, almost like a bit of roleplaying. That being said, It almost feels as if quest decisions are popping up a little too often, becoming a little too prominent for traditional Civ gameplay. If they would have scaled it back a bit and you don't see every single quest on your first playthrough, this aspect of the game would probably offer more replay value than it does now. Still, it's a nice touch.

The game also seems to have a few bugs (one of my units just disappeared during a free upgrade, I currently cannot build any roads anymore but only the more expensive magrails, and I've seen a few typos), but nothing too serious that would really detract from the fun.

http://www.nerfnow.com/comic/1407