The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings

[nurtsi]

The game site mentions "cloud saving technology" under the pre-order with Steam

Is that fancy-talk for "same kind of DRM as in Assassin's Creed 2"?

[caladein]

The game site mentions "cloud saving technology" under the pre-order with Steam

Is that fancy-talk for "same kind of DRM as in Assassin's Creed 2"?

I'm guessing it just means the Steam version comes with Steam Cloud which works perfectly well if you're not online 100% of the time and you can turn it off rather easily.  It's only DRM insofar as it's part of Steam (well, Steamworks).

It would be vaguely hilarious to offer a game in both DRM-free and draconian-DRM flavors though.

[UnSub]

I'm torn, because I remember how badly broken The Witcher was when it launched. It got fixed (with bonus content) but, well, buying at launch is a big question mark.

[tgr]

I just saw this now. I was contemplating buying it on steam, if only they could confirm that it was indeed going to be without additional DRM, but I hadn't gotten up the bother to ask valve directly yet. However, even though they had the most asstastic PR-stunt I've seen so far, I feel GOG have more than made up for this with what I can only call an awesome line of new old games, so much so that I'm going to get this from them instead of Steam.

Squee.

As for the "same kind of DRM as in Asssassin's Creed 2", I'm of the same impression caladein is, i.e. that you can tell steamworks to save your savegames to "the cloud" if you want, but it won't absolutely require it, and it most certainly shouldn't bust your nuts because you lose your internet connection for a few seconds.

Actually, speaking of that, has anyone tested how robust the steamworks cloud technology actually is to being disconnected when it should try to save your game, i.e. does it give an error, does it store it locally to upload later on, or what?

[Bunk]

Ok, that trailer was yummy. As long as they address the issues with spending six hours running back and forth accross the same part of town, I'll be all over this.

[NiX]

Is that fancy-talk for "same kind of DRM as in Assassin's Creed 2"?

No, UBI is using either a heavily customized or proprietary DRM solution. Ties into their "Play" network.. thing.

[caladein]

Actually, speaking of that, has anyone tested how robust the steamworks cloud technology actually is to being disconnected when it should try to save your game, i.e. does it give an error, does it store it locally to upload later on, or what?

I've used it with Torchlight before and it'll always save your stuff locally first.  I was able to easily keep a game going between my desktop and my laptop with Steam in offline mode 95% of the time.

[Kail]

I just saw this now. I was contemplating buying it on steam, if only they could confirm that it was indeed going to be without additional DRM, but I hadn't gotten up the bother to ask valve directly yet. However, even though they had the most asstastic PR-stunt I've seen so far, I feel GOG have more than made up for this with what I can only call an awesome line of new old games, so much so that I'm going to get this from them instead of Steam.

Yeah, I just saw this on GOG, too, and had to double check to make sure I was on the right page.  Don't they mostly just stock old DOS titles?  It's like walking down the bike aisle at Toys 'R' Us and seeing a price tag dangling from a Learjet.

Probably getting this from GOG too, even though I have the first one on Steam.  I don't know how they plan to beat Steam at their own game, but the phrase "100% DRM Free" is a pretty damn good start.

[FatuousTwat]

CD Projekt owns GoG and also developed The Witcher.

[Minvaren]

Release date appears to be May 17th.  Pre-ordered, looking forward to this.   

[Setanta]

Australian version just got censored :( Apparently Aussies don't get sex as a reward other than a big FU.

Plus the game cost more for Aussies than Yanks - even though the AU$ is stronger. WTF???!!!!

Buggered if I'm going to buy it now 

[eldaec]

Shipping 1s and 0s to Austrailia is expensive you know.

Can you not import or use steam gifts or something?

[tmp]

Well, until something like two hours ago you could've pre-ordered it at Good Old Games for $42.27 AUD. It's changed to $69.99 AUD for "licensing reasons".

[caladein]

Two bits of news:

- GOG turns off IP Geolocation for purchases.  As one of the comments put it, "I just inexplicably moved to the UK."

- Pre-loading is supposed to be available sometime today according to the game's GOG page.

[JWIV]

I am so psyched for this game.  I can't wait to try and fire it up and promptly watch my computer melt down from having to display more colors than just brown.

[Minvaren]

No announcement on a Steam pre-load yet.  The Steam "Witcher 2" entry still just shows "coming soon..."   

[Fordel]

I have never played the Witcher, but I do enjoy that it doesn't pretend to be anything other then what it is.

[Mazakiel]

No announcement on a Steam pre-load yet.  The Steam "Witcher 2" entry still just shows "coming soon..."   

If I recall correctly, there will be no pre-loading on Steam, just GOG.com.  Steam will open it up for download at release. 

[Minvaren]

 

[KallDrexx]

Is the Witcher 2 PC only?  I thought it was coming out for consoles too, but I don't see it on amazon :(

[NiX]

Is the Witcher 2 PC only?  I thought it was coming out for consoles too, but I don't see it on amazon :(

They said PC first and then they'll consider the console version. It was only ever a "In a perfect world..." thought. I wouldn't hold your breath as they said the same thing for the first one and then realized it was a stupid waste of time.

[Tebonas]

Well, until something like two hours ago you could've pre-ordered it at Good Old Games for $42.27 AUD. It's changed to $69.99 AUD for "licensing reasons".

But as of today, they give you the difference as a credit to buy other games on their website.

Edit: Tried it out, you get two redeem codes, one for a 5.99 game and one for a 9.99 game. In my case that means Baldurs Gate 2 and Temple of Elemental Evil for free. Worked without a hitch.

[JWIV]

There's also a pick one of the following five reward for pre-ordering:

• Divine Divinity
• Beyond Divinity
• Gothic II
• Realms of Arkania 1+2
• Realms of Arkania 3

Any recommendations?

[Paelos]

Not Gothic.

(Just wanted to beat Sky in here to recommend it)

[Sky]

Gothic 2 or Divine Divinity.

[Tebonas]

All of them are good in their own niche.

Realms of Arkania are seriously neckbeardy old-school experiences, the Divinities are Diablolikes with better story, and Gothic 2 is a prime example of the new age 3D action RPG.

[Trouble]

Very NSFW but also very relevant and awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqqxccAa2qQ

[Riggswolfe]

Very NSFW but also very relevant and awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqqxccAa2qQ

Nice. It does make me wonder how edited the American version will be. Last time the American version was heavily edited at release and I ended up ordering from a UK store because I was annoyed that I was being protected from nipples.

[caladein]

FAQ says...

Will there be any censorship in your release?
The Witcher 2 will be uncensored, however the Australian version has been edited slightly. Due to licensing concerns customers from New Zealand will have access to this version only.

[tmp]

Though given gog.com no longer checks the IPs to determine customer's location, any possible censorship issues become somewhat moot?

[UnSub]

That's the general effect, yes.

I'm poor this month, but I'll be making Witcher 2 my first GOG purchase. And not really because of the censorship issue either - the $AU is still very high, but local stores expect us to pay higher prices.

[Mazakiel]

Launch trailer here for anyone who might be interested in viewing, might be slightly NSFW:

http://youtu.be/HedLjjlSy3Y

[Paelos]

I hate the stupid pony tail thing on Geralt.

[Minvaren]

LOADING, PLEASE WAIT...

(1% of 16207MB)   

[trias_e]

Three other trailers.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3GjMm4y7M4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6onlSyKhnWE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Qwer4SwQQM