Bioshock available for pre-order/load on Steam; Demo Friday @ Fileshack

[Laner]

Preload and Preorder: http://storefront.steampowered.com/v/index.php?area=game&AppId=7670&cc=US

[Knightshade Dragon]

Nice!  I'm sure Steam will be able to handle the activations just fine. 

[CeeKay]

sweet on the demo news.  as for Steam, well it'll be my backup in case my Gamestop is stupid and don't get in copies of the PC version on release day.  last time I pre-ordered a PC game from them (Boiling Point) I didn't get it for almost a week after it's release.  Granted, BS is a bigger release, but still it never hurts to have a backup plan.

[Calvin]

Argh this makes it worse...but I want the CE edition, so no!! NO STEAM!

Oh, and Fileshack rules!

[Destructor]

sweet on the demo news.  as for Steam, well it'll be my backup in case my Gamestop is stupid and don't get in copies of the PC version on release day.  last time I pre-ordered a PC game from them (Boiling Point) I didn't get it for almost a week after it's release.  Granted, BS is a bigger release, but still it never hurts to have a backup plan.

To the best of my knowledge, all Gamestop stores should have the game in stock right now. They just can't sell them. 

[TiLT]

I was hoping this would be the chance for me to get the game a few days earlier, since we don't get it until the 24th here in Europe, but nooooo. If you live in Europe, your Steam copy of Bioshock doesn't get activated until the 24th. Bastards!

[EddieA]

The PC demo has been delayed, and now is coming out "probably Monday". 

[wonderpug]

The PC demo has been delayed, and now is coming out "probably Monday". 

Grr.  I'm really eager to see just how good or bad this runs on my PC.

[Destructor]

The PC demo has been delayed, and now is coming out "probably Monday". 

 

Oh well. I know my PC can handle it (or at least it better).

[CeeKay]

The PC demo has been delayed, and now is coming out "probably Monday". 

The fact that it sounds like they are having trouble optimizing the demo (like the one statement that mentioned 'making sure all the drivers are in place') is making me wary about the PC version.  If only they put up the activation servers early so those who got a copy of the PC version already could start posting impressions.

[Knightshade Dragon]

The PC demo has been delayed, and now is coming out "probably Monday". 

The fact that it sounds like they are having trouble optimizing the demo (like the one statement that mentioned 'making sure all the drivers are in place') is making me wary about the PC version.  If only they put up the activation servers early so those who got a copy of the PC version already could start posting impressions.

I saw it on a PC at E3 and it was smooth as silk.  No framerate hitch at any point.  I suspect that it is Vista that is giving them trouble. (Try to at least feign shock)

[CeeKay]

I suspect that it is Vista that is giving them trouble. (Try to at least feign shock)

   no.. that's not it.....    no... still can't quite feign it... ok, one last try 

whew!  that was hard work    I'm not regretting Vista yet but this is the game that could make me do so.

[leo8877]

Pre-loaded   This is something I have to play on my PC!

[Sarkus]

The PC demo has been delayed, and now is coming out "probably Monday". 

It seems like a lot of PC owners are waiting for the demo before deciding between 360 and PC (myself included).  Between the overwhelming demand for the demo on Monday and then the possibly overwhelming last minute demand on Steam, it could be a bit of a fiasco.

[docvego]

Between the overwhelming demand for the demo on Monday and then the possibly overwhelming last minute demand on Steam, it could be a bit of a fiasco.

I'm waiting for the PC Boxed Version activation server crash on Tuesday.
"Server will be down until that RAM gets here from Taiwan."

Either that or my Cable Internet will die. 

[Calvin]

The PC demo has been delayed, and now is coming out "probably Monday". 

It seems like a lot of PC owners are waiting for the demo before deciding between 360 and PC (myself included).  Between the overwhelming demand for the demo on Monday and then the possibly overwhelming last minute demand on Steam, it could be a bit of a fiasco.

I was waiting but I think its just going to be easier to get it for 360 right now even though my rig is pretty damned powerful. The reccomended specs of a 3.0 ghz dual core processor doesn't fill me with trust that its going to run smooth even on beefy machines. I will buy it on PC eventually for sure. Just for now, maybe 360 on the big screen is easier

[CeeKay]

The reccomended specs of a 3.0 ghz dual core processor

I haven't seen those specs for the Core 2 Duo anywhere- even Steam says

Recommended: CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo processor; System RAM: 2GB; Video Card: DX 9 - Direct X 9.0c compliant video card with 512 MB RAM (NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GT or better), DX 10 - NVIDIA GeForce 8600 or better; Sound Card: SoundBlaster(r) X-Fi(tm) series (optimized foruse with Creative Labs EAX ADVANCED HD 4.0 or EAX ADVANCED HD 5.0 compatible sound cards); Important Note: Game requires Internet connection for activation

where'd you see that?

[Calvin]

http://www.direct2drive.com/2/4645/product/Buy-BioShock-(Pre-Order)-Download

Lists it there

[CeeKay]

http://www.direct2drive.com/2/4645/product/Buy-BioShock-(Pre-Order)-Download

Lists it there

hmmm... it's the only place that I've seen that says that - even the official thread on their forums doesn't list anything other than Core 2 Duo.

[JCC]

So is it true that store bought copies of Bioshock require an online activation? For a game with no online multiplayer whatsoever? Please tell me I heard wrong here... Would that render used copies as worthless?

[CeeKay]

So is it true that store bought copies of Bioshock require an online activation?

yep

For a game with no online multiplayer whatsoever?

yep

Please tell me I heard wrong here... Would that render used copies as worthless?

don't know.

[godhugh]

Just FYI, Steam copies won't be unlocked until 1pm PST on Tuesday.

[CeeKay]

Just FYI, Steam copies won't be unlocked until 1pm PST on Tuesday.

screw that- I could have the game and be playing it (provided the activation BS doesn't screw up) for a few hours by that time (EST here).

[Destructor]

Just FYI, Steam copies won't be unlocked until 1pm PST on Tuesday.

screw that- I could have the game and be playing it (provided the activation BS doesn't screw up) for a few hours by that time (EST here).

A few hours? EST puts it at 4pm. Gamestop has the game in stock right now and will be selling it come 10am when they open.

So yeah, I don't get the time delay either.

[CeeKay]

Just FYI, Steam copies won't be unlocked until 1pm PST on Tuesday.

screw that- I could have the game and be playing it (provided the activation BS doesn't screw up) for a few hours by that time (EST here).

A few hours? EST puts it at 4pm. Gamestop has the game in stock right now and will be selling it come 10am when they open.

So yeah, I don't get the time delay either.

well, I have to work that day anyways, and if it was my day off I'd probably sleep in until noon, so I'd only have a few hours with it.

[Calvin]

Just FYI, Steam copies won't be unlocked until 1pm PST on Tuesday.

That is absolutely re-tar-ded.

[CeeKay]

Just FYI, Steam copies won't be unlocked until 1pm PST on Tuesday.

That is absolutely re-tar-ded.

no need to get Steamed.

[Calvin]

Just FYI, Steam copies won't be unlocked until 1pm PST on Tuesday.

That is absolutely re-tar-ded.

no need to get Steamed.

not this time, no, but I was wondering one thing. If you own a game that is now on steam. Can you "Activate" it on Steam so that in the future you can install it from Steam? Or only if bought from them? Anyone know? That would be a truly effing awesome feature.

[Turtle]

Only from them.  I mean, they only get profit from copies bought from steam, why would they want to let you their bandwidth and services if you didn't buy it from them?

[Calvin]

Only from them.  I mean, they only get profit from copies bought from steam, why would they want to let you their bandwidth and services if you didn't buy it from them?

Because they are awesome and trying to kill Games For Windows dead in the water? (and right now kinda succeeding the way it looks). Just figured it might be something they want to do to make people even more reliant on steam.

[Turtle]

They don't really get anything from it, especially since the copy you bought that's non-steam can be installed a played elsewhere with no problems, and steam won't be there to enforce just one copy per account.

Now, what they can reasonably do is to implement their community stuff to properly support non-steam games.  Even allowing developers to put in things like Steam awards and whatnot.

The difficulty is making sure they seperate Steam enough from the Valve as an entity so they can make deals with publishers that compete.  The good news is that Valve is a pretty narrowly focused game studio.

[Punisher]

Looks like the PC demo might be ready. I had it reserved with Fileplanet and it started downloading about an hour ago.

[Turtle]

It'll unlock on monday, but yes, it's downloading now.

That's it.  I'm going into BioBlackout mode.  No more bioshock threads of any kind until I've played through most of the game.  I don't want to risk spoilers because I know the Irrational crew have plenty of surprises waiting in the game.

I don't want a repeat of the "Vader was Luke's father?!" incident from my childhood. 

[wonderpug]

THE BIOs GET SHOCKED ON PAGE 165!

[CeeKay]

THE BIOs GET SHOCKED ON PAGE 165!

I hear you actually don't survive the plane crash and the place is actually Purgatory.....

[leo8877]

I am a little upset that Steam is not "unlocking" the game until 1 PM PST tomorrow.  Why can't they just allow use at 12:01 AM?

[Destructor]

I am a little upset that Steam is not "unlocking" the game until 1 PM PST tomorrow.  Why can't they just allow use at 12:01 AM?

Because then you'd get an advantage over the game stores that have to open up and stuff?

Yeah, it's a really crappy reason, but something tells me it's not far off from the truth.

[CeeKay]

I am a little upset that Steam is not "unlocking" the game until 1 PM PST tomorrow.  Why can't they just allow use at 12:01 AM?

Because then you'd get an advantage over the game stores that have to open up and stuff?

Yeah, it's a really crappy reason, but something tells me it's not far off from the truth.

either that or they want to make sure everyone is in place in case of any problems.

[Eduardo X]

I want to skip work tomorrow. I have my pre-load all set, and I'm all jittery, hoping to play. GIMMEE BIOSHOCK, WORLD!

[leo8877]

Yeah I'm sure it's some silly reason.  Oh well, I'll be clicking away come 1 PM to get it authorized and getting my ass in Rapture!