This is the follow-up thread to my original DVD thread here.

Background

I'm going to document and not do much opinionating or editorializing. The intent of this thread is to advise potential North American purchasers how they will install the game.

I had planned to install it on my primary gaming desktop machine, but once I got to the screen that showed the Steam logo, I stopped installation and switched to one of my laptops that runs Steam. Not a commentary -- I just don't run zilch in the background of my primary sim machine.

The laptop is an Asus N61Jv with 8GB ram. Not a thumper, but decent for gaming. I'm running Mafia II and Total War SHOGUN 2 on it in addition to CoD. Not at higher settings... but decent (IMO).

Again, I want to be sure it is understood the DVD case clearly says TAGES, and maybe it says somewhere on the box that it requires Steam also, but I did not see it. Obviously looking at the DVD contents before installing it will show the Steam files, but of course that is after the shrink wrap is removed and the DVD contents reviewed. You'll see the first occurrence of the Steam logo in the screens below.

I think the images tell the story, but a few places I'll add some info.

And with that....



Arrow... I know that graphic!





















The epilepsy warning comes up each time, but hitting esc turns it off...till the next time

Default graphic settings for the N61Jv laptop. Note the check box for the epilepsy filter.

Mission loading bar.

Lower right corner shows the version - same as the European version, right?


Where the heck do my screenshots go? Ah, there they are....

DVD contents

DVD subfolder contents

DVD subfolder contents

Here is what the default graphic settings yield. Yes, it seems to still help turning off the mirror.


So there you are.

Remember the topic of this thread is CoD installation, so if it gets re-focused into a document on "why I hate DRM as the scourge of mankind", the posts will get moved to the Copy Protection and Digital Rights Management Forum. Better you should link back to this thread from there and discuss the DRM in lurid, explicit, grinding detail in that forum: http://simhq.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/forums/175/1/Copy_Protection_and_Digital_Ri.html

With that, I'll turn the wheel over to Dart and Tom Cofield for their review and commentaries.

Thanks guod. Waiting on Dart's and Tom's review before hitting the add to cart button on steam.

Thanks Guod

Is there a new US manual, or is it still the IL2CoD_MANUAL_UK.pdf that the european version has?

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\il-2 sturmovik cliffs of dover\manual\IL2CoD_MANUAL_UK.pdf

Dated January 31, 2011

Also France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain included.
None specific (I can find) for the North American version.

Something I forgot that was asked. You can take the DVD out after install and keep it in the case. Not needed to run it.

This is interesting. The steam window says 3.2 gig needed for install yet the system requirements at 1c forums sticky is 10 gig? Where is the other 6.8 gig?

Here is the 1c system requirements:


PC CONFIGURATION

OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows® 7 / Vista SP2 / Windows XP SP3

PROCESSOR: Pentium® Dual-Core 2.0GHz or Athlon™ X2 3800+
(Intel Core i5 2.66GHz or AMD Phenom II X4 2.6GHz recommended)

RAM: 2GB (4GB recommended)

VIDEO CARD: DirectX® 9.0c compliant, 512Mb Video Card (1GB DirectX® 10 recommended) - See supported List*

DIRECT X®: DirectX® 9.0c or DirectX® 10 (included on disc)

DVD-ROM DRIVE: 8X

SOUND CARD: DirectX 9.0c compatible

HARD DISK SPACE: 10GB

PERIPHERALS: Mouse, keyboard (joystick with throttle and rudder control recommended)

MULTIPLAY: Broadband connection with 128 kbps upstream or faster


*SUPPORTED VIDEO CARDS AT TIME OF RELEASE:

ATI® 4850/4870/5830/5850/5770/5870/6870/6950/6970

NVidia®: 8800/9800/250/260/275/285/460/465/470/480



Can you take a look at your install guod and see how much space its using? Thanks.

Where do you download the patch? I thought I saw where a patch was available, but I don't know where to get it. Thanks.

That is actually difficult because its splattered all over the place.
The DVD case wrapper says 10 GB free but I'll be damned if I can find anything close to that.
The DVD contents itself probably won't help much since part of it is compressed.

Hi Hopper - It looks like the disk contains the latest patched copy. The discussion about patches has been either for the ones that have come for the Russian/EMEA version release or about upcoming ones.

If you have the disk, and it installs then you have the latest version.

When there is a patch release, unless it's a 'beta' (test) one directly from 1C, then Steam will update your game automagically when it starts.

The physical install seems to take 5.04GB on disk, which is about right for those .sid files from Steam compressing.

I'd bet the 'system requirements' just say 10GB as a ball-park thing, i.e. they guessed high early on plus no-one wants a disk with 13 bytes left on it.

Maybe they just gave themselves some room for overhead for patches and such. Still thats quite a large difference! I think when steam gives you how much space is needed down to the last meg, it is including all directories it installs to.

If it just installs Steam I wonder if it's just as well to buy it from Steam?

Thanks. Had no idea.

FWIW my steam install activated today, and it was pretty straight forward (a lot like what guod just posted). Put another way, there was no drama with the steam instal.

Also, as a side note, my settings came in defaulted to the exact same values as Guods post, except with resolution (correctly) detected at 1920x1080@ 60hrz. It actually ran better that I thought it would, but there's still too much stuttering around other planes for accurate gunnery.

What if you don't have a steam account yet? Does the install prompt you to create one, or should you sign up before attempting to install the US DVD version?

Thanks

Can't say because my account already existed on the laptop, but IMO, I'd do the Steam install and get it 100% setup, settings checked, and then install Cliffs. That way if Steam sneezes, it doesn't foul up the game install.

www.steampowered.com

Green "Install Steam" button in the upper right of the screen.

guod,
Any word on the Collector's Edition DVD release in North America?

It sure was sneaky how they slipped Steam in on us. I probably wouldn't have bought the game if I'd know that I'd have to put up with Steam to install and play the game. Pretty sneaky. I need a Product Code to install the game on Steam and can't find it anywhere (email or Gamersgate website). Pretty sneaky.

Well, they did release more or less the exact same version in April, so there's that in terms of warning I guess. I agree the info has been confusing in the run-up to the US release (or NCSA 'North, Central, South America's as they put it).

Is there nothing printed on any of the material that comes with the box, i.e. an inset or something? Might be worth an email to Gamersgate if they sold you the DVD first.