So, I found this site, and found out about GalCiv2, back when Penny Arcade linked you guys a while back. I've always loved games primarily for their story-telling nature. I love a game with an involving story, a game that makes you feel like your participating in great events. GalCiv seems to be the kind of game that allows me to do that. The thing that sparked my interests first was the journal entries entitled 'human vs drengin wars'. The short games really felt like an epic novel or movie, portraying the conflicts of two space empires. Right away I saw why I had to have this game; I had grown up with Star Trek and Star Wars, with Enders Game, with the foundation series, with all that military sci-fi that Baen keeps churning out. THe stuff flows through my blood. Now Stardock are offering me an enjoyable, very free game, with enough customisability to allow me to play out any of those epics, and to create my own at will.

So, this is all great, right? I get to join the priveledged few in the know, eagerly waiting for GalCiv 2. It's what, seven days now? Not for me it isn't.

You see, I live in Australia. Sometimes that's ok. The country isn't so bad. Except when it comes to releases. Movies, books, games, they all take longer. Sometimes that isn't true. With huge companies like Bungie and Microsoft, it doesn't happen. Halo 2 enjoyed a simultaneous world-wide release, and due to time-zones, it in fact hit Australia a day earlier than the US. Stardock obviously doesn't have the funds or size that Bungie has. That is, in my mind, a good thing. GalCiv2 is obviously a much-loved product, made by a small group who care a lot, and play a lot. I love that. This game wouldn't be the same without that.

But it does mean that Australians get to wait another full month to get GalCiv2.