Re: What does the game physically come with?
 

I thought that the Collector's Edition came with a Bog Beast plushie? :o

Re: What does the game physically come with?
 

No, just a Bog Beast. They cost less to make. You do have to be careful when opening the parcel, though.

Re: What does the game physically come with?
 

I can't recall how it came packed.

Note, however, that the game does *NOT* require the CD in the drive to play. You'll use it to install and that's it. What is needed for play until you've learned the game is the manual--and that's spiral-bound so it will lay flat.

This game is *NOT* about eye candy, it's about strategy.

Re: What does the game physically come with?
 

I also think its fantastic that the CD comes with Windows AND Mac AND Linux versions on it. I would have had a real rought time otherwise.

Re: What does the game physically come with?
 

Regardless of the packaging Paleblue, you should definitely buy the game! Without a doubt it's the game that's given me the most happy hours.

Re: What does the game physically come with?
 

I agree with Llamabeast. Ever since I purchased this game I do not play "age of wonders", "Civ 4" or "Galactic Civ II" anymore.
This game is so deep and has the flexibility to let you do just about anything you can think of. Each nation has different strengths and weaknesses. The amount of content is vast, I am still running into spells,units and magic sites I have never seen. Also the developers keep updating it for free even 2 years after publication. The community is also very helpful. Mods for the game are very easy to install and enable.
Go buy it now you will not be sorry.

Re: What does the game physically come with?
 

I think a jewel case would be more likely to break in the mail. I'd much rather have a nice envelope strapped to the manual than the shattered handful of plastic a jewel case would inevitably become.

But yes, an updated manual would be extra nice.

Re: What does the game physically come with?
 

Paleblue, while others have already provided your answer I did want to confirm that as the game's page says, it comes shrinkwrapped with the CD stuck inside the manual. This is standard for all our games that come with a decent sized manual (e.g. you'll find all the ProSIM titles are like this) while games that have smaller manuals tend to come in DVD cases. Believe me, there is no way that Dom 3 manual is squeezing into a DVD case anytime soon. :)

We don't do boxes because we don't put anything on store shelves so it's silly to waste cardboard on something that will end up trashed 90% of the time anyway. If you're worried about the CD coming in a paper sleeve finding jewel cases is pretty easy, and chances are you might even have an old CD or game that you don't care about anymore that could house your CD. Personally over the years I've actually gotten rid of all my jewel cases and moved all my games to paper sleeves. Saves a tremendous amount of space and weight!

Re: What does the game physically come with?
 

Thanks for the information everyone, now i need to decide what i will do.

Re: What does the game physically come with?
 

What's there to decide? Buy it! This game isn't about looking pretty on the shelf or even on the screen. It's about actually playing it. After you install it you'll probably never look at your CD again. What difference does it make what it looks like?