I don't know much going in. There really hasn't been all that much news, and I haven't been obsessive looking for every scrap. So hopefully I'm pleasantly surprised. Paypal cash should be in soon, and then a preorder.

Yup, I didn't watch any of those "walkthrough" videos. Because I don't want to be spoiled, but also because the game is still not finished/polished yet and I don't want to lower my expectations.

Don't make the same mistake I made.

I pre-ordered on Steam a few months ago because

(1) it's convenient to get all my games from the same place; and
(2) every game I have ever pre-ordered on Steam has allowed me download and install in advance and then begin playing at 12:01am on launch day.

Sadly, I just learned a couple days ago that for some reason Steam is not offering pre-install of TW2 and you can only do this if you download the game from GOG.

Don't you get more stuff at GoG as well?

Edit
Good god, that is an amazing deal. I just looked.

The Steam Digital Premium Edition and GOG DIgital Premium Edition come with almost exactly the same stuff, except you get a digital copy of the artbook if you buy on GOG.

Not really interested in collecting special boxes, maps or papercraft stuff.

You get a free game over there as well. Some of them look pretty damn good, and the money goes directly to them. I'm sold. Sorry Steam, this is one of those rare outings where I depart for awhile.

yes, I certainly regret getting the Steam version.

Mainly because there will be no pre-load available.

Can't wait for it!!! First was awesome, and hopefully this will deliver even more!

Know what I'm kind of angry about? CDP bragging and bashing all those stupid DRM measures, activation and stuff beforehand, because those only bother the customer and pirates can ignore them - and then they not only announce that all retail versions have SecuROM activation with a 50 megabyte download patch to activate the game, but also launcher-only patches, which they say in their copy protection FAQ will hinder pirates to enjoy a patched game. Because there have never been patched cracked releases or cracked patches, obviously. Way to neglect EVERYTHING you said before, guys. Just one big stupid PR stunt for GoG, it would seem. Humbug, I say!

Not the smartest move to go back on their word, but it's what I've come to expect from PC games these days.

The only DRM that really bothers me is the kind that Ubisoft developed, where your saves and data are stored on their server... for a single-player game. A one-time activation isn't really that bad.

http://tw2.thewitcher.com/news/2011/4/5504800

I'm not even sure what to say about that.

I lol'ed.

http://captionsearch.com/pix/jiqd2154kr.jpg.

http://www.gametrailers.com/video/exclusive-gameplay-the-witcher/713622 - this is basically a walkthrough of NPC AI routines for the village of Flotsam.

Looks amazing, probably the most immersive and believable NPC population in any RPG I've ever seen. Can't wait until May 17

I certainly hope Skyrim villages and towns will be this immersive, or even more so

http://youtu.be/90BPECahh3o?hd=1 - some really gorgeous environments - great work art direction.

Interesting to note that some of the locations are only unlocked depending on certain choices you make in-game, possibly requiring a replay to visit them

http://www.kotaku.com.au/2011/05/why-does-the-witcher-2-cost-more-in-australia/. I think I'll leave it at that. [/vent]

It should be noted that GOG http://www.gog.com/en/forum/general/gog_updates_privacy_policy_will_no_longer_use_geo_ip_to_determine_your_region that they're no longer using geo-IP to determine customer location, but rather are relying upon the customer to report their location. This ensures that individuals who are traveling, or whose IP wrongly resolves to Australia, can simply set the correct country in their profile and thus avoid the increased prices as well as the slightly censored version that the Australian ratings board required.

The GoG pre-purchace/pre-download is up.

With the GoG's Euro-Dollar compensation and the pre-order bonus I just got 3 games in addition to the The Witcher 2. Can't complain.

This time next week I be playing The Witcher2. Cannot wait. Something different.

As for DRM I do not mind one-time activation be over and done with. That way they leave me alone and play in peace.

Least with Steam you have a choice play on line and off line. I don't think they keep my saves on their servers. Least I don't need the disk for playing the game. Least you can back up your Steam folder in a different Hard Drive or and external drive before before formatting your main hard drive disk. Then you put it back after your sort your hard drive disk out. No fuss.

After typing that I not touching any game that Ubisoft is making now. You have to be on line to play a single player game. I have not heard that part that they keep your save in thier servers not in your computer. No, no. Not good.

I know they have World in Conflict but it was made by another so that is excluded.

Got witcher 2 pre downloaded.

I just checked my Steam library.

Sadly, no pre-install option is confirmed

Damn just realized it's the 17th, the old date used to be the 14th. I was getting hyped for nothing.

Witcher 2 has been reviewed by Polish CD-Action magazine, they gave it 9+ out of 10. I currently do not have the magazine, but there's a short introduction to it on their site. They say that it's best point is non-linearity, rich quests and memorable love scenes, and they desciribed boss fights as weakest pont- they're too easy. The also say that it takes approx. 24 hours to complete the game.

It received the highest score that they could give because only 2 people reviewed it, and they have to be 3 people to give it a 10 on their site. Also, because of the panic that sprang out they confirmed that the 24 hours were without side quests. Side quests will apparently double the playtime.

I've pre-ordered from GOG, got The Witcher 2 plus 3 games, not a bad deal at all.

It's chapter based?

Jeez ONLY 24/h? FUUUUU- I DEMAND SATISFACTION! /sarcasm.

Good god, better than most people making an RPG can manage these days, and that's just the main quest.

Even doubling that with side quests is only 48 hours. That is very disappointing.