Why wait until everyone in the US comes online?
Now everyone will try to download the game at the same moment. If the game would have been released earlier in Europe, downloads could at least have been spread a little over the entire day.

Europe is "licking" USA's *** in every possible way in our lives - in economics, in politics, in technology...why would this be any different?
I know, this is a just a game, but don't just small things in our lives show how deep in bad habits we are?...
Maybe it is the small things we have to make a stand for and then go to the big things. When will that old **** Europe stop being the second hand call girl of USA?
I see it in all aspects of life i see it in other games too some of which massively popular.
I don't rant about it because i can't wait 5 hours for a game, no, i am at work anyway and it doesn't bother me much, even when i get back home i have a kid and a wife to care about first and then play a game, BUT...
What bothers me is that we, in Europe, are treated like second hand people compared to those in USA, i don't like it, i don't think i should tolerate it.
I don't see our money being less than USA money.
Yes, this is a bit of politics/philosophy debate, but one day we will look back and say "we shouldn't have closed our eyes for those small things, no one thought were important..."
I am starting to regret i paid money to this European company who doesn't even have the guts to do something the EU way and caters to USA mighty and powerful masters...
Meh...

Well, I'm in the US and I'm just as unhappy about this as those of you in Europe. I dropped my son off for his 3 hours of Preschool and was looking forward to spending my rare chance at free time at least downloading and checking out the game a bit. It never occurred to me that it might not actually be available by now. By the time I can start my download I will already have my son home and have to feed him lunch then take him to therapy. I won't get to even try out the game until after he goes to bed tonight and I'm exhausted. I'm sad :(

The worst part is, this is mostly (most probably) done because of the mass media.
They coordinate release in 1 and the same hour at all places, because of fear of negative reviews, who might lead to pre-order cancel.
So if they release in EU first, earlier, while not available in the USA yet, then some people may start canceling pre-orders if they read a lot of negative reviews.
There is even a restriction for reviews from main media sources when they may be released.
Sad...

Wow. So it seems the conspiracy theories and political screes are already out and about.

Anyway, I too am anxious to await the game's release - I think it'll be April 1st since GOG now says "last chance" to pre-order. Of course, I pre-ordered it at the beginning of the month, so....

Patience is a virtue they say. Except when you are a gamer, of course. ;)

Reading this thread is embarrassing. Calm down people.

Releasing on european time is actually the best way. This way everyone in the world will have the game on march 31. Including asia and australia. If such a huge corporation like steam does not have enough people around to get those things done, it's steam's problem. It says something about their support system. :P

Alright, going to eat my dinner.

This is highly unlikely, considering that they gifted thousands of copies to Youtubers, who are making Let's Plays, checklists, reviews and what not for weeks now.
More than enough time to see the game for yourself and decide if it's worth your money.

Steam? Maybe. GOG? nah, I doubt it.

Well, I sure hope you are correct Senteria^^ If I'm correct neither of us is winning *g*

Steam aleady has a score of 84 up for it lol.

I love Age of Wonder, but I kinda doubt AOW3 downloads would crash Steam ^^. Is it that huge a release?

Ten M...

Maybe it's just my sadistic hope xD" Every time I buy a game over steam that is not yet released their servers crash on release day - why should it be better when I buy over gog? xD
Yay, unlocked for me, but won't download anything -.-"