Drat. I was looking forward to this one.
Thanks for the reply, Ralackk.

I was just thinking the other day "So Civ 5 is coming out, but I bought Civ 4 a while back and haven't gotten around to it yet. Maybe I should have passed?"
I don't use Steam and don't intend to start, so I guess my question is answered.

Since the game will use the Steamworks crap,don't tell me that only the publisher sets the price.

Well, the whole "or you are a cracker" is the case in point. They don't want the files to be available to anyone else except the authorized users who actually bought the game. That's the whole concept behind DRM, stopping 0day piracy where someone gets a hold of a version of the game before/at the same time of release and cracks it.
Without access to the game files you can't crack anything ;)
Yet again, what does the developers decision to release a Deluxe Edition along with a standard one has to do with Steam?

The collector's edition having an extra playable civ is a very bad signal to my mind. Will this test the water for Civ 5 DLC? I'm not actually sure that I like that idea, as opposed to the traditional large expansion packs that the past 3 versions of Civ have received. I don't think that strategy games benefit from a piecemeal approach to released content, such as the overpowered elite units of the last two Total War games.
Ah well, I shall remain sceptically curious to future developments.

Only that it stinks of paid DLC, like the $14 map pack for MW2. Basically now you buy the game pieces and you are charged for each.

Sadly that's how it always starts. The page is erroneously displayed worldwide (sometimes even with a purchase button) to then be removed without notice at a later date. Seen it happen all too often recently here to the point that I won't trust anything in the coming soon list on Steam from a major publisher.
Also given that all other Sid Meier games used to be sold worldwide on Steam until about 2 years ago, when 2K "temporarily" removed them (for no more than a week -- according to promises by 2K Elizabeth), and that they are still not available in the regions they were removed from, I really find it hard to believe that we'll see a game with Meier's name on released here.
That said, I really hope 2K prove me wrong. It'll be a welcome change to seeing most major releases wind up restricted here (recently, mainly thanks to Square fucking Enix who enjoy buying up distribution rights for consoles and PCs and then letting the PC rot without access to the game).
Oh, I should also add that there's no point in pre-purchasing it, as it's a SteamWorks title, which these days mean that chances are good that Valve/2K will use the built in IP blocking to prevent activation in regions where the game isn't sold.

thanks :)

My most anticipated game of this year. Determined to get the Collector's Edition. Then I saw this post and then BAH! Still getting CE most probably, but BAH, this sucks!

I doubt it. Last time i checked for 2k games availability, I think gametap offers some of the older 2k civ games like CiV III worldwide.

region restriction
for example Impulse
http://img154.imageshack.us/img154/4110/impulsedrivencom2010415.png

Passing.

Won't be buying it either. Very unfortunate as I either own or have owned all civ games, including spin-off's, at some point (Civ I - IV with all expansions (even the test of time thingie), Colonization, Civ IV:Col, Alpha Centauri (no expansion unfortunately), CTP 1&2, MoO 1-3, Galciv 1-2 with all expansions and Master of Magic. Did I remember them all?).

Cool, I will buy this game. I don't have problems with Steamworks, it is way better than GFWL. Good thing is this game is not region restricted for me in Turkey on Steam. But old Civ games are region restricted so I can't buy Civ 4 Complete from Steam. :(