I come to the site every day. I've signed up for the email announcement! I've bookmarked several different LDW pages. But I'm not really sure that I'll know when the game will be released. If something comes up (I've got plans for the weekend and I'll be away from my computer! ).. so...how will I REALLY know???

//EDIT: This topic is now outdated, so it will be locked.//

Where do you sign up for the e-mail announcement of the game launch?

Well, Carla said that she would announce a date, and she hasn't done that yet, so right now there is no way to know exactly when the game will be coming out. I understand your want for VV4 (heck, I want it too !), but we're all just going to have to be patient until we get a date, I guess.

to sign up for email alert click on the ldw link than on preview to go to preview page you will see the bar at 100% and there is also the place to sign up for email alert for windows or mac.

When LDW brings a game to market, they always do what they call a "soft launch" here. This is a members only launch mostly to reward the loyal LDW Forum members, and partly to find any little glitches that were missed in development.

The LDW members will be able to download the game directly from here, for their free trial period (usually 1 hour). When that expires, they will have the option of buying directly from LDW.

The advantages are

• 1: WE get the game several days (if not weeks) before the general public.
• 
  2: If glitches are found, you will be able to upgrade to the corrected version for free.
• 3: If you need customer support, you get to deal directly with Xay instead of some unknown face at a mega gamesite!

As for how you will know, usually your first clue will be an error message that the server is busy (too many people online) and you'll try over and over till you sneak into an open spot!
When you do get in, you'll see admins and mods scrambling around madly, pulling their hair out, and trying to ride herd on the thousands of fans trying to ask questions at the same time!

Just kidding (almost) In reality, it will appear on the previews page when you log in, and also it's posted on the left side of the forum (where they currently are showing VF for the iPhone)

You mean if you buy it on other sites you have to pay to upgrade to version without glitches?

Thank you, skipper. I went and signed up for the newsletter.

One way to know when it comes out when you come to the ldw.com site you will see the banner for VV4.

I know Big Fish will update games. Not sure of other sites. I figure you would get the updated version here faster though.

~Jamie

You don't have to pay for bug fixes to games when you buy through other sites. But other sites usually get the game later, and they don't always update if there are bug fixes (at least minor ones). I've been through this several times with different games (not LDW games), and if you want to be guaranteed that you'll always have any updates as soon as they're available, you should buy directly from the developer.

Rockmower -- I'm doing all those smiley actions & more from excitement waiting... along with everyone else. LOL
My husband will be calling the White Coats, soon... if it's not released sooner! ROFLMBO

I know we're all getting on y'alls nerves posting & we know it will be released when it's released.
Consider it your cheering section!

Rockmower, I love your description of how things are going to go right after the release...and I'm pretty sure you're only joking a little bit!

I guess what I meant by my original questions was: How can I be one of the first to know that it's out? I think I found the fastest way! LDW Store has ALL of the LDW games and there is a heading for VV4. It also shows all of the previous games (in case you missed any!) and even has web games, which I never even knew about!!

I bookmarked it and that will be the FIRST place I go...next the forum list to check out what else is going on,...then this forum. All of this BEFORE I check my email!

If I remember correctly, when VF came out, it was released late at night (for me, at least) and I downloaded the trial and played the hour immediately. The notification email didn't come until the next day!

yeah it came out at midnight at least my time and the email didnt come till like 9pm that night.

Very true Rockmower! And the chat box is filled with, "Oh my gosh VV4 is out!!!!"
Yes, and I remember VF coming out later at night- I didn't know about it till the next day.
But, I have one question. How long after VV4 is released will it be till it is an BigFishGames, WildGames, etc., will it be the usual month, or will it be longer?

It's usually 2-4 weeks. It depends on how many more bugs we find when the game comes out. VF was 2 weeks, VV3 was 4 weeks, but VV3 if I'm not mistaken had more bugs to patch

Like Havoria said, the time before the game portals get it can vary greatly. A lot of people buy the games from those sites, because they have paid memberships that will let them get them for reduced prices.

One thing is sure however. If you buy it from LDW during the soft launch, you will have it several days, and usually several weeks, before it is available on those other sites.

Plus, you know, what better place to get tech support than from the people who make the games? (If something went wrong with your game after buying it at another site, you may have to go through the tech support channels on that site, and who knows how long that could take! )

Yah, VF did some out at night, around 10PM Pacific Time and right when Arthur released it he announced it on the Shout Box, and luckily i was still up .
But a few days earlier Arthur did give us a date and said it would be released at midnight, so im guessing he will do the same this time around.

Wow!! Midnight is great for me!! I'm like 17 hours behind PST so I'd be getting the game just after 5 pm my time. It'll give me HOURS to play before I have to go to bed!!!

Umm...

Aren't you more like 17 hours ahead?

I was trying to work out the time for us in uk GMT I think we are about 5 hours ahead bother that makes it about 3am

aww im in the uk hopefully itll be out when im on holiday then i can stay up late and get it when it comes out!

Pacific time is 7 hours behind us in the UK (on GMT). That makes it 7 AM when it'll be released for us if it is released at midnight Pacific time. (If the servers aren't immediately overloaded and we can get in, of course.)

Thanks for that it would be good if it was released then as at the moment i'm not working but recouperating so I get to play VV4 if it cimes soon. Mind you my boss will be ok as I am the boss I have my own business.

Yep, ahead, not behind.

I'm thinking it would be nice to get some kind of count down timer :D:D:D

Ooo - a countdown would be awesome! So if it is released on the 22nd will that be like midnight UK time on the 22nd do you think?? If so here in the states that time is getting SO close!! I will be up all night just in case they are able to stick to the tentative release...and if not I will wait patiently because I know it's going to be worth it. Thanks LDW we love you guys :-)

I think if its released at midnight it would be 5am uk time? Is that right

Oh it means tomorrow bye to my family, its now take out dinners & in a minute YEEEE HA !!!!

oh hubby may be wrong sorry 7am i really should check it myself grrr

well, definitely not midnight uk time

Whatever you do, do NOT look through your screens at the bags under my eyes from lack of sleep. roflmbo
Kidding -- slept for a while & sleep deprived comes from hubby being a little sick. Men just don't do well running fevers. LOL
Gotta love my baby, though.
He is, however, ready for me to quit bouncing off the walls.
hehehehe

Good point. If the release doesn't appear until late in the evening or at night it might be best not to start playing the game until you're fresh the next morning. Lack of sleep is likely to affect your puzzle-solving abilities!

I'm soo exited, it's going to be TODAY ...
Changed my timesettings to keep track at UK time ...
in Holland it is now 22 februari 13:56 uur, oh wait then midnight in UK comes later too?? what the heck, got my coffeepot on the side ...