For those of you that have pre-loaded this game off Steam, it has apparently already been unlocked, instead of their normal 9-10am time period. 
 
Enjoy.

This game will unlock in approximately 2 days and 12 hours
 
Damn you America!

I just played it on PC even though its not released in Aus yet.

Available: 22 October 2010
 
I hate Europe.

...Perhaps I should rephrase my post...

What I am curious about is why people who went into a store and bought a disc copy came home to install only to be greeted by some bullshit "attach this game to your steam account" crap.  If I wanted to play the game through #$^T#$^& steam I would have bought it off steam.  Their logo isn't even on the box anywhere.

" @Karkarov: Same thing with Civ V; it will be OK...you're video game will play soon enough.   "

" @Karkarov: Did you get anally raped by Gabe Newell or something? What's your problem with Steam? "

" @Karkarov: I guess I can understand where you're coming from. I just think you're overreacting a little bit. You can turn the in game notifications off. You can set the default tab to "My Library" so you never have to stare at the store page everytime you load it up. You can spend 5 seconds activating your social networking profile and never see those annoying messages again. It'd take you literally 5 minutes (maximum) to fix alot of your issues with it. And I'm guessing if you have enough time to play New Vegas, you have enough time to spare to quickly alleviate the majority of your problems. "

" @creamypies said:

" @Karkarov: Did you get anally raped by Gabe Newell or something? What's your problem with Steam? "

Oh and Sammo if you hate gamestop so much you may want to stop doing business with steam.  Who do you think I have to download the gamestop exclusives from?  Seems steam doesn't mind supporting them.  In fact in my entire box the only place you will see a steam logo is right beside the gamestop one on the pre order bonus card. "

I understand you not everyone likes Steam, but it should say somewhere on the box if it requires it. It won't have the logo, but it should have some text indicating that you'll have to agree to the Steam license agreement to play the game. Take a look at what it says on the box, and if it says it requires Steam just put it down and find a different game that doesn't use it.

" @sammo21 said:

" @Karkarov: Same thing with Civ V; it will be OK...you're video game will play soon enough.   "

You don't seem to "get it"  I absolutely unequivocally hate steam.  I do not even have it on my pc, I despise all third party bullshit.  Thanks for mentioning Civ 5 though, I haven't opened it yet so guess where it is going?  Right back to gamestop for a full refund.  If I wanted to play it through f'ing steam I would have bought it from f'ing steam. "

" I understand you not everyone likes Steam, but it should say somewhere on the box if it requires it. It won't have the logo, but it should have some text indicating that you'll have to agree to the Steam license agreement to play the game. Take a look at what it says on the box, and if it says it requires Steam just put it down and find a different game that doesn't use it. "

What game DOESN'T work with Steam these days? It's kindof a given, and pointless to complain about. Also Steam is the only reason I play PC games anymore. I've stopped pirating games entirely because downloading them from Steam is literally twice as fast in some cases plus cloud saves which is great for my multiple PCs and OSes, and I never have to fumble around looking for CDs, swapping out 30 of them per install, and concern myself with losing them. Sure I lose a boxed copy, but that's a small price to pay for the maad convenience and ridiculously low prices Steam has with sales.  

Also, why complain about buying a boxed copy that gives you the right to redownload the game without the key or the disc ever again.  OH wait, that would be the definition of irrational whining.  My bad.

  At least I don't have to keep the dvd in the tray to play it right?  "

All the Steam-enabled boxed games I've checked mention Steam somewhere on the box. I haven't looked at the box for New Vegas yet, but surely it must be there. If there's no indication of the Steam requirement, I think they could get sued for that.