Update [20/02/08]: If you would like even more free wargear and extras (Chapter Command Wargear Set) from THQ, all you need to do is register your game on MyTHQ and you will get some free bonus content which can be added to your LIVE profile the same way as described below. You may need to be quick as the UK site does say for the first 100,000 people to register their copy. Note: This is not the free (Artificer Wargear) set that THQ were giving away if you pre-ordered from them directly.
Update [23/02/08]: Relic put a post up on the forums after my blog post with pretty much the same information: http://community.dawnofwar2.com/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=11232
Ok, so this isn’t development related but since someone *cough*THQ*cough* forgot to inform some of the customers who pre-ordered Dawn of War 2 how to use their pre-order code, I felt I should post the missing information. Dawn of War 2 was released today but if you are in the UK and you pre-ordered from Amazon, Game, HMV or direct from THQ, you got a pre-order code which depending on where you ordered from, unlocked different things for the game. I believe other countries have similar things using the same pre-order code system.
I should point out that I got the game from Amazon.co.uk so I do not know if Game, HMV or THQ actually tell you what to do with it, but all I got from Amazon was:
Dear Amazon.co.uk Customer,
Thank you for pre-ordering Dawn of War II from Amazon. We’ve teamed up with THQ to offer you a free Sternguard Wargear set giving you a host of in-game items. Please find your code enclosed.
This was followed by the code details. Right, so first things first, the game uses steam as it’s deployment platform, lets start there. I checked the Steam client for any options around DoW 2 to add a coupon or something similar, I found zip.
Ok, maybe you need to enter it in game, perhaps through the Games for Windows Live interface as that is the multiplayer platform. I hopped in and started looking, played with the GfWL interface, looked around still no option to redeem this code.
I decided to google for it and I found a couple of people having various problems getting the code recognised but not saying where they were trying to enter it. Then I found references to a Games For Windows Live Marketplace client, ah-ha! The missing piece became clear, Microsoft have released a desktop client for Games For Windows Live (I was wondering how long this would take), once I installed it (you can find it here by the way if it isn’t already installed) everything became clear.
1) Load up the GfWL client and click marketplace in the top left
2) Click on Redeem Code on the left of the sceen
3) Enter the pre-order code into the boxes
4) Click redeem code and confirm the wargear set
5) Be happy that it all works and click on the My Media tab to see the download progress.
I hope this has helped, would be fine if Amazon gave clearer instructions on what to do with the code.
Hey read the help you did yeah I been using your guide and yeah my code just doesn’t work say “It either expired or not avaliable in your area” I got the game the game on launch day so It can’t be expired and it’s the official Australian copy…I took it back to the store and they won’t anything to do with it just gave me another wargear code to try and it still wont work….Well guess THX screwed up big time on this one….what’s the go you can’t load it into your HD Soulstorm you could…
You Sir are my Savour tonight !!!
woop woop
the only thing i dont like about this game is that you have to have so much stuff.
The game, steam ,windows live, this… = so many more things that can go wrong.
@UberSol:
Sorry that I could not be of more help and that your code doesn’t work, that is a bit sucky. I have found THQ to be a good and reliable publisher unlike EA who do nothing but drive me up the wall with their archaic deployment ideals (3 installations of Spore, 5 for RA 3 anyone?) but I guess not everyone will have a positive experience.
@DanG:
Yeah, it is a bit excessive although I remember buying Half Life 2 when it came out because I didn’t trust the idea of digital download, I wanted a physical copy. I didn’t like Steam at the time and it was a massive bugbear for me that I needed it to play a game.
However, more games are using Games for Windows Live now and I do like it, the achievements, the communication with my friends on Xbox LIVE, it is a nice extension of the LIVE network and to Microsoft’s credit, they did make it free for PC users. Once one game installs the client, all of them that use it have access and I suppose the same can be said with steam.
I can see the what you mean though, if you don’t normally like/use the software then yes you are forced into it.
So I must be retarded because I cannot find my gfWL client at all. I have DoWII, even downloaded the seperate install for gfwl. I’ve tried logging it onto the xbox live site and it says it is either expired or not for my area.
HELP
@Collin
The client should show up in the Windows Start Menu under “Microsoft Games for Windows – Live” (Rather verbose if you ask me), failing that have a look inside “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games for Windows – LIVE\Client”, you should find GFWLClient.exe.
If that doesn’t work I would contact THQ support or try the DoW 2 forums at http://community.dawnofwar2.com
Thank you!
I ordered mine from HMV and there just isn’t a code anywhere in the box.
I have gone and gotten THQ’s free code for now, but i’ll need to phone up HMV and have a bitch at them some time soon.
OK, got all bonus codes entered and accepted. started the game and no bonus items! now what?
@Wanderer
Did you by any chance start a game before you entered the codes? You can only get access to the new items when you create a new campaign game.
@Alix
I believe HMV have inlay cards that were given out with the pre-ordered (and in some lucky cases post-release) copies. If you pre-ordered but didn’t get one, taking it up with them is the best bet.
OK. Figured out that they don’t just appear at the start but have to do missions to find them and gain levels to use them. thanks all.
Seriously – THANK YOU for the guide on how to redeem the fucking codes.
This shit was driving me nuts!
I have tried what you have very helpfully stated but every time it comes up with “Error. Please try again later.” I have tried this for about 4 or 5 days now at various times in the day (and night) but still no luck.
Is the system down or something??
Hey, I try to subscribe to your rss feed but it’s not working! Anyway, nice post
Hmm, the feed appears to be working for me, try using
http://www.andy-gibson.co.uk/index.php/feed/