So, at 08:00 (BST - The one true time, as you will all agree) on the 3rd of September, it begins.

I am proposing for members of our glorious group to join the group chat to discuss the game after release. Of course, this is all lovely, but what if the release is not what we expected and people have issues?

Well do not fear!

The group chat, if populated of course, will be a good place to question eachother on potential fixes and share your sources of important information relating to this.

Naturally, I myself cannot be there at 8 AM for the release, as like many of you I have commitments. For example I need to get a McDonalds hashbrown before college in order to survive the day :D. So because of this, all I ask is for members to join when and if they can. No pressure!

Thanks, and glory to the future Suebi Empire

For me, Steam's store page :D

Unsure on the length of time this has been true, but PRELOAD IS AVAILABLE. I'm fully downloaded, and prepped for day one patching. I hope you fellow preorderers are too.

Much activity from CA recently, they even made a TV advert

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfALCRL1K30

Not bad as far as TV adverts for video games go.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWgis-j5BZk

Actor Mark Strong (Sherlock Holmes, Kickass, Robin Hood, etc.) will be playing the voice of Silanus in the new addition to the Total War series...

Here's the PC Gamer article - http://www.pcgamer.com/2013/06/28/total-war-rome-2-system-requirements-released-alongside-big-picture-full-of-elephants/?utm_source=fb&utm_medium=emp

Very similar specs to Shogun 2. The laptop will survive for another year :D

In the early stages of Empire there was an opportunity to sign up for a Multiplayer Campaign Beta. This opportunity has returned, and is available for application.

Here be the relevant Facebook post - https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=462289337179605&set=a.125554144186461.25910.113800552028487&type=1&theater

And the link the photo points you to - http://www.totalwar.com/en_us/empire-multiplayer/

Apply to your heart's content.