haven't seen this posted yet, and searched for it but couldn't find it. Is there any way to pre-download the game from steam if you are getting a hard copy from lets say, Amazon?

Thanks in advance, and sorry if this has been posted already.

What in my grandmother's chicken am i looking at.
The CD has the game in it, for crying out loud!

Dont know if srs o.O

Why would you download the game, when you have all the data on the retail disc? all you need to do is activate it upon release o.O

While I'm not really sure if I can do this, I'm pre-downloading Skyrim on my friend's PC who is getting it from Gamestop, because I pre-ordered from Steam.

If you somehow got the game box early, then you could probably register the serial code on Steam and pre-download the game.

That is, when the pre-download is available. Do not try to register any serial code before the pre-download is available!

The only way to pre-load from steam if you are getting a hard copy is to already have the CD key.

No, and I don't see why you'd want to if the game's on the disc.

Installing takes a few minutes extra minutes, plus however long it takes for steam to wake up and verify that it is installed. AND after that the day 1 patch will need to be downloaded too.

Its just easier to run the pre-load anyway, its not like we have anything else to do.

You SHOULD be able to force the pre-load if you can get the steam App ID.

I was afraid I would need the box/cd/cdkey, or whatever is needed. I didn't think about it before I ordered the game... Now it is too late to do anything about it really, because I know for a fact I can't go to the midnight release due to classes in the morning. Well, thanks everyone. I was kinda hoping maybe we would receive the information for the pre-download before 11/11/11 from amazon or something similar, or perhaps receive the game before 11/11/11 because it really doesn't matter if we have the game, if we can't register it with steam.