I see 2 options really.
1) Set up now if people that aren't using a VPN don't mind being a bit behind on Friday.
2) Set up a smaller region for us who have VPN'd until Friday when the main AVF region is set up as per this thread, just so we can practise/mess about.
Updated thread for new additions
1) I'm all for you starting a pre-UK-release AVF Region - Why by all means, you guys can just keep going, and if there's space, you can just invite us/whoever else in! It won't really interfere with our games, as we will set up with whatever the we/region want/needs; Power, water, universities, drilling/mining, technology.
2) Unless you just want to start a small region, with the limited number of you involved. Which you can also play around with, just to get a few days 'hands-on' with the game. Then start from fresh with the AVF lads?
As I see it, I'll be heading offshore on release day. So I will be back around 15-17th of March.
But.. I will hopefully get the GAME UK version through the door early on Friday - If not I'll get the Mrs to take a photo of the code(s) and email me it.
I'll will maybe be lucky enough to get a hold of the game on my laptop, depending on whether I get a decent Internet connection to download 12GB. I'm not sure when my flights are on Friday, but if it's a bit later in the day, I will be able to download at home and/or the airport and/or using Three
I won't have a lot of downtime on this upcoming job, but there will be some, as the job just doesn't rely on my company. So there will be hours here and there where I'm not needed and can sit back and relax.. Hopefully with SimCity!
EDIT:
Personally I'm up for making the AVF Region today, like people say getting things rolling won't hurt. Anybody got a preference on which region?
Our choices are these 3:
Discovery Delta
Titan Gorge
Viridian Woods
I have a feeling people are going to end up squabbling over this so it might be easier to draw one out of a hat
My favourites are probably Discovery Delta followed by Viridian Woods. I think they are all fairly balanced.
What you have to remember is that more water = less land!
It might sound stupid, but you're very limited with space this time around. It's not like SC4 where the land sprawled for miles, and you could easily have two cities in one zone. Or stick a river down the middle and you still have enough room for two fully living, breathing cities.
I think that this iteration of SimCity is going to be less focussed on 'efficiency' and 'tuning', and more focused towards building a pretty city -
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/03/simcity-impressions-we-waited-ten-years-for-this/
Have a read of the ArsTechnica review. I think they're a bit too harsh, and one of the reviewers seems completely opposed to the game. But they do complain that space is lacking, first and foremost.