The "Launcher" Is Located In A Very Odd And Confusing Place

[Hoja Lateralus]

But I use that time to play civ5...

I've already given my 2 cents on Release Notes:

- nay for launcher, I believe you've had some reasons for it but it just makes me wait another few seconds to get into the game. If you really 'have' to have it I'd recommend make it more like EU IV launcher, just a small window on the desktop:

[Keyvias]

Hey Guys,

We just made a start screen (Aka not-launcher launcher aka starscream (as it's known in the office))
It's in the dev app right now and I'd love your feedback.

Thanks!

[DerWaechter]

Way better than before.
Still not a launcher tho, but one can live with it. It's decent now.
One suggestion tho...perhaps add a quit button to it as well, so you can just leave, if the servers are down for example.

[DrTentacles]

I'd like the news feed to be bigger, and have sections for more community events, but it's an improvement. Contests, screenshots, that sort of stuff. Things that make people feel involved. Add a section for the Iron Fork, Dev Matches, and SCS, along with advertisement for fireside chats.

[-Anakin-]

It's much better.

Agree about an exit button from derwaechter and potential community stuff from tentacles.

I still don't love the extra time and steps in between launching through steam and getting in game but I think it's worth it for the community event exposure.

Also, nitpicking, the pixelation on the background image bugs me.

[Keyvias]

I let the team know, adding an exit button will be a priority before we release this updated version. We can add more community events and stuff on there that part is changeable without a patch.

[Richard LeMoon]

I got trapped in the start screen just now, since the server is down. 

Add in an ESC option as well as an exit button.

Will email.

[-Anakin-]

New start screen is neat and much improved.