The future for Stardock??

What next?

from GalCiv2 Forums

Ho-kay, I haven't read all the way through the forums, and still haven't played the game, so I don't know if this has been exhaustively addressed already, but here goes...

I found this after it was linked (as a software marketing/anti-copy protection story) by both /. and Techdirt. Wonderful to see somebody actually taking steps towards the 'alternative distribution models' that are all the rage in STORIES about copy protection but damn rare in reality. The fear was always that gaming software was by now solely the province of large corporate-mentality publishers...mad props to Stardock for showing the way!!

Mega-mad props to Stardock for making money on it!!

Ultra-hyper-super-absolutely-psychotic props to Stardock IF they can continue on with the distribution model. You guys could do a LOT of good for a lot of people....but continue on with what?? What other products can we expect to see from a flush-with-cash-and-success Stardock?? I can see what you guys are good at, but you're in position to be a larger, more productive company. Seriously.

What I would LIKE to see is Stardock try their hand (even if it was substantially different hands doing the coding, art, etc) at other genres. Dunno how bad we need another FPS, or Galactic SIMilization, but sports game sims for the PC are in dire straits, the domination of EA being a practical death knell (they should just print "We really resent having to produce a PC version AT ALL, but here's a half-functional, bloated piece of shit. If you MUST play on a PC." on the boxes.) for the genre.

And EA Sports is a perfect example of the corporate decisionmaking that brings us overpriced, glitchy crap produced by abused wage-slaves and copy-protected by malware. Bleh. I used to like sports sims, and while that may be the least likely genre to be undertaken by Stardock, SOMEBODY has to challenge EA.

So, given that Stardock is very successful with GCII, what next? I tried to figure it out, but the logic wouldn't parse:

Step One: Make game!
Step Two: PROFIT!!
Step Three: ...gather underpants?
*Edit* Though maybe that would work...you could call it UNDERPANTS: The Gathering...some kind of hentai/manga thing....hmmm...
16,085 views 18 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Well, if you'd gone to the homepage of this very site, you might have, perchance, encountered this:

https://forums.galciv2.com/?ForumID=161&AID=107171
Reply #2 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
well, after some more free updates they will focus on the GC2 expansion (hopefully with multiplayer support ).

then after that they need to do Master of Magic 2 imo
Multiplicity - Control multiple PCs using one keyboard and mouse
Reply #3 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I'd love to see a Blood Bowl type game that's actually decent actually. Chaos League (starforce aside...) just didn't quite cut it as it was realtime. Yeah I know there are some oldies out there, but they don't cut it for me either.

MoM2 was discussed by SD back during GC1, never heard about what happened to that project, though it migh have morphed into this MMOG nonsense (kidding) they are doing...
Reply #4 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Society and Political Machine 2008 I believe are the next big game projects mentioned. Keep in mind that the majority of Stardock (so far) is in non-game software.

Also note that they have used this non DRM distribution model for years include the original Gal Civ a few years ago.
Reply #5 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
EA does the sports sims, because only they could afford the insane licensing fee for it. I agree that were fortunate small companies like Stardock make games, and keep the "indie game" spirit. I bet Brad and the other programmers get big-time incredible employment offers all the time.
Reply #6 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
What I'd best love to see from Stardock is a good roleplaying game ala Baldur's Gate or Planescape Torment with immersive storyline and top-notch writting. Admittedly I'm not sure how well Stardock could handle making an RPG, as the writting in GalCivII seems to be on the weak side usually... But I'm sure these guys could pull off a good RPG in the end.
Reply #7 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

At this point, Stardock's only limited by # of personnel.

Because of how well the application business was, the company was doing very well before the game came out.

So we just need more developers, artists, support people, etc.

Reply #8 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
So I can expect to see a job advertisement soon?

Reply #9 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Cool (and thanx for the link, I really did just find the site).

I imagine sports sims are unlikely, that's just a sore point with me. But I do like the idea of of Stardock taking their obvious virtues, skills and marketing model, and developing an RPG. Maybe even a JUST PLAIN RPG, not a MMORPG. I realize that's heresy, but some people don't like the ongoing payments, and some of us are quite content to single-play 'against the programmers' as it were, not [insert 16-hour-a-day uber-gamer stereotype here].

I may be overestimating the effect of a 'hit' game on the company's budget and plans, though...
Reply #10 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

I'd love to see a Blood Bowl type game that's actually decent actually. Chaos League (starforce aside...) just didn't quite cut it as it was realtime. Yeah I know there are some oldies out there, but they don't cut it for me either.




YES PLEASE! I was so insanely disappointed to find out Chaos League was real-time, and their version of "turn based" was just plain stupid.
Reply #11 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
There already are som job advertisements around. Contact Stardock when you are interested. You need to settle in Michigan though.
Reply #12 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Hm. I live about 30 minutes away from Stardock with am Honors Bachelors degree in Computer Science Software Engineering. Not sure if games are my thing though.

-Brian
Reply #13 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Slightly off-topic, but I have to ask...why the relocation? With broadband, CVS/SVN, teleconferencing, etc. why do tech companies still insist on forcing everybody to be in the same town, all the time? It would be ideal for telecommuting, and is much cheaper for the company (even if the company pays for the broadband). Particularly if/when the telecommuting employee is willing to go to the company for the occasional needed meeting.

I'll cut off my rant now...
Reply #14 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
At this point, Stardock's only limited by # of personnel. Because of how well the application business was, the company was doing very well before the game came out. So we just need more developers, artists, support people, etc -Frogboy



I just sent you an email Frogboy!
Reply #15 from GalCiv2 Forums Top

Erryn - because there is still no substitution for being in person for communication.

Stardock has lots of developers that work remotely but not on games. And not when they're working as part of a development team.

Reply #16 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I'd love to work @ stardock if I didn't suck at developing
Reply #17 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
@Frogboy- I just noticed typo in the email I sent you.

What can I say, my mind moves a lot faster them my fingers (often) sorry. I should have proof read before I sent it.

I'm sure you know how those 3:00AM last minute do it now or forget it type of emails go.
Reply #18 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Erryn - because there is still no substitution for being in person for communication.

Stardock has lots of developers that work remotely but not on games. And not when they're working as part of a development team.


Maybe I've had unusually good experiences with our projects (where I'm on site, but other developers are off-site). It's almost always gone well, and we've always made it a point to "get together" occasionally for face-to-face time. Then again, I've not worked on a project like GalCiv2, which could be a completely different beast to create and manage. Heh...my one "installable" game was a solo project, and our current work is browser-based. Different animals, I suppose.