GalCiv 2 = AP owners only?

well, I'm getting the deluxe edition, but I do think that stardock is kind of stingy. Many small companies seems to be like that.

From a previous thread:

#15 by Avatar Frogboy - 10/30/2004 9:56:00 PM

Eventually the site will be available to the public. But we wanted to thank those people who bought Altarian Prophecy in particular.

Be patient. GC2 isn't even beta yet.

It's pretty cool that Stardock wants to say "thanks" to people who bought AP. But, IMHO, this is a lousy way of doing it.

Sure, I understand the games's not even in beta. And, no, my life does not revolve around a computer game. The fact that I don't have access to the GalCiv2 site, while admittedly annoying, is not important in the grand scheme of things.

All I'm saying is that, emotionally, I'm personally torqued by this particular decision. Intellectually, I feel this is a poor decision by Stardock from a marketing standpoint (kind of a "anti-hype").

I don't have any facts to back this up, and I may be wrong, but I assume that the owners of GalCiv outnumber those who have GalCiv and the AP expansion. To me, it seems like a poor marketing tactic to intentionally alienate a large portion of your market base, people who previously bought your products, and most likely would do it again.

I have to agree with Xoxo , I just got the game and love it very much , and looking forward to purchse the AP but why limit the Galciv2 site to only AP owner currently ( I know it will open to public soon ..but I want to read all the current post now ) ?

Does it mean that purchasing the GC alone is not supportive enough ?

And providing you guys 2 years of free updates wasn't supportive enough?

Is it really that shocking that we might want to especially thank the players who bought the expansion pack with a sneak peek of GalCiv 2?

While we don't expect most users to take this into consideration, but our publisher hasn't paid a large percentage of the royalties we're owed. If it weren't for people who bought TotalGaming.net and Altarian Prophecy there wouldn't be a GalCiv 2 at all.  So yes, we think they should be especially thanked.

When the site is ready, it'll be available for everyone.

But let's remember, we're the ones who provided two years of free updates to the game. And we made no distinction between those who bought it directly from us and those who bought it from the stores (where we weren't paid).

So I think we've been pretty supportive of players. 

I agree with Brad.
Considering the point about the payment, its clear that Stardock wants to thank those who kept them over water (Even if i may say it a bit to strong), its clear that they want to thank those who support them
Yes, I benifit of this thank.
Well, I'm so much of a fan that I bought TG (Drengin.net at that time) before there was the first rumor about GC2 asides to the idea that ir may eventually be made.

about frogboy, 2 years of updates? so If a patch for galciv comes out 2 years after I bought the game then I can no longer download it?

and If I join totalgaming now will I get galciv2? or when exactly will it come out?
[Message Edited]

ds - what I am saying is that Galactic Civilizations was released about 2 years ago and yet here we are, still doing updates for it. 

Presently, TotalGaming.net will give you all the games we already have plus all the games we make for an entire year.  Will Galactic Civilizations II be out in release form 1 year from now, I don't know.  TotalGaming.net will certainly get you the beta since that's only a few months away. But not necessarily the final game.

At some point we'll be migrating TotalGaming.net to a token system where purchasing a TotalGaming.net account will give you X tokens with each game on their costing Y amounts of tokens. This way we can get more games on there for users to choose from and players who ONLY want strategy games can just save their tokens for that rather than mess with the yearly renewal thing.

>

It is not shockking but we the GC owner are your customer as well ...we love GC so much and are eager to know first hand on anything about GC2

Anyway I will be getting the AP today , it just that the whole things does not seem right ..

Lastly , thank you for producing such a wonderful game !!

Cheers




[Message Edited]

Frogboy's defensive reply is discouraging, to say the least.

Sure, the updates were appreciated. But other companies do it as well. Stardock isn't unique.

(shrug) It's not my company, and it's not my say on how you guys run it. I'm simply stating that it seems to be a poor marketing decision, bound to alienate your already established customer base... the very same people who would be purchasing GalCiv2. It would result in a net loss (more people upset then gratified).

Again, do what you want. It's not my place to tell you how to run your company. As for me, I've been totally soured by the experience, and will not be purchasing AP or GalCiv2. I realize you probably couldn't care less (heck, you're probably saying "good riddance!"), so take it as you will.

Some people seem to go out of their way to take offense.

If Ford offered some extra thingie to buyers of a new Mustang would you expect to get it if you bought a new Escort and would you find it as upsetting if you didn't ?

Just a thought.

Elrikk

~SDC~

Xoxotl, mabe you just can't take the stingyness of the small companies. Galactic civilizations isn't the only good tbs out there so you can try something else like alien crossfire or space emipres 5 that's coming out before galciv2. I ordered the deluxe edition from ebgames because that the download costs here are too ridiculous. It's like if the games are new. But I think that I'm ok with stardock so far and yes, it's a bit too stingy.

hi all as a newish player og GC i wonder that no one has asked "Who is this publisher", and what scumbags they must be to retain owed money from a developer.

Am patiently awaiting the public release of the GC2 web site... hope its not to fat off



~SDC~

Xoxotl,
Do you not think it right that those who have already paid to beta Galciv2 should be the first to see it? I assume you must agree with this, but please correct me if I'm wrong.
I assume therefore that you are not happy with either
(a) that some of your colleagues get to see the new website before others.
(b) that Stardock gave the impression of not caring about Galciv customers treating them like anyone who hadn't even bought the game.

If (a) then I think you're being a little unfair. Surely as these people have paid more money and supported Stardock more they should receive some benefits? We're only taking about seeing a website a few weeks earlier, and still a year before release.
If (b) then perhaps you should suggest some things Stardock could do to change this impression. Remember that it's he feedback from communitites that helps make companies great and telling them you're insulted without suggesting how they can do better in future is no great use.

Some suggestions (assuming you're upset over

- Perhaps if they gave access to the Galciv2 website to GC owners before non GC owners would help GC owners also feel appreciated (if still slightly less than TGN or AP owners)
- Perhaps if they didn't allow GC2 posts on these forums GC users would fell less left out.
- Perhaps if they made a big fuss over when GC users get access it would help.


Either way, please provide some feedback on what you are really upset about and how Stardock could improve that or handle such things better in future.

Paul.


~SDC~

Xoxotl: I really do not understand your "points" at all. The GalCiv2 site is open now to those who have purchased AP or Total Gaming. The site will be open to all later. Is it not right that those who have supported Stardock have a first look? This is done by many companies.

Also, the points about the patches. Someone said something akin to "all companies do this". Not true at all. Look at Atari...ask a MOO3 owner. Also, GalCiv was not merely patched but was enhanced with a free expansion pack. Stardock is the most responsive, helpful, courteous, professional software company I have dealt with. I have been amazed by the quality of the product and the support they provide (especially having been ripped off by Atari/Quicksilver).

dsjdj: How is Stardock stingy? They are rewarding their most loyal of fans with a preview of a site that will be open to all shortly. Were they stingy when they provided a FREE expansion pack to the original game (expanded universe patch)?

Buy/don't buy...your choice. As for me, I already bought it.

As for this:


Kind of sad...like a petulant child almost. Your call, but I would say you are missing out on a great expansion and GalCiv2 looks amazing!
[Message Edited]

Very well said Terl.

I would like to have a look at the GalCiv 2 pages as well. But I accept the decision of Stardock. It helps to calm the noise on the boards. You can't discuss a new development with hundreds of "experts". It makes sense to reduce it to the most active fans. And it is fine to give them a benefit.

I would like to buy AP but I have two very limited resources. That's time and money

But at long sight I will renew my investment in GC. That's for sure because for my style of game play it's the best game ever

But unfortunately it looks like I would have to buy a new PC beforehand

Are there any news about the planned requirements?

Not as bad as you'd think. Here's a snippet for you from the other site..



Though new computers never hurt... LOL

Terl, stardock makes you enter into your account before you can download any patches because of fear of piracy. This is a bit too strict. I can download the morrowind patches off of Bethesda Softworks or almost any company without having to prove to them that I have the copyrighted game.

Solitair... unfortunately, I'm a little pressed for time right now, and can't really reply properly. But, you're correct in the assumption that it's "scenario B".

Terl:


I was wondering how long it would take for somebody to insult me.

In this day and time a perfectly fine request, IMHO. I have been to other sites of other game companies that do the same. I have no problem with it. They are merely protecting their work.



I apologize if I've hurt your feelings. You are ranting about the developer's policy for making new game information available to all when it is clearly within his purview to do as he sees fit. As a reward to those that "went that extra bit" and purchased more from the company, he opened the doors early to the site. All will be given access later. Not everyone gets to see beta's of new games...some companies have different policies with applications and such... Brad chose to reward loyal players and he seemed to say that those who purchased the expansion or totalgaming.net were worthy. His house his rules. You even said something similar in one of your posts above.

This is why I took issue with your comments. Bottom line is it is his company, his game, his rules. And rather than patience you chose to attack his decisions. Hence my comment...

I hope I have clarified my position. I did not mean to cause offense and for that I apologize. I would but ask you to consider Brad's point of view in this and respect it. GalCiv2 will be open to all when he is ready.
[Message Edited]

terl, a little overprotecting.

and dosen't matter about me now, I already ordered the deluxe edition and it's on the way to me.

Hardly. Stardock is an amazing software company and I will support them.



And, even though you bought it from retail where Stardock actually gets little if any profit (they get it all if you buy from them directly), Stardock will support you as well as they do all their customers. I would hardly use the word "stingy" toward them as you did in an earlier post.

Enjoy the game and expansion. They are amzingly fun to play.