I only have two problems with this sentiment.

1. I have yet (playing in 1.0, 1.01, 1.05, 1.06, and 1.07) to finish a game without the game crashing.  Crash bugs are more rare now, but every session has ended by crashing to my desktop.

2. Version 1.1 is supposed to change every single game mechanic, making for a whole new game...  unless I'm reading too much into Mr. Wardell's statements the past few days.  If the tech tree, magic system, and map generation are all changing, how much of the game we've been 'playing' is really left?

I'm still of the opinion that this engine will require a re-name if you want it to last more then three years, lol. Seriously, for the marketing genius who named that and come up with something better.

I really don't want to come across as a Stardock fanboy, but after reading all of Stardock-CEO "Frogboy" 's posts, on this thread, I find his feedback efforts very awesome.

I only picked up the game last Wednesday but I am having a great time 9 hours strait in the first play session.  I still get the odd crash to deak top but I have had worse in other games.  Keep the patches and tweeks coming, this will be a classic in no time.

I agree, rough around the edges but hey, Im having the best gaming ive had in maybe 3-5 years. I am very addicted everytime I play Elemental and when a sandbox game ends I just start up another one on another one of my maps ive made (:

Love it! Sure I wish the AI would be better but man im having a blast with this game and thats all that matters to me is that I have fun.

This has absolutely no relevance to me sorry - though I hope you enjoy Civ V.

Not giving up - silly me.

I haven't finished a game, period.  Once I get up to 300-500 turns, 'next-turn' ends up taking like 30-60 seconds.  I have a decently strong rig too (955BE @ 3.8, 4g 1600 ram, ATI 5870).  Factor in a crash every now and then, and there's no way I'm going to stick out a saved game till the end.  Also factor in new patches making me want to start over.

Right now i'm on about turn 400 of a game i started during 1.06.   

I focus more on min/maxing everything i can each turn, rather than trying to win off the bat.  If I went for victory first, I'm sure games would end quick, but there's no challenge in it.  I guess there's really no challenge in having a ridiculously overpowered kingdom around 300/400, but at least I get to see more of the game this way.

I can't wait for three things:

a- much improved performance (i've got a beastly graphics card, Elemental, USE IT!)

b- much more depth/diffuclty in the AI

c- balanced combat with many more spells (and mana regen)

Ya polish and " out of Memory" free. So no more memory leaks please.

On most other forums this thread would of been frowned upon and closed. However on the Stardock forum we get the top man Mr. Frogboy anwser our questions with honesty and integrity, keeping us updated every step of the way. Ive never experienced such good customer service from game developers, this is my first game with Stardock and although its been well documented it was a rocky start, I think the customer service was brilliant, you now have one more loyal customer. The devs are obviously working so hard to improve this game for us, evident by the quick patch turn arounds. I truly appreciate all the good customer service and hard work, so thank you from a staisfied customer.

Version 1.08 has mostly been bug fixes and work on getting MP ready to launch. I did some balancing and AI tweaks but most of the gameplay updates won't happen until v1.1.

v1.09, which comes out later this month, will be almost purely about performance, compatibility, and fixing bugs

Now, v1.1 won't be some completely new game. It'll have a re-done UI in parts and the magic system is changed.

Beyond v1.1, the first free expansion pack will have a new combat system, new tactical battle system, book 2, and a host of other things but that won't happen until Thanksigiving time frame.

The second expansion pack, next year, is also planned to be free for users who own the game before v1.1 is released (first expansion free for all, second free to those who were with us from before v1.1).

The only reason I think people are comparing this to Civ V is that they are basically in the same genre--tbs strategy games.  Likely, those who like this game will like Civ V also.  Personally, I'm pretty excited that I'll have two new games to sustain me for a while, both Civ V and this game.   Very rare that it will happen, since (good) tbs strategy games are pretty rare.  Of course, I still get in a good GC2 game on occasion too.  I'm one of those people who will play a game for a long time though (heck I still play Civ IV too).  I know many people who are done with a new game after a couple of weeks.

Really looking forward to the patches for this game and AI updates that I know will be coming.

I thought it was Christmas when I saw that both Elemental and Civ V were coming out around roughly the same time.  I had been looking forward to both for a long time.