Death to Stardock.

from Stardock Forums
>:(

I've NEVER had so much trouble getting something patched.

I've spent an hour in Stardock trying to get my copy of galciv patched. All to no avail.

I DON'T think that asking for a web site with two pieces of information on it (what the most recent patch level is and where to download it) is asking much.

Stardock is just too clumsy. For instance... I installed it and then I expected it to start patching my game. It doesn't. I have to dig through documentation. Then I find a bunch of Stardock pimping their desktop products but nothing on galactic civilizations. I then do tools, register products, and there is drengin.net subscription... I didn't notice that was a drop down box. I filled in my serial number, it took it, I still have no patch. I go back, chat in the irc group for a while, then realize there's a drop down that changes it to galciv. I change it, I enter my serial number, nothing.

I'm all for you guys trying to prevent warez owners from gettnig access to patches. But you've basically set yourselves up to cease selling your product. Why cease selling? because stardock makes it SO HARD TO PATCH that people are going to start complaining that it's impossible to patch. Then, everyone will wait until development slows down and then snag the warez copy.

How about making stardock have under software something like GALACTIC CIVILIZATIONS. Not drengin.net. I know it's one of the races. Ok, great. I know that NOW after finally making the connection in my mind and then clicking on it. The software tab in Stardock at first glance looks worse than a giant spam email with all the other products it's pimping. I didn't give it a second glance because it appears to only be selling desktop mod software from stardock.

You developers have a REAL gem of a game here that has the potential to be revolutionary the same way that STARS! was when it was first written by the 2 Jeffs (and STARS! is the precursor of MOO and this app as well). You have generated an epic scale tale that is told over and over as the game is played. It's so nice to see diplomacy that reminds me of Star Control II. It's been AGES since anyone has been able to recreate the depth of Star Control II.

Don't screw this up with faulty patching software or difficult to use patching software. Sure, me and others will go through the hoops to get this thing patched. But the typical Warcraft III or other clickfest player is not going to know how to go about navigating Stardock's maze of programs to get their software patched. Hence, everyone will just wait for the warez copy. Hell, I OWN a copy of this product and I'm begining to wonder if I can find a patched copy from the warez community.

Again, don't let stardock screw this up. Find a better way to keep this game patched before all those copies flying off the shelves end up in peoples hands that throw their hands up in disgust and then boycott every company involved in this project.

-dennis



~SDC~
1,277 views 30 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
Heh, chill out dude. I know SDCentral has some problems, but they've mainly been fixed now. I don't think a "Death to Stardock" post is going to get you anywhere. This is honestly the most customer oriented software company I've dealt with in a long while. If you'd ASK them or say, look through the forums or look at the documentation, then I think you'd find answers to all your problems. You shouldn't jump to a "stardock sux! I hate them! blah!" post.

By the way, I'm pretty sure MOO came before STARS!.
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Why didn't you just use the file patch in the downloads area? You don't have to use SDCentral if you find that too confusing.

~SDC~
Offworld Trading Company
Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Just dealt with this on IRC. Rattyboy couldn't update because he didn't see the update button. Because he had to click on it for the button to appear. Once it was done, voila. I know this was reported as a UI problem because I reported it a month ago. It needs to be fixed.

Frogboy: You want people to be using SDC rather than that patch, right?
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
I agree the dropdowns and tabs were a little counterintuitive at first, but I figured it out. A buddy of mine got frustrated (although not as belligerent as Ratboy) and downloaded the patch right off the webpage. He had no problems with that. I think it is covered. SDC has proven to be a valuable piece of software, IMHO. Keep up the good work. I'm very impressed so far. This game rocks! :)

~SDC~
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
GR: Any suggestions on how that UI should be?

~SDC~
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
Working on it (although not any more tonight - getting kinda late ;-)). I'll have a nice little list at some point.
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
It's just that initial install that seems to get peole with SDC.

Once you get it going, SDC is so much easier to get updates. And faster too.

~SDC~
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
I'd like it if SDC noticed there was an update available to something I have installed that it asks me if I want to update. "Hey I just noticed there is an updated version of GalCiv available. Would you like me to update it for you? I hear the changes are really great, but if you don't believe me here is a list of changes:
* Drengin will bow before you and call you master!"
[Update | Cancel]

Or something like that. I went a few days without noticing there was an update available as I didn't check the software tab too closely, and its really easy to miss an extra number next to what you have installed. I also think for the people that just got GalCiv that going to the Drengin.Net tab might be confusing if they don't know anything about Stardock and its company structure. Might help to add a seperate tab for those who fill in just the GalCiv key?

Also its been a while since I installed SDC, but it could use a better tutorial. Its not that hard, but more informative texts might help as some people dont seem to understand what SDC is for and just skip most of the registration dialogs giving them some headaches later on.

Just some thoughts.

~SDC~
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
Must be helpful having cable modem service. I've had a grand total of zero problems and glitches with the bonus back, updates, etc. Fast and simple.. no problems. muahahaa.. ;p


fleabitfox
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
"Once you get it going, SDC is so much easier to get updates. And faster too."

I beg to differ. I've had almost no problems setting up or navigating Stardock Central, but my speed has always been atrocious. Also, I don't see how using a 3rd party app is any easier for me than simply going to a webpage in my browser, which I'm guaranteed to already have loaded.

That said, I haven't been clamouring for the demise of SDC because it's *adequate*. As long as the patch files stay small my poor DL speeds don't matter, and loading SDC isn't really enough extra effort to make it worth complaining about.

My *preference* would be that all patches be available via normal download, but I understand that there are concerns beyond that, and unless SDC starts giving me headaches I won't raise a fuss. Well, no more of a fuss than this, at any rate. :)

- Ash

~SDC~
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
I would think most problems with SDC is due to it being a relatively new way of dealing with a game and updates, than have been seen previously.

I for one absolutely love SDC, and have no trouble using it. I also think that people need to relax and try out the multiple options for get in touch with StarDock personel that exist.
Keeping in the horrendous support many other(unamed here for obvious reasons,hehe) games that I've witnessed, I think Galciv owners are privliged people :)

Thanks for listening to my ramblings once more ;)

/Flemming

~SDC~
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
I had no problem with it, but as someone who designed GUI's for a living, yeah, it's a poor system. Stardock Central should really be reserved for Dregin.net users and hard care players. The website and game documentation should have clearly pointed people to the website download area and NOT Stardock Central. Some of the folks buying this game don't know what shareware is and don't even know what a .zip file is, Stardock Central is way over their heads.

Just my 2 cents.
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
Personally, I have found dealing with Stardock and updating GalCiv to be quite seamless. I log on, theres ANOTHER update, I push install, it installs quickly and bam, new version ready to rock. I know how frustrating it can be when something doesn't work for you, but in my case, this software is running just fab.

~SDC~
Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top
I've been getting the minor updates through Stardock Central and the speed doesn't seem too bad at all, taking into account that the Atlanta server is probably having to deal with lots of other customers. I got the 84MB update for 1.01.030 in about fifteen minute through my cable modem, which works out to about 750 kbps, not bad for accessing a shared server being accessed by so many people.
Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top
I regrettably have been having relentless problems with Stardock Central. I simply cannot get the 1.01A update (supposedly 1MB) without being forced to download an 80+ MB file. I have read all the FAQs, how-to guides, etc. I have reloaded my game, reloaded SDC, updated SDC, etc , etc , etc and still cannot get a small package update from SDC. I have given up (waiting for a downloadable patch - ugh!). I hope something can be done to make this an easier process in the future because I feel this issue is dragging down an otherwise brilliant game. :sniff!:
Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top
@james temple

I thought the actual update is/should only be 1MB!!!!

Though as far as I am concerned there are still some issues to sort out.
Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top
I had no problem by:

1. Install the program then reboot
2. Run the program for 1 turn then close
3. DL the patch from the GalCiv download page
4. Install the patch
5. Runs fine

~SDC~
Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top
It would be nice if SDC could display some sort of message about what the update includes. The 33 build is listed this morning, but I don't have any idea of what fixes or enhancements it contains. That is a bit bothersome to me.

~SDC~
Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top
Click on history on the left.

~SDC~
Reply #20 from Stardock Forums Top
"I thought the actual update is/should only be 1MB"

It is. His method was rather... excessive. :)

- Ash

~SDC~
Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top
I'm not sure what issue is being discussed here.
I have a stardock icon on my desk top...when I click it it loads a window that lists files, and the date of the most recent update. When I highlight GalCiv a button appears to the right that says "update". I click on that. I get a flood bar that lasts less than a minute, it copies some files, deletes the temps...and voila...its done.

How is this hard?
I'd LOVE to have a set up like this that contained every game ever released in one central place that was so quick and easy to update software from.

Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top
Frogboy, when you write those histories, can you make sure and include the version number in the history? Sometimes you do, sometimes you do not. I never know if what I am downloading matches the history. Also, all of these 1.01A... patches never update the version in the game to match. The game just says 1.01 which makes me wonder whethere the patch is really in there or not.

Whomever suggested that SDC be proactive in notifying you of patches is spot on. If you could have a checkbox that tells it to check for updates to *registered* products on startup or on some interval then that would help people I think.

This way, people that bought retail could just:
1. Install the game.
2. Install SDC
3. Run SDC everynow and then (it picks up the Galciv registration automatically already) and it would tell them there is an update and ask them if they want to download. That would bypass all of the GUI problems some people are having.

~SDC~
Reply #24 from Stardock Forums Top
I fixed the problem where you had to download the whole 84.5meg content just to update to 1.01a.030 the other day. Stardock Central has to be installed before GalCiv is installed. I reinstalled from the files that I've download from the website but not from SDC and then I ran the update again, and voila everything was perfect. A simple 1meg file to download this time. All other updates where around 1meg as well.
Reply #25 from Stardock Forums Top
"I'd LOVE to have a set up like this that contained every game ever released in one central place that was so quick and easy to update software from."

The idea of a unified one for all games, regardless of developer, is quite intriguing, if implausible. :)

But as a general rule I despise reliance on these kind of programs. To be fair, SDC looks like one of the better ones, and it has the potential to be quite useful IF they can work the bugs out/make it easier to navigate. The number of people still posting difficulties is testament enough that it still isn't nearly accessible enough.

On the other hand, I've seen far too many of these programs done horribly -- ones that have difficulty connecting, don't support download resuming, etc. -- that I'm very, very leary of the entire concept. I'm quite capable of downloading a file by myself, on my own time, using my own download manager and so forth.

I don't need or want a program like SDC to make my life faster or easier for me. My life is plenty fast and easy already. I paid Stardock for the right to install and play their game. To my mind, Stardock Central has nothing to do with that. To be brutally honest, the forced reliance on this program smells as much like a marketing ploy for Drengin.net and Object Desktop as it does like a way to streamline updating GalCiv. GalCiv already has a website with a downloads section -- so why do we need this unintuitive program extra program to do what that website can already done just fine? KISS principle: keep it simple, stupid.

All of that said, SDC is working fine for me. I object to it in principle, but short of long posts like this explaining why I object to it, I'm not going to raise a fuss. Now, should I at any point begin experiencing the problems some other users are having -- THEN you will hear me raising holy hell about it. :)

- Ash

~SDC~