RattyBoy RattyBoy

Death to Stardock.

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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~
1,352 views 30 replies
Reply #26 from Stardock Forums Top
also, if it says: ----- in available and the date is something new you havent got you can get it to download with ctrl + p!
Reply #27 from Stardock Forums Top
I have been able to get my downloads with no problem....using SDC
Galactic Civilizations IV
Reply #28 from Stardock Forums Top
Wow this post created some waves.

I'm sorry for the belligerance... ;-)

Sadly most of you posting here have missed the point I was trying to make. Let me try again...

Stardock wants as much $$$ as they can get, right? Right. I'm saying that having a clumsy UI with Stardock is a problem.

1. Drengin.net. OK... new players aren't going to recognize that as GalCiv related. They will do as I did and think it's another desktop enhancement.
2. Having to click on GalCiv in the list to get the update button. This is NOT intuitive. At all. I finally stumbled on it after a while in chat.

To whoever said, "dig through the forum to find your answers": you missed the point. That's what I did. BUT.... not everyone has that kind of patience.

I've seen too many good software companies bleed themselvs to death with really dumb decisions.

CreaturesLabs: Using haploid DNA was umm... REALLY stupid. Diploid DNA isn't hard to simualate on a 286. I've done it with an 8088. They should have done it with the Pentiums.
Novell: Endlessly touting a particular management device as the "final end all be all management tool" is the knife that Microsoft is using to destroy them. Netware Administrator: the final word. ConsoleOne: the final word but it won't do printing, for printing see Netware Administrator. NDPS: We're sorry, but NDPS snapins for Netware Administrator are not available. To fix your copy of NWAdmin, find a PC not in use ($500), install Netware ($500 in labor usually), patch it (cheap), then copy the new public folder over your existing one... etc.... Intuit: one word: spyware, CDRWs not working, copy protection fanatics with malware. Stars!: signing a stupid contract with a distributor that refuses to distribute and who refuses to provide development support. MOO3: Well... that was a dumb idea to begin with.... Good marketing though. But some will never buy MOO4.

I don't want to see GalCiv end up in the same boat as these other companies. Sure, many of them will survive their mistakes. But how great could they have been had they not made them. And I could write a book on what Novell has screwed up since Eric Schmidt left.

~SDC~
Reply #29 from Stardock Forums Top
Haploid DNA wasn't the reason Creatures Labs failed. Releasing a hugely buggy version of C2 as final was a large measure of it, as was isolating themselves from the community and downplaying AI in favour of cute norn packs. Such a pity. But I suspect someone with more vision will bring us AI once more, even if they aren't called Norns. At least Steve Grand got what he deserved - http://www.cyberlife-research.com/

Incidentally, CL has gone into administration, and they just shut down the Docking Station server - the only hope left alive in the Creatures community right now is that someone buys the rights and actually does something with them.
Reply #30 from Stardock Forums Top

Its nothing like star control 2.. that was more an adventure in space than a strategy game (though it did have some strategic elements). Think civ1, but instead of citys on ground its planets in space and you have galciv2 (with a few twists of course).