PC gamers more ethical than game companies give credit

As most of you know, Stardock games ship with zero copy protection.

That means someone could take Demigod and post it up somewhere.  But so far, no one has even though Gamestop violated their agreement and released the game early.  So the potential for "0 day warez" with Demigod is more so than most any other game because there's nothing to "crack".

We (Stardock) have always taken the position that people are fundamentally honest. I tend to think that things get warez'd because the copy protection provides a sort of challenge to overcome.  Since Demigod has no such copy protection on the DVD, there's no challenge and hence no point.

Incidentally, we are working on a demo version as well that should be out as soon as we recover from the initial launch. :)

Both Gas Powered Games and Stardock have poured their life and souls into this game. We're very proud with how it turned out and we thank those of you who have pre-ordered for sticking with us despite it being available. We'll definitely find some way to thank those users in the future.  We look forward to playing with you guys online and hanging out together in the growing Demigod community.

Happy Easter everyone!

22,678 views 52 replies
Reply #1 Top

Thank you for your patience and hard work.  I know I have enjoyed the beta and support from Stardock.  I am very excited for its release and have been looking forward to it for a long time.  Thank you and everyone at Stardock/GPG and Happy Easter. :D

Reply #2 Top

Some of the posters around here recently have been quite.. short sighted in all this.  This is a good bit a news though, I hope it holds true as this could really open up other publishers eyes. 

You guys have done right by me though, thanks for making such a great game!

Reply #3 Top

Well i for one appreciate all the hard work you all have done and think your game is amazing..i never participated in beta but i have to say i love this game so far...

 

Wishing SD/GPG the very best and Happy Easter right back at ya :)

Reply #4 Top

Move this to Journals imo :)

 

And I made this

 

Happy Easter!

Reply #5 Top

Happy Easter to all

And look forward to seeing you all Monday

Reply #6 Top

Quoting Sevenix, reply 4
Move this to Journals imo

 

And I made this



Reduced 28%

Original 1000 x 1518
End of Sevenix's quote

Sweet

Reply #7 Top

Good post :).  The demo info is good.

 

Nice poster Sevenix :D

Reply #8 Top

Hell, I'm proud to have been a part of the beta (and of a community of people who wouldn't try to stick the game up on bittorrent somewhere), and I'm glad of whatever small contributions I've made.

Reply #9 Top

Frogboy is right. Its Karma I suppose :). One of the reasons I love Stardock and been a fan since 2001 :).

 

See you all Monday!

 

-Drexion/Ragarth

Reply #10 Top

kudos to SD for all their support. i just recently started posting on these forums but i have definitly seen how well they communicate with the community.

huzzah for SD! :ninja:

Reply #11 Top

While I -slighlty- disagree that people are fundamentally honest (yeah I'm a cynic <_< )  I believe that they can appreciate a good effort when they see it and that's what I've seen in these few days I am part of this community. This game is my first experience with Stardock and Impulse and I have to say I like everything I've seen so far.

This Gamestop issue is not affecting me directly since I'm European but I just want to wish all of you a Happy Easter and I'm looking forward to some great battles in the future, Monday is close :w00t:  

Reply #12 Top

I agree. Especially given how GoG is on the scene with their up to dated sellings of older games. PC Gamers are the best! Call us snobby if you like!

Reply #13 Top

Happy Easter, and thank you for being honest Stardock. More companies should follow your example, rather that of EA Games.

Don't get me wrong, as a business you have every right to see customers as living bags of cash, but it's nice when companies care a bit more.

I'll be enjoying this game during my weekend, and I simply can't wait. Thank you for your hard work!

Reply #14 Top

Yea i feel like the people cancling there pre-order just cause gamestop sold a few days early have bad judgement, Its like rewarding someone for doing something wrong... :thumbsdown:

And it was a pleassure participating in the beta, was hooked from the first time i heard of it!! 

Cant wait to upgrade by Digital DL to Digital+Retail   :dur:  

Reply #15 Top

 But so far, no one has even though Gamestop violated their agreement and released the game early.

*sniff sniff* Do I smell legal troubles coming for gamestop?

Reply #16 Top

I just wanted to make a little confession here. I've pirated games in the past, including several top-name ones due to either a lack of money or irritation at the company for some reason or other.

I'd like to proudly state that I paid in full for a pre-order of Demigod and don't regret a thing. Companies like Stardock and GPG who pour their hearts and intelligence into games like this are the ones that I respect, and the one's who will receive my money. If you shell out tons of games a year, of which maybe 1 or 2 are good, you aren't getting a dime from me. But if you put all of your effort into making something as perfect as can be, you have my support 100% and I will be recommending it to any and all of my friends.

I'd also like to note that PC games will always, despite the higher chance of piracy, always have me buying them. I'm just not as happy with a controller as I am with mouse and keyboard, and that's enough of an excuse for me to thank you GPG and Stardock for making this grand PC game. I've been looking for another good one for quite some time and I think I've found it.

Here's to Stardock and GPG, I hope you guys are proud of your baby here, and make a nice buck off of it too.

Reply #17 Top

 I applaud Stardocks stance on DRM and as long as they provide a quality product I will buy it... If the quality ever slips I will stop buying. They are one of few developers left on my buy it at release and not wait for patches list.:star:

 

Reply #18 Top

What happened to GOO?

---

I'm just wainting for my credit card to arrive to buy it, since i have no idea when, if ever, demigod is going to come to Brazil.

Reply #19 Top

I dont think its in Demigod.

Reply #20 Top

Elven Legacy is the first game to use Goo, its not in Demigod

Reply #21 Top

I appreciate your words Frogboy. Just to show how right you are, I registered this account and ordered the Demigod directly from Stardock. Thanks for all of your hard work!

 

-Seorl

 

P.S. Gamestop has messed up for the last time. They will not be receiving my business in the future.

Reply #22 Top

Quoting Sevenix, reply 4
Move this to Journals imo

 

And I made this

Reduced 28%Original 1000 x 1518

 

Happy Easter!
End of Sevenix's quote

 

love it.

especially torchbearer. hes like mufasa.

Reply #23 Top

Haha yea awesome poster Sevenix.

especially torchbearer. hes like mufasa.
End of quote

that made me lol..so true :P

Reply #24 Top

Thanks for choosing to trust PC gamers like this, frogboy. It really means a lot to me that I don't need to worry about any DRM issues.

 

I've bought it, and I've gotten at least 3 of my friends to buy it as well, hoping for 4-5 by the time I'm done. You guys have really outdone yourselves.

Reply #25 Top

The best way to prevent people from pirating games is to include ongoing content and other online features that require a certified cd-key. 

 

Demigod has both of those things, so I'm not too worried about a lot of people pirating it.  In any case, I think that the vast majority of the time, the people who pirate games wouldn't have bought the game anyway if they couldn't have downloaded it for free, so it's not a huge deal.  That's not to say it's acceptable (unless the game is really old and not available in stores anymore or worth barely any money like a 10 year old game).