Free Games Reward Supporters of Elemental's Disastrous Launch

[Tom Goldman]

Free Games Reward Supporters of Elemental's Disastrous Launch

If you've stuck by Stardock through the rough launch of Elemental: War of Magic, you'll be rewarded.

Stardock had high hopes for complete fail [http://www.amazon.com/Elemental-War-Magic-Pc/dp/B003BIW7FO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1288189565&sr=8-1]." Though Stardock has been furiously fixing most of the issues through patches, the company is also promising free content to all early supporters.

Wardell announced in the Stardock forums that anyone who has purchased Elemental: War of Magic by October 31 will get the game's first two expansions absolutely free. He writes that the move is an attempt to show players that Stardock isn't trying to milk them and won't abandon Elemental like you might see with other developers of other games.

Stardock's expansion packs don't tend to be sparse either. Those for layoffs [http://www.amazon.com/Galactic-Civilizations-II-Ultimate-Pc/dp/B001O50TOW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1288190688&sr=8-1], the studio is still supporting Elemental/

Additionally, Wardell went over some of the major UI changes Stardock is working on for Elemental's version 1.1. This version is said to be a major update that will ideally fix most of the headaches players were once experiencing. As far as poor launches go, Stardock has handled Elemental's better than any I've ever seen. Compare this to, I don't know, it's a big game [http://www.amazon.com/Fallout-New-Vegas-Pc/dp/B002SU4QG4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1288191047&sr=8-3]." How about some free stuff too, huh Obsidian?

Source: Elemental Forums [http://forums.elementalgame.com/399482]

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[Valiard]

Well Stardock I tip my hat in your direction. Its funny how Small Companies go out of their way to do things like this but larger corps who can afford to pull stunts like this act all coy...go figure right?

 

[Arec Balrin]

Tempted to purchase just to show support. Have a backlog of games and won't get round to playing this until 2013.

 

[rembrandtqeinstein]

Go stardock, if I still cared about strategy games I would so be buying this one.

Unlike Obsidian which released the fallout sequel with the SAME CRAPPY PC INTERFACE as the first one. It is basically unplayable until you install MUTI.

 

[The Diabolical Biz]

It's almost...heartwarming that they're trying to atone for their mistakes...

Although to be frank, it's more likely a marketing scheme. Good one, though, and still a nice gesture.

Well done, that man!

EDIT: If I had money, I'd totally buy it. Re-reading it, I actually doubt it's that much of a scheme at all.

 

[Valiard]

well think about it this way, you can buy it now register the game beat all the other games you have then come back to this one in a few grab all the patches and expansions and BLAM super Strategy....im surprised they didnt mention that the guy who did the Fall from Heaven mods for Civ is the project manager for this game now.

 

[LostCarcosa]

I think Brad Wardell should be commended for both his honesty regarding the lackluster Elemental launch, and his desire to turn an ailing game into a truly good one. That kind of straight-faced dedication is pretty rare in the industry.

It's unfortunate that most game sites don't do this, but I would love to see another review of Elemental after it has released a few more patches. I am somewhat pessimistic that Stardock will completely salvage the product, though I hope hiring Derek Paxton [http://kotaku.com/5662673/developer-turns-to-mod-maker-to-fix-broken-game] gives Stardock some much-needed outside perspective.

 

[Worgen]

gotta love stardock, I wish impulse was as popular as steam since its a really good system

 

[Sartan0]

Time to buy it for me. Off to impulse.

 

[Sartan0]

gotta love stardock, I wish impulse was as popular as steam since its a really good system

Yeah, when possible I buy there so as to keep steam from owning the whole PC gaming market. Steam has enough exclusives to make sure they get some of my money.

 

[GloatingSwine]

The problem is that even if Elemental wasn't broken it's still not very good.

Just get a copy of DosBox and Master of Magic, it's a better game. Still.

 

[Ledan]

yay.....

 

[Dexiro]

Mmhm I'm tempted to get it too out of support, but I wouldn't play it and can't afford x3

Nice to see the developers aren't abandoning it though

 

[Mysnomer]

As far as poor launches go, Stardock has handled Elemental's better than any I've ever seen. Compare this to, I don't know, it's a big game [http://www.amazon.com/Fallout-New-Vegas-Pc/dp/B002SU4QG4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1288191047&sr=8-3]." How about some free stuff too, huh Obsidian?

What's with the flip-flop, Tom? In the linked article, you want us to be sympathetic and stop harping on Obsidian, but as soon as you learn you can get free stuff if your game is riddled with bugs, you switch sides?

 

[Mysnomer]

Double post, ugh. I knew this was going to happen.

 

[Tom Goldman]

As far as poor launches go, Stardock has handled Elemental's better than any I've ever seen. Compare this to, I don't know, it's a big game [http://www.amazon.com/Fallout-New-Vegas-Pc/dp/B002SU4QG4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1288191047&sr=8-3]." How about some free stuff too, huh Obsidian?

What's with the flip-flop, Tom? In the linked article, you want us to be sympathetic and stop harping on Obsidian, but as soon as you learn you can get free stuff if your game is riddled with bugs, you switch sides?

I give Obsidian the benefit of the doubt, but I haven't played New Vegas yet which is why I ask at the end if it was rushed to stores with too many bugs. Also, I just want free stuff.

 

[Sartan0]

The problem is that even if Elemental wasn't broken it's still not very good.

Just get a copy of DosBox and Master of Magic, it's a better game. Still.

I have enough games that I can afford to wait. If you don't have the money wait and get it when it is polished and 20$. I have the money and like Stardock so I chose to support them now even though I will be playing other games till I get around to Elemental. And am I the only person who has yet to see a serious bug in Fallout: NV? (Which I am loving the hell out of right now! Best game in years as far as content as far as I am concerned. Way better then Fallout III)