From the perspective of a customer
I have been meaning to write this for some time. This seems like a good time as any to post this. This will be long and mostly intended for the employees at Stardock. However, it may strike a chord with others as well.
Dear Stardock,
First of, I would like to offer my sincerest apologies. For a long time I was under the impression that Stardock had second rate games. I was wrong. No, actually I was severely, severely, severely wrong. Your stuff is incredible. It was my own fault for not looking close enough. Man I was so wrong. So what happened to change my mind? Well it starts quite a while ago. Perhaps you can glean from this story some of the reasons for your success. (Or a reason to never read long posts again)
(Prelude #1)
Back when I was on Windows98 I was told about WindowBlinds. I ignored it because I didn't see what the deal was and I didn't want to bog down my system. Fast forward to Windows XP and the Microsoft Plus package. I felt it was a waste of money. It did nothing to help the look of Windows XP. I felt that Windows 98 had more customization ability in its theming than XP. However, the name WindowBlinds had stuck in my mind all this time. Eventually, in attempting to determine how to change the look of XP I stumbled across it and something range a bell.
(Enter quality, quantity, and integrity)
I gave the trial version a go and liked it. It looked great and wasn't a resource hog. I also tried several other items from the Object Desktop suite. They weren't bad either. I loved DriveScan. Probably the best program of its kind that I have ever used. Well, at this point I started debating on whether or not to take the plunge and buy it. This led to a three hour investigation of Stardock. I wanted to know just who these yahoos where before I gave them my money. I read the reviews on the net as a whole. I also intentionally sought out the reviews and posts that criticized you the most. The quality of the complaints is a good indicator. When I found that most of them were posts by complete morons who didn't really have anything concrete to complain about with out any sense of integrity, I gave the purchase the green light. I decided to go for the entire Object Desktop suite. The amount of software bundled together finalized that decision.
(Enter Stardock style licensing)
Upon installing Object Desktop, I took a good hard look at the licensing terms to see in what way I was going to be hamstrung. Wait a moment. What the heck is going on here? I can also legally install this on a laptop if I am the primary user of that laptop? Wow, that fits my situation perfectly. These guys really seem to get it. Many people use both a main system and a laptop when on the go. Sweet. I can't believe this. I wish other companies understood this. I am sold on Stardock's (non gaming) software. In the months to come I would also love the way that the products were constantly updated. Not just bug fixes, but whole new features, and even new components to Object Desktop. It has been one of the least regrettable purchases for the computer I have ever made.
(Prelude #2)
I remember "Castle Wolfenstein" from the Apple IIc days. I loved Wolfenstein 3D. From their, I ate up Doom and Doom II and when nuts over death matching. Munching down Quake and Unreal as the years went buy. Imagine my excitement when the rumors started flying that Doom3 was to be created. Oh, man. I couldn't wait. I snapped up every screen shot, preview page, whatever I could get my hands on. I followed its development daily. At last, it was to be released. Would I skip work that day to play it? No, that wouldn't be right. If I wanted to, I knew I could have a 0 day warez copy or even a before release pirated copy. I have contacts on the net. I knew they would have it. All I had to do was ask or accept their offers which I knew would come. That also would not be right. These guys put in a lot of work and time into this game. I would support them with my cold hard cash. I had to travel 45 minutes out of my way to get to a store that would have it, but that was ok. This was Doom3 after all. I remember the feeling of satisfaction as I purchased my legal copy. I would suffer a bit of razzing from those who had the warez version, but I didn't care. It felt right. I rushed eagerly home to play it.
(Rise of the jerks and customer hate)
First thing I would do after installing would be to make a copy with Alcohol120%. I would run faster, so I would get the best experience, I could keep the original CD in pure condition, and I wouldn't have to worry about locating the stupid CD and putting in the drive every time I wanted to play. WTF? What the [expletive] is this? Doom3 won't run with Alcohol loaded? What the foo is that? You mean I have to reconfigure my machine every time I want to take a quick break and relax a little? Then I have to reconfigure it again when I am done? Who the [expletive] do you thing you are you jack[expletive] sons-of-a [expletive]? I could have saved time and money by downloading the easily accessible warez version and not have to deal with this. Instead, I purchased the game properly and now I am being punished? What is up with that? I have to go through more hoops to play my legal copy than those people who are contributing to the piracy of this game? [expletive] you! It is apparently better to be your enemy than your friend. To this day, despite how much I was looking forward to that game, I have not played much past the first level. It irritated me that much. I also have not bought a single title from that company since.
(The great Faux Pax)
Some time later I am reading slashdot. Up pops a story about a quibble between Starforce and Stardock. Hey, I know one of those guys. I have a subscription with them and I have been very happy about it. Whats up? I read the story. Wow. I am shocked. What jerks! How can they post a link to a wares distribution when they themselves are supposably actively working against software piracy, as shown by their product? Just because Stardock doesn't like their stuff? Hypocrites. I have had no problems with Stardock. They have been a decent crew and I have had good customer support.
So what did they link to anyway? Oh, Galactic Civilizations II. That sounds familiar. I remember seeing a little on GalCiv. Never thought much of the game, though I had never looked very closely at it. Let's face it. Star Dock is a utility company. Their games are going to be second rate. Oh well, lets read a little more about GalCiv II. I need a break from coding anyway.
"Hrm, hey this game looks kinda cool. Show me some more screen shots. Those look nice." I proceed to read more about the game mechanics. "Wow, this game is looking better and better." I began to read the developers journals on the game. Ok, now I am getting excited. This is looking to be a great game. I am a big Hearts of Iron (1 and 2) fan. The more I read about the game, the more excited I get. The AI, the ship design, the scalable graphics, oh my. Finally I decided that this game is a must have right along with Morrowind: Oblivion. I am also thinking about HOI2 and how it didn't require the CD to be in the drive to run. That was refreshing. GalCivII will be the same way. So nice. I remember the Doom3 experience at this point and also thing about StarForce and their recent actions. These are not good thoughts so I go back to thinking about GalCivII and reading more.
(The StarForce domino effect)
Now that I have decided to get GalCivII, where shall I buy it from? Walmart, BestBuy, someplace else? Hrm. Who should get my money. I don't really want to have to drive out some place but it will be worth it. Hey wait, GalCivII can be purchased directly from Star Dock? Ok, now I am in a quandary. Purchase it from Star Dock directly so they get the lion's share of my money and I forgo the box or show support at the local retailers and help convince them that smaller developers like this deserve shelf space. I debate this for a while and decide to sleep on it. It was late. Later on reexaming the issue, I stumble across this very question in the knowledge base. What does Star Dock say? Do what ever is best for me. Laugh, thanks for the help. In hindsight this was actually a great answer. I decided I didn't want to drive and I have a good net connection. I am going to download it so I can play it right away.
Now, to purchase it. Interesting, it is available in TotalGaming.net. I have noticed that gaming thing before. Didn't like the idea of having to pay $90 for what might be only a couple of cheesy games a year. I take a closer look. Woah, they changed it a lot. Wikipedia has a great rundown of the situation. It is cheaper and it now uses a token system which gives me a discount. Likewise the tokens don't expire. Well, that might be ok. Lets take a good look at the games they have. A solid inspection of the games, demos, and reviews of said games at other sites tells me one thing. These games are pretty descent. Several are from Strategy First and I have always liked their stuff quite well. The independent looking games also look cool. With this new restructuring of TotalGaming.net it is suddenly very attractive. I am familiar with stardock central and I like it. I will be able to use the same thing for the games. I was going to purchase the game for $49. For twenty bucks more I can get it through total gaming for five tokens and several other games with my remaining five tokens. This seems like a pretty cool deal so I go for it.
(Just insert the feeding tube please)
The end result? I play Galactic Civilizations II for 36 hours straight. I have never done anything like that before. The game is unbelievable. Good freakin' gravy it is awesome. Oh my, oh my, oh my. I already know I will be playing this for the next several years. From my experience with Object Desktop I can rest assured that it will just get better and better as they add more and more to it. When I wanted a break, I purchased a few more games through total gaming. I have not been disappointed. They are great. Worth every penny. No stupid freakin' DRM junk to punish me for buying the games. No expiration of my tokens/money so I can be patient and choose whatever games I like. When I get my new computer I can just download them from Stardock again or just make archives on my old machine and copy them via cd, the local net, flash drive, whatever. It is so easy. Gads, and if I want to uninstall something for a bit, I don't have to worry about a lost CD years from now. It feels great to have a company who doesn't go out of their way to make me feel like I am a completely untrustworthy individual who is just waiting to "slip to the dark side" and become a software pirate. Yeah, the whole lack of copy protection was the trigger but it was just the first compelling reason in a series of many that won me over and has me telling everyone else about it.
(The partial analysis)
So what was it? Well it was no one thing. However, I find it very interesting that it was StarForce's actions that started the chain reaction that ultimately took my money out of their hand and the companies they work with and put it in yours. Not only did I end up buying the game, but I also ended with a larger purchase with the TotalGaming.net. The revamp you did there was perfect. With respect to StarForce and similarly minded companies, it wasn't software piracy that cost them a sale, it was software protection. On the other hand, you, Stardock, received more than just a purchase of a game. This was due to your history, actions, and attitude. FYI: If you are wondering what part of your advertising got my attention you can mark me down as "none of the above". I don't read magazines or frequent gaming sites. Pure word of mouth. Shh, don't tell the suites. It will disturb their reality.
(Final bits)
If you are reading this and haven't purchased Galactic Civilizations II, I would like to leave you with this. I liked the game so much that I wanted the collectors edition. From the knowledge base I discovered that I could upgrade my digital copy and receive the collectors edition, box, poster, cds, the whole bit for five bucks plus shipping and handling. I have it now. It is awesome. I am glad I did it. So by purchasing online I wasn't left out at all. Not only did I get to play sooner but I also got to get the special cool stuff. The WindowBlinds theme that you get access to is great too. Star Dock thought of everything when it came to giving me what I wanted. I have no regrets. It has been the most positive software/game experience I have ever had.
For the GalCivII crew I want to leave you with some of the highlights, in my mind, of the game.
1) The game play with the AI is awesome. I love how they aren't instant allies against the human player. It seems so much more real when I can let a couple of them duke it out and just bide my time until I eat their young... I mean.... incorporate them into my harmonious galaxy. I am neither a great player or a pathetic player. The fact that I can find my niche in the settings is awesome.
2) The humor interlaced into everything is great. I keep calling my family back in and saying "read this, this is hilarious. Now watch this, it is a hoot." I appreciate every bit of it no matter how small. The game just wouldn't be the same without those pretentious little friggin' squirrels.
3) I love playing Hearts of Iron 2 with a friend of mine. We do marathon multiplayer sessions together. I would love to see multiplayer added to GalCivII. That said, you made the right decision in not including it in the release. I have played too many multiplayer capable games whose single player side sucked. So to make this clear, I love multiplayer TBS games, I routinely play multiplayer TBS games with friends, I would love to see GalCivII do this, and I think you made the absolutely right decision in not including it in the release. You spent your time in better places.
4) Lastly, as a software developer I know how difficult it is to get things right. The sheer amount of code versus the sheer lack of game/experience destroying bugs is amazing. To whomever was involved in the debugging process, as one professional to another, my hat is off to you. If I should ever run into you in real life, the meal is on me. You deserve it. Wow.
Sincerely,
Binky Da Clown
(The dude with over sized shoes and a rocket launcher.)