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Labor Day 'Impulse' buy: Sins, Demigod and Dawn of Discovery on sale

by Alexander Sliwinski { Sep 3rd 2009 at 9:51AM }

With what we're told is the weekend of Labor Day ahead of us, an Impulse sale is trying to do its best to keep us indoors on this last unofficial weekend of summer. The Impulse store currently has some great titles at deep discounts.

Stardock-published games Sins of a Solar Empire (with Entrenchment) and Demigod are both only $20. Meanwhile, the economic real-time strategy sim Dawn of Discovery is $25. There's plenty of other deals, including World of Goo for $10, so try not to spend those last fleeting days of summer inside. We dare you.

[Via Big Download]

Sins of a Solar Empire 'Diplomacy' beta begins fall, releases winter 2010

by Alexander Sliwinski { Aug 25th 2009 at 9:03AM }

The second micro-expansion for PC sleeper hit Sins of a Solar Empire will release in winter 2010. The Diplomacy add-on will increase the number of ambassadorial options to players in their conquest of the galaxy. You know, sometimes it helps to talk through the issues. Ironclad and Stardock plan to have a beta for the expansion this fall in order to work out any Vasarian bugs.

Entrenchment and Diplomacy have both suffered delays while jumping into the digital distribution galaxy. A third micro-expansion for Sins was previously announced, so the full 4X RTS space opera experience should be completed sometime next year -- unless there are more delays, of course.

Gallery: Sins of a Solar Empire

What's In A Name: Stardock

by Justin McElroy { Aug 11th 2009 at 4:15PM }

In our ongoing feature What's In A Name, we ask developers, publishers and other game industry businesses the stories behind their names. Today our answer comes from Brad Wardell, CEO of Stardock.

"I was in college and started the company to help pay for school until I could get a real job. I needed to get a computer and got a hold of a wholesale distributor to get the parts to build it. When I called, they asked me what the name of the company was and in panic, I looked around and was reading a book by Raymond E. Feist and the chapter was called 'Stardock' so that's what I said the company's name was. It stuck and has been since."

That's it for this edition, maybe next time, we'll tell you the mysterious story behind "Joystiq." It's ... mysterious.

Demigod bestows demo on the little people

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jul 30th 2009 at 11:30PM }

Demigod has finally seen fit to grant a demo to the masses. Gas Powered Games' RTS now comes in a bite-sized offering, in which players have access to one map and four playable demigods (Regulus, Rook [pictured], Sedna and Lord Erebus). All gameplay modes are available in the demo.

The Stardock-published title did have a shaky launch -- thanks to pirates -- but the company has since apologized for the overburdened server loads, and things seem to be in working order. Definitely worth checking out for RTS fans who only have time for short games.

Stardock hiring lots of devs, hints at upcoming projects

by Alexander Sliwinski { Jul 15th 2009 at 9:00PM }

Stardock is hiring game developers, animators, artists and more. Some may find relocating to Plymouth, Michigan, a hardship (especially those first few winters), but a well-paying job's money goes further there than it would on one of the coasts. CEO Brad Wardell tells us the company is currently looking for "experienced" devs to work on:

"Turn based fantasy strategy game" -- Likely, Elemental.
"Real-time space strategy game" -- Speculation: More Sins of a Solar Empire, the diplomacy pack?
"Party-based, single player, role playing game"
"Real-time land-based strategy game"
"Turn-based space strategy game" -- Likely, Galactic Civilizations III (but, could be Master of Orion or Star Control.)

The more "technical" requirements can be found after the break. Resumes and cover letters should be sent to jobs[at]stardock[dawt]com. Best of luck to the applicants.

Continued →

Stardock issuing apology coupons for Demigod network issues

by Richard Mitchell { May 22nd 2009 at 4:45PM }

Demigod, the latest from Gas Powered Games, has had quite a rocky start since it launched in April. Its servers were first overrun with pirates and the network problems continued to persist into May. Stardock, the game's publisher, promised to dole out coupons to players as an apology for the poor network performance, and Big Download reports that customers are starting to receive them.

The coupons will allow anyone to purchase the game for 50 percent off the standard $39.99 price. We're not quite sure how offering a discount to new customers amounts to an apology to current customers, but it's definitely better than nothing. We're sure it might also serve to help new customers take the plunge despite the reported issues.

So, how about it, Demigod players, have you received your coupon yet? Did you manage to convince a friend to pick up the game? For that matter, have you stuck with the game despite its problems?

[Via BD]

PC game developers foretell the death of DRM

by Griffin McElroy { May 11th 2009 at 5:30PM }

If you were one of the many recruits in last year's war on restrictive, invasive DRM, you may want to check out a recent article on Gamasutra that features opinions on PC gaming piracy protection (that's a mouthful) from a number of gaming industry movers and shakers.

The general sentiment of these interviewees is that DRM is extremely ineffective when it comes to preventing piracy, and that developers should either come up with alternate ways of ensuring the retail product is more valuable than the pirated product, or determine a different way to make money altogether (such as micro-transactions). For interesting insight from fine folks like 2D Boy's Ron Carmel and Stardock's Brad Wardell, we highly suggest checking out the full article.

[Image]

Stardock CEO: Retailers killing themselves with digital distribution

by Justin McElroy { Apr 20th 2009 at 10:15PM }

We're not exactly sure why Stardock CEO Brad Wardell is in the business of giving advice to retailers, considering his Impulse service is in direct competition with them. But that's exactly what he did when talking to GameBizBlog recently, saying that retailers a playing a dangerous game testing the digital distribution waters.

"Retailers need to be careful about this stuff," he said. "They're kind of signing their own death warrants once they push digital distribution at the store. Once you have the thing set up--once you've experienced how to purchase the game or deal with it online--why would I go back to the store for the next purchase? Especially if the store isn't providing added value. If you're a retailer, you're killing yourself."

... You know, on second reading, that kind of sounds like a threat. Hold on, let us check again. ... Yep, that's a threat.

[Via GoNintendo]

Demigod servers overrun with pirates at launch, better now

by Alexander Sliwinski { Apr 17th 2009 at 2:45PM }

Demigod appears to have been a pirates' cove at launch, as Stardock CEO Brad Wardell explained on his blog a couple days ago: Out of the 120,000 connections on launch day, only 18,000 were legitimate customers (that's not sales, merely "concurrent users"). Obviously, this situation put quite a strain on the servers. He explained that Stardock stress tested for 50,000 players at peak times and wasn't expecting to hit those numbers for weeks.

A letter from Stardock this morning notes that "most" launch day issues were resolved yesterday afternoon. A "doppleganger" of the network was created, along with an update for legitimate players, which now directs them to the clean servers. It's a pretty nasty situation for Stardock, which has actually put faith in gamers by not placing copy protection on its games.

[Via Edge]

Broken promises, or 'How GameStop's error cost Stardock a vacation'

by Xav de Matos { Apr 15th 2009 at 9:30AM }

Stardock employees had their Easter weekend ruined by GameStop when the retailer decided to break street date on the Gas Powered Games-developed action RTS, Demigod. "We were looking forward to the weekend to recover," Stardock CEO Brad Wardell wrote on the publisher's official forum. "Instead, we found ourselves back at work having to turn on and configure the multiplayer matchmaking servers."

Beyond losing vacation time, Wardell theorizes the early availability of Demigod will cause piracy of the copy protection-free title to be "maximized." But the outspoken (anti-intrusive DRM) exec says Demigod's early release may serve as proof of the actual effects of piracy. In response to GameStop's decision, Stardock released the game via its own digital distribution service, Impulse, a day early (on Monday).

While Wardell wouldn't discuss speculation that GameStop intentionally released Demigod early to combat Stardock's digital distribution service, the CEO says Stardock is in talks with GameStop to find out "how this happened."

[Via Gamasutra]

GDC09: Understanding what Stardock's Goo means to the used PC games market

by Alexander Sliwinski { Mar 30th 2009 at 7:30AM }

Stardock's Game Object Obfuscation (Goo) sounds super complex (and it is), but all we -- "the consumer" -- need to grasp is that it could very well open up a "used" PC games market. Although this sounds like something that would make publishers and developers irate, the clever part with Goo is those groups actually make coin off the transactions. Stardock is still being cagey about which publishers it has jumping on-board with this client-free DRM solution, but should be making announcements soon. We finally grasped the big picture of Goo while speaking with Stardock CEO Brad Wardell and using the glasses on the table in front of us to diagram how the system will work:

The super distilled basics (use picture above to follow along):

Seller: So, you bought a PC game and now want to sell it. You go to the Impulse Marketplace and -- if you accept the "used" price -- your license will transfer back to the publisher and the game can't be played anymore. The game is "sold."
Buyer: You want a game, but don't want to pay full price. You go to Impulse Marketplace and will be able to purchase this "used" license from the publisher through the service and download the game from the digital distribution service at a reduced price. That's it. Now you own the license and can sell it back whenever.
Publisher: Here's why publishers will probably like this system: The companies receive almost all the money -- minus Stardock's transaction fee -- from the resold license. Essentially, the publishers get to sell the same license several times and have entered the profitable "used" games market.

Goo will go live on April 7th. Considering this is all done through digital distribution, it's best to think of this whole concept as a "used license market" instead of a "used games market" -- there is no physical product changing hands. If Goo takes off, it means that consumers can get money for selling their PC games back to the publisher, and those who only buy "used" games have a secure new option. But, no matter what transaction occurs, the publishers are finally empowered and have cash flow in the used market.

GDC09: Stardock entering iPhone development, would 'like' to do GalCiv II

by Alexander Sliwinski { Mar 27th 2009 at 4:00PM }

During a conversation with Stardock CEO Brad Wardell and Art Director Paul Boyer, the two -- against the express wishes of their PR handler -- brought up iPhone development at the company and the possibility of Galactic Civilizations II on the mobile platform.

While Stardock's PR pro sat in a chair facepalming (image after the break), Wardell and Boyer discussed development for the mobile device, with Boyer saying he'd "really like" to do GalCiv II. Just to be clear, after we left, the PR lady had a stern talking with them ... beyond the iPhone stuff, it probably had something to do with the duo openly discussing the unannounced Galactic Civilizations III.

Continued →

Stardock introduces flexible DRM solution: Goo

by Andrew Yoon { Mar 26th 2009 at 1:00AM }

DRM is a sticky subject in the PC gaming scene. While most publishers see it as a necessary evil, many consumers complain about the unfair restrictions imposed by some DRM solutions. Stardock's new Goo program may clean things up.

Game Object Obfuscation, or Goo for short, is a client-free DRM solution. Instead of a third-party verification program, the DRM is embedded into the program itself. Activation is done through a user's e-mail address: simply tie a serial number to your e-mail address and you'll be able to use your product on any machine you own. Once validated, an online connection is no longer required.

Interestingly, this new DRM method will allow consumers to legitimately resell their PC games. By voluntarily disabling their game access, they can transfer their license ownership to someone else. Were Goo to take off, it could create a second-hand PC gaming market.

Goo will be introduced on April 7th. Stardock plans to announce Goo support from "multiple major publishers" in April as well.

[Via Big Download]

Demigod preview vid features Brad Wardell walkthrough

by Alexander Sliwinski { Mar 4th 2009 at 10:00PM }

The latest video of Demigod is actually a four-minute walkthrough of the game with Executive Producer (and Stardock CEO) Brad Wardell. It's been hard to describe Gas Powered Games' Demigod because it's not a conventional RTS. Players mainly focus on leveling up and keeping alive their main deity character, so there are a lot of RPG elements in the game as well.

The video does a solid job of describing what a typical multiplayer match is like. We've had some time with the beta, and the focus of the game is to keep the action going and avoid the micromanagement in normal RTS titles -- a match can be finished in about a half-hour. Although it's not shown in this video, the camera is completely free to set at whatever angle you'd like to experience the action, which is actually pretty cool once The Rook starts whaling on troops. This PC only title -- which once you play, you won't understand why that is -- will be available this April.

Riddick's Assault on Dark Athena demo up on XBLM, full of 'ulaks'

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Mar 4th 2009 at 11:30AM }

Gravelly-voiced space crook news now, with a demo version of The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena arriving on the Xbox Live Marketplace. In addition to piloting Vin Diesel through the presumably dark corridors of the titular Athena, you'll be able to pilot a "drone" through one of the demo's segments. We're not really sure how different those two really are, but the latter makes for an interesting bullet point in the press release.

Those uninterested in bullets can also take a stab at wielding Riddick's "razor-sharp ulaks," though we'll remind you that bringing an ulak to a disintegrator fight is always a bad idea. Look for the demo on PSN later this March, and the full game on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on April 7th (April 24th if you live in Europe).