Stardock and Gas Powered Games have come together and created a gamer’s “Bill of Rights”. Stardock CEO, Brad Wardell, states:
“These are the key elements that publishers need to adhere to in their games; they’re all pretty common sense, but they’re things that the game industry is increasingly straying from.”
Gamers shall have the right to return games that don’t work with their computers for a full refund.
Gamers shall have the right to demand that games be released in a finished state.
Gamers shall have the right to expect meaningful updates after a game’s release.
Gamers shall have the right to demand that download managers and updaters not force themselves to run or be forced to load in order to play a game.
Gamers shall have the right to expect that the minimum requirements for a game will mean that the game will adequately play on that computer.
Gamers shall have the right to expect that games won’t install hidden drivers or other potentially harmful software without their express consent.
Gamers shall have the right to re-download the latest versions of the games they own at any time.
Gamers shall have the right to not be treated as potential criminals by developers or publishers.
Gamers shall have the right to demand that a single-player game not force them to be connected to the Internet every time they wish to play.
Gamers shall have the right that games which are installed to the hard drive shall not require a CD/DVD to remain in the drive to play.
The Political Machine, is the turn-based strategy game that puts the player in the role of a presidential candidate. Players can play as real-world candidates such as Barak Obama or John McCain, choose amongst historical candidates, or design their own from scratch.
The Political Machine 2008 version 1.04 is now available to all registered owners of the game. This update includes various tweaks, as well as new elements to help you create your own bobble-head. Also, a new enhanced chat feature that allows players to smack-talk opponents in multiplayer during the final votes. Version 1.04 also adds several new ‘Dark Horse’ candidates, such as the wise-cracking Minister Mike Huckabee, the rock skipping Mike Gravel, and media stud Dennis Kuchinich.
To obtain the new patch, just click on the Download Updates button from the main menu, or use our new state-of-the-art digital distribution client, Impulse. If you don’t have The Political Machine, you can pick up a digital copy for $19.95 at http://www.politicalmachine.com or through Impulse. For a boxed copy, visit your local retailer including Target and Best Buy .
Sins of a Solar Empire is one of the biggest hits this year, and I’m pleased to announce the next major update (v1.1) will be available as a public beta sometime in July.
Stardock has made available the preliminary change log to Sins of a Solar Empire v1.1. Developer Ironclad has been busy updating virtually every part of the game based on player feedback. Version 1.1 not only includes a host of play balancing changes but new content such as an updated graphics engine, updated visuals, new damage animations, and more. It also includes a new multiplayer system called “Alloy” which eliminates the need for configuring routers or changing port numbers.
This huge beta will only be available on Impulse from Stardock. The preliminary change log which lists many of the updated features can be found here.
Stardock has released the highly anticipated Impulse today. Impulse is the next-generation of digital distribution for PC games and applications. With Impulse, users don’t have to worry about losing registration numbers or finding long lost CD’s when setting up or updating a new or existing PC. Once a user purchases a game or application, that item is associated with their Impulse account so it will always be accessible.
Impulse will also provide a virtual platform called Impulse Reactor, a set of server-side features for developers that will work even if the user doesn’t have the Impulse client installed. Impulse Reactor will include support for virtual drives for saved game data, multiplayer matchmaking, game rankings, NAT negotiation for multiplayer games, friends lists, and support forums.
The second, and last, expansion pack to Galactic Civilizations has been released!
Stardock is pleased to announce the general availability of the second (and final) expansion pack to Galactic Civilizations II. The new expansion pack, Twilight of the Arnor, adds hundreds of new features, gives each civilization a unique technology tree, a unique set of planetary improvements, star base modules, ship parts, and more.
Moreover, with Twilight of the Arnor, Stardock went back and revamped the graphics for the game to bring them up to the state of the art. A new sound track has also been added along with updates to the computer AI. It also reintroduces the Terror Star, the ultimate weapon last seen in the original Galactic Civilizations as well as a new victory condition called Ascension. Online tournaments have also been added to allow people to compete at playing the same map and scenario and submit their scores to the GalCiv metaverse.
Use THIS LINK to update to the latest version. If you are in the Impulse Beta, use the link provided here to update, don’t use Impulse to update as we’re in the process of updating the backend to support fast transfers of lots of little files which hasn’t been perfected yet.
Demigod is a team-based action game with RTS and RPG elements. Players take control of a massive Demigod with the goal of annihilating their opponent’s position in a given arena while preventing the opponent’s Demigod from dLike Stardock’s other games, Demigod will be released without any on-disc copy protection.
This weeks GFW podcast features Stardock CEO Brad Wardell as a guest, where among many things, they discuss the state of PC gaming. It’s a great episode to be sure to download it and check it out.
If you are on Facebook, and really….who isn’t these days, then head on over and join our Political Machine Facebook group. This group is another great way of connecting fans of the game, political junkies, and anybody else for that matter.
When you are logged into Facebook just click “Join group” at the link below.
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