Dear Frogboy....

from Stardock Forums
Dear Frogboy,

I am writing this letter to you to express my appreciation for your continued service. You have shown to be a unique individual with a unique team of programmers. You and your colleagues have shown devotion to all of your customers. I have not come across a single developing team which REGULARLY updates games. Not only with bug fixes but ENHANCEMENTS, FREE TECHS, FREE SHIPS. You absolutely do not need to do this. Repeat: There is no reason for you or ANY developer in this universe to continue supporting the game in this manner....BUT.....you do. You actually do. That is the beauty of the whole thing. You have no reason to support this game but you do. I can't believe I have finally met a developing team that actually cares for their customers.

But... such is life. Many people still complain. Why use SDC central? Where is the standalone patch? Give us more features! We want it now! To these people, I suggest patience. I suggest we give them the same support that they are giving us.

This is a big THANK YOU letter.

Frogboy, please remember this: For every (crazy) dissatisfied customer there are at least 50 who are very HAPPY with the way you are supporting your customers.

Sincerely

TNTTony...a happy customer.
1,235 views 44 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
*Major BUMP*

~SDC~
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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
I totally agree. This is the most well spent money I've ever spent on a videogame. I really feel I got something back. Thank you!

~SDC~
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
I agree. I'll be watching Stardock for any new games on the horizon. Lets just say you've got a loyal customer here.

~SDC~
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
I agree. I'll be watching Stardock for any new games on the horizon. Lets just say you've got a loyal customer here.

~SDC~
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top
"There is no reason for you or ANY developer in this universe to continue supporting the game in this manner.."

DON'T TELL HIM

Though I agree with TNTTony about anything else concerned.
Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top
Thanks guy! I really appreciate the kind words. Hope you're having fun!

~SDC~
Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
Ah, but see, there is a reason for the support. Stardock has built its customer base on the idea of subscribing to a period of support rather than simply granting a license. You don't just buy GalCiv or WindowBlinds, you buy a year's support as well. By actually giving that support, you get a bunch of loyal customers who are too used to being bent over the log by devs who figure they shipped it, so it must be done.
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
Honestly, Code Monkey has it (for me, anyway).

Besides, these forums are great for conversation. :)

~SDC~
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
I will say that it is a bit of a bummer to work through the easter holidays to put in a lot of game play improvements only to get see a bunch of posts complaining about mouse wheel behavior on some screen and posts by people saying the game is a "rip off" because they didn't like the user manual or people who treat the windowed version as if most games have a windowed version in the first place.

So let me say that I definitely appreciate this post, I know the team really appreciates the support you guys are giving us. It really helps.

~SDC~
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
I think the positive posts far outweight the negative ones.. this is one decent forum! IMO, you can tell how good a game is by how civil the forums are. If you want to see a forum that has become a um.. 'hive of scum and villany', go to MOO3. When Morrowind and NWN came out, tons of negative posts. In fact, the only other site that is almost as fun and helpful is the IL-2 forums, for IL-2 is also one excellent game.

So I'll add my 'Thank You!' to everyone elses. I really appreciate the EXCELLENT support this game has experienced.

"You absolutely do not need to do this."

GAH! And don't tell Brad and Co. that, ever.. they might listen to you! ;p

fleabitfox
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
Speaking from experience: The nasty posts tend to stand out more, often because they're couched in the form of personal attacks.

That is to say, people who hate the game often seem to believe that the developer(s) killed their puppies.

~SDC~
Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top
In fact, I have in mind that we could get a few fans grouped eachother and write a Gamespoting text for their weekly Gamespoting. I think they'd be enough content to talk about. Not just to acclaim, but really it's genuine in gaming places. There's alot to say about support after a game is released. Any1 serious would cooperate to write something serious, a page or 2?
Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top
I agree with everything TNTTony said. Stardock is the most amazing company I have ever seen. There is no one who provides this level of support. A great team and great guys. Do not be dismayed buy complainers and such. You have created the most loyal fan base I think there is.
Great work and my sincere appreciation!!

ap
Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top
The support for this game has been phenomonal.

Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top
Brad, as usual, some negative elements are everywhere. But indeed, look at all the posts that thank you for developing the game, the unbelievable support, how many ours you and your team spend on further improving the game, the great marketing concept, the 99.9 % loyal community, the continued efforts to even satisfy those who annou by "only to get see a bunch of posts complaining about mouse wheel behavior on some screen and posts by people saying the game is a "rip off" because they didn't like the user manual or people who treat the windowed version as if most games have a windowed version in the first place". And so on. You bet you have a hugh fanbase, don't let the bad posts influence or overwhelm you, it is common that a far minority tries to rule the world with shouting, complaining and far worse things ;) We stand behind you, believe in you and your team. :)
Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top
Brad:

It's just like the bonehead reviews that rated the AI low: Sure, you could focus on those and get bummed, or you could recall that those reviewers listed FPSs as their favorite genre etc etc.

It's a fine line, of course, between taking constructive criticism and ignoring idiocy! I'd say, though, the signal to noise ratio on this forum is the best I've ever seen for a game, and this is because you have released a superior game with superior support.

Trust me: From where I sit, you're doing all the right stuff and then some! :CONGRAT:
Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top
The thing that struck me when I first subscribed to Drengin Net (and continues to strike me more and more every day since) is that for the first time I've run into a software company that is being run the way I would run it myself.

By that I mean that I have absolutely nothing to complain about either the product or the service. (and I can pretty much easily find something to bitch about with most things in life.) ;)

Keep on truckin.

Elrikk

~SDC~
Reply #20 from Stardock Forums Top
Just to add another point...

Many games released comes with a small thin manual. Most people then complain about it. However, with GalCiv, Frogboy and colleagues are actually going to change this. They want to update the manual. What!!!!??? Again, as I said before: They don't need to do this!!! But they do and that to me says it all. Can someone name one company that actually update their user manual FOR THE CUSTOMERS???

Thank you again Frogboy, your support is above and beyond the call of duty (but don't stop :D )
Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top
TNTTony hit the nail right on the head with that letter. I'll only add that I've paid $50 to $60 for games and have gotten only one update/patch ever and sometimes none at all. If there were bugs, I had to learn to live with them. I bought GalCiv for $40 and have updated it several times already. Bugs and other issues are fixed almost daily. I have never seen nor heard of a company that gives this level of support. If I hadn't experienced it myself, I doubt that I would have believed it if someone had told me!

Frogboy, if you folks never released another update, I still would have gotten 10x what I expected when I bought this game. Thank you VERY much! (And please don't stop updating! LOL )
Reply #23 from Stardock Forums Top
Maybe I should take advantage of the support. I'm still playing the game right out of the chute, and now everyone's two versions ahead of me. I'm having so much fun (although given the last game I was playing was merely an exercise in hitting the turn button that may not be saying too much) I haven't wanted to take the 8 hours it will take on dial up to download. Do ya by any chance offer the updates on cdroms for a marginal fee? And do you have to get each in sequence or will the 1.03 cover all previus updates in it?

If anyone ever wants to see game and support done right vs game and support done dreadfully wrong, look no further than Galciv vs Moo3.

Reply #24 from Stardock Forums Top
PontiusBruinPilot, the stand alone 1.03 update will cover all previous updates. Downloading the patches won't take long actually...an hour maximum. I recommend SDC Central, cause you get incremental updates.

Another thing I forgot to add...

I hope you enjoy your weekend Frogboy!!!
Reply #25 from Stardock Forums Top
There will always be a small number of people totally dissatisfied with anything they get no matter how good, and your common Joe who likes the game can always think of a tweak or two that could be nice, but I think I can sum it all up in a sentence: Nice work and we appreciate the dedication. :)