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TotalGaming Phase 2 Preview..

TotalGaming Phase 2 Preview..

Here are the details..

Things are about to get very exciting for TotalGaming.net subscribers. We are about to embark upon TotalGaming.net: Phase 2.

First off, existing TotalGaming.net subscribers are going to be getting two new games shortly: Hacker Elite and Nexagon.

Shortly after that, we’ll be going into phase 2. It will be a different type of subscription model than what we’ve had before but one that we think will benefit gamers and developers more so than the current system.

TotalGaming.net Phase 2 will change to be as follows:

Price: $69.95
Time: 2-years
Tokens: 10

In the current system, a user pays $89 to receive all the games available plus what we come out with for one year. On paper, it sounds terrific. But in reality, it creates a real challenge to keep getting new content onto the system.

In the new system, different games will cost differing amounts of tokens. For instance, The Political Machine would cost 2 tokens. Celtic Kings would cost 2 tokens. Galactic Civilizations would cost 3 tokens, and so forth. The user would have 2 full years to use their tokens. If the tokens are used up before then, they can purchase booster packs at $34.95 for 5 more tokens at a time.

Through this system, game developers will be able to receive royalties based on the popularity of their individual game. This enables Stardock to provide newer games from a larger variety of sources for the player to choose from.

Existing TotalGaming.net customers would be transitioned to the new system. On the day of Phase 2’s launch, existing TotalGaming.net active subscribers would get all the existing games on TotalGaming.net automatically.

On top of that, they will receive 10 tokens to use on future games and two years to use them. This has the advantage of ensuring that players who want to get Galactic Civilizations II (for instance) don’t have to worry that it will come out after their subscription expires (it’ll be definitely out within the next year or so, let alone two).

Needless to say, if you haven’t already gotten TotalGaming.net, now’s the best time to get it since existing TotalGaming.net users end up with the best of both worlds.

And for game developers, the new system enables them to receive royalties on the tokens spent on their game. Games can still, of course, be purchased stand-alone.

Stardock also has a massively multiplayer real time strategy in development that will be available first in beta for TotalGaming.net subscribers.

If you’re a game developer and want to have your game distributed on TotalGaming.net, contact [email protected].

To learn more, visit http://www.totalgaming.net
8,101 views 67 replies
Reply #26 Top
The only extra wish I have is that the games are already patched, and when/if there is a new patch, to be able to apply that one.


If a game has been patched at the time we add it to the service, it'll be pre-patched when someone goes to purchase it with their tokens. Additionally, when new patches are released they'll show up on Stardock Central as new versions (like Stardock's other products), and you'll only need to download the files you need, rather than the whole program again.
Reply #27 Top
So I guess those whose account expired before they could get the additional two games that were promised for last year aren't going to be compensated for that?
Reply #29 Top
I think alot of the arguement is over semantics , sure we were never promised in those exact words, but we were lead to believe that there would be more games. Maybe that is the issue?

One thing about the old system was that the subscribers had no feedback on what games we get. I didn't really care for most of the games... but thats the way the system works. I think Space Empires 4 Gold would be a great edition. Which is tricky, you can't make everyone happy. Maybe before a game is thought about being added, an interest poll can be taken? Of course , this caters to the active board type people, which may not be the majority of the subscribers.

With the new system this is not as much of a problem, if I don't like a game, Im not paying for it. But with 10 tokens, (minus 5 for GC2 of course), it doesnt leave much for many other games. So it seems the TG will become much less used (for myself anyways). 2 or 3 games over 2 years, as opposed to the large amount I could get with the old system.

Just some idle thoughts



Reply #30 Top
If a game has been patched at the time we add it to the service, it'll be pre-patched when someone goes to purchase it with their tokens. Additionally, when new patches are released they'll show up on Stardock Central as new versions (like Stardock's other products), and you'll only need to download the files you need

That is the standard way of getting patches with Stardock Central: only needed files are uploaded. But there is currently a minor issue for those who have an expired Drengin.net account. Look at this thread https://www.galciv.com/forum.asp?BID=GF&id=194807, post 19 and 20.

Reply #31 Top
Yarlen,

Ah, I didn't check back with that thread. I agree that I've received EXCEPTIONAL value from TotalGaming (though I really haven't played most of those games, I mostly upgraded to get the GalCiv expansion and The Corporate Machine). But what I find disappointing is the fact that a promise that was made wasn't delivered on, and as a result of that, I got less than what I was supposed to get. I'll probably renew when GalCiv2 starts being beta tested, I already own Uplink: Hacker Elite and the other game doesn't look appealing to me.

Having said that, I'm curious about one thing on Phase 2. The idea sounds like you're actually buying games using the tokens; so I'd like to know if it's possible to get standalone installers for the games you buy using the tokens?
Reply #32 Top
Having said that, I'm curious about one thing on Phase 2. The idea sounds like you're actually buying games using the tokens; so I'd like to know if it's possible to get standalone installers for the games you buy using the tokens?


Do you mean being able to install a game without using Stardock Central (i.e., you get a huge exe, double click it and the game installs)? I'm not sure why you'd need/want that. Once you spend your tokens on a game, you can access it using SDC anytime, even if you let your subscription end, plus archive it if you like.
Reply #33 Top
That is the standard way of getting patches with Stardock Central: only needed files are uploaded. But there is currently a minor issue for those who have an expired Drengin.net account. Look at this thread https://www.galciv.com/forum.asp?BID=GF&id=194807, post 19 and 20.


If that's the case with someone, they need to email [email protected] for assistance.
Reply #34 Top
Yeah, I mean a huge .exe. I don't really like using SDC (plus I play some games emulated in Linux and I can't get SDC working there).

BTW, for some reason the Quote button doesn't seem to work for me in Firefox.
Reply #35 Top

Reply #33 By: Yarlen - 2/25/2005 2:15:35 PM
That is the standard way of getting patches with Stardock Central: only needed files are uploaded. But there is currently a minor issue for those who have an expired Drengin.net account. Look at this thread https://www.galciv.com/forum.asp?BID=GF&id=194807, post 19 and 20.




If that's the case with someone, they need to email [email protected] for assistance.

I know, but you shouldn't be in that case if Totalgaming.net works as supposed. And I am wondering why this situation has happen, if it is fixed or if it will be fixed. I can make an educated guess: currently, only the latest version of the game appears. And the latest date of the update of the game (ie date of the latest patch) is checked against the rights, instead of the date associated to the initial release of the game.
More, you can't download a specific version of a game, always the latest version. And sometimes, the new version can generated game breaking bugs. In this case, you really thanks to have activated auto archive on update

Reply #36 Top
Okay, so what you're saying is that you'd prefer the ability to download the original version of a game, then each patch version independantly instead of automatically being brought to the latest version automatically?
Reply #37 Top
Okay, so what you're saying is that you'd prefer the ability to download the original version of a game, then each patch version independantly instead of automatically being brought to the latest version automatically?

No. Just that there isn't any way to get a previous version if the latest is screwed. Everyone should be aware of this.
And I think (but I could be wrong), that for checking rights, the date of the latest version is checked against the expiration date of the subscription, meaning that someone who has an expired subscription couldn't download the latest patch or download the whole game even if he has previously downloaded when his subscription was active. Hopefully this will fixed with the new version of Total gaming.net

Reply #38 Top
I believe I see your concern (and no, that's not how things are checked - at least not anymore). Once you've bought a game via TotalGaming, it's yours to download in the future even if your subscription expires. You will always have access to it, including any patches that come out for it in the future. In terms of maintaining older versions (i.e., 1.0 instead of 1.01), that's what the archive function is for in SDC (I just leave auto-archive on myself). We will also be testing patched versions to make sure that they work before unleashing them on our customers, just as we test now before placing new games on the service (in fact, I'm testing out Nexagon currently) .
Reply #39 Top
Everyone keeps saying that you can redownload the games that you had during your subscription even after your subscription runs out. This is just not true for some of us. After my subscription ran out, I had a new laptop that I wanted to put a few of the games on and I attempted to download them and each time it asked me to purchase them. I have since resubscribed, but it was very disheartening to find out that I COULD NOT REDOWNLOAD games after my subscription ended.
Reply #40 Top
CiPerl - that's because that feature hadn't been implemented yet. It's in the process of being implemented presently. But you WILL be able to get them even if your subscription has already expired.
Reply #41 Top
Ahhh... that makes sense. It's all good anyway, since I resubscribed just the other day. (Though I did let the subscription lapse for almost a year).
Reply #42 Top
now not to get anyone upset but I have several questions bout this....and 1 complaint...read through the thread and some people said that stardock did not truely promise a game a month from aug till the end of 2004 each month....well I went looking through the gal civ 1 forums and what ya know.....HE DID
heres the link

https://www.galciv.com/forum.asp?id=181951&BID=GF&page=1#183059

Tomorrow Drengin.net dies. In its place is TotalGaming.net which is essentially Drengin.net + third party games. Instead of only Stardock games being on the gaming network, third party games get added as well.
And if you already have a Drengin.net subscription, you are automatically upgraded to TotalGaming.net free of charge.
We're launching it with 3 good games: Disciples II: Ultimate Edition (we took all the Disciples II and expansion packs and merged them together to create a new game), Orb, and Celtic Kings.

Then we're going to add a new game each month for the rest of the year as we prepare our 2005 line up of games.

ummmm if thats not flat out saying it, then Brad, not to get ya upset then WHAT exactly did you really mean?

my 2 cents worth is I like things the way they are especially if theres no demo's to try the games before hand

sorry if anyone misunderstands my point but when ya promise something on a public website.....you should at least try to do it I understand alot of stuff happened at the end of the yr last year but if you couldn't have done it you shouldn't have said ya would....
Reply #43 Top
A forum post is not the same as some official announcement. Moreover, as I said, our INTENTION was to put more games on there by the end of the year. The announcement was clear: Stardock's PLANS to add more games. That one can find a single forum post that makes that less clear only suggests that Stardock people should not participate as much in the forums which I think would be a negative. Official announcements always trump any sort of off the cuff forum post.

The primary point still stands: Anyone whose subscription has expired or will expire any time soon purchased Drengin.net long before TotalGaming.net came into existence. For those users, all these games were essentially "extra" stuff they almost certainly weren't expecting.
Reply #44 Top
I just want to hug Frogboy!
Thanks Brad, this model looks wonderful. I got into Drenging.net and extended it all because of Galciv, and with this new model I will be able to get Galciv II no matter what! I'm happy I have been able to support Stardock in this way, and I have been very well repaid.

Thanks again, and keep the good times rolling!
Reply #45 Top
As a new subscriber to TG.net (who may, because of being new, find it easier to take a neutral stance here), I think Brad's last paragraph really contains the most important point. Every customer *will* get what he paid for.

Some customers get a part of the package (about 1/6 of it) some months later than scheduled. Of course it would have been better if the games had been delivered on time, and I'm sure no one at Stardock is glad about the delay. However, delays *do* happen, and it has been stated several times now that the games *will* be delivered, and will be delivered soon. It's not as if we preordered Duke Nukem Whenever here.

From this perspective, I don't think it's really relevant whether the "one additional game per month" was a "plan" or a "promise". The customers who paid for the games will get them, that's what matters.

There might however (I'm not sure) have been some lack of communication between Stardock and TG.net customers, which may have led to frustration among some customers, which in turn may influence their recent reactions. If that was indeed the case, then I'd understand the frustration, and I'd ask both sides to work on improving the communication again. With Brian Clair we now have someone specifically in charge for TG.net, so the chances shouldn't be too bad.
Reply #46 Top
Well said, I'm here now gang. Please feel free to give me a shout whenever and I'll do my best to help out asap.
Reply #47 Top
again I meant no disrespect or anything....I just took Brad's forum post as an announcement...hey he is the boss of stardock ya know so sorry Brad if ya took the message the wrong way.... as for the games yes they were unexpected all I expected to see before mine expires in june was pol machine and maybe the early gal civ 2 betas....I have full intention of renewing the tg subscription in June.....
Reply #48 Top
Yarlen, see if you can get Space Empires 4 Gold
Reply #49 Top
Ok, I have read this thread, but haven't found anyone asking one of the questions I had. Most others are accounted for, except this...

There are only a few really 'new' games on the system as it stands now. These games when they are put out, 20-30buck range from the looks. The other games, are 2+ years old, and at retail NOW, would be in the bargain bin, 10bucks give or take, maybe 15 bucks they might be worth...

So, I would support a system that tracked retail price in reality, but not the mind of the software publishers. Most games have a shelf life of a month give or take at its starting retail price, unless its a wizbang seller. Then it starts going down, and rightfully so. After a year, unless your microsoft, the retail price SHOULD be at 20bucks or less. So, my concern, if you are going to be charging 2 tokens lets say for celtic kings which is at least 2 years old by now, and you don't see that ANYWHERE on retail shelves unless someone trades it in or something, then that to me is not a good deal. It may be considered retail price, without any discounts is what that is to me.

Now, if you were to just release galCIV2, retail price on shelves is 49.99 without best buy, or EB having thier special 39.99 opening day special, then ya, a 5 token, 35buck value, could be considered a deal. However Keep it 5 tokens for over a year, or even over 6 months, depending on its 'real' retail shelf price, then your in wishful thinking category and trying to fleece in my opinion.
Now don't get me wrong, I think the old system where you paid for a years subscription was a good value for my money. I accepted the fact there were 2+year old games on the system, and there were some newer ones that might not be 'blockbuster' the galciv games are probly the biggest game on the sub, but I don't get into that type of game as much as a good RTS, or action game. But, again I accepted it, and figured the overall tgame value was there so I purchased a subscription. Now with the new system, you aren't buying a subscription per se, as buying new games on credit, hoping for good games to come out in 2 years to use tokens on...content HAS to be there in this type of system.
Reply #50 Top
I agree, the pricing structure of the old system was ok to a point....right now any and all of the games there would be in the 4.99-9.99 bargain bin anyplace....but not here.....the other thing that bugs me is the time frame....if you're going to this token bit...why have a expiration date on em at all? we bought em we use em as we see fit as well as when we see fit....also the prices on here need to reflect real world prices....worth the most when their new....less as time goes by...