Ok everyone, the latest PC Gamer lists the top 49 greatest PC game devs and companies, purposefully leaving one out for the community to decide. I was utterly disappointed not to see Stardock or Frogboy anywhere on the list! So everyone email letters@pcgamer.com and let them know why Stardock should be #50. Some examples I included were:
1. No DRM/Disc in drive
2. Meaningful expansions w/community input, improved graphics & performance
3. Impulse forcing Steam to be competative
4. Gamers Bill of Rights
5. GalCiv2!
You guys think of some more and flood their inboxes!
Sent a scathing somewhat long email to PCG chastising them on their colossal error for not giving SD it proper respect.
I've also added a few lines.
Stardock is a very good company and I think everybody should know.
Thanks guys. Personally, I don't think Stardock is worthy to be in the top 50 of all time but we are delighted to think some people feel tha tway.
I'm afraid I agree with (the modest) Brad. Admittedly, I have not seen this article and I don't know the criteria that were applied, but as much as I like and admire Stardock (and I do very much) I think their output to date is somewhat small to rank them so highly. Unless I am missing something, Stardock's ouevre consists of one very good game (GCII, which I would consider an improved, more fully realized version of GCI, so not two games), one decidedly mediocre game (the budget priced Political Machines, which again I'd consider one game), and some undefined input into the development of another very good game, Ironclad's SOASE. While impressive for a small, niche developer, it seems a little low to be considred among the greatest of all time. And while GCII is very, very good, in my (obviously) subjective opinion it is not on the level of games so classic that creation of that game alone would be sufficient to make the list. Examples might be Bioware, if it had never developed any game but Baldur's Gate, id merely for Doom, New World Computing for HOMM alone, Microprose for Civ or CivII alone, Firaxis for either SMAC or CivIV alone (those devs are on the list, I hope). I am a big fan of Stardock, so I don't mean this post to be critical (though it will inevitably be so considered by fanboys), but merely a dash of realism.
their output to date is somewhat small to rank them so highly
I am not arguing with you (fan but not fanboy) but it depends on if the criteria is quantity or quality based.
If there is a quantity aspect then you are correct - if quality alone is the criteria then they should defeintely be considered.
Also, by quality I do not simply mean the original product - stardock are one of the best for long term support of their games. There are very few others who come close in my experience.
Well, I specifically addressed this issue in my post. One game would be enough, if it's good enough (and by good, I mean an innovative classic). By that standard, Doom, Civ, HOMM singly would be sufficient. Whille I think GCII is a very good game, I would not place it on the levels of those. Admittedly, that is my opinion, but what else can we go by? Yours may differ. And I wholeheartedly agree with you on Stardock's support, both of the game and of its customers; it is likely unmatched in the industry. (Especially since Paradox's support level seems to have declined, i.e., fewer patches, requiring payment for "expansions" that Stardock would give us for free. Napoleon's Ambition, anyone?) But it does not chnage my opinion if we are looking solely at the quality of the game development itself.
In that case you'll just have to wait for Elemental.
No doubt.
add 'humble' or 'modest' to the list!
I personally would like to see stardock on the list and have no doubt that they will, but they need more time to develop. I forsee -stardock someday being known as one of "those awesome companies" that everybody wants to work for and is excited to wait for the next big release (examples include: blizzard, Nintendo, Capcom, and Konami. Just to name a few ) But right now is not at that point. Right now, nobody except us 'core gamers' know who they are.
Quoting from the article:
"For some, their presence on the list is a simple matter of having released nothing but great games that elevated their reputation from mere mortals to legendary beings. For others, it might be one moment that redefined what it meant to be a PC Gamer." (My emphasis)
I think that Stardock could definitely fall under the one moment category at least. GalCiv2 redefined what expansion packs should be, and the gamers bill of rights is the only instance of a publisher addressing the DRM problem in an out of the box way. Impulse is new, but it is already challenging Steam and appears to be heading for second place behind them, which is a tremendous feat in so short a time. I think they deserve it.
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