http://www.shacknews.com/onearticle.x/65443
If not, you guys might want to respond to this.
I think I'd have to draw the line on that one.
What do you guys think of making high quality casual games?
They may not be grand-scale epic strategy, but games like Plants vs. Zombies and Bejeweled are fun and don't cost nearly as much to make. They can supplement Stardock's revenue and help you guys get that second games team back one day.
Might be a good idea. Stardock has never showed us a real high end graphical capability like Demigod or Sins or Sup Com etc. iPhone games FTW!
Just curious, is the layoff precipitated from the new sales forecast on Elements (due to bad reviews?), or is it from the promise that SD will only work on Elements for a year, which means that there's no other game revenue stream for at least a year? I was going to say that if the sales numbers are holding, then you might want to shift some development people around to get Elemental wrapped up earlier, and then devote resources to the next game.
The faster you can close the book on Elemental the earlier Stardock can recover (financial and reputation wise) from this fiasco. Of course, that means actually fixing the game, and not abandoning it.
At least it's not Elementary: War of Schools.
I do think this means that next project post-Elemental might have to be GalCiv3. GalCiv name is still pretty valuable.
Shame for all the missing employees- hopefully the application side gets a boost so they can get hired there.
As for casual games- didn't Cari get hired on at Stardock for doing Lightweight Ninja?
I, for one, am still here to support you guys and hope you're able to bring back some of those let go. Unfortunately you're a smaller developer and a deviation from the plan has led to people losing their jobs, while larger companies may have been able to absorb more of the blow, but in the end I'm happy you guys are still operational and committed. That will be paid back by people who recognize your goodwill towards us users ... and your own employees.
Aw, I didn't realize the launch for Elemental was really that bad, the forums were always so lively before and after launch. Well if it means anything I've bought the LE of the game and destiny's ember and I'll continue to support in anyway that I can. Good luck!
Your not a very nice person, I would have used much harsher language but I wont.
Here's to better days.
Thank you for the genuine and honest statement, Brad. As someone who was subject to very secretive layoffs from an otherwise small tightknit company during the tech bust, I find your forthrightness enduring.
I love my dragon. Thanks, Elemental team.
Sad news indeed and my thoughts goes to you all that got hit by this.
I'm sorry it had to come to this but I can't say it's a big surprise.
Sure Elemental has some issues which mainly boil down to featuritis, but it shows that it's a work of love. I'm sure all staff did an awesome job and everybody on the forums and irc have been super nice. As a modding platform and software in general, Elemental is pretty solid and I'm sure Stardock and the modding community will come up with great additions and changes to the game.I'd like to express my sincere support to the people who were laid off and to the rest of Stardock who - I am sure - will spare no efforts to redeem Elemental from its chaotic launch. I hope SD will get back on its feet quickly and bring back the good people to work on more awesome projects.
Best wishes on your road to recovery Stardock! I'm sure you have the potential to regain the lost ground. Keep it up!
The only reason I haven't bought it is because I can't find any demo.
Bugs wouldn't really put me off.
I believe there will be a demo at some point, though I would expect the priority right now is to work on the high priority issues for customers. I would hope to see one in September/early October, but that is just a personal guess.
a sad day. our thoughts are with everyone affected.
Damn. Now I wish I had of bought two copies of Elemental.
I truly appreciate the open and honest response from the company--I've had very unfortunate experiences with other companies, and I don't even think Elementals is half as problematic as some of the games I've played. (EA's Sims 3 horror show... I now refuse to buy anything with the EA logo on it.)
I have to agree about the distribution issues. My husband and I waited anxiously for the release of Elemental: WoM and up until the week before launch, stores here (Finland) had the release date as To Be Announced. Finally we realized that we'd have to purchase the download if we wanted to try the game--and that's not the most comfortable option for us. The shipping on the disk version was far too high for us to order the disk and the download. (That really bothers me.)
There are problems with this game for sure, but I've been able to play it and enjoy it a LOT even before the latest update. Unlike Sims 3, which was just unplayable and went from bad to worse with updates.
Thanks for not being EA. Seriously!
Sorry to hear for those being let go.
This.
Firstly, very sorry to hear the news of layoffs. Very difficult times and I really feel for you all at Stardock.
Looks like the brand 'Elemental' will most like carry a lot of negative baggage now. I'd be looking to move on from Elemental once the basic promises have been met (multiplayer, stability, balance etc).
Take the engine and the good concepts from the game, fix the bad concepts, and rebrand it as a new game. I wouldn't be calling it Elemental II though. Allow the current Elemental owners the new game at half-price and everything would be sweet.
Best wishes to those affected by the fallout, may they find new homes that are as comfortable and friendly as Stardock seems to be.
Also, I don't think the brand name Elemental will be tainted overall by the poor launch of this game. Too many consumers nowadays expect first iteration launches of games to match up almost point for point to game brands and studios with decades worth of experience within their game genres.
GalCiv and GalCiv2 are good examples. GalCiv is a first iteration game, and while the game borrows heavily from The Civ brand, it is unique enough in the new features and concepts to be a fun play even when compared to Civ.
Elemental is in the same boat, but it only looks like the main issue was the combination of too many genres with too little systems testing, but for a first iteration game I am more then impressed. With Stardock's reputation for continuing development and expansions on their games I have a feeling by the time they put Elemental down it will have pulled a phoenix impression.
Also Frogboy and Stardock in general, can I make a completely selfish request? I don't know how many people ever played the series, but could it be bounced around some the idea of a game similar to New Horizons series? I really miss that game, and always wish some company would resurrect it.
My biggest surprise in all this: Galciv II uses Pear?!?
As a former Stardockian, the hardest part about leaving is that it's such a close group and leaving is more than not working there. It's a loss of family. I really miss being there day-to-day.
My thoughts are going out to those laid off.
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