Ok...This is a bit silly

I find it completely dumb that they won't give a refund because its missing multiplayer.  Apparently missing a huge chunk of the game doesn't count as a "technical issue".  Stardock has pretty much lost all of my respect at this point.

One more suggestion...please allow for IP games as opposed to just a dedicated server. This is what separates the "classics" from the "also rans"!

With the current state of the game I really wonder if multiplayer is anywhere near ready.  Probably they just started adding multiplayer on the 24th.

Pretty sure they will give a refund.

The "refund" topic is actualy one of the biggest doubt I have atm, I personally know at least 4 people who got it, no question asked in the last 48 h, but apparently a lot of people are posting in the forums about the customer support running in circle, I have no reason to believe such people are lying so I don't know what to say!

As for MP, I can understand that's a MAJOR letdown, but in my view, at this point we all know more or less about the problems elemental had at launch, you can either stick with it and help the restoration project (admittedly having to spend 40 euros just to do that could be considered lame by some people) or decide it is not your cup of tea.

For those in the latter category, try to get a refund or leave the game on the shelf for 4-6 months. For the rest, Multiplayer should be a non-issue, mainly because if the fundamental parts of the game are flawed, you'll hardly have a satisfactory (ahem, spelling?) multiplayer experience, while the resources needed to support and balance multiplayer could be used to balance the game and squash the bugs still remaining after 1.7

That said (and please, don't get me wrong, all the above is just an opinion) I think the Devs are intentioned to make MP available as soon as possible

Some people are having more problems getting refunds then others, I'm really not sure why. But the idea that anybody who expected to be able to play MP is having a problem is pretty outrageous. In this area there's nothing subjective about it: the game flat out doesn't do what it's advertised to be able to do.

If you live in a country with stronger consumer protection laws, some people have reminded Stardock that they're breaking the law by not honoring refunds for what amounts to a defective product in the MP area, and that's gotten the job done. For Americans, you seem to be more or less screwed.

The lesson seems to be after Demigod and then this is that if you're looking for functional MP, stuff put out by Stardock isn't the place to look. And as a Stardock fan, that's a sad state of affairs.

Stardock didn't make Demigod.

They did publish it. There's a Stardock logo on the box.  The only two games I've ever bought where it was weeks before multiplayer worked were both Stardock published titles.

I'm not sure what other message I'm supposed to take from that.

the Demigod issue has been fully explained many times now, but most recently Brad said three paragraphs worth on the 5th.  Here's a partial quote and the link:

"Q: Your act is getting old. Fool me once on Demigod, fool me twice, shame on me! [got this too in various forms]

A: The Demigod debacle ultimately resulted from a fundamental communication failure between the publisher (Stardock) and the developer (Gas Powered Games). It took us a long time to figure out exactly how the connectivity issue occurred (i.e. many months)."

https://forums.elementalgame.com/395485/page/2/#2759121

as for multiplayer, in that very same thread, Brad says this:

"Q: What is Stardock’s plan for Elemental going forward?

A: For the immediate future we’re going to go down two paths. First, the v1.0x versions will continue to focus largely on compatibility (crashing or weird video issues) as well as bugs and turning on multiplayer.

Then, we will work on v1.1 which will serve as our answer to player feedback."

and this

"After the release of v1.08 (this week) I intend..."

* I didn't look at the dates properly, I thought this was from after the 5th.  My fault.  I also wanted to add a link to the refund policy:

https://forums.elementalgame.com/395366

When I contacted support in an attempt to obtain a refund I was only offered 75% refund.  I was tolds that no multiplay was not a technical issue and they only give full refunds for technical problems they are unable to resolve.

So much for useful DRM like impulse.

True they did explain.  But at what point do explinations become excuses?  When they release a third product that is incomplete?  Next time it might be a communication issue with between the Devs.... 

Actually American laws protect consumers from false advertising last time I checked.  Maybe most American don't realize this.  I think most Americans are ignorant.... Or they think that Game companies are magical and function under different laws than other companies.... or maybe a $50 game isn't worth the trouble since taking legal action in the U.S. can be expensive and time consuming. 

Don't know....

If your really having problems getting a refund.... have you tried the BBB? 

http://www.bbb.org/eastern-michigan/business-reviews/product-sales-general/stardock-corporation-in-plymouth-mi-54002481/

http://www.bbb.org/eastern-michigan/business-reviews/incorporating-companies/stardock-systems-inc-in-plymouth-mi-36011570/

Maybe they can help you out.

Seriously?

That's ridiculous.

I was told the exact same thing.  I bought the game for multiplayer, and its been like a month and its still not here.  They wouldn't give me a full refund for the missing chunk of the game.

I feel like I've been ripped off, but at least now I know that the "Gamers bill of rights" that Stardock wrote was just a publicity stunt to get good will.

But hey, at least Civ 5 is out in a week.  I know they won't disappoint me.

I'm a bit disappointed too... the main reason I bought this game was to play on lan with friends... and after a month I'm still unable to do so.

I'll keep waiting in silence as I have done till now. My only fear is that multiplayer is going to be a dumbed down version of the single player game... we know that tactical battles aren't going to be in for now... but what else? I smell other things are going to be removed or simplified.

All I want is to be able to play the single player sandbox mode in multiplayer.