Big Download's interview: Stardock's CEO talks about Elemental and other topics

 Thanks for the link. I didin't know that the interview had taken place. Was good to read it.

Here's another link, but its for a tower case mod afectionately dubbed "Kegputer" ( i want 2 of them ^^)

• http://www.pcworld.com/article/215751/nvidias_keg_pc_casemod_need_we_say_more.html

 EDIT: Going to post a thread Link to this forum in the "Is Elemental Worth It" (think i got the name wrong..lol damn, & I can't blame beer atm) forum. People debating about purschasing EWoM should read this article in my opinion.

I had just read this interview, and I must say, although I don't own elemental, I will be buying it post haste. For no other reason, then I want to support Brad Wardell. It is not often that you find true character in people these days, so it is refreshing to see some in this kind of business.

Brads willingness to Go into the red for the sake of the fans and his brands good name speaks huge volumes. Especially when contrasted to the vast majority of game companies these days.

Nice article. Makes me excited about the future of Elemental.

I'll definitely be buying a copy for my brother and one or two friends in the future.

I don't usually play fantasy games like Elemental, but I might give it a try.

Funny, the same sort of thing crossed my mind as well. I hesitate though, in the absence of a demo, as the fantasy might be a bit to high for my tastes.

Brad is one of the few business people i have knowledge of, (met only him only on these forums) with whom I would feel safe having as a business partner.  -ie, he has proved his commitment to humane ethics.  

And I don't write this lightly.  My first career was as a 'protestant' minister and chaplain, my second career was as a licensed nursing home administrator.  I've been privy to almost 1/2 a century of business and financial 'doings.'  It ain't pretty.

IMHO, the state of business ethics, in general, (at least outside the mon-and-pop stores - where business IS personal), is pretty much a savage-animalistic affair.  Forgive me for insulting the hyena's of the Lion Kings realm!  Froggy's commitment to his word is to be admired, and ought to be emulated by all business leaders.  

Throughout Elementals process of software updates, and assorted high profile events, I keep reading people saying that they will Now buy the game, wherefore they had previously not been intending to.  Some folks have gone so far to say that they aren't much interested in the TBS and/or Fantasy genres; but due to Stardocks high level of commitment towards post-release support, they will or already have, bought the game.  Reading these testimonials makes me happy :~) For it tells me that there are still some of us consumers who value a commitment for quality.  Elemental was released in a sub-par state and got absolutely hammered by the critics.  Yet despite the damaging press, sales of the game are increasing.... evenwhile the game is still mid-way in the improvement stage.  

This all bodes well for us gamers I think.  Execs follow the money.  Gamers are spending money on a game that was universally viewed as having been released in a sub-par state.   These unusually high post release sales have to be contributed at least in part, to Stardocks unusually high level of post release support.  Hopefully this leads to other producers/publishers mending their cheesy assed ways.  I for one, grew bitter at having to buy two expansions in order to see my game of Civ4 partially fixed.  Overtime, the publisher of that game lost all the goodwill I had towards the franchise.  Eventually they lost my patronage of two games which I would have otherwise been assured to acquire.  If they can't gauge the negative cash flow due to their own poor support, then perhaps their greed will cause them to take notice of the positive cashflow of the Elemental/Stardock phenomena. ? One can only hope.  But still, I wish Sid Meier and Company would cut their losses and all jump ship to Stardock :~)