A few months ago, TPM 2008 stop functioning. I had purchased this game in 2008 and installed in on THIS machine and it worked like a charm. For years. Suddenly, in late July or early August, it fails to start up anymore.

I took this to tech support. After days and days of back and forth e-mails, getting an fresh copy installed on my machine through e-mail, and running a diagnosis program, it was determined that my graphics drivers were not able to run this game. What. After just shy of 4 years of working perfectly? Nothing has changed.

When I brought to tech support's attention that it had been running perfectly all this time, they said there was nothing they could do and suggested I try to get the Gamestop ap (formerly under a different name that was eventually sold to Gamestop) to refund me.

What I don't understand is how no one can give an answer or figure out exactly why TPM 2008 suddenly won't work for me after years of completely successful running. It feels like Stardock is trying to bury that game, telling other people who want to buy it that, "It's no longer available. Check Amazon or something like that if you really want it." What is going on here? How can you not stand by a product and shrug your shoulders at people who have bought/are interested in buying this product?

Before I start to sound like liondemocrats, I'll get to the real point of this message: has any other player out there had a similar experience? Can anybody offer a solution? I've bought TPM 2012 so if you're just going to try and sell me on it, know that I've already got it and do enjoy it, but that it is a fundamentally inferior product.

Don't get me wrong. I love playing the 2012 campaign and enjoy the same humor I enjoyed in the previous game and I don't have buyer's remorse, I just think that 2012 could have been a mere expansion or add-on. Yes, I have heard the reasons, that Stardock wanted to offer this for a cheaper price to help the consumer, and that part makes sense. I don't get the "we felt like we should focus on just the presidential campaign and not worry about the silly extras," part. That was a great deal of the fun, and it smacks more to me as a way to get a bunch of new customers and hopefully market to a larger audience while keeping costs down by not dealing with the extra scenarios and the scenarios where you unlock all the historical presidents. Again, that's all well and good if you don't simultaneously tell people "if you want scenarios buy the other game" and then "we don't sell the other game." Aren't you missing out on a certain demographic that may play 2012 and think, "I want much more," and desire to purchase '08? It's not like the graphics, shows, or anything under the hood has much changed since that game, so it still stands up perfectly well. Just my thoughts as a long-time player, occasional forum-poster, and even contributor to wincustomize.com's Political Candidates gallery. 

Thanks for anybody who cares to read this, and any and all suggestions would be welcome.