Stardock 2014 Customer Report

from GalCiv3 Forums

One of the ways we like to thank our customers here at Stardock is through our annual reports, compiled and authored by Stardock President and CEO Brad Wardell.

This year’s report, as always, combines a look at Stardock’s recent past and its future plans, analysis of the software and gaming industries, and statistics and observations from a survey of thousands of our customers.

Some of the tidbits from this year’s report:

  • Stardock is interested in game consoles for the first time in its history, thanks to the power and ease of development on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One

  • We can’t wait to start 3D printing Galactic Civilizations III starships, and seeing what players’ creations look like in real life

  • iOS and Android development “more closely resemble a lottery system” than a viable market

  • Object Desktop Infinite is coming, allowing customers to access the full suite of Stardock’s desktop enhancements for just $3.99 per month

  • Almost twice as many Stardock customers own Android devices compared to iOS machines

  • Stardock customers are evenly split on Windows 8 – 39% have a positive opinion, while 39% have a negative perception


The full report can be downloaded here

31,824 views 11 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

 thanks to the power and ease of development on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One


Resist the urge! Don't let the allure of free money overcome you!

:D

I'm looking forwards to the next Sins of a Solar Empire; I noticed that the file listed it under "Active" franchises. Interesting... Perhaps that's the Oxide engine game?

Reply #2 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I'm *meh* on either PS4 or XB1 development. StarDock has the numbers, so I'm perfectly fine with them making the decision.  I obviously only really care about maintaining a PC platform.

 

:-)

 

And, in that vein, PLEASE, NO WINDOWS 8-SPECIFIC STUFF.  Win7 is almost certainly going to be the baseline standard for a decade, and Win9 will almost certainly deprecate Win8 just as fast as Win7 did to Vista.  When Win9 comes out in a couple of years, the value of optimizing/targetting that release can be re-evaluated. But just ignore Win8 as a specifically-targetted platform. Trust me. It's for everyone's sake.

 

Star Control: Origins
Reply #3 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Early next year I am getting a 3d printer and I was also gonna print myself some of my favorite ships sci fi ships (games, movies, and shows) for myself and see what I could do with it business wise (not related to printing ships).  

 

Good to see your expanding and doing well (holy crap 16 projects!) 

Reply #4 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Stardock is interested in game consoles for the first time in its history, thanks to the power and ease of development on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One

My heart sank on this one. As a primarily PC gamer ( I bought a PS3 fairly early on, but never ended up getting more than like 6 games for it, my Steam library, on the other hand, is ridiculous) I have seen a number of PC franchises that have been ruined by an effort to port to consoles. So on behalf of others like me, I ask you to keep console and PC development separate. I don't object at all to you guys making console games, I hope you have a ton of luck with that, but please keep GalCiv, Sins, and Elemental properties PC-only and continue to develop new PC-exclusive content.

 

EDIT: I wrote this before reading actual report. In context I am a lot less nervous about this. That said, I don't think I'm the only PC gamer who feels immediately threatened when one of their favorite developers starts talking about developing for consoles. We have been burned before.

Reply #5 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Great reading, as always. Thank you for the effort. :thumbsup:

Reply #6 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

That was a nice read. I assume you don't publish any financial reports seeing you are a private company?

 

On the topic on consoles, with 8 games in development at the same time, i would be very surprised if they were all pc exclusives. 

Reply #9 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting Joeyramone7400, reply 7

I won't buy GC3 because you never fixed GC2 AI. You're most likely to do the same again.

 

I'm not sure why Stardock would see the need to "fix" what is widely seen as one of the greatest AIs every produced for a video game.

Reply #10 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

This makes me very happy! I had no idea that Stardock founded Oxide Games and Mohawk Games! The new Nitrous Engine will be a game changer and I like the hint that Sins of a Solar Empire might get a sequel. That is probably one of my favorite games and it doesn't even have a campaign! And it's Stardock's best selling game! We really need a new one and a campaign to explain the wonders of that universe!

I wish the best of luck to Stardock and all who they work with! Here's to another good year!

Reply #11 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

I sold my Xbox One and PS4 because they suck. I only play games on my PC and my android devices.