Yarlen Yarlen

Everything You Want to Know About TotalGaming.Net Phase 2

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Everything You Want to Know About TotalGaming.Net Phase 2

A FAQ for Existing and Future TotalGaming Members

from JoeUser Forums

Stardock Entertainment has just relaunched its TotalGaming.net electronic distribution service with new features, games, a redesigned website and more. As part of the relaunch, we have transitioned all of our current TotalGaming.net subscribers to our new Token-based payment system in an unprecedented upgrade program. In the following article you'll find details on everything you need to know about the next evolution of the TotalGaming service.

What Will Current TotalGaming Subscribers Get Out of the Upgrade?

Any TotalGaming subscriber with an active account on June 10, 2005 will be automatically upgraded with the following benefits:

  • Galactic Civilizations II: Dread Lords Final & Beta 2 (a $44.95 value)*
  • Permanent access to all of the games released on TotalGaming prior to June 10th (over a DOZEN games!)
  • 10 Tokens to spend on the new games released onto TotalGaming (a $69.95 value)*
  • Future Beta access to our new MMORTS - Society *

How Much Will a New TotalGaming Membership Cost?

New customers can become TotalGaming.net members for just $69.95 which comes with 10 Tokens.

How Do the Tokens Work?

Each game available through TotalGaming.net costs a certain number of Tokens (for example, Galactic Civilizations II costs 5 tokens). Members can use their Tokens to purchase any of the games available through the network.

Why Use Tokens at All?

The new Token system gives us a far greater level of flexibility than what we used in the past, allowing us to sign on more games than before with a wider range of developers and publishers. In addition, the Token system gives customers a significant discount over the standalone price of the games available through the network.

And if you don't like tokens, no problem, all the games are available for purchase stand-alone.

What If I Use All of My Tokens?

We have two types of Booster Packs available:  5 Token Booster Packs are available for $34.95 and 10 Token Booster Packs are available for $65.

What If I Don't Use My Tokens Before My Membership Expires?

TotalGaming memberships never expire for new customers (Subscribers from Phase 2 of TotalGaming.net or Drengin.net should see below). Tokens are yours to use whenever you like once you purchase them.

Do I Have to Be a TotalGaming.net Member to Buy Games From the Network?

No.  You can purchase games individually.  The reason for a TotalGaming.net membership is that if there are multiple games you want, then you would want to get a membership so you can get the games at a discount.

Can I Return a Game If I Don't Like It?

No, but nearly every game on the TotalGaming network has a demo version so that people can try before they buy; these are available for free download from the TotalGaming website. In addition, people can post on our Forums to see what others think about a particular title, read reviews from various gaming websites and more. This restriction does not apply for those who buy a game standalone.

What If I Can't Get a Game to Run?

If you have trouble getting a game to run, we'll work with you to resolve the problem. If we're unable to get the title to run on your PC, we'll escalate support to the developer of the program. If you still can't get the game to run after that, we'll refund your Tokens for that title.

What Happens to My Games If I Get a New PC or My Games Get Lost?

Once you purchase a game from TotalGaming, it's yours forever. You will be able to re-download the latest version of your games using our Stardock Central application at any point in the future.

Can I Backup My Games?

Absolutely. Stardock Central will allow you to archive the games you purchase through TotalGaming, which you may then copy to other media (i.e., CD, DVD, removable hard drive, etc.). You will need a copy of Stardock Central to reinstall your archives, however.

*  Limited time offer that expires September 30, 2005.  Users whose accounts would have expired by June 30, 2005 that have not logged in by September 30, 2005 are not eligible. Transitional tokens expire on December 31, 2006.

187,728 views 56 replies
Reply #26 from Stardock Forums Top

Hi guys,

If there are specific games you'd like to suggest (like EvilIdler), just post here or email me ([email protected]).   Unfortunately there's really no good way for us to announce what games we will be adding to the service ahead of time for Indies - the lack of extreme red tape means the turnaround is very fast. What we can do is make a forum post in the future (I'll make it sticky) that may give you a few days heads-up on new titles. Usually it doesn't take longer than 2-3 days before a new Indie offering is good to go on TGN.

Reply #27 from Stardock Forums Top
Any game from Battlefront, Matrix Games, or Shrapnel Games. Too many games to list. They are great publishers of niche games, especially wargames.

Fate (WildTangent)

Star Chamber (Nyantara)

Space Empires IV Deluxe (Strategy First)

Etherlords 2 (Strategy First)

Imperial Glory (Eidos)

Supreme Ruler 2010 (Strategy First)

Silent Hunter III !!! (Ubisoft)

IL-2 Sturmovik Gold Edition (Ubisoft)

I hope this gives you an idea of the kinds of games I'd like to see
ObjectDock - Access shortcuts and frequently used applications from an animated dock.
Reply #28 from Stardock Forums Top
I've heard alot of nasty rumors about drivers like starforge which can slow down cd access , which is in alot of big time games, rumor is in certain games from Ubisoft and Wild Tangent, if you guys are able to get games from those companies will the security devices be removed since we're downloading them?

Well games from me:

Oasis (not sure the developer)

Probably at least one huge majhong game ( sorry had to say it )

Perhaps that Darwina (from introvision, makers of uplink)

Immortial Cites Children of the nile might be good ( Tilted Mill)

If you guys can find any hidden gems like Flatspace or neat puzzle games like oasis that would be cool. There's probably a ton more games I can't remember
right now.
Reply #29 from Stardock Forums Top
Heh... Even though I have Darwinia (pre-ordered it directly from introversion).. I hope you are able to add it to TG.net. I'd love to see more people get a chance to experience it.
Reply #30 from Stardock Forums Top
Hm, star chamber is still around? I'm just wondering how will tokens and such work since you can buy packs of cards, unless they changed that. Any chance that smaller MMO games could be added ? Like A tale in the desert 2? I got hooked for alittle bit but the game really needed a better help and manual system.
Reply #31 from Stardock Forums Top
Probably at least one huge majhong game ( sorry had to say it )

Moraff would be the first place to look for a mah jongg type game.

Which reminds me... I need to contact them to see if they still sell registered copies of some of their older games. They've spent the last seven or eight years trying to distance themselves from the Moraffware days. *stares at shareware copies of Dungeons of the Unforgiven and Moraff's World ¬.¬ *
Reply #32 from Stardock Forums Top

Hi guys,

Thanks for the suggestions.   We'll look into the titles you've listed. Odds are that you won't see any MMO games on TotalGaming, as we're just not setup for it right now. In regards to titles which use copy protection (i.e., SecuROM, SafeDisc, TryMedia, etc.), you won't find them on TotalGaming. Unfortunately this also means that publishers who require strict DRM (like Ubisoft, RealArcade, GameHouse, etc.) won't distribute their games through TGN either.

Reply #33 from JoeUser Forums Top
Games I'd like to see on TGN:
Darwinia (Introversion)
Escape Velocity Nova (Ambrosia)
Fate (Wild Tangent)
Reply #34 from Stardock Forums Top
Odds are that you won't see any MMO games on TotalGaming, as we're just not setup for it right now. In regards to titles which use copy protection (i.e., SecuROM, SafeDisc, TryMedia, etc.), you won't find them on TotalGaming. Unfortunately this also means that publishers who require strict DRM (like Ubisoft, RealArcade, GameHouse, etc.) won't distribute their games through TGN either.



Major bummer, that eliminates a lot of titles
Reply #35 from Stardock Forums Top
I have a question....I purchased Astral Masters and there's indications that I'd have to purchase it again through the main publisher. Is this true? What's the deal here?

Septe
Reply #36 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
I second Escape Velocity, its a great game. It is sorta like Flatspace, but I think it is different enough. The mods are really cool too
Reply #37 from Stardock Forums Top

Plus now you have permanent access to games even if you let your membership expire, whereas before you didn't.


Not so. The original system promised permanent access as well.
Reply #38 from Stardock Forums Top

I have a question....I purchased Astral Masters and there's indications that I'd have to purchase it again through the main publisher. Is this true? What's the deal here?

No, what indications are you referring to?

Reply #39 from Stardock Forums Top
Frightlever - If you let your subscription expire before SDC would not allow you to re-download the games. You could get them by emailing support, but it wasn't automatic the way it is now. This is something we had to program into the system just recently.
Reply #40 from Stardock Forums Top


I have a question....I purchased Astral Masters and there's indications that I'd have to purchase it again through the main publisher. Is this true? What's the deal here?

No, what indications are you referring to?


When I ran Astral Masters, I was looking through the cards and some of the cards have a Need to register message on the picture...
Reply #41 from Stardock Forums Top

This is something that's been popping up for some people (it didn't appear in testing - and AM got a lot of it since many of us are pretty hooked on it ourselves).  We're investigating the problem with the developer and think we may have tracked it down.  If you email me ([email protected]) I may be able to get you fixed up (if we're correct on what's going on), or if you're on IRC (irc.stardock.com) you can find me in the #stardock channel so I can walk you through it in real-time.  You definitely will not need to buy the game again.

Reply #42 from Stardock Forums Top
On the subject of AM, will they add more cards and such at a later date?
Reply #43 from Stardock Forums Top

Note: We've changed the Token policy for TotalGaming members. Tokens can now be used at any time - even after your membership time expires.

jab2565 - Before we relaunched TotalGaming, they had just put out the v1.1 update that added an additional 8 cards. I suspect (and this is only my guess) that they'll add additional cards with future patches.

Reply #44 from Stardock Forums Top
Hey Yarlen, I apologize for my comment. I actually just bought Jets N Guns...awesome game!! 2 tokens for it is fair too. Great game! At this point none of the others interest me...but Jets N Guns will keep be busy for awile.
Reply #45 from GalCiv2 Forums Top
Oasis and Space Empires IV would be great additions. Space Empires V, when it comes out, would be even better.
Reply #46 from Stardock Forums Top
The wheels are already turning on a number of new games...
Reply #47 from JoeUser Forums Top
Any hints?
Reply #48 from JoeUser Forums Top
Okay, I really like the concept of TGN, but there is one problem - I'm a guy from europe without a credit card.
Is there any chance that another paying method is implemented?
Reply #49 from Stardock Forums Top

Zoomba - Not yet, too early.  I can tell you that a new version of Reaktor will be appearing soon, tho.

Yellow Sign - The only other method would be for you to send us a check or money order in U.S. funds for the TGN membership. If this is something you'd like to do, please email me ([email protected]).

Reply #50 from Stardock Forums Top
I know I'm being an increadable pest, but since the 28th has come and gone I'm curious if there's a new ETA for getting new subscribers on phase two. I'm wanting to know when my credit card will be charged and all.