You can preorder using paypal during the open window once Beta 3 begins, in which the orders are charged immediately rather than put on queue. This period usually lasts about a week. We can't charge orders manually, they need to go through the system.

I tried to order tonight once the build has been posted as being available, but when I click on the big PayPal button a pop-up appears saying "Sorry, you cannot check-out using PayPal when your order contains a Pre-Order product".

I tried doing checkout thinking I could use a different PayPal option under there, but doesn't appear to be the case. 

Any other suggestions?

--Micah

Typically we open it up after all the queued orders are done charging, though since it landed late-night on the verge of a four-day weekend it's hard to say. I'll see if I can get a confirmation if it will indeed open up tonight or if it'll wait.

Yup, we'll be switching it on shortly.

purchased and registered. no icon, wait or problem?

i only see a

i only see show "freeware and Demos"

no "pre release versions"

For anyone else that needs to know where it is:

Agreed. I only happened across it when the same option from the Impulse icon didn't do the job.

If my response to things when it doesn't work right is to push every button I can (I'm sure that tendency will screw me one day), I wouldn't have found it either.

You missed it: https://forums.elementalgame.com/385882

Yeah, people who bought many months ago didn't get anything either. Reminds me of the bank ads here in Canada lately where the banker gives one kid ice cream but tells the other one he can't have any because he's not "new enough" as a customer. (The egg management fee one is pretty funny too.)

I mean I guess you could have used the coupon for something else, but still. It "feels" like they put Elemental on sale before it was even released, which leaves a bad taste in my mouth. (Then again, the entire "army" thing did that already.)

That's not really what it did. You were eligible for the discount if you:

a ) clicked the "join army" button on the website, and

b ) didn't already buy the game

Note that "spread word about the game" isn't on that list. You didn't have to do anything related to that to get the discount.

What I've learned from this is that the next time Stardock sells a game that I shouldn't pre-order it until it goes on sale. I've never heard of games going on sale BEFORE release before, so it's been a learning experience.

The same logic could apply to anything. Sure there are people who joined the Army that don't do anything, but there are lots who do. It's not like they're going to go through a thousand people and only make a coupon for them. Besides, the coupon isn't for Elemental only, it's 10% off whatever on Impulse - no different than any other promo.