While the game is feels very unpolished and in much need of large revamped to various systems of the game, I feel confident that Stardock will deliver and turn it around into something very special, so I'm going to shelve it for some time and eagerly watch the forums for development blogs and news on patches.

Just 1 question, what's the last date to ask for a refund? Because i don't know exactly what i want to do now, and i wouldn't miss final time to ask.

Will there be an issue for someone who preorderd > 90 days ago?

While I'm not very happy with the game I've personally decided to pass on the refund route. I knew what I was getting into when I purchased it and next time I think I'll wait for reviews/demo. Anyways not all is lost maybe it will be improved in the future.

Despite the problems, I feel that I've already gotten $50 of entertainment out of Elemental and would feel guilty asking for a refund.

Mad props for offering it to those who feel different, however!

If I had limited gaming funds, I would certainly consider getting a refund for the game, and I'm certainly not going to tell people to "hold onto their game" and assume that other people have as much in their gaming fund as I do.  A lot of people have a huge opportunity cost with their gaming funds.  Game A *or* Game B is a real and difficult choice.  Obviously if someone bought Elemental, they're interested in the genre, and will be back in 5-6 months when the game works and it's not a risk (not to mention that it's likely they'll pick it up at a bargain price).  If not, well, it's a good lesson for Stardock to learn: don't release early (and especially don't condescend and pretend that it wasn't released early when it's pretty obvious to everyone that it was).  I'm just guessing, but I'd bet the "early release" was due to being in retail stores - the bane of so many game companies trying to arrange for shelf space so far in advance.  I know (both as a developer and as a former game dev of a AAA studio) the inclination to overcommit, or at least feel confident with "Yeah, our team can do that in 9 months".

I pre-ordered it a week or two after it went on pre-order in 2009 (or was it 2008? I don't recall exactly), so I'm not too worried about the money that I was charged so long ago. I seem to be having a lot of bad experiences with pre-ordering over the last year, though, so I'm really going to have to sit down and think about whether it's worth it or not.  I mostly live my gaming life vicariously through my kids now, but TBS games are impossible for me to pass up.

Personally, I've had several crashes (one of which was after I finished the final campaign battle, which was very hard to win keeping my heroes alive) - and lots of polish issues.  I've waited this long - I can handle waiting another few months.  I have a huge backlog and I was planning on playing Elemental until Civ 5 comes out... So backlog, here I come.  Elemental won't be back up to the front of my queue until after the few RPGs that follow Civ 5's release.  I'm pretty sure it'll be done by the time I get back to it.  It better be!

Seems like 90% of posters are disgruntled Elemental purchasers...the people who love it are too busy playing to post.

The game is unfinished: there's little to debate, really. Most of the reviewers state this and players are asking for refunds.

It's certainly a fair request. I personally won't ask for a refund since I still believe in the team, and I prefer to give some support at this point.

I won't resume playing until at least patch 1.1, though.

I believe Stardock keeps some of the money in that case.  ($10)

Not 100% sure.  I'd recommend hanging on, as Stardock will make this game great enough that you'll want to go back to it.

Good to hear and i hope you will be back if the game improved.

How long should this normally take?

I mailed them on Saturday asking for a refund (sales@stardock.com). I got a ticket but no response so far.

Never mind that, I just got my refund confirmed! This restores at least some of my faith in Stardock.

If the game ever gets fixed I'll come back, though I'm not so sure as everyone else seems to be that this will happen. There is A LOT of stuff that needs to be done to this game...