This is ridiculous. I've been playing since launch, and SD have put a crap-load of free support into the game over the past two years, Hell, they just released an update that ports some of Crusade's improvements into the base game. Crusade was released just recently, and you don't like how they're trying to court newbies in? I have no patience for this kind of nonsense.

I finally bit and bought the Galciv3 gold package for $30.   I've been a Galciv1 and Galciv2 fanatic over the years, but just now going through the Galciv3 tutorial.

Did I miss part of the conversation?

It is difficult for me to have sympathy for anyone who pays full price for a product just prior to the Steam Summer sale.  The Winter sale is pretty impactful, but the Summer Sale gets so extensive it is bound to hit some target you care about.  This time, I broke down and did the package for Ashes.

Also, this is not the first time I have seen Stardock pilloried for Steam's decisions.  I still don't understand why people can't tell the difference.  Sometimes it feels like a deliberate decision not to understand., not if it gets in the way of a good complaint/rant and demand for refund  I wish I could assign a different motive, but I don't know what it would be.

I don`t want to add to the chorus, but it is extremely rare to put a brand new game or expansion on a sale. It actually defeats the purpose of making the new product. Would you not agree?

Actually I hated Stardock`s about face on Steam. I remember the time. they were like, "We won`t use DRM! We won`t use Steam!" I should`ve saved the thread on it. Then suddenly a letter popped in my email saying, "We love Steam now!" It was so sudden and opposite it was like watching a twin-personality.

The fact that they now use GOG as well makes me think some in Stardock`s crew had misgiving`s about Steam`s DRM too. At least now we have a choice, those who loved being chained to Steam are welcomed to it.