It is also a method for trolling as it has been answered multiple times. Can we move on yet?

Keep in mind that for Rebellion no one has likely looked seriously into distribution as they haven't even had a beta yet. If a company has not yet made a decision, then the only thing they likely will say for sure is that it will be available on their service (and that's all that they likely CAN say because that is ALL there likely is at this point in time).

'Beta' versions of the game have traditionally been given access to those that pre-order through a StarDock controlled service. As much as it might piss some people off, they will likely stick to a StarDock controlled service once again just for the beta. Exactly the same way they have stuck to a Stardock controlled service for the two expansion betas.

Is everyone better now or are we going to go round and round with the same arguments and counter arguments? I can watch Stant do this all day!

I would rephrase my suggestion to "You could give away Sins Trinity with the new Add-on Rebellion when it launches on Steam as special sale", which is basically the same thing.

Meh, Steam can blow.

I would like non-digital Rebellion release because I'm one of those oddballs who don't use credit cards. 

Thats my opinion, too. The only reason i got an impulse account was to play those old little strategy gems. The whole management of Stardock AND impulse failed, they refused to sell SOASE because the idee was to compete steam. now they sold the whole store to gamestop and sell their game via steam as well, but its dated now, had they done this in the first place SOASE would have been much more successful and maybe there would have been more money to make elemtal and demigod better games then the crappy pieces of sowftware they are (expecially elemental).

I won't purchase anything else from stardockshop/gamestop/impulse in the future, this whole misconception annoyed me enough already. Whats the point in beeing independent and making wrong decisions all along the way? Maybe i will purchase rebellion when it is on sale at steam, something like the complete pack for 10 dollars, trinity including rebellion.

There isn't even language support for the games which have been translated, soase, gc2...

And now we can't even activate the games on steam we have already paid for. they already got my money for the game, so why can't i choose on what platform i play it. i bought gemini rue, nice little independent adventure game, oldschool. it just got released at steam 2 weeks ago and the developers where more than happy to send me a free steam key because i bought the game when it came out 1 year ago.

its all about support of the independent game developers and the good stuff, but what about the support of the gamers?

It does to some extent, but I remember how Stardock's digital distribution service started.  The thing is... Stardock Central *became* Impulse, so my GalCiv and GalCiv 2 copies got transferred to that service.  

Now if I want to play/download GalCiv, GalCiv2, Demigod, or Sins I have to use Impulse, which was fine when Stardock owned it.  However, Stardock doesn't own it any more.  My games didn't transfer back to Stardock, which is my main complaint.  For now, I'm only purchasing games on services that I feel are going to be around for the long haul and are not GameStop.

I'm sure it was a great business move for Stardock to make.  I can respect that, after all you guys aren't in this for charity.  However, certainly you understand if people are skeptical of purchasing from you this soon after you just sold our accounts and all our Impulse purchased games to GameStop.  A company that many gamers revile, with good reason.

If Rebellion comes out on other services, great.  If not, well... there is never a shortage of new games.

If I own SoaSE on Impulse, and a friend buys it on Steam, can I play with them?

If so, I have no problems   

Impulse did indeed start as Stardock central. But Stardock sold it because they didn't want to get in the business of selling other people's stuff more than making software. I'm convinced they won't go the same route again, not the least because actually entering the entire digital software market again after already selling Impulse gives them two rivals with more money than they do to compete with, rather than the one they had before.

Yes, all versions of the game use Iron Clad Online for multiplayer.

Yeah I would like my pre-order rebellion on steam too if possible.

QUESTION: If not transfer from Impulse to STEAM (which would be my preferable way), can we at least get rid of Impulse and use SoaSE stand-alone? (AND UPDATE it)

Yes, this is how it's always been.

No.  But you can always uninstall impulse after you update and play your game just fine.

Well, Rebellion is a stand alone who will have everything make before in it ( sins + ent + dip + reb )...

So, if Rebellion ( sins + ent + dip + reb ) hit the steam store, you don't need Trinity ( sins + ent + dip )...

In some way, Rebellion can be called "Quadrinity"

Well, you speak of little Indie game where a few thousand copy was released...

Remember that SOASE have already sell over 2 million copy... transfer so much on Steam will cost a lot to Steam... Specially with the high patching rate of SOASE... only in the last few week, 2 patch was released... one was around 30mb... 2 million customer mean at least 60TB download... do you think that Steam will accept huge internet cost for please people who have not buy the game by them?

It have happen in the past that Steam allow to redeem a successful game buy somewhere else with steam serial key sell at lower price... but it is a Steam choice...

By the way, SOASE buy on Impulse are now Gamestop responsability... so, it is Gamestop and Steam who need to negociate... pretty sure that since Gamestop have buy Impulse, Stardock have not anymore access to the Impulse customer database... if you wish your Impulse/Gamestop game serial become valid on Steam, ask Gamestop or/and Steam, not Stardock...

The only serial that Stardock is in full control are serial from game/software buy on https://store.stardock.com/browse ... for the few who have buy via these channel, maybe Stardock and Steam can negociate something ( both side need to be willing )...

Quote from Ashenkhar

"It does to some extent, but I remember how Stardock's digital distribution service started.  The thing is... Stardock Central *became* Impulse, so my GalCiv and GalCiv 2 copies got transferred to that service.  

Now if I want to play/download GalCiv, GalCiv2, Demigod, or Sins I have to use Impulse, which was fine when Stardock owned it.  However, Stardock doesn't own it any more.  My games didn't transfer back to Stardock, which is my main complaint.  For now, I'm only purchasing games on services that I feel are going to be around for the long haul and are not GameStop.

I'm sure it was a great business move for Stardock to make.  I can respect that, after all you guys aren't in this for charity.  However, certainly you understand if people are skeptical of purchasing from you this soon after you just sold our accounts and all our Impulse purchased games to GameStop.  A company that many gamers revile, with good reason.

If Rebellion comes out on other services, great.  If not, well... there is never a shortage of new games."

He's got the right idea...Many of the complaints I see is that we had no choice in the selling of our digital copies to Gamestop. You guys can call it good business if you like, but that really means nothing to the end user. I bought your games through Impulse because it was Stardock. I didn't buy them from Gamestop. Only now I have no choice in the matter.

This is why people are complaining about the no transfer to steam policy. We simply do not want to deal with gamestop, but Stardock took that choice away from us. All there is from Stardock is a shrug of the shoulders and a "sorry, too bad". We chose to use Impulse (when it was Impulse) because we love your games and trusted your company. We do not trust Gamestop.

Do you see the difference there?

Many of the users here feel abandoned by Stardock with no real explanation.

Go to https://store.stardock.com , log-in, click "my account", click "view your product download" ... you will have a screen like these :

If you have multiple account like me, check them all... any Stardock product that you have buy can be found there... for copy that you have donate as gift, check the "print invoices ( view past orders )"...

Galciv II Ultimate have a direct download link because i have buy it via the Stardock store ( cheaper that on impulse/Gamestop )...

For buy, there was always a choice... Stardock store or Impulse... as for download, i will explain a little more below...

Well, i don't like gamestop too... so, i have recently buy Gal Civ II ultimate directly on the Stardock store... serial from the Stardock store work on Impulse too...

Stardock have not abandon us, they are already working on a new stardock central for download and patch... will work with any Stardock product that you have register... same the new Steam Trinity version need to be register on Stardock, so the game will be listed in your Stardock account...

Once the new Stardock central will be running, you will be able to use it ( hope with the Steam version too )... because of your registration... It is how Stardock central have always work before the creation of Impulse...

Don't loose your trust in Stardock... be patient... Stardock know all the owner of Stardock product and soon there will be SDC for download/update/patch/etc...

If someday, Impulse/Gamestop and/or Steam die, you will always have your Stardock product register with you Stardock account and you will always be able to download/update/patch it via the new Stardock central...

PS for Stardock Team : try to have the new Stardock central ready soon... it will extinguish a lot of the complain in these topic... best is to the new SDC is working BEFORE the release of any new product... i am thinking about rebellion now... maybe a new post in the topic with the screenshoot of the future Stardock central is needed, a post who explain deeply what is SDC... a lot of your newer customer don't know about it... and try to keep the "chat" in the new SDC, useful for setup multiplayer game

EDIT : Steam ( http://store.steampowered.com/app/201290 ) miss something... a demo ( http://storage.stardock.com/files/Sins_of_a_Solar_Empire_Demo.exe ) for convince new potential customer to buy sins...