Hey Island Dog, please take my post with a spirit of conversation. I'm not angry and my world is not crashing down 

I never received an email stating the game would never go on sale. But I did I receive an email on 2/21/14 with the subject:

Last Chance for Discounted Galactic Civilizations III Pre-order

A few things -

I understood pre-order to mean being able to order prior to release. 

I also understand now that with the advent of Early Access "release" is a gray area.

I also understand that the offer was for the "Founder's Edition"

<----- This is the difference between Early Access and the "Founder's Edition" I bought - a $15 badge 

I realize you guys had to make a call as a company to go with the new wave of Steam Sales for Early Access games. I happened to be one of many who feels like I paid the price for a lesson you benefited from. Honestly, and I hate I have to say this, I've learned not to buy a pre-order from you no matter how many times you say last chance for a discount.

Also, I did email customer service about this and received a form response, and then no follow-up to my response to the form response.

So I get to argue the merits of my experience with those on this board, who by their actions, I know Stardock has brainwashed. 

For instance, I laugh at everyone who looked through their emails about this declaring Stardock innocent of all charges! I pieced together a long time ago that once I bought the game my email address went to a different marketing segment and future marketing offers for Gal Civ III went to others, but not me.

So that's my take on it. I played 6 hours of GalCiv III during the same weekend of the Steam sale. I didn't throw up in my mouth or anything - it was great!

To give you some context for my criticism, here is my response to Legendary Heroes:

https://forums.elementalgame.com/445163/page/1/

I purchased the first two DLCs on 6/28/2013.

I think discussed statement might be in this forum thread

https://forums.galciv3.com/458598

"We are not planning on pricing it any lower prior to release (at which point it'll rise to 49.99)."

Keyword here is "planning" and unfortunately plans can change... i bought GC3 for 45$ and thought it's lowest price until release too - apparently i misread this statement too.

Perhaps they meant we are not planning on THE STANDARD OR RETAIL PRICE going any lower prior to release.  It seems Stardock then should have / could have added "however, there may be special, limited time sales and other promotions prior to game release or simply saying there could be special limited time promotions.

I have to say Stardock perhaps losses some points for not being as upfront as they could have been.  Moving forward, I think the assumption with Steam products is at any time, video games can go on sale without warning and without reason.  So, if you choose to never preorder again in order to save a few bucks, then may your video game holding off discpline develop to be nice and strong.  May you bravely avoid temptation to start playing a new game early only until and unless there is a sale.

Also, Kyro cannot read the mind of one frogboy and other stardock leadership.  As an employee, he was answering on behalf of his company as he understood it at the time. 

Hi welcome aboard. I understand about helping to cope with reality,  but expecting people to feel sorry for you,  because life sucks isn't going to happen. But i also understand about not being able to afford something,  and finding it on sale so you could have it.

Let me understand that the issue is not ever having a half off sale. Because that was my problem, but the issue is having a sale on early access.  I wouldn't ever care about not buying the early access on sale as long as the game goes on sale when it is release. What i'm thinking about is a unknown future game. What would bother me is paying 2 1/2 times than the founder's,  and the founder's get as good a package,  because of whining.  All i'm saying is don't forget about elite when you start shelling out rewards to the founders,  and please don't stop having sales over this.