TotalGaming Phase 2 Prelaunch Has Begun!

from Stardock Forums
<P>We've begun preparations for the launch of the next phase of TotalGaming.net (what we've been referring to as Phase 2). </P> <P><STRONG>Why Phase 2?</STRONG></P> <P>Phase 1 worked on a fairly straight forward premise: For $X users could get all the games added to it for one year. At the end of the year, the user had to re-subscribe to keep getting new games.&nbsp; The problem was that game developers didn't want to share royalties with games they didn't think people wanted.&nbsp; If ALL the games were available, then the royalties had to be split amongst ALL games.&nbsp; While this wasn't an issue as long as the games were primarily Stardock titles, it made it hard to start getting higher profile or newer content.</P> <P>That's where Phase 2 comes in.&nbsp; Gamers can purchase games individually or they'll be able to purchase a TotalGaming.net membership which will provide 10 tokens.&nbsp; Different games will cost differing amounts (A $19.95 game would cost 2 tokens, a $39.95 game would cost 4 tokens, a $9.95 game would cost 1 token and so forth).&nbsp; Gamers then can pick and choose which games they want.&nbsp; </P> <P>The end result is a much larger variety to choose from than what would have previously been possible under the phase 1 system.&nbsp; Members will also be given early peeks at some of the games under development such as <STRONG><A href="http://www.societygame.com/">Society</A>.</STRONG></P> <P><STRONG>What it means for existing TotalGaming.net users:</STRONG></P> <P>The ones who benefit from the new system the most is of course the existing TotalGaming.net subscribers.&nbsp;&nbsp;Not only will they get the 9 existing games on TotalGaming.net but they will also get <A href="https://www.galciv2.com"><STRONG>Galactic Civilizations II</STRONG>&nbsp;</A>no matter when it is released -- so no need to re-subscribe.&nbsp; On top of that, TG.net users will get 10 tokens to use on existing games.&nbsp; Most of the new games will cost between 1 and 3 tokens so this effectively means an additional 4 to 6 new games.</P> <P><STRONG>Launch Date:&nbsp; </STRONG>Around June 21st we hope to begin migrating existing players to the new system. A week after that we hope to a general launch. Stay tuned!</P>
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Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top
Very happy to hear its moving forward Cant wait to see what you have lined up for us
Reply #2 from Stardock Forums Top
Hopefully everyone will dig it.   It's just the beginning, though.
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Reply #3 from Stardock Forums Top
Just the beginning? Now I'm curious.
Reply #4 from Stardock Forums Top
In relation to TotalGaming.net.  We plan to keep adding more games on a regular basis after the relaunch, plus add more content to the site.
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top
Sounds Great.
In relation to all strange DRM things other sites fool us with, this service only gets better and better.
Reply #6 from Stardock Forums Top
I am a bit concerned here! Before, we paid one price to access all the games which I found an excellent service.

It appears your changing this service totally from a subscription service to a way to get beta releases and DISCOUNTS on all games. This no longer seems like the great deal that has been offered for years, it now looks like a means to sell off dead games and get access to beta releases only.

Unless your going to put in brand new games besides the excellent Galciv series which is worth the money. If this is done it will change my opinion. I am quite disappointed with the change of your services. PLEASE correct me if I am wrong. Thanks
Reply #7 from Stardock Forums Top

Existing TotalGaming.net customers will get the existing 10 or so games on there.  PLUS they will get Galactic Civilizations II when it comes out (nearly all of you would have had to re-subscribe to get that) PLUS they will get 10 tokens to put towards the new games (which means you'll effectively get a new games for free too).

The bottom line is that existing TotalGaming.net users clean up well because they get GalCiv II without having to re-subscribe, they get all the existing games as of today and they will get some of the new games that we would never have been able to get (we couldn't offer the developers high enough royalties to get those games).

Reply #8 from Stardock Forums Top

Mr. Spook, here's an example of why the new system benefits you:

You originally purchased Galactic Civilizations I at retail.  You then upgraded to TotalGaming.net for $39.95 this past November.  You then got access to EIGHT new games.  On top of that, you're going to get Galactic Civilizations II even though it will be coming out in February of 2006 -- after your subscription would have expired.  On top of that, you'll get 10 tokens to use on other games we're adding which will effectively mean 4 to 6 more games you'll be getting for free.

So for $39.95 you will get roughly 13 games.  That's about $3 per game PLUS Galactic Civilizations II for free. 

Reply #9 from Stardock Forums Top
Existing TotalGaming.net customers will get the existing 10 or so games on there. PLUS they will get Galactic Civilizations II when it comes out (nearly all of you would have had to re-subscribe to get that) PLUS they will get 10 tokens to put towards the new games (which means you'll effectively get a new games for free too).

Y'know, I've had my share of grumbles (most of them private, some public) about the kinda petering out of the service vs. what was originally talked about, but I have to say that your inclusion of GalCiv II, regardless, and free, for current subscribers is a heck of a gesture toward customer goodwill.

Thanks. Really. I love seeing exceptional customer service, and I think the above qualifies without a doubt. (Still bummed the original idea didn't work out so well, but I understand why it was difficult.)
Reply #10 from Stardock Forums Top
As an aside, TotalGaming will be relaunching with about 8+ new games for people to spend their Tokens on.
Reply #11 from Stardock Forums Top
Existing TotalGaming.net customers will get the existing 10 or so games on there. PLUS they will get Galactic Civilizations II when it comes out (nearly all of you would have had to re-subscribe to get that) PLUS they will get 10 tokens to put towards the new games (which means you'll effectively get a new games for free too).


All i can say is WOW wonderful customer service to include Galciv 2 for TG subs, they do know how to make us happy.

That and the fact they will have a bunch of new games for us to look over and choose.

Way to go guys
Reply #12 from Stardock Forums Top
The major question I have revolves around tokens. Will there be a way to purchase extra tokens at a reduced rate during your 2-year membership (similar to drengin/TG renewals)
Reply #13 from Stardock Forums Top
Yup, there will be Token Booster Packs that you can purchase should you run out.
Reply #14 from Stardock Forums Top
I'm interested in how tokens and the subscription 'length of time' will work together...

Scenario Is:
I have subscribed to TG.net and I have ten tokens by default to spend on whatever games I choose. Say after two years (or whatever the length of the sub is) I still haven't spent those tokens, I assume that as my sub will expire my options will be to spend the tokens still, but ONLY on games that were already released on the TG.net before my sub expired? Or will I still have access to ALL the TG.net category because the posession of the tokens is what is important?

Also, I remember when Phase Two was initially talked about it was said that the subscription length of existing customers would be boosted from the 1 year mark to either 18months of 2 years... meaning most of us wouldn't have to resubscibe in the coming months but have another period of grace. Is this still the plan? I mean, I know you plan on giving us access to Galciv2 which is great - but is that an 'instead of' option or are the sub periods going to be lengthened as well?

Thanks again to Stardock... I love your ambitions and the way you implement your ideas, I have faith that Phase Two will work out much bigger and better than any of us expected on originally signing up with TG.net
Reply #15 from Stardock Forums Top
Here is MY question. My sub ran out at the end of last month and I missed the deadline so I couldn't renew at a discount. I've been thinking about subscribing again anyway, but should I now wait until the new system is in place?
Reply #16 from Stardock Forums Top

Hi 4D,

Any Tokens you have left unspent after your membership expires (2 years) will be lost - you can't spend Tokens without an active TGN membership. The way we have things planned right now, if you purchase a Booster Pack (because you've run out of Tokens), your membership will be automatically extended another 6 months.

For those existing TotalGaming customers whose accounts are still active, we'll be transitioning you to the new system automatically, so you'll be getting a 2 year membership extension in addition to the 10 Tokens, GalCiv 2, and access to the Society beta. So you shouldn't need to resubscribe if you fall into this category.

Reply #17 from Stardock Forums Top

Here is MY question. My sub ran out at the end of last month and I missed the deadline so I couldn't renew at a discount. I've been thinking about subscribing again anyway, but should I now wait until the new system is in place?

Hi Atmos,

TotalGaming is now locked into a pre-order state, so any new memberships will use the new system once it's launched. It's no longer possible to renew a membership under the old system to gain the benefits listed above.

Reply #18 from Stardock Forums Top
I like the proposed change simply because it gives me faith that this wonderful service will continue into the future. The previous business plan, although really cool, meant that only games that developers had given up on or developed by progressive companies would be released on TGN.

I look forward to the future of TGN and will definetally be renewing.
Reply #19 from Stardock Forums Top
Kewl.
Reply #20 from Stardock Forums Top
I am afraid that I share the same concern as Mr Spock. I just (prior to the deadline) subscribed (at $69.00) to TotalGaming.Network I was promised all of the games and GalCiv II but now I can not activate GalCiv II and now I seem to have nothing to show for my money
This does not sound like a good deal to me and I have been with Starock since Stellar Frontier was a beta beta
Reply #21 from Stardock Forums Top
You didn't hit the deadline and have been automatically transitioned to Phase 2, mjanecki53. That means you automatically will continue to have access to all the prior TG titles, get 10 Tokens to spend on the new ones, plus get GalCiv II for free.
Reply #22 from Stardock Forums Top
Looks like new games are available, but I dont seem them in SDC... (Flatspace looks very good
Reply #23 from Stardock Forums Top
I'm guessing that we'll either get access to the new games when we (customers) are shifted over to the Phase Two system... Or not until after the official launch start of next week?

I've got to admit that at least two of those games look really good though. I was too young for the original arcade Gallaga, but I did play a game called Raptor as an adolescent and Xeno Assault looks like a great game with which to remember the glory days
Reply #24 from Stardock Forums Top
I can see Astral Masters and Breakquest now in SDC, but not the rest.
Reply #25 from Stardock Forums Top
Working on them, slow but sure.   They'll all be available before I head out for the night.