I think he was trying to say: "Don't focus on Single Player, I prefer multiplayer.".

I need a solid single player TBS.  The ability of actually finishing a TBS in an online setting decreases as you get farther and farther from high school

Thats exctly the point im making. When you just wanna get on and relieve some stress for the day. And you join a match/game between some random people and the game ends up taking 15 days instead of 15 minutes.

Sounds like this isn't the game for you. I don't understand the need to sound off on a game that is completely out of your fun range it seems. Why bother posting? I mean, there are games that have been developed that don't appeal to me but I didn't get on their forums and say 'This is not the game for me, I don't like the gameplay, I guess I'll just jack off in the bathroom.'

You're looking for a game like Demigod or Team Fortress 2 or Left 4 Dead.

Well, unfortunately for you and anyone else that just wants to 'get in, play for 15 minutes' and get out, this game was not developed with you in mind. It was developed for those people who enjoy playing games like Civilization, Hearts of Iron, Galactic Civlizations, Master of Magic and any other turn-based strategy game. Games of that sort almost NEVER last less than even a single hour and generally take anywhere from 3 to 30 hours to play. You're actually the very first person to mention anything negative about long game times on these forums, that I've seen.

People that play these games LIKE the fact that they take a long time because there's a sense of 'accomplishment' in raising your civilization from the ground up, making alliances with enemies and neighbors, building a military empire, and coming out victorious in the end. Even if you lose a close match there's a sense of achievement in having built and done what you could to win.

So, this game could still turn out to be a crap game but it won't be because they didn't incorporate a 15-min multiplayer game mode. It would be for such things as the diplomacy system is crap, or there's a huge imbalance in units, or the gameplay just stinks. However, with Stardock's track record, namely Galactic Civilizations II, I seriously doubt they will make a crap game out of Elemental.

Brad has actually talked about a 15min multiplayer mode.  It would just be tactical battles of course, but we'll have to see if that apprears.  OIther than that I agree, this is a TBS game and is supposed to last a long time.  There are other games for other markets; not everything needs to appeal to everyone (or the least common denominator)  Choice is our friend!!!

Well damn RoadRat, you make it sound like global warming.

Well then Rat, Fight the Power! don't buy games you don't like, me? I'm not buying Heroes of Newerth, I don't really want a 15 minute random multiplayer bash, so I wont support the developers in that one.. This is why you research games before buying read reviews, look past the fanboy/marketing to what the game is about and decide if you want it, there are many great game I dont own because they don't interest me.

And if you occasionally like both the long build-up and a quick adrenaline rush then thats why the video game industry puts out more than one game

If your goal is a 15 minute match, then this is not the game for you. This is a game for people who want more depth then that. It's possible they will add a fast game type later, but no such thing exists right now.

Hopefully Starcraft 2 comes out this year to meet our shorter game needs.

It's going to be primarily a single player game with multiplayer ability. But, I do believe I read they will not sacrifice anything from the single player game to apease the multiplayer teenie tiny group. This is what sets Stardock apart from the many other strategy games out there. They are single player solo play oriented and I applaud them for that. Triumph studios ruined AOW:Shadowmagic in fact because of putting too much emphasis on multiplayer and the single player solo game suffers and the ai is horrible in it and no challenge at all.

I will suggest a nice 15 minute to less than an hour game you can buy called Conquest:Medieval Realms by Slitherine. This is a fantastic quick game with chesslike play using archers, spearmen and cavalry. It has multiplayer elements and I'm sure you can find several willing to play a quick round with you. Even the developers will play in a match with you. I don't play it multiplayer but I really enjoy the AI in the solo single player mode it whips me pretty good if I make a mistake.

I agree with the rest WE have thought about it and this is the type(s) of games we want. There's a time and place for 15 minute to less than an hour games but this game is not it. I'm very excited about another fantasy empire building game that will hopefully be simular to MOM and better than AOW. Long live long playing empire building fantasy games. )~~

Well there are those 15 min games out. And some of them are really good games like League of legends and starcraft. But this has something they dont have and that is , it gives more freedom to its players through there modability options and thats a Huge huge aspect in a game and most games with these features do really well but what im afraid of is. The fact that if i want to play a game with some people i basically have to dedicate my day to them before i see a turn out. but games like that are cool on a satureday night were i can get drunk and play it up with everyone. But on most other days i have to keep in contact with the real world as well.

if anyone can understand that?