The official release date is 24th of August 2010. My temporal coordinates are currently 4:07pm 23rd of August - and I'm at GMT+12. Considering this I can not possibly see where your criticism is justified.

There is nothing to prevent you as the customer from sitting down and waiting for the official release date - and if it isn't available then, then you might have a point. The turbulent chaos of the live release is not an event you are required to participate in. I get a clear feeling that the Stardock team have been applying copious amounts of elbow grease in trying to provide the ravenous horde of beta-testers and pre-order customers with the product and associated services that they crave. How you can see it fit to criticise them for going the extra mile I can not possibly comprehend. It's not like they are making any money from this, so I think we can rule out greed as an ulterior motive.

p.s. For the record, I'm not a Stardock fanboy. I am very critical and will not be surprised if I am disappointed with the game once I get to play it - however, I do dare to hope that I will love it. Fair is fair - but criticising people for going above and beyond the line of duty isn't.

Quote for truth.   

no one is complaining about an early release, its frustrating that we were given a time frame which raised expectations and those expectations were not met.

Thanks, Stardock

Working on Sunday is no joy, so I for one appreciate the extra effort!  Looking forward to the DL to complete.

One place I will agree with is the fact that right after they said "pre-orders are activating now!" They then proceeded to say "and it will take 5 hours." I mean jesus christ, at least tell us that BEFOREHAND so we aren't waiting around like idiots for it to be launched, only to find out we won't be able to download it for another 5 hours. 

These men speak the truth.

Seriously, the whole "anti-fanboy" thing some of you guys got going and the "I'm a PAYING CUSTOMER" is getting old. It's becoming a sub-culture of these forums... too much whining about small and little issues. Elemental was released EARLY for us, be thankful. While I agree that it's annoying to have to wait, that's life. Get over it and go do something to pass the time.

Just try to understand the logistics behind Elemental's release. The development, programming, marketing, coordination, and business process behind all this is staggering. Anyone who's ever worked in a business oriented service should know, to some extent, what this is like. Nothing goes perfect, nothing ever goes as planned, you just have to roll with the punches and deliver your product. Stardock delivered it, be happy.

I say this from a place of love and respect, but...

Welcome to the internet.

The game will be available for just about everyone, soon. I'm in a location where I can only download with a slow internet connection, so it may take me all week to get it! I'm as eager as anyone else, and I can understand the frustration of wanting it as earlier as possible.

I'm not saying that complaining about this is a good thing, but those of you that have responded with such vehemence need to take a  hard look at yourselves. Many of us have been through many, many game releases, and seen smooth ones and jacked up ones. This release hasn't been perfect, but it certainly hasn't been all that bad so far. Likewise, his post was not that bad. He wasn't going crazy. He wasn't cursing Stardock and making inappropriate comments. If you have been around a game release before, you have probably seen much, much worse.

All I'm saying is...chill out. Let people express their opinions. That is what a forum is for. Calling him a crybaby, telling him to shutup, blah blah blah...thats even more immature than what you are accusing him of.

Everyone just relax...

We did get it early, before the 24th, period. They didn't have to come in this weekend, they could have waited till Monday and taken the weekend off like they we're going to, but they didn't. We should be cheering and thanking them for doing us a favor. I can guarantee you Blizzard or EA wouldn't have done this. They would have said "Tough shit, it's only a weekend, wait or we'll gladly refund your money.".

Thanks for coming in and busting ass on the weekend Frogboy and Team. If I lived closer I'd come to the office and smoke a blunt er..I mean have a beer, with the whole lot of ya You guys rock!!!

LOL you guys make me laugh acting all buthurt over a slip in one day for release.

Come on guys chill....

I am in complete agreement with you gluce.  That the game was released early is great but it was not released when we were told it would be is a let down.  I am taking a chance on this game after the demigod fiasco and hope stardock can deliver something great.  So far it feels just like the demigod release.