Maybe next time don't pre-order a game over a year in advance?

I'm surprised Stardock's policy gives you 90 days. Most retailers give you 30 days at most to return unopened software that you "don't like".

Wow,

Yeah that kind of sucks.

Legally you don't have a leg to stand on, as the curt response said. Although you can try to ask to talk to another representive or ask for a supervisor, someone who can make executive decisions in special circumstances and override such policies.

I've been buying computer parts at the same store for about 4 years, and it happened maybe once or twice that something happened to me and I wasn't protected by warranty or what not. And I was still able to get refund/replacement/wtver by talking with customer service and explaining them the particularities of my situation.

It's all about communicating. I hope you get things sorted out for you.

Regards,

V

PS:To anybody telling him to not pre-order, I mean he was showing his faith in the company and helping them with a cash advance. I don't think he deserve to receive flak.

Naw... I don't think 'not ever pre-ordering' is the right answer... in the case of this game, pre-orders allowed them to continue developing on it... I've put many hours into the retail release of this game, and it's I agree in my opinion it was released way to early (as in WTF kind of early...) but - that said I have 100% faith that it will grow into the polished game that I dream of.  Even in it's buggy state, I'm having a blast playing.

My suggestion?  instead of 'not' every pre-ordering, I'd put this in the 'leassons learned' category and do so with more caution in the future... and I'd also be holding out faith that Stardock made good on providing a product worthy of your money, or your money back. 

for me personaly, even if I was back at PAX in 09, and got done listening to Brad do his speel on the game knowing FULL WELL that this future was inevitable, and the game would be released in the state that it was, I would STILL put my money down on the game.

just saying, I havn't lost the faith.

Call me a Fan Boi or what ever, because I am indeed a fan.  I think it's a bad business decision to release games to retail in the state that this one went out the door, for sure!  but, is it worse than the company going under?  or, canceling this project all together?  I honestly don't know if that is the state that they were, too, but I highly doubt that Brad and the Game Designing geniouses that he hires were oblivious to the issues the game had when they sent it on it's marry way to retail... so, that being the case, there must have been a darn good reason that it went out the way it did... the two former motivations are totaly valid.  I'm just guessing they were at a 'release or cancel' stage of the game, and I for one, am glad that now they have a bit more cash that they can continue making this game with... perhaps they could have been more up front about the state of play I suppose... but hey, if your going for more cash - so as not to crash, I can imagine they'd be leary of saying anything that might have hurt the sales.

I for one, and happy to have helped get Ellemental this far with my small payment, and have faith and high hopes that eventualy the game will be delivered in a 'finished' state.

Wade Hone.

seconded...

to the OP, sorry to hear about your situation...

have you tried playing the game with any of the various patches (official or otherwise)? they've really made a difference across many aspects of the game...