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General discussion (archive)GameStop strips down its client(36 posts)(36 posts)
(36 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted April 27, 2012
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Miaghstir: Impulse is the reason I have yet to buy Zanzarah: The Hidden Portal. I do hope someon manages to convince Funatics/THQ (whoever owns it now) to release the game here.
Somebody ping me when that game releases in GoG. I'll buy it within a minute. Wasn't able to play it when it released due to my pc being crap back then and it isn't quite available now in any of the retailers I like.

Releasing Etherlords here also wouldn't hurt - I'll give my money to GoG over GamersGate any day of the week.
Posted April 27, 2012
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QC: So, I guess the first question is if Psyringe actually uses those programs that ne_zavarj listed. I'm not seeing a whole lot of things that I really need there and they're probably available somewhere else on the web anyway.
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Psyringe: No, I don't use those programs. I can even see why Gamestop has little interest in continuing a part of the service that was implemented as a way for Stardock's gaming department and accessory department to benefit from each other. Since many people were customers of both departments, there will probably be people who regret losing this functionality, but I don't, that's not my point.

My point is that Gamestop treats me like a child by trying to sell me a removal of functionality as something that will "optimize my experience". Of course it won't, this much should be obvious. Either I was using this functionality, in which case I will regret its removal. Or I wasn't, in which case my experience will be unchanged.

Telling the customers "we will improve your experience by removing this functionality" is simple (and quite stupid) marketspeak of someone who apparently thinks that his customers will believe everything.

Did TheEnigmaticT say that GOG was "improving its catalogue" when they had to remove some games due to licensing issues? No. He knew that this wasn't good news for his customers, but he _does_ see them as grown-ups who can deal with bad news. Gamestop apparently thinks that I'm utterly stupid. And this disregard for the customer is what irks me most in this case. There are probably people to whom the removal of the functionality is the bigger issue, but for me its the treatment of one's customers.
It might depends on some things that they didn't convey. For example, knocking out those programs would probably add some server space or free up bandwidth. Then again they might just being to make themselves look good with some rather pointless announcement. Who knows, they might actually clarify what's supposed to happen but right now none of us really know why and how they assume this will help, if it actually does.
Posted April 27, 2012
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Psyringe: My point is that Gamestop treats me like a child by trying to sell me a removal of functionality as something that will "optimize my experience". Of course it won't, this much should be obvious.
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bansama: As I say, you're not entirely correct. The removal of that feature *will* enhance the experience with the Impulse client that previous subscribers to that feature currently have. With the removal, we won't have to deal with the annoyances we currently have - the aforementioned pop-up being one, the constant notices of updates that cannot be applied, being another one and so forth.
Well, I understand what you're saying, but I disagree.

Your point is that the removal of the functionality is welcome because it had been broken in the meantime. But it was the change of ownership (and its repercussions) that broke the feature in the first place. By your line of arguing, any service provider who wants to remove functionality only needs to break it first, and then remove it and call that an "improvement". You do see the problem with that? :)

A statement that would have shown respect for one's customers would have been something like "We apologize to the people who were using this functionality and who were hoping for a fix, but due to (insert actual reason here) it is not possible for us to provide it any longer." Instead, Gamestop tries to tell me that it's good for me when features that got broken during their takeover get removed (instead of fixed).
Post edited April 27, 2012 by Psyringe
Posted April 27, 2012
Etherlords on GOG would be very welcome. They're the reason I installed Impulse.

I'm confused. How do I get Fences Pro now? I love that program.
Posted April 27, 2012
Removing Stardock's utility BS from that client is "removing functionality?" Please...
Posted April 27, 2012
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Tarm: Etherlords on GOG would be very welcome. They're the reason I installed Impulse.

I'm confused. How do I get Fences Pro now? I love that program.
According to the GameStop mail:

Stardock will continue to support customers for their software in the "My Downloads" section at http://download.stardock.com
Posted April 27, 2012
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Tarm: Etherlords on GOG would be very welcome. They're the reason I installed Impulse.

I'm confused. How do I get Fences Pro now? I love that program.
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Psyringe: According to the GameStop mail:

Stardock will continue to support customers for their software in the "My Downloads" section at http://download.stardock.com
Well there you are! Hello my little sweeties Fences Pro and Natural Desktop. :P

*Ahem*

Thanks for the answer.

Edit: Their new client really need more work. All I can see in it is two of the games/programs I don't have installed at the moment.
Post edited April 27, 2012 by Tarm
Posted April 27, 2012
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Tarm: Edit: Their new client really need more work. All I can see in it is two of the games/programs I don't have installed at the moment.
It is only showing things for which there is an update available.
If you click on the (alomst invisible) "View installed software" link you get a full list.
"View subscriptions" seems to be broken tho' - it doesn't show my Object Desktop sub.
Posted April 27, 2012
I only have a few games from there - Supreme Commander & SC: Forged Alliance, Sins of a Solar Empire & Entrenchment, Dragon Age 2, and Demigod. I bought Dragon Age 2 because it was cheaper than on Steam at the time, and I bought the others because they weren't yet on Steam. I wish I had never purchased anything from there.
Posted April 27, 2012
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Tarm: Edit: Their new client really need more work. All I can see in it is two of the games/programs I don't have installed at the moment.
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brianhutchison: It is only showing things for which there is an update available.
If you click on the (alomst invisible) "View installed software" link you get a full list.
"View subscriptions" seems to be broken tho' - it doesn't show my Object Desktop sub.
Thanks. That clears it up. Now I'm a bit curious how their client will end up with all the steam and impulse hate. Maybe they'll do it right? Or at least not as bad.
Posted April 27, 2012
You can download it DRM free from https://store.stardock.com/ :)

Edit: lol and theres a new client from Stardock :)

http://www.stardock.com/stardockcentral/
Post edited April 27, 2012 by CheekyBoinc
Posted April 27, 2012
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CheekyBoinc: Edit: lol and theres a new client from Stardock :)

http://www.stardock.com/stardockcentral/
Wait, Stardock Central is their new client? Stardock Central was their client way back before they started with Impulse. It was pretty decent actually, it allowed you to make backups that could be restored / reinstalled without any "activation" needed. I wonder if they are reusing the old codebase - the screenshots look different.
Posted April 27, 2012
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StingingVelvet: Removing Stardock's utility BS from that client is "removing functionality?" Please...
Some of those utilities fucking rocked. It was the only way to get good UI on Windows pre Aero.
Posted April 28, 2012
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StingingVelvet: Removing Stardock's utility BS from that client is "removing functionality?" Please...
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orcishgamer: Some of those utilities fucking rocked. It was the only way to get good UI on Windows pre Aero.
Sure, but they have no place in a Gamestop game client. As long as you can get them elsewhere if you already bought them this is a good decision.
Posted April 28, 2012
On the Plus side, their incompetent web design saved me from spending nearly $13 on that indie bundle that was on sale earlier today.

I say it's a good move, the last thing you want is pesky customers buying things. But, sometimes they've already gone and bought something so you need to push them away whenever possible.
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussion (archive)GameStop strips down its client(36 posts)(36 posts)
(36 posts)