The more I hear about Stardock, the more I like them. I've got Sins of a Solar Empire and I absolutely love it. The game doesn't require any serial numbers or registration for you to play it, although it kinda breaks rule 10 because it does need the CD when it's actually loading a map for you to play, (But not when it initially loads the game) and it kinda breaks rule 2 because the game isn't totally complete because it lacks a campaign mode.

However, Stardock have listened to the criticisms and they are working on some major updates for the game. The next one (v1.1) is due out in mid-September, and it is going to overhaul and improve the multiplayer experience, along with all the usual graphical and performance tweaks and improvements that games usually get from an update. Another update will apparently add a campaign mode to the game, but that's a long ways off yet.

Stardock really seem to take their time to listen to what their customers want, and their customer support is fantastic. I had a problem with Sins crashing a month or two ago, so I contacted them. I received a reply in less than two hours, and the reply was detailed, polite - and most importantly it had instructions on correctly solving my problem. And this was only a few weeks after the game had been released; a time when I imagine they were at their busiest.

Stardock are definitely impressing me, and creating a set of rules like this is yet another way of proving what a gamer-friendly company they are.

wow thats amazeing, it would be nice if all dev companys listened to this. my disc of civ4 is dead, my son killed it, so now of course i can`t play it even though it is on my harddrive

Such a list is great, but something is missing:
Gamers should have the rights to be able to create mods as they see fit.

Jig why don't you download civ4 then, or contact them? I don't see anything illegal about downloading a game that you already paid for.

I disagree with you Iwulff - I believe that adding mod support should be a bonus, but I don't believe its a 'right'. Also, in the US, having a backup is legal as long as you bought the original and have proof. Not sure about European laws though. Jig - why don't you use a No-CD?

there is`nt one for civ 4