Are you trying to tell us that Elemental is in a much more complete state than what you were letting on? Actually, that's a relief. With your release date so soon I thought for sure you wouldn't have it ready in any reasonable amount of time.

It kind of saddens me when the Beta for Elemental has me more interested than full games available today like Mass Effect 2.

In any case:

I'm very sure, when you folks release Beta 2, I will have several moments, somewhere, possibly entirely seperate, where I go "Wow, this was here all along? Goddamnit Brad, why couldn't I have had this earlier?"

Now, mind you. I still play things like Tropico 1 and 2, and Rollercoaster Tycoon. Partially because I'm a crazy person and enjoy management games. Partially because the gameplay is good and satisfying. Certainly not because of graphics, or stuff they could have had those games been made today.

So I won't promise I won't be mad. What I will promise is that I'll understand. If, for instance, beta had been awesome from the get-go, I wouldn't have noticed things like watchtowers taking 70 turns to make. Or the fact that certain things here and there were broken. The game, as you say, would have suffered enormously, from being cool from minute one.

So, bring on Beta 2. Let us see what you've cooked up behind the curtains. I can only imagine that everyone will love you for it.

Long live Stardock, etc.

One really good thing about this Beta is that I feel most major releases now are pushed out at beta quality anyhow.  Hearts of Iron 3 is an example of a game that was just not finished and had to be shoved out the door.  These practices hurt the industry overall, and some consumers adopt a wait-and-see attitude, where they'll wait until X patches before they buy.  The day one buyers are essentially involuntary beta testers, albeit unintentionally.  The key difference is that I think you guys get tons of goodwill and come off looking like the good guys, whereas the release-early-and-patch-later style gets you a lot of pissed off customers.

So kudos SD and Elemental!

This is one of the many reasons you and Stardock are unique (or at least among a select few) in the gaming (and non) development world. Which makes me applaud you and the team that much more.

It WAS indeed hard as the early BETA was a killer but that did exactly what you wanted: we all focused on the game-play and thinking outside graphics etc.

Quite an interesting thing here has occurred.

If you, the developers, feel that this was the best laid path to the goal of a great game then by all means hold back the way you have. Small or large, the amount you've held back has been for the purpose of refining the base systems that make the game enjoyable. These systems have had very noticeable changes that we all would agree are for the best. You've also found a way for the intrinsically motivated to assist you in the creation of this game. You've done a wonderful thing here buddy. Keep up the good work.

Amen. This line makes me want to preorder again.

I busted out laughing seeing that picture.  And I concur completely.

LOLOLOLOLOL

Wow I have to congratulate you. This is the best Bragging post I have ever seen.

Now seriously if you are going to state we are going to go all Rodney King riots on your asses about what you have been holding back on us. I am pretty sure if anyone is STUPID enough to complain, the forum community as a whole will rise up, hack your systems, Find their homes, and beat them to death.

I for one cannot wait and hope that what you deliver in Beta 2 lives up to the promise you just made

And oh just for the record... I knew you were holding out on us. Stated it in another post that you wanted to live up to your "No Fun" promise. I'm am just glad for one you guys went the way you did. and I promise not to get mad unless when Beta 2 hits it sucks. In which case we are going to start playing whack-o-boogie-toad on the forums. 

But on the main note...............

Where is our Beta 2!!!!!!

Seriously enough build up already my heart can't take much more.

I'm a little surprised by this sentiment.  I think it's been pretty clear from the beginning that we were entering a different sort of beta process.  You sold people on the idea that they would get to watch and influence a game from the very early stages.  This is an incredibly unique approach in this industry (I want to say it's never been done for a commercial game).  Personally, it's very rewarding to see the stages of development, and makes me much more engaged in the final product.  I wouldn't expect anyone to be upset at not having all the features through the development for exactly that reason.

Bring on Beta 2!

Awesome. We need more companies that are willing to "do new". Thanks for giving it a shot with this title. 

Perhaps it's the fact that I didn't (unfortunately) get into beta 1 as the game went under the radar for me, but I find the post kinda funny, as anyone else would probably go "Here comes beta 2 and it is even more awesome than you thought it could be!"    (It might be due to me belonging to the older school of gamers? Still, I find nothing to apologize here. Rather, it seems to me to be more of an issue of marketing thinking about the modern "beta tests" that are more like demos)

Irregardless, I hope I'll be useful in beta 2 when it comes rolling in.

Edit: dropped the excessive use of "perhaps"

I know now after posting my "gimme Beta 2 now before my heart explodes" post that beta 2 is 20 days off or so.

But after realizing I have just posted to the top 10 threads in ideas and my name is on all the last post spots. and that atm I am spending my day forum trolling or opening impulse to see if this game needs updating >.<

That I feel I have really tested everything I can test.

So I Humbly Beseech the Gods Frog and Boogie to push the release of Beta 2 as soon as possible. I feel my Incrediably Scrutinizing Input (In my own mind) is being wasted now. Where as I could be dedicating my Existence to the perfection of you glory. I feel I am not doing your awesomness justice.

(wow I hope groveling works   )

Take all the time that is needed I say, but in the end of all this please do not sell us a "lemon". True gamers that understand how hard it is to please everyone and still be "quality and original" know that Greatness is not created it is earned.