Good luck, then, Stardock, I hope your products sell well enough over the internet that you don't need us oldfashioned or technologically handicapped retail buyers!
I'll be happy to give my money (well, some of it at least) to companies who show more interest in doing business with me.

I think the translation here is that there was not enough demand for the game itself (which is unfortunate) for most stores to be willing to sell the new bundle. I think that in terms of overall PC gaming, the market for TBS games is pretty small, and the market for any TBS games other than the definitive big-name TBS series - Civilization - is smaller still.

Maybe Stardock should just put out a bunch of first-person shooters. God only knows that there aren't enough of them. One set in World War II would be especially cool. I'm surprised nobody has done that yet.

Points taken. To sell through internet-based channels only may indeed be the only way for smaller companies not to lose money. I myself am an IT professional - and I don't trust the internet when it comes to money. And I've seen too many companies come and go to trust them to be around in a couple of years when I get the idea to play a game again and would need their help to re-install it (because I had thrown it off my hard disk or purchased a new PC).

What I find more difficult to understand is the distinction between the U.S. and Europe, and the reluctance of many American companies to sell in Europe. Europe is such a big market, bigger than the U.S., that it should be worth not to be neglected. I have worked for an American company which hasn't managed to make money in most European countries (while the European competitors have grown fast) and eventually sold off most of their European offices to said competitors (who turned them into successful businesses again), and I can tell you one of the main reasons: it was the "one size fits all", U.S. centric business approach - what works in the U.S. must work in Europe, too, against the counsel of the Europeans in the management teams. If you would be trying to do the same, you would fail, too.

Of course, I can't (and don't want to) tell Stardock how to do business, and if they have come to the conclusion that a European retail version of GC Gold or TA won't make money, then they are absolutely right not to do it. On the other hand, it is my right as a potential customer, who likes the GC series, to regret this decision, to say I'm sad about it (not offended or the like). And just like Stardock tells me "we'd like to have you as a customer, but you have to accept our rules", I tell Stardock "I'd like to buy your product, but you have to accept my rules".
Just a personal opinion - and, who knows, maybe I'll reconsider some day - or Stardock!

Actually, greywolf1, if I understand correctly, you can archive your current Stardock programs using the Stardock Central software, so even in the seemingly unlikely event that their company would cease to exist any time soon, you would still be able to play the game as long as you archived it on removable media. (Obviously, you also need to keep a copy of the installation program for Stardock Central itself.)

I'm not yet aware of any plans concerning a TA-included package at US retail, though I expect it'll happen eventually. As to Europe though, you're probably safest assuming the status quo--no new retail--until/if there's an announcement otherwise.

As noted by JennyBean on another thread, we can do mail orders if you're able to send a cheque or money order in US funds as a last resort. If you have any interest in that route, contact sales@stardock.com for further details. I'd expect there are also some European shops that will import games, though that would probably cost more.