This probably means nothing but.....

After GalCiv(s), SOASE and DemiGod I have unyielding faith that you will produce a fun game that is fresh.  There is no way I would pre-order any game from any company other than stardock...you guys have been THAT good (with the exception of perhaps releasing Demigod too early).

I just pre-ordered and am confident that it was the right decision.

Thank you stardock for the many hours of fun you provide!!!!!!

Well, if you are really desperate, maybe you can preorder now, get access to the beta and then cancel that preorder and buy the game with a new card. Not sure if this is a good practice, but at least the company will still get your money. Maybe somebody can offer a better solution.

Actually this whole we-will-charge-you-when-we-ship is kind of annoying.  If you are serious about buying it is much more convenient to pay up front, when you have the money and a working card, not in some indeterminate moment in the future. Also, you can't you Paypal because of it. Maybe Stardock should make a checkbox for the "Take my money now. Pretty please." option.

I made a preorder a few days ago from the website (wouldn't want to miss the first beta , and only then did I install impulse.

My preorder is currently not listed, and I don't have any serial number to register Elemental (I only have an order number), is it normal ?

I know that beta 1 has not started yet, but as Elemental is already listed on Impulse, I wonder if I have missed something that would list it as preordered or if I am just supposed to wait for the beta launch and then only receive a serial.

Edit: found the answer in a previous post => Serial will be send by e-mail once the beta starts

On the other hand, if something horrible should happen to prevent the game from ever being released (an unthinkable event, I know ), they've not taken your money and given you no product.

Well, this is why I proposed this as an option. For those who think the probability of such an event is rather low (or would rather not think about it at all )

I pre-ordered through Impulse and all I received was an order number, so I think everything is fine. Unless it should have appeared in the "My Games" section right away.

You will be charged as soon as the beta is available. You will not have to pay anything for the game after that. So you can go ahead with your pre-order.

This is not how it is going to work. Where did you get that information?

Quote from the pre-order page (after you click "Add to cart"):

Beta = becoming available

Beta = becoming available as a beta with only cloth map to start with and that won't be fun because Stardock's betas are real betas and because Frogboy loves to remind us of how unfun it's going to be.

Just mentioning for the newbies.

Well, I could ask you the same thing: where did you get that information? There is no mention of beta in the text that you quote, so it is kind of logical to assume that product = finished game. Then again, if you are so sure about that, I'll believe you, it's not like I know anything about how this thing works.

Oh, and let me rephrase my statement: this whole we-will-charge-you-when-we-make-a-beta is kind of annoying.

Since some people have actually preordered the game some months ago, the situtation does not change fundamentally if you get charged in September. It would simply be more convenient to have the option of paying up front. Not that I do not understand if for some reason it would be hard to implement. Simply voicing my opinion.

Wahngrok's interpretation is correct. You are charged when the product is made available to you, regardless the state it is in. The system cannot charge you without giving you anything.

Aha, well the use of the wording "release" (which was used iirc) in conjuction with a game that has a beta phase could be somewhat confusing. I would assume they mean the big official release, not the release of the beta.

That's how Stardock betas have alway worked (for as long as I can remember). Also there are a few threads on this forum where this system was officially confirmed. Since Kryo has done it in this thread as well I won't go searching for them.

As long as it would be an option I agree. But I'm done pre-ordering from steam because they give you no choice...

Euhh.. sure about that? I pre-ordered the game last Sunday, the sixth, and I was charged almost right away.

You're not supposed to be charged right away... they just check if your credit card is ok and send a pre-charged... nothing has left your credit card... check it in details

Yes the sum of $49.95 still remains "pre-charged" but either way, I'm not able to use that money because it has been deducted from my bank account even if it still remains pre-charged. I don't know if banks elsewhere do it some other way, but here pre-charged means the money is out of your use, no longer in your bank account and no longer usable by you.

I mean it's not a big deal as long as I don't get charged again when the beta starts. Just seems weird the cart and the e-mail I received both say I will NOT be charged before the product becomes available (even in beta form) when in fact I have $49.95 less money in my bank account to use than I did before the pre-order

Talk to your bank!  We don't know anything about your local bank's habits, but it sounds like they put a more permanent 'hold' on the funds than they should have.  I know that my bank frequently puts 'holds' on funds (marked on my e-statement as being 'pending' transactions) that represent the fact that the money is going to be withdrawn, even if it hasn't actually happened yet.  That said, they usually drop off in a day or so if no actual charge arrives, and your bank should have similar behaviour!