I don't know what might have caused this issue, but it was surely a misunderstanding between Blind Mind Studios and Bundle Stars.
So, it's nice to hear they finally found a solution that doesn't hurt end customers.
I'll take them out of my "naughty devs list", for the time being.
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Unlike the previous game Star Ruler 2 has two devs listed. Given Blind Mind's earlier statements that this wasn't supposed to be in a bundle I'd guess that the other dev most likely requested keys and arranged for it being in the bundle as you don't just miscommunicate whether or not you want your game to feature in a bundle, Not to mention that someone would have had to sign a contract as well somewhere along the line.
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That is very close to the version of events that I heard. Certainly Bundle Stars were convinced they had a legitimate agreement to sell the title in a bundle.
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The dev explicitely said this was not the case in the comments
http://steamcommunity.com/app/282590/discussions/1/355043117511869933/?ctp=6#c355043117522390399
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So they say. Even if it wasn't Glacicle as a whole, someone from one of the two companies signed a contract permitting Bundlestars to sell the game and again only someone from one of those two companies could have requested the keys.
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No. Bundlestars can't just hand wave the keys into existence. Someone had to provide them with the keys and only someone working for one of the developers could have requested those keys from Valve. Bundlestars might have made a mess of it after the fact but they aren't the root of the problem.
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Developers have contracts with the bundle sites that feature their games. Only someone at one of the developers could have signed that contract, just as only someone at one of the developers could have requested the steam keys from Valve.
As one of the developers has stated it wasn't the second development company it was almost certainly an individual at one of the developers.
Rogue developer signs contract and provides Bundlestars with what are then effectively stolen keys. If Bundlestars had a contract with a developer they haven't done anything wrong selling those keys as part of a bundle so the issue is on the developers end.
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they could have signed a contract that it gets sold in the normal shop, as special bundle with fixed amoutn fo games whatever.
only because bs has keys doesn't mean they are allowed to do whatever they want.
so to automatically assume dev MUST be at fault is wrong.
edit:
i didnt read anything from it so dunno if its now clear what the special problem was im only replying to this:
Developers have contracts with the bundle sites that feature their games. Only someone at one of the developers could have signed that contract, just as only someone at one of the developers could have requested the steam keys from Valve.
There are other examples how bs could get the keys and still be the one wrong there, aka wording in the contract but to lazy to think any others in specify.
In the end it doesnt matters anyway since everybody will get his keys, if that above is true. didnt read into it since im not involved.
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Bundlestars have been around long enough and without any major issues that I doubt they'd intentionally pull anything so stupid unlike other bundle sites that repeatedly have issues. Ultimately the contract/keys can only have come from a developer though so the blame can't lie solely with bundlestars,
Bundlestars is run by Focus Multimedia - a developer, publisher and retailer founded over 20 years ago. They have much more to lose from this than a two-man indie team who at this time last year didn't think they last to end of the year. After this they may find themselves in the same situation again.
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They absolutely do.
The devs have claimed this was a matter of miscommunication. How likely is it really that Bundlestars arranged to sell the game in the store and misconstrued that as an arrangement to feature the game in the bundle?
Any "miscommunication" was much more likely to have been in-house on the devs side.
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much more likely maybe, but not 100%
so its still valid to say theres chances where bs becomes the keys and still wasnt in the right.
much more we wont be able to say since we cna only guess and it doesnt look like dev / bs will explain more to it.
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Sounds like it's not a done deal quite yet, at least according to the bundlestars rep:
(This was posted by BStars ~30 minutes after this thread started):
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Very strange - There's a lot of miscommunication going on here. Thanks for sharing.
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Just got an email that lays out the details for getting a replacement key. It was not in response to a specific support request, but was sent to all purchasers of the original bundle:
Are you having trouble redeeming your Star Ruler 2 Steam key?
Please note: If you have already redeemed your Star Ruler 2 key successfully, your game will not be affected and it will remain in your Steam library. Plus you can safely skip this email.Due to an unfortunate misunderstanding between Bundle Stars and the game’s developer, Blind Mind Studios, some customers have been unable to redeem Star Ruler 2 keys from the original Killer Bundle 8. We have been working diligently with the developer for several days to resolve this communication issue and prevent any of our customers from losing out.
If you receive a “duplicate key” message when you try to redeem your Star Ruler 2 key, then please accept our sincere apologies. Your Steam key was deactivated but you are eligible for a replacement. To request a working key for the game, you can visit http://bstars.co/support. Please include the following information in your message:
Your Killer Bundle 8 Order Number
(the 24-digit code on your Order Confirmation email)Your duplicate Star Ruler 2 Steam key
(Your old inactive key will be deactivated and you receive a new, working Star Ruler 2 Steam key)If you are eligible, please allow up to two working days for your key to be delivered.
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https://www.steamgifts.com/discussion/bOgZK/warning-all-unredeemed-star-ruler-2-keys-from-bundle-stars-killer-bundle-8-have-been-voided/search?page=3#YFwNnYo
Just a heads up, the dev has replied to emails over the weekend now that replacement keys can be requested from Bundle Stars and you will get a replacement if your key for Star Ruler 2 was voided. The dev also confirmed this in Steam forums.
"The issue has now, I believe, been suitably resolved. Soon, Bundle Stars will be issuing replacement keys in response to support requests."
http://steamcommunity.com/app/282590/discussions/1/355043117511869933/?ctp=18
Update:
Email from Bundle Stars.
Are you having trouble redeeming your Star Ruler 2 Steam key?
Please note: If you have already redeemed your Star Ruler 2 key successfully, your game will not be affected and it will remain in your Steam library. Plus you can safely skip this email.
Due to an unfortunate misunderstanding between Bundle Stars and the game’s developer, Blind Mind Studios, some customers have been unable to redeem Star Ruler 2 keys from the original Killer Bundle 8. We have been working diligently with the developer for several days to resolve this communication issue and prevent any of our customers from losing out.
If you receive a “duplicate key” message when you try to redeem your Star Ruler 2 key, then please accept our sincere apologies. Your Steam key was deactivated but you are eligible for a replacement. To request a working key for the game, you can visit http://bstars.co/support. Please include the following information in your message:
Your Killer Bundle 8 Order Number
(the 24-digit code on your Order Confirmation email)
Your duplicate Star Ruler 2 Steam key
(Your old inactive key will be deactivated and you receive a new, working Star Ruler 2 Steam key)
If you are eligible, please allow up to two working days for your key to be delivered.
REQUEST KEY → https://support.bundlestars.com/hc/en-us/requests/new
Thank you for your continued support!
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