so the answer is stardock/GPG did a poor job of updating their available slot list and corresponding ads and has suckered me out of a 22% price hike over the 45 for the download only version?

That's swell.

I don't pay tax + shipping by buying a box in a store after the realease.  I play tax + shipping from stardock direct in order to get a beta key.  10 dollars in shipping = 22% of the 45 dollars for a DL copy, or what places like best buy and target will charge.

In either case, I've been a developer/project manager for some years and was really looking forward to playing this game and helping with the beta on my different boxes here.  There were no notices that went out, there were only ads listed in various places on the websites stating "Pre-Order Now and get the game today!"

If I hadn't expected to start playing today, I'd have waited and bought it later.  Either way SD/GPG gets my business as usual, but it's a letdown that stings that much more because of the shipping charges.

If you're preordering, even download-only, why would you then go to a store to get a box? Then you'd be paying double. If you want a box AND you want to get in the beta, what you did is the cheapest way. Any preorder direct from us gets you into the beta (we don't send out hard copies for the beta, only after release); preordering at retail would not.

More importantly, if you did not get in in time for beta 1, that means your order is actually queued and won't be charged until beta 2 begins (tentatively scheduled for next month). So if you want to change the order, it's as simple as contacting sales@stardock.com.

The edit function works for me suprisingly. FF3.0.1 and Vista business x64

I have to agree with Jevoe that it's not clearly stated if you get the beta or not.  I also took the risk or preordering last week, not sure if I was able to get into beta or not.  Luckily I did.

Even in the main page http://www.demigodthegame.com/   Quote "Pre-order the game and you can join the beta and help mold the game for its final release!" 

It doesn't mention about any queue or beta2 so even the main website is misleading...

Why change it? It's true. Preorder the game and you can join the beta.

Doesn't say when.

As for the OP's complaint about being "suckered" out of an extra $10? No, you chose to order a boxed copy. Nowhere does it state you have to order a boxed copy to get into the beta. All you're "missing out on" is the immediate entry into the beta - clearly a "preorder bonus", which you're still going to get, probably next month. Which is still many, many months before the game will be released.

So you're moaning about getting something a little late that most other developers/publishers don't even offer the general public.

Just wait. The next phase of the beta will be much better and much more in need of feedback anyway. You haven't missed your chance to dazzle everyone with your brilliance.