Just bought this game at the store and now I cant run it.

Did you buy a boxed version of the game?

I take it you bought the game from a street retailer or something similar?

The problem is the game isn't actually released until Tuesday, which means that impulse has locked the serial codes. I'm afraid its more than likely that your copy won't work until the game's official launch, or for the August 23rd beta and pre-order early play time. Sorry about that.

The game is not offically live/released until the 24th. Some retailors have broken the street release date in some cases.

Just to make it clear: It's the fault of the retailer that sold you the copy since the official release date is the 24th of August. Your retailer broke the date.

Hum, but if he got a retail version, he should be able to install directly from the dvd, isn't it ? Of course it would be only the base gold version, without the day-0 patch, but he should be able to play.

I realize people are trying to be helpful, but isn't it better to let Stardock answer this one instead of just conjecture and possibly upsetting or confusing the poor chap further?

The game is supposed to be DRM free and play right out of the box regardless so if its a retail copy... this shouldn't happen.

Ah I see.  Yes I did buy the box from a retailer.  So they were not supposed to sell it yet?  Well I am in an odd position now, because obviously I just spent 55 dollars and expected to play this when I got home.  Although I do lay the initial blame with the store, I dont see why they would lock me out from playing a game on my computer.  I mean if I wasnt connected to the internet when I installed it then I would be able to play now, correct?  I am bummed out now....

There is no DRM but you Have to activate it the First time it runs. Its there way of protecting from retailers breaking their street date. Sorry guys.

And impulse is NOT required to run it nor is anything else it just has to connect one time to activate is all. Afterwards internet is never required.

hmm actually yeah, you should still be able to play it.  did you install impulse before you installed the game, or perhaps during installation?

It isn't conjecture to tell him that the initial blame is on the retailer. Apart from that, I agree.

It installs it automatically.  But I feel sort of screwed here.  I know stardock is  good company but it leaves a bad taste in my mouth having this game in my DVD drive and being blocked from playing it.

Well...I'm not sure where that is comming from if you bought a game that was sold before its street date...ie not available yet, you really dont havea  leg to stand on.

I mean this turned a perfect afternoon into a big let down.  The wife is napping... the baby is napping... I'm off of work... I am holding the game in my hand....................... and I am powerless.......

Maybe it's just some kind of date check to prevent Game Stop and similars. But as already said, wait for Stardock to explain it.

well, its one or two days before release. go enjoy something else and come back when it is officially released. end of story.

Uh I'm pretty sure there's no activation on Stardock games, If i went to Mars with an unopened copy of Elemental and a laptop it should work out of the box to my knowledge and what I've read on forums

So now every time I go to buy a game I should first go home and do some research to make sure the game is supposed to be out??? That is ridiculous.  I walk around Best Buy, see something interesting, come home to enjoy it and then I find myself caught in some corporate chest bumping.  I know I am in a forum where people have been watching this game for a while and I just got here, but you have to see it from my perspective as someone who just saw this at the store.

Lets stop fighting each other and fight the person who made this topic and steal hiscopy of elemental

According to this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ozlo3q1hfg

He should be able to play.

He bought a product from a store and expects it to work. How would the average consumer know it was before the release date? His disappointment is quite reasonable.

Try uninstall then install again with it blocked by your firewall or disconnect from the net...I think it has no online activation, you just need be connected to get updates.

I'll make a 'pics or it didn't happen' call here. This thread seems overly suspicious.

EDIT: also, seconding MagicWeasel's request. Pictures of what's happening to you could help us in any case.

There's no DRM except for the DRM?

searchforwisdom - My advice is to uninstall it, wipe out everything in c:\programdata\Stardock (hidden folder), yank out your network cable so you're off the Internet, and try again. The retail version is *supposed* to work without needing to go online. (If it doesn't, then there are some differing ideas on what "no DRM" means.)