I would like an Answer on this as well!

Founder's Elite here.  I can't believe I spent that much on a single game at one time.  Totally worth it though.

The one with all DLCs sounds interesting. But I have to wait a while, the new Xbox One comes first.
But the Elite package sounds nice if I can afford it and when it will be available in a few months.

Do we get access now if we buy it? 

sjaminei, the Founders edition gets alpha access once it is released. The FAQ says they expect that to be early next year which would likely be in Q2.

It sounds like you touch on the idea in your second sentence... but assuming the developers have have a clue about how their programming this (and they have to, given that they're working with code *way* beyond anything I'd want to touch -- I hate 3D engines) then any 'resource', be it a 3D model or a list of star names, will be in it's own, external file.

Adding a new star name to the list should be easy, something that can be done continuously.  Don't forget, one day they'll release patches, too!  

That said, I'd expect the sales to be cut off around the time the beta rolls around.  No point in offering beta access then.

Except that the GalCiv series is core to Stardock.  It's Brad's baby and he'll make sure it's everything it set out to be.  If you ever had a personal project that meant that much to you, you'd understand.  This is about more than the bottom line and I, among others, want to be a part of it.  I'd preorder it at $200.00 if I had to.

That, and Stardock's mia culpa regarding Elemental.

Their history with games and of making them, particularly with the galciv series, have more than earned my trust.

As someone else pointed out, lets look at *Brad's* history.  Whatever you think of WOM (and it had so much potential before it fell flat...), he did a very good job of falling on his own sword, and then fixing the issues.  I'm willing to take another gamble on him.

guys, its only $100, surely you can pay that off at minimum wage in like 10 hours... assuming you live in a wealthy country that is. Just because you think its a rotten deal to you does not mean its the same deal with someone else. Why would you care what other people would buy anyways, it is their cash and they can use it for toilet paper no matter how stupid or immoral it may seem.

If you buy a cake, and it taste like crap, chances are there is somebody on this earth that will appreciate it for what it is. Denial only proves that you believe everybody is either illogical or all logical beings.

point is, just don't bother trying to say preordering is bad.

There's plenty of time to preorder, so you can be patient and wait for the pretty screenshots and the tidbits that will be coming your way.  It's better to make an informed decision where your money is concerned.

You do realize that Gal Civ series is completely turn based right? Just a warning as it is not similar to SINS at all in that way.