I posted in reply to the dev topic on the steam forums. I could say "go read it there". But that would be obnoxious.
I will preface this post with saying I'm an INCREDIBLY satisfied founder. This is not my attempt to complain, it is my attempt to help get the games steam user rating up.
So without further adeu, gilding the lily, prefacing the preliminary, or other tired phrase....
1. While your updates on the web site are beyond superb, you are not hitting all the spots on the steam client. For example: when users get updates on the client to their games, they get excited. They click the link, and go see what got updated. Galciv updates all the time, because you guys are rad. That said, the little link next to the download that says "view news" is never populated. Users who click on those expecting patch notes are disappointed when it comes to GalCiv, the only thing ever there are major news updates. Users who click that link more often than not, want to read the patch notes to see one of three things: did they break my game by nerfing XXXXX, did they fix bug XXXXX that stopped me from playing this game, or "OOOOHHH SHINY! What new cool things did we get???" At least a quick link to complete patch notes would be a great add to that feed. "various xml fixes" is not a complete patch note. If you stopped playing because your races tech tree was broken, you want to know if that particular tech tree is fixed.
2. "easy to fix bugs". Yes, they actually do exist. Things like "research academy giving 75% research" or "item C D and E are not available on the tech tree, because item B was accidentally flagged exclusive for the wrong race." You have a very strong user community, and any number of modders that step up to the plate to fix bugs that crept into a beta patch. Comparing their patch notes to yours, would go a long way to fixing this. Never ever ever ever publish a non-testing patch that isn't an emergency, that hasn't been tested by your amazing community for at least a couple weeks first. Why is it important? I'm glad you asked. When easy to resolve issues like these creep into a full release, it makes everything feel rushed. That moment when a player will go hit the review button, you don't want him thinking "this is GREAT... but....." Because they will absolutely knock the crap out of your score. They will flag " I would not recommend" and clarify that they wouldn't recommend it "until the patch next week" in the text, "because it still has some rather game breaking bugs that can and will be quickly / easily fixed." I have not read many of your reviews, but I guarantee the crusade release elicited a dangerous number of these.
3. Engage the steam forums the way you do here. I know that you live here, and it is great how thoroughly you interact with this community. Most new players (thus new votes) will be coming from steam, and will never visit this forum. Telling them there to visit here, would be obnoxious.
As always, your adoring fan,
Emmagine