Unsolved Case: Killer Popularity Collector's Edition

This game immediately throws an error after launching. I tried contacting the publisher for help through the game's Steam forum, but they have yet to respond to my inquiries. I tried using DominiGames' Zendesk, but it no longer exists. I've asked Steam for a refund, but they refuse. I've given DominiGames more than enough time to respond. I don't know what else to do. Leaving a negative review is the only thing I can do to warn others away from this game.

It's pretty common within the hidden object genre that there are two versions of each game released. The standard version is the main story and the collector's edition either has the actual ending of the story or more content in that story world (prequel, from another character's perspective, etc.). You're paying for more content which is fair. It's kind of crappy when you don't get the full story in the standard edition, but most people have accepted this model. While this game has a somewhat novel mechanic of each chapter being a different case you're investigating, they've gone too far with what feels purely like a cash grab. They've gated some of the investigation behind DLC for an extra $4. You have prompts as you go through the case and can choose how you respond to other characters. There seems to be a room in each case you can't access without it and your character can only choose some dismissive "bad detective" answer. Instead of paying for additional content like another case, it feels like they've ripped out part of what you already paid for. While I mostly enjoyed the game, the DLC turd ruins it enough to not get a recommendation. It hasn't put me off Domini titles entirely, but I'll definitely be reading reviews more carefully before I take another risk on them.