Class-Action Lawsuit Anyone?

[DKDiveDude]

Originally posted by Kassiopeia


I'm only insinuating that it has become an industry standard to release games with serious flaws on some systems and fix the flaws later on in a patch. I've been burned by this practice myself a few times. The save/load bug that ruins the AI in RTW springs to mind - I had to wait over a year to have it fixed.

And I am saying we, all of us gamers should do what we can to make these greedy companies understand that we won't just accept their buggy programs anymore.

Gamers are now targeted by major companies, and we contribute a substantial dollar amount spent on hardware, accessories, and of course the games.

[JoeGator]

Yeah good luck with that one dumbass.

[DKDiveDude]

Originally posted by kimmygibler
I am a class action lawyer (although not in the USA) and I must say that there is no chance of a succesful class action yet. If the following conditions are met, then go ahead:

- No patch is able to fix the problem
- The problem is widespread among many people and it is the same problem for all of them
- The problem is identified and can be pinpointed to certain comps and specs
- No indication that the company will fix the problem
- The company refuses to give you your money back

Question:

What would you do if you bought a brand new car and it did not work? Getting a replacement with not work either, because it had the same problem. Would you just get your money back and move on?

[Boris Godunov]

Look, given the sheer variety of PC system configurations, it's categorically impossible for a game to be released in this day and age that works perfectly out of the box on every imaginable computer. The more complex a game (like Civ4 is), the more odds that more systems will encounter problems.

We have a plethora of reviews available now for the game from many respected gaming sites, and I've yet to read a one who mentioned having such terrible issues. So I think it's safe to say that, while aggravating, these bugs are definitely only being experienced by a vocal minority.

Firaxis is doing the only thing it can do right now: helping folks fix the problem through other means (which has worked for many people, you can see that here) while a patch is in the works. Why not cut them some slack and give them a chance to fix the issue? Talk of lawsuits, in addition to being just plain silly, will only generate undue hostility.

As was mentioned above, the ONLY way to prevent these issue happening is to have uniform gaming platforms. Expecting software companies to be able to test on every imaginable system out there is ludicrous.

[powder]

Well DKDude i see more and more ...good!!!


It's easy to know why the game getting buggier every year...not because their Q&A is crappy (well on small compagny yes..but not here) but like the other guy said before it'S the multitude of hardware out there.

You know i'm part of the generation that will tell my grandchildren about the computer debut....i played PONG!!! on a tv with my friend and was jealous of his console!!!

Back when games start to really crank out (make it pc games...i know commodore 64 had good one...) there were no video crad..crappy audio card and crappy monitor......intel was the only player and the concept of Ghz was in science fiction books...so it was easy for them to un-bug the game...

Now? well now you have amd vs intel..you have ati vs Nvidia...etc etc....so it's silly for us to ask them to buy every option possible and test the game on it....So the best thing is to wait couple of months and buy it with the release...or do like me..i have an ATI...i knew the problem but bought it with the faith that it would somehow work for me...wich it did....

Sadly you are in the should-have-wait-for-the-patch group...but hey look at the bright side.....you are waiting for a freaking awesome game with a superb soundtrack!!!!!

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by DKDiveDude
What would you do if you bought a brand new car and it did not work? Getting a replacement with not work either, because it had the same problem. Would you just get your money back and move on?

If you bought a car that most other people could fit in their garage, but you couldn't fit it in your garage because the door size and shape won't allow it, what would you expect the company to do?

[vee4473]

Originally posted by Capt Dizle
I shouldn't have to upgrade my computer to play games...

I will admit that the games minimum specs were perhaps a bit optimistic and the game has performance bugs, but do you really expect your pooter to never need an upgrade?

If new technology rears its head that will enhance gameplay, then by all means include it in the game if reasonable ... (Of course with highly advertised requirements so that those who can't play it won't waste their money).

[Imran Siddiqui]

re: Class Action



Crazy people are funny.

[vee4473]

Originally posted by Dr,ape
it works for most people... even with AMD cpus.

I take offense to that!!

j/k

[Konquest02]

Originally posted by DKDiveDude
Question:

What would you do if you bought a brand new car and it did not work? Getting a replacement with not work either, because it had the same problem. Would you just get your money back and move on?

Answer:

Before buying a car, you try it on the streets. It's called a test drive.

Before buying a game, you can download a preview of it. It's called a demo.

[kaigun]

Well have rather close to min specs ...in all areas and well it runs and runs and runs..as said there is so many combinnations of hardware the problem is often there conflicts on timing axcess...

In fact the only problem Id had was with the Portcls.sys which effects audio and video ..BUT that is an XP problem that dates from XP SP2 .the SP1 portrcls caused no problems..then MS updated to it ..if in your BSOD you see any mention of such there is no workaround accordind to MS....It effects Realtek drivers...if used on O/B Sound video etc...best not to use on board anyways as effects CPU to directly...

[Imran Siddiqui]

CivIV didn't have a demo... however, yes, if I could get my money back from the new car that didn't work, then that's what I'd do.

[vee4473]

Well, i'm not aware of a demo for civ 4, but this seems to indicate the value of one. (try it out, if it works buy it, if not resolve problems until it works)

Perhaps the value of a demo has gone up a notch in the wake of this.

I downloaded the demo of serious sam2...it didn't start...failure.. i didn't buy it.

double edged sword for companies, but good for the consumer.

I always loved demos.

[Wise Ass]

Originally posted by asleepathewheel
I take it this was your first PC game purchase. Welcome aboard

Literally

[asleepathewheel]

I can see it now:

Demo released, small or tiny map, runs great on a lot of pcs
people who can play the demo map rush out to buy the game
game ctds when players with low end systems play larger maps
people curse firaxis for releasing a demo that was purposely enginered to run on crappy systems in order to trick people into buying the full version.